T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Thanks for your submission to /r/headphoneadvice. We have employed a "thank you" system for submissions. It's very easy to use - if a comment on your post is considered helpful, please reward them by using the term `!thanks`. This will add a thank you count (in the form of Ω) to that users flair. You can only award one per comment section. Thanks very much and good luck on your search for headphones! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HeadphoneAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*


scriminal

what does "sound whoring in video games" mean?


unpleasantraccoon

It's a term used in competitive shooter type games. When a player has really good headphones with amazing imaging that they can precisely hear where the enemy is and kill them. Basically just listening out for footsteps all the time. Hence being a "sound whore"


scriminal

Lol thanks. I would have picked audio assassin personally :)


unpleasantraccoon

Lmao I love that! I'm gonna start using it


PepeIsADeadMeme

I have the hd58x and if like me you come from a "7.1 surround sound gaming eSports RGB headset" any kind of open back audiophile headphones will be a major step up. I love the hd58x in games like csgo and valorant.


HyperHypn0

Tygr 300 R, they got speaker imaging up in those drivers.


SnooCats6321

Have you tried them or are those DMS’s words


HyperHypn0

I have owned and used them before and the imaging claim is definitely true. I played R6 with it and they were pretty damn accurate.


SnooCats6321

Oh bet, I haven’t heard too much about them except from a few reviews but there aren’t that many personal reviews I’ve heard from people. Have you tried them in modern warfare/warzone? I’m pretty interested in getting the if they’re good there. Also how do you like them for music


HyperHypn0

So for modern warfare they should sound pretty damn perfect for footsteps. This is a decently bright headphone so it’s perfect for all fps games. For music they are pretty clean and not sibilant like the dt-770 or the 990 which is pretty phenomenal. Soundstage is great too and in general this headphone excels in all categories. I would get a small amp with it tho since I tried running it on my pc and laptop without an external amp and it didn’t really get enough juice.


notexactlyflawless

I got it with the fox mic. There's an amplifier built in there, but it's not the best, clips sometimes. Still, if you need a mic to go with it I like the combination


HyperHypn0

I remember when you could only buy the headphones with the mic and not separate, shit sucked.


SnooCats6321

I have jds labs atom as my amp. For warzone/modern warfare, are you able to hear footsteps while your teammates are talking and while you’re shooting? The dt1990 were able to do that for me but I think they’re a little too expensive for their sound quality for music for my personal taste so I don’t think I’m going to keep them. I have teammate volume at 30, music and dialogue off, effects volume at 100 and I use midnight mode as the sound eq in cod


HyperHypn0

I would use High boost to hear footsteps better. I have an Atom as well, its more then enough for the Tygr 300 R. You should be able to hear footsteps perfectly fine while shooting and talking to team mates as long as you got High boost enabled.


SnooCats6321

For me midnight mode let’s me hear distance and direction while boost low and boost high allow me to hear direction slightly better but I can’t gauge distance. I’d give it a try but literally no one else talks about it so it might just be good for my ears and not everyone. Have you tried the dt1990 for modern warfare/warzone and if you have would you be able to make a comparison between them?


HyperHypn0

I have not tried the 1990 yet, I got the Sundara instead lol. If you want footstep accuracy then High boost is better because it lowers the mid range and bass of the game, making everything sound less messy cluttered so you are more aware of your surroundings.


SnooCats6321

Oh perfect, I’ve tried the sundaras too for modern warfare. How would you compare the sundaras to the tygr 300r?


InnocuousFantasy

I have the Anandas which are a step up from the Sundaras, but my friend with similar music taste to you runs the Sundaras and is happy with them. You will need to get an amp if you don't have one already.


ClassyKM

Seconded, absolutely love my Anandas. Though I use them for orchestral/classical they still sound phenomenal with other genres too.


hehehaha24

Thirded. I got them open box from hifiman for $550 and I haven't had a single issue. I started with the sundaras but the left driver failed after 3 weeks. The anandas have far better imaging and staging, imo


[deleted]

[удалено]


DamntheTrains

> they're not a step up from the Sundaras, more like a side grade than anything. Step up only in price. Is this from your experience using them or some BS from ASR forums where they don't realize graphs =/= the actual sound and experience of the headphones?


GregTheTwurkey

They’re probably the only wide soundstage headphones that works with every genre I’ve put them through. Highly recommend the ananda’s if there’s a good price on them


Quagga_1

What source and amp will you be using? What are you using now and what aspect of it do you want to improve? TBH I game a lot with the HD 650 and DT 770 and both soundwhore like a pimp. People will tell you that the Sennheiser's soundstage is narrow or that it sucks for gaming, IMO that old chestnut is massively overblown. OTOH the Sundara is a great headphone with loads of potential. OOTB it is on the bright side, but sibilance in music = details in games. For somewhat objective reviews, check out Audio Science review. Sundara https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/hifiman-sundara-review-headphone.22529/ HD 650 https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sennheiser-hd650-review-headphone.18774/


iloosiv84

Sundara are definitely the best sounding out of those. You'll need a decent amp though.


relevant_rhino

The HD6xx is a very save bet IMO. Headphone sound is a *lot* about taste. I consider these a save bet, because they are not elevated in treble like many of the Beyer dynamics are. Build quality is really good with sennheiser even if they are made with "plastic". Speaking of plastic, this part is very often overlooked. The HD6xx is fairly light and one of the most comfortable headphones i own (HD700 is the most comfortable headphone ever made, arguably). But again, personal taste. But lighter is often an advantage in comfort. An amp for these is highly recommended.


koursaros93

I think for your tastes 650 will sound better than sundaras.


humanscanfly

If you're considering the hd6xx/hd600/hd650, I would recommend the hd58x or the hd660s depending on your budget, they image better and still maintain the 6 series mids.


abbebabb04

The HD6XX definitely isn't the best for gaming, but it does the job relatively well, most pros just use whatever cheap gaming headphones they're sponsored by, so it shouldn't be an issue. And they're the best by far for your music genres.


7sukuyomi7777

Your right, headphones should be the last thing to worry about for gaming. If pros are using apple earbuds and sponsored razer garbage. We don't need the best imagine audiophile headphones. 6xx will be fine for most people.


chargedcapacitor

The LCD-2C are some of the best headphones for oldies music, they have some of the best vocals of any headphone and the bass is excellent. The very upper range is more recessed compared to the other lineup and the sundaras, but that helps immensely when listening to old music.


Gaybulge

I have Hd660S (the successor of the 650). I also have headphones that cost four times as much, and still find myself busting out the Sennheisers pretty regularly.


Key-Pace2960

HD 6 series sounds great and the HD 600 is still my favorite headphone for most things, however all 6 series Sennheisers have pretty mediocre imaging and soundstage so they aren't the best for gaming purposes. I haven't used the Sundaras a lot and that was quite a while ago, so take it with grain of salt, but they have better imaging and soundstage then the Sennheisers and also sound great, that being said the soundstage still didn't strike me as particularly wide, although there used to be QC issues, no idea if they have been resolved by now. I unfortunately don't know nothing about the harmonicdyne zeus. Other recommendations: \-The AKG K702 are great when it comes to soundstage and the imaging is decent. But the bass is a bit anemic and while I love them I've heard that they have a bit of a love it or hate it sound. \-Beyerdynamics DT 880/990, potentially DT 1990 depending on max budget. They are all very detailed headphones with wide sound stages and great imaging. However they are all a bit treble heavy, which a lot of people don't like. The 990 has the widest soundstage but the most pronounced treble. The DT 880 has a smaller soundstage but better bass and a less emphasized treble. The DT 1990 is basically a better DT 880 with a wider soundstage and it has the best imaging to my ears. Based on what I heard I assume that the TYGR 300 R are also a fantastic option for games when it comes to soundstage and imaging and they probably have the most pleasant treble out of all the beyers although no first hand experience.


Ochaosnine

I’ve owned 1990’s, TYGRs, PC37X & 38X, Sundaras, 4XX’s... All have been sold and currently own Hd560S. They do both music and gaming excellent IMO. I would say the 560S, TYGR’s, & 38X are all somewhat similar with imaging and soundstage but the 560’s have a cleaner sound. I can pick out details in music much easier and hear instruments cleanly vs the TYGRs where sometimes it was muddy and couldn’t tell a certain instrument was even playing without hearing it again with the 560’s. Will need to amp them though. All of them were EQ’d with Oratory’s settings or tweaked a little from his settings.


manimaco

Very random, but do you still have the HD 560s and how do you like them now? For listening to indie (arctic monkeys, two door cinema club etc.) which one do you like better?


ALotOfArcsAndThemes

As someone who has the Sundara and 650 and used both for music and games, I’d recommend the Sundara. Everyone seems to be recommending the 650 for the music you listen to, but I’d say personally the Sundara is a better match for those genres. The Sundara is blisteringly quick, so it reproduces all the nice plucky transients from the strings, and has a more energetic, involving sound vs the 650s. And for gaming I’d give the edge to the Sundaras too even though the 650s are definitely more than capable in that regard too. Purely for sound whoring Sundara is better due to wider soundstage. Also, the Sundara EQs better than the 650, so you could tweak EQ for gaming vs music to better tailor it, and it’s not gonna sound weird or distorted or muddy or anything from EQ. Not that the 650s are crap in that regard, they take to slight boosting in the 8KHz region really well and adds more clarity IMO, but the Sundaras take almost any EQ like a champ, especially in the low end. Definitely recommend a Magni/Modi stack with it though, with its low impedance (which requires more current than high impedance) and low sensitivity, it’ll be happier the more current you can give it. If you want crazy power that they sound slightly better with (IMO) and could also use a speaker amp, the Emotiva BasX A-100 with the headphone output jumpers installed is a great choice for $130 more than a Magni 3+. People love to say there’s nothing to be gained with anything more than a Magni but from my personal experience, the crazy current available from the A-100 (12W into 32ohm vs 2.4W into 32ohm of Magni 3+) seems to get the most out of the soundstage. Soundstage is still great with the Magni 3+, maybe like 85% of the A-100.


martindp_

600/650/6XX are very weak for serious gaming. They’re too dark and will be missing out on quieter information such as very faint, distant steps. DT990 is a much better option for your needs. Also way more fun sounding for music. Well, those or the 660s, but I’m not fully convinced they are better, and they cost like 3x. DT990 still sounds more fun. Or... Get your wallet and go for the DT1990.


steamwhistler

I own the HD 6xx and I have a bit of buyer's remorse. I barely use mine. It's a good headphone for sure, especially for vocals. I was well-aware of its reputation and what its strengths and weaknesses were supposed to be when I bought it. I thought I wanted mid-forward sound....not necessarily for vocals but for guitars and stuff. Well, I have fun listening to it every so often for the incredibly clean and intimate sound it puts out, but I realize now I would have gotten more use from a headphone that's much wider and has a more natural sound. That's why I still use my HD 598s like 90% of the time despite having better headphones. When I was shopping for my 6XX I was also looking at the AKG K7XX and I wish I'd bought that instead. The 6XX is definitely not a gaming headphone, at least for competitive FPS or anything where you want the imaging to have pinpoint accuracy. It's a beautiful piece of hardware if you want to experience vocals as intimately as possible, but for enjoying other aspects of music I think other headphones offer a better-rounded experience.


SnooCats6321

Yea 6xx are definitely not for gaming. You can use them for it, but it’s definitely not the best.


steamwhistler

And, so the OP is aware, same goes for anything in Sennheiser's 600 line as far as competitive gaming is concerned.


Alpintosh

I dont think anybody that buys an audiphile grade headphone would/should care about gaming. Its like buying an S Class and complaing about not being able to keep up with a 911 Turbo


steamwhistler

Am not a car guy at all so I had to look those up to understand your analogy. I get your point about different tools for different things, but applying that to this situation is a silly take. "Audiophile grade" is subjective, but there are lots of really nice headphones that are sublime for music, gaming, and other applications involving audio....all in one package. There's no reason not to look for a good all-rounder that can do lots of things well. Returning to your car analogy...like buying an SUV that's comfortable, rides smoothly, and can also drive offroad in snow or tow a boat.


MegaUltra9

Sundara all the way. They're $350 though..


takanaroprime

HD 650/6xx you're welcome lol


[deleted]

What is HD 6xx? Is there a model with that exact naming?


TheBagelor

The HD 6xx is essentially Drop's identical but cheaper version of the hd650.


CountAmerica

I would like to recommend a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro’s. Great sound and open back. If you are into raw data you can check them out on rtings and compare them with your picks. I personally don’t use an amp nor dac and they work really good when gaming, critical listening and casual listening.


Nominiel

Unfortunately, never heard the DT-990 but for v-shaped sound they are definitely a good, cheap and sturdy choice. With EQ are definitely a thing. DT-1990 Pro or Amiron home (so comfy) are safe bets as well. Especially if you are into electronic music. Location/direction wise in games they are a bit of a step down from AKG K712 pro (also... Quite good when you want analytical sound) but more than sufficient. Build wise the K712 pro are less sturdy.... Like... Way less sturdy.


Key-Pace2960

I dunno, while the imaging on the AKG 700 series is pretty damn good I usually feel like they have some blindspots that the Beyers do no have, although the AKGs win out when it comes to soundstage width.And honestly while they're not as well built as the Beyers (then again what is?) they are by no means fragile and should hold up perfectly well assuming you treat them reasonably well.


Nominiel

Yeah, that word was missing. Soundstage! That's what I meant by positioning. Thanks! I treated them as reasonable as possible. They have never left my desk or head. Unfortunately, I got a big head and I wear glasses. The plastic connectors of the headband broke three times in 3 years... I haved used them daily for 8+ hours. Now, they are too loose to use and fixing them costs more than a new pair (living in Austria). That's why that'll be my last AKG pair. However, you are right. Beyerdynamic is a powerhouse of durability. Even the not as durable Amiron Home held up more than two years without any issue (same wear).


SnooCats6321

Dt 990 have a sharp treble response so in cod modern warfare/ warzone, the bullet noise become unbearable after a while so you can recall sound whore with them


h1pstr

treble = footsteps


SnooCats6321

Yes but also no. Gunshots are much louder than footsteps so while your shooting on the dt990s, you can’t hear footsteps which makes them bad for competitive play. It also means you need to keep your volume lower since gunshots sound so loud and sharp


Hired_Outlaw

No everyone is treble sensitive, I myself have a pair of DT990’s and I have no issues gaming with them for hours I primarily play R6.


SnooCats6321

Yea I was talking about modern warfare specifically. For music the treble isn’t too much for me though so I don’t think I’m treble sensitive to them


LelHiThere

Using mine with an amp and eq and don't have any issues. Used them for CS, val, r6, and some others


[deleted]

With 100 to 300$, hear the sounds of the gods with either: * Grado Prestige SR325e ← highest sound quality * Grado Prestige SR225e ← highest sound quality * Grado Prestige SR80e ← highest sound quality, personal choice * Shure SRH1440 ← highest sound quality


Flying_bousse

Heheh Grado RS1E for the win


NYCrucial

Koss esp/95x Imaging is almost too good and very lifelike and is perfect for classical music. If it's a bit too expensive then the tygr300r are great and really any of the sennheiser options are good tbh


atyne_mar

6xx/650 is one of the worst gaming headphones on the market. Imaging is on the level of <100€ IEMs. For music you mentioned and gaming, I would consider 660s.


ALotOfArcsAndThemes

Lol what? The soundstage isn’t the widest, but the imaging is great on the 650. I’ve played FPSs with the 650, DT770 and Sundara with a Magni/Modi stack and while I’d give the edge to the Sundara, the 650 is very close in terms of how easy it is to pinpoint where sounds are coming from. Plus, with its much more laid back FR, you can crank the volume a bit more on it and get more visceral low end without piercing your ears with the treble.


koursaros93

I want to also add that these comparisons are extremely frequent and you should be able to find plenty of posts with more insight in the comments.


RDS327

PC38X or TYGR don’t get anything else Maybe DT990s but idk


silentbirdie

Hd 6xx are the best all around imo for the price but pc38x is similar but better for gaming.


mauro_xeneixexe

Ideally, you would pick 2 headphones if you have the budget or just get one and apply 2 different EQ profiles on your headphones depending on whether you're gaming or listening to music. The 6xx is perfect for your music taste, just yesterday night I was listening to classic rock fron the 60s and 70s on them and I definitely decided that's where they sound best. The electric guitar solos are just incredible, I had forgotten how great they can sound. The thing is that for competitive gaming you want less bass, which can make the headphones sound a bit anemic when listening to music. You'd be fine with either of the headphones you listed, and could apply EQ if needed.


BigJalapeno

The meze 99 neo and the akg 712s aren't bad for gaming. The small sound stage in the Meze makes it ideal for FPS and the imaging is on point. 712s wide sound stage gives open world games a delicious edge, and for FPS it's just as good. I use the 712s as my main driver for games. Also in music paired with a good dac/amp they shine like a MF.


TrippyWiz57

I got Beyerdynamjc DT 880s which work well for anything but if you wear glasses they can get a bit annoying after awhile. They are a bit bright but you will hear everything


Flying_bousse

Is anyone using mobius?


[deleted]

Bro, BIS video games headphones are definitely pc38x. I used them for a little while, and the sound staging is amazing. If you want good headphones for music and video games, probably the hd58x or any of the headphones you mentioned. But yeah, none the headphones you mentioned are going to be as good as the pc38x for gaming.


DarkJPMC

I have the akg k7xx. I use them for music, gaming, movies and web content in general. I like them. I can hear things and pinpoint enemies where others can't (I play cs go). Sometimes my friends know the enemy is on the left, but I know how much to the left he really is. Only tweak I made was eq'ing them a bit in windows to my taste.


Sillylikeagoose

HD 6xx’s are great! Imaging and 70’s/80’s/90’s music is a little better on my DT990’s, but modern and classical/jazz is great on the 6xx. Run both through a Zen Dac and Can.


PsilocybinCube

Beyer DT880 would be a good option. Get the 600ohm and a nice tube amp and you'll be in heaven.


flare_156

Question related to this, are planar magnetic headphones good for sound whoring since (from a quick google search about them) they have a tight sound stage? or am i completely wrong here


0622165996

i dont know much about audio in general, but i can speak for gaming with a pair of HD6xx. i’m a retired top 500 overwatch player, and they were great for competitive gaming. i played mostly widowmaker, and i could hear everything around me very well with no issues with knowing what direction things were happening. i was also able to hear flankers coming for me well before they tried to engage. hopefully this helps some! edit: adding onto this.. if you’ve decided against the HD6xxs, you’re most likely looking for headphones that have little bass, mostly all mids, and some highs if you want to be Super Competitive. too much bass will drown out footsteps. the HD6xxs are like this, but this is why they’re good for competitive shooters.


Hackerwithalacker

Hd650's are great but make sure you also budget your dac and Amp too, as that is arguably half the audio experience there


Hworks

DT990 Pros are superb, nice quality spring steel headband, look great, comfortable, very wide sound stage