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Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black)?
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These are probably as good as it gets, or you can pay 90 dollars for my HD518s lol [link]
If you want good sound for music, movies and gaming then what you really want are standalone headphones and mic (separate) and not a 'gaming' headset. I'm not sure what your budget is, so I can't really recommend any good headphones. In general, I think the Philips SHP9500 is a well-rounded pair of headphones. You could also check out /r/headphones.
The Philips SHP9500 are a steal, they're worth at least double the price. I've heard really good things about them. Here is the link to them on amazon, there's more reviews over there.
> no ragrets
Not sure if reference or typo :)
I recently bough a pair of Philips SHP9500 for $60 and they are pretty amazing. The sound quality and range of open headphones is great and they give me cleaner sound than a $150 Turtle Beach which I thought were a good improvement over my $10 earbuds (I bought them because they were wireless and had an optical receiver, so I could easily switch between PS3/4 and my PC ... they kill my head though ... anybody wants them I can knock off $50).
I know you had other suggestions, but I would recommend these:
[Philips SHP9500]
([link])
I recently replaced my astro A30's with these and the comfort and sound quality blew me away. I was ready to spend about $200 on good gaming headphones when I read many people suggested to buy these and a mic cable instead. Also 50mm drivers get damn loud.
120€ is a horrible budget for a combination of good peripherals.
Since good headphones make the biggest difference Id recommend buying good headphones and cheap mouse+keyboard, you could still upgrade later.
I dont have enough experience to tell you what headphones are good(only have had two high quality pairs so far), but I use these and they are much better than the Technics RP-1200 I used before. You might wanna ask /r/headphones for advice (they recommended these, too :) )
They're $89 shipped on amazon right now. If you have prime of course. If you can scrape the extra cash.
HyperX Cloud have good sound for the money, but note that they are closed, so they are harder to wear than open ones.
I generally recommend getting a pair of open headphones like those (amazeballs value for the price) and a separate mic like modmic or v-moda boompro.
And purely for CS:GO you don't need an expensive pair.
And also, if you were to get a close headphones, m50xs should be perfectly fine, but if you change your mind and want to get an open headphone (which is better for gaming because sound stage) These should be perfect.
Yep X2s are amazing. Their little brother the SHP9500 is $65 and nearly as good. Definitely the best value in headphones today.
I'd go with the Phillips SHP9500 over the 598s if you want open headphones - but I don't know if OP wants closed or open, I've personally always found closed more immersive, but that's super subjective.
Budget - $100
Location - USA
Looking for headphones that emphasize durability and comfort. I travel a lot and sometimes might need to put them into my backpack. I also study a lot on the go so durability is a must.
Thank you guys for all the help!
Not sure if this is a good deal: SPH9500
Sennheiser have good options, though you shouldn't restrict yourself to a particular brand. Get what is best in your price range.
I use those [link], they have amazing sound for their price, and you can get a boompro mic with them to turn them into a headset with no additional wires.
I strongly disagree. M50s are one end of the spectrum, and they're very polarizing. They don't sound bad, but they're certainly not what I'd consider fun headphones. They put sound inside you.
Philips SHP9500s, on the other hand, are cheap, and very reminiscent of HD600s, which is pretty universally considered to be a very good thing. They sound great, they're supremely comfortable, they have a standard 3.5mm detachable cable, and they're very affordable.
The point is, if you need headphones under $200, the SHP9500 is the way to go.
You gotta decide whether you want openback or closed. m50x are closed and the hd598's are open. They sound a bit different from each other and also the opens will leak noise around you, so if you can't have extra sound blaring like mini speakers around you, it's something to consider. They are both great, read the reviews on both to figure out which is best for you.
These are also a pretty good pair of cans if you want to spend a little less, again these have a different sound then the others listed, take a look at the reviews.
I usually recommend
www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENMK1DW + www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ17WKK
Those headphones sound way better than their price tag, and the microphone attaches to them instead of their default cable. They are comfortable and durable (I dropped them plenty of times).
When it comes to microphone, there are reviews of that microphone you can find on youtube that include recordings of sound from it.
Just spend about $65 bucks on a pair of these, just to get a taste of how much difference there is. Be warned these are open back so there is no sound isolation. Obviously you don't need to spend $55,000, but you'll see a difference between $5 and $65, I have no doubt in my mind.
Pretty much any open back headphones will be heard from people within 10m of you in a quiet environment. That being said, the SHP9500 can't be beat for the price unless you're just looking for a status symbol. Way more comfortable than the X2s or 598s and have endgame sound for the under $900 price point.
here you go Seem to be a bit reduced in price too, you really cant go wrong and not heard about any complaints for comfort.
Yeah they are a bit out of my league (cheaper than I thought they were though). I found these Philips SHP9500 that seem pretty decent, and are about half the price of the game ones.
The HD598's are great if you don't mind spending the extra $20.
The Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones are a great compromise. $75 and almost as good as the Sennheiser's but half the price.
Will you be in a quiet of loud environment? These are closed back and would be good in a loud environment but if you are in a quiet room these will be better. Neither pair requires any sort of "special amp", you could run them off most phones let alone a desktop/laptop sound card.
Get those, save your money for a better amp down the road. Spending under 100 bucks for both combined will mean you will have to compromise too much for it not to be worth it.
These are easily the best headphones under 100 bucks IMO.
Then later pick up a FiiO e10K if you think you are lacking something. Try it out and see if it honestly makes a difference.
>The Voids are actually pretty nice
For the price, they really aren't any better than any generic 'gaming' headset that isn't the shittiest of the shit.
For instance, SHP9500's curbstomp them in terms of sound quality for a lower price.
Generally from what I've seen, they sound great and well, they're pretty damn cheap.
If you can squeeze ~$140 you could get a pair of DT770s/HD598s which realistically should sound better and be more comfortable, but the choice is yours.
I personally went for 598s and they're essentially perfect, incredibly comfortable, great sounding and all of the features I wanted.
Im gonna leave a link here for some of my favorite budget cans ever. Dont get these if you dont want sound to leak out though, they are open back
If you want to go 'fancy', you don't buy headsets, you buy a pair of quality headphones and a separate mic, either a desktop one or one that attaches to headphones if you want that. This always gets you better sound on both audio and mic, and more reliable construction in general.
Here's an example of a good pair of headphones for use at home, for gaming, as well as all other things: [link]
A mic can easily be added to it later if necessary.
Not many headphones are removable cables at your price point. These are the only ones that'd work I think
Those are the cheap open back ones that were hyped up a while ago. I think the 9500's. They're not terrible cans, super comfy, decent for a casual listen. But I have a higher standard than most when it comes to clarity because I was looking for a pair that I could use for critical listening when mixing music.
So im on abit of a tight budget, and I'm looking for something at around $100.I will be plugging it into my computer, I have no amps or such.I previously just used the apple earphones,not much to say there. I will be using it for gaming and for listening to music. I was looking at these-[link] Are they ok?
The Philips headphones are pretty good from what I have heard. I'm referring to these ones. The price at the moment is over your budget, but they go on sale frequently. I wouldn't be surprised to see them go on sale again on Boxing Day.
If you're interested in a set of open backs, these are highly recommended for this price range. They also go on sale quite often, as low as $50, so you can try to wait for one of those.
558 are 150. Honestly, I don't know what's the deal with prices, usually here in Latvia I can buy stuff for +- same price as in US, but these headphones are like twice as much, it's insane. Just look at this [link] 9500 for 70$
Sure! But you'd probably prefer a pair of "open" headphones.
The Philips SHP9500 have been under $40 in the past, and would sound a lot better. Note that they don't block out noise at all, and people in the room would be able to hear what you're playing. If that's a problem then the AT M20x would be a good choice.
So, um. I was looking at the Philips SHP9500S on Newegg and SHP9500S on Amazon, and when I refreshed the page on Amazon, the price dropped to $30 with free shipping. So, yeah. I'm getting those. It said only 15 are left. I guess they're clearing out the last of their stock.
I got lasik mwahaha!
Try the SHP9500. Very inexpensive and, though not the best build quality (since it's so cheap), It's one of the best money to sound quality ratio and, because it's so light and open, I doubt they will give you trouble with heat or discomfort with your glasses.
It is good for league. Basically any game that has a lot of things going on. It just smoothings things out by allowing more frames to be displayed. Instead of 60 its 144. There is just a headset added, but it is pretty low quality. It is good for gaming, and is alright at music and such (provided you really don't care about sound too too much). It has a mic attached which you can put up. For $30 more you can get some studio headphones that are much better and dont have the mic attached.
The build is really good for the cost and considering ddr4 ram is new tech the mobo,cpu, and ram should last you at least 4 years. The GPU is the highest clocked 1070 and should last you 2-3 years depending on if it is overclocked. Speaking of which your CPU is overclockable. The case is big enough for any size components and can be changed to accommodate future upgrades if required. You have a 250gb SSD which is the perfect size for games and OS. You have a 2tb harddrive which is enough for literally anything. 2tb is huge. Overall you are set for at least 3 years probably 4 with this build before you may have to change something.
I'd always recommend trying them out in a shop; for sound, but esp. for how it fits. Check some reputable brands like AKG, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic etc. . If you can get an older model for a discount, even better. You won't miss out on any technological advances by buying an older model at that price point.
Edit.: Someone else recommended those: [link]
Hey all!
I am just stepping into the audiophile world and picked up an Aune X7S Amp and Aune X1S Dac. I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect them to my PC, to each other, and then to the headphones.
I've done a little research and it looks like USB from PC to X1S will provide the highest quality, is this true? I could do digital or do some weird 3mm to coax.
Then I connect the Dac to the amp with coax.
Then my headphones are Philips SHP9500(until my Sennheiser HD6XX come in):
Right now these run on a 3mm cable, should I buy a nicer 1/4 cable to run to the amp? Will it make a difference?
So I guess I only have two questions. What is the best way to connect PC to Dac? Is it worth changing out my headphones audio cable from 3mm to 1/4?
All I plan on doing is setting these up and being good to go, I'm assuming I don't need to really do anything on my PC other then make sure the music is high quality?
Thanks for any help!
Your $80 request for a neutral closed back is the problem, double that budget and you have actual options.
You should look at open back options at that price point.
You can't wait a bit while you save up 50 bucks and get something good instead of an "okay" cheaper set? Just wondering
Alternatively you can go for this SHP9500, it's a great headphone too, open back.
I have these and they work pretty much the same. Just plugs into the controller if you have the newer models. I don't know how it would work if you need the adapter.
Ahh yeah this game is one that really requires headphones to at least be situationally aware because sound is so important in this game. Might I recommend a pair of open-back headphones. You can still get great sound, but you are able to hear outside noises like kids crying or saying Dad etc. I own the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) [link] and if you frequent /r/pcdeals you can get a pair around $40-$55. They are super comfy because I can wear them for 8+hours,and don't get tension headaches like I got from others because I have a big head.
Also you don't want surround sound headphones only stereo if you are looking for something else. The ones that claim to have surround sound are a gimmick and a waste of money.
There's a sub specifically for this. Maybe /r/gaming_headsets. I know this question gets asked here a lot.
I think the basic recommendation is this with a mic
Edit: spelling
Have glasses and a big head 7 3/4 baseball hats. I have the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) [link] . You can typically find them on sale for around $50 and then you can get an inline V-moda mic like myself or a boom microphone. They have a good sound stage since it’s open back.
Phillips SHP9500s are better than M50xs, and are also half the price. As long as portability and sound isolation aren't priorities, these are probably your best option.
This is a solid option. I used these with a vmoda boompro mic for awhile before i got M100s
Budget - $100 range, flexible
Source - PC/3.5mm headphone in
Requirements for isolation - None, wouldn't mind a little, but it's by no means a requirement especially if it means i'd be missing out on something better.
Will you be using these headphones in public? - No
Preferred type of headphone - Full Sized Ear Cups - ear encapsulated
Preferred tonal balance - No preference.
Past Headphones - Old skull candy headsets, Turtle beaches, currently my favorite pair is (Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) - [link] ) Had these for 3 years and they still work just fine, but the lack of easy cup replacement has annoyed me for a long time.
Preferred Music - I love it all, but most of the time I bands from MCR / Greenday to Mumford and Sons / Imagine Dragons. I love most genres besides Heavy metal and some of the more obscure ones. Folk, rock, house and electric swing are some of my favorite genres though.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I want something durable, I'd love to be able to easily switch out the cable and ear cups. If it's above 100$ It'd have to be really tough and hard to break. I wear my headset all the time, I want it to be comfortable or at least made comfortable by replacing the cups or something simple like that. that's it, thanks in advance!
Budget - $100 range, flexible
Source - PC/3.5mm headphone in
Requirements for isolation - I'd like a bit, I hate hearing my headphones in recordings.
Will you be using these headphones in public? - No
Preferred type of headphone - Full Sized Ear Cups - ear encapsulated
Preferred tonal balance - No preference. I don't know anything about headphones tbh. I use it to listen
Past Headphones - Old skull candy headsets, Turtle beaches, currently my favorite pair is (Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) - [link] ) Had these for 3 years and they still work just fine, but the lack of easy cup replacement has annoyed me for a long time.
Preferred Music - I love it all, but most of the time I bands from MCR / Greenday to Mumford and Sons / Imagine Dragons. I love most genres besides Heavy metal and some of the more obscure ones. Folk, rock, house and electric swing are some of my favorite genres though.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I want durable headphones that will last me a long time. Something that can accidently be dropped once in awhile. I want to be able to replace the 3.5mm Double male cable, the ear cups, and maybe even the headband. I want to buy something tough and worth money, something I won't replace every few years. Thanks in advance!
Budget - $100
Source - USB or 3.5mm audio jack
Requirements for Isolation - Enough that outside noises don't interfere with the headphone noises very much. I'm interested in open back but am worried about hearing the TV downstairs or people walking around my house while listening to something. Won't be using them in public
Preferred Type of Headphone - Full sized
Preferred tonal balance - Balanced
Past headphones - HyperX Cloud and Corsair Void. The Corsair ones seem quiet and flat at times. HyperX felt a bit bassier which was cool for music but a bit overwhelming for gaming at times. The HyperX headphones also weren't very breathable.
Preferred Music - House/LoFi/Drum n Bass. Mostly anything electronic.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Better "soundstage" for games like Rainbow Six Siege where spatializing sounds is crucial. I tried using my Corsair Void's "surround" mode but it just makes everything sound like I'm in an empty garage. More breathability would be nice too.
I already have a separate microphone so that's not needed at all. I was looking at These headphones from the buying guide but wanted a second opinion here. I'm not much of an audiophile, nor is listening to music a major hobby of mine, I'm mostly looking for comfort and practicality in competitive games.
I assume you are asking about these:
Higher quality/high fidelity audio compatible equipment would mostly only benefit you if you had hi res audio to listen to in the first place, plus with that relatively small impedance of 32 ohms they are very easily powered, the jack on the DS4 is enough. These are relatively low-tier headphones so don't go too high on externals for them, it won't help as much as you want them too, but they will help nonetheless.
A small/portable amp for the these headphones would do some good for you in games where 3D/spatial/positional sound awareness can give you an advantage in game, such as in FPS games. If you play those a lot, especially competitively, I recommend it. If we are talking about the same headphones, then that 12-35 Hz range will be awesome for what I just mentioned, as lower frequencies (especially when amplified) will make footsteps easier to make out. I don't know if you use a seperate pair of cans for music but if you use these then they should sound pretty good, more so with that sub-$100 price tag, and especially so with an amp. An amp is a bit of overkill on these as with all easy-to-drive headphones, but hey, overkill is fun. Bear in mind that these are open-back headphones, so sound will leak both into and from your environment, as you might've experienced already, so an amp would help compensate.
All in all, no, you don't "NEED" an amp, but you'll most likely find them fun to use for music and advantageous for certain games, so go ahead and try them out, just do your research.
TL:DR; No but get them anyways kek
Those are called earbuds. Headphones go over your head. I guess that's one downside to headphones, but a half decent pair of headphones weigh much less than a pound. These are 10.6 ounces or 0.66 pounds. You gotta have a twig for a neck for them to be too much weight.
I actually don’t see the need for surround sound. That’s more of a marketing gimmick really, as the usb 7.1 dongles suck. If you really need surround sound, get Dobly Atmos on your computer.
But I don’t think you really need either. Most games have really good audio, and some games like rainbow six siege literally say don’t use surround sound because it’s broken. You need a headset with good soundstage.
What’s soundstage? Well it’s being not only able to tell the direction of your enemy, but also the distance. That’s why I recommend open back headsets for gaming, though they do leak sound and your mic may pick that sound up. Don’t worry about it though, because what I recommend is omni directional and will basically only pick up your voice.
I recommend the Philips SHP9500/SHP9500s. They are to same thing but the s has a little bit more bass. You also might have trouble getting the 9500 because it is discontinued and not many are left. I recommend these because:
Great soundstage
Very comfortable
Has a lot of treble which is good for hearing footsteps.
Has a detachable cable Incase the wire breaks and so you can use a mic
It is extremely well priced at 80USD. It’s probably the best for gaming under 150 USD. And most importantly it will definitely fit you.
For mic, I recommend the Vmoda BoomPro. You just unplug the cable from the headphones and replace it with the BoomPro which is just a 3.5 mm cable with a mic attached. This is a super good mic.
I also highly recommend an amp both for gaming and music. The one I recommend has a switch with T D and B. T is treble boost (for gaming), d is flat, meaning it won’t change anything, and B is bass boost. Which you want if you listen to music because the 9500 has little bass. I recommend the Syba Sonic DAC/AMP. Link at the bottom. This will definitely help sound quality as it bypasses your pc soundcard. IMPORTANT: DON’T use the included usb cord in it as it will cause a short in your computer. You’ll need a different mini usb cable as the provide a really bad one.
To use the amp: This is a usb amp, so plug the usb into your computer and the mini USB port into the DAC/amp. The will power it so it will drain laptop battery with a laptop. Then all you do is is plug your headphone jack into the big 3.5mm headphone jack. Don’t use the one for a split cable because your headset isn’t a split cable.
That’s it! The total is about 150 bucks and will surpass anything for the price.
Don’t get a gaming headset. They just use cheap divers and RGB and day gaming to trick you, as they are way overpriced.
Z Reviews on YT (total audiophile geek) recommends this as well. I invite you to spend more time researching on his channel and other places to understand the mic and amp better. He has a best gaming gaming headsets video from a year ago. This setup is at the very front and one of the first things he talks about. Also goes very in depth on the whole subject of sound for gaming at the beginning. Here are the links:
9500s-[link]
Vmoda BoomPro Mic - [link]
Syba Soni DAC/amp - [link]
Remember you need a different mini usb cable. I’d throw the one it came with away because it’s garbage and possibly a fire hazard.
Please watch Z Reviews Gaming Headphone guise from a year ago. The first 25 minutes are all you really need to hear. They explain audio in-depth and talk about the headphones and this combo. Good luck!
Feel free to reach out to me as I can help with the setup or usage, but r/ZReviews is probably a better option. You’ll get help ASAP from a whole hutch of audiophiles who know their stuff.
They're available on Amazon here, They'll be back in stock on August 11th :
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black) [link]
Either the SHP9500s or WS100is paired with a VModa BoomPro would also work well for what you described.
A piece of overall advice: always opt for something with a detachable/replaceable cable as worn and broken cables account for the vast majority of headset malfunctions.
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black) [link]
Went with Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones ! Those superlux look like a hella good deal tho
Neither of these have mics and you will want to provide a decent DAC/AMP
For less than $100(USD) https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500S-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=phillips+9500&qid=1553362809&s=gateway&sr=8-2
​
A step up from there for $160 USD (and what I just ordered )
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-hd-58x-jubilee-headphones
​
Decent Budget friendly DAC/AMP ($76 USD)
The Philips SHP9500s and the Sivga SV007 are my go-to recommendations for an open-back under $100.
I do own both, so feel free to ask if you have any questions.
You can find these on sale a lot for $50 throughout the year- https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500S-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW
large drivers and very comfy. I use them at work all day.
For closed back I'm a sucker for ATH m50s
If you are looking for a huge upgrade in audio fidelity over those turtle beach headphones. I highly recommend the Phillips SHP-9500's!! They go from $60-$90 dollars on amazon. I've used turtle beach and astro headsets back in my gaming days and these studio headphones are more comfortable than both (although the Astro's are close). On top of that the audio quality is probably more than sufficient for mixing, they compete in audio quality with $300+ headphones it's insane. They are open back headphones so soundstage is more accurate, but because of that you can't really record vocals with them.
Headphones - [link]
Mic - [link]
The only thing you should know is these are open cans, which means they are not outside noise canceling, so if you need the TV sound in the living room for example to be out of your headset, a closed can headset is a better choice. If you have more questions I'm glad to help!
"quality" is extremely subjective... like you could be like that guy who owns several hundred pairs of $$$$$ headphones and love a $200 pair for certain things more than a $5000 pair.
response to your other comment:
Philips SHP9500S Currently, $55 on Newegg
V-Moda Boom Pro PLUGS RIGHT INTO THE SHP9500S
as long as it is available its still a decent recommendation.
My main headphones recently stopped working properly so I'm looking for a replacement. I would use them for gaming with a priority on immersion, and as I already have a modmic I don't need a headset. I do watch a lot of videos and sometimes films, so them being good for that would be nice as well, but it isn't strictly the priority.
Budget - I'd like to spend no more than £100 but if necessary I'm willing to go a little over.
Source - My computer, a DAC/AMP would be nice but that would likely be outside of my budget.
Requirements for Isolation - Only going to be used at home, I can use some other headphones when quietness is needed.
Preferred Type of Headphone - Full-sized
Preferred tonal balance - I think I'd want balanced?
Past headphones - Well my headphones that just broke were the Creative Aurvana Live! and I'm currently using Koss Porta Pros until I get a replacement. I can't really say what I like about them.
Preferred Music - Lately I've been listening to classical, and I would say it's my favourite, but I do also listen to Rock and occasionally Electronic.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Can't honestly say I know, I felt like something was lacking with my old headphones but I don't have the technical knowledge to pinpoint it.
Location - UK, mainly use Amazon Prime for purchases but if I can get it somewhere else for cheaper then I will.
Other - So I spent a fair bit of last night researching this and the headphones that got mentioned a lot were the SHP9500, the Audio Technica AD series, HD558/598 and sometimes the DT770/990.
The annoying thing is, while the SHP9500 are fantastic value over in the US, like $50-70, they're equivalent to $155 here, at least on Amazon. Now, I could get the 990 for about the same price (£109 for 9500, £104 for DT990) but I would have to get a DAC/AMP to power them, which would put it way over my budget, and the SHP9500's have a detachable cable, which sounds fantastic right now. However, I don't want to be spending money on headphones that are worse than others I could get for the same price.
I've seen the 559's but I don't know what the difference between those and the 558's is, but if they're the same, then I could get them for £89.99 from Amazon.
I've heard mixed things about the AD series and the cheapest ones are still expensive for my budget at £119, again on Amazon.
Trying to decide between these is honestly difficult considering that most of the reviewers and resources are from the US and so they're basing the "bang-for-your-buck" value on the prices of the items over there, where they're a lot cheaper. I'm not saying I'd only pick from these, just that they're the headphones that are mentioned the most when trying to find good open-back headphones for gaming on a small budget. If any of you guys can suggest headphones that are just as good, if not better, but at a better price for my region then I'd happily consider them. Thanks.
Open Back headphones suggestions:
<strong>Philips SHP9500S</strong>
- Super comfortable
- Light weight (you can wear them for hours)
- Very wide soundstage
- Good bass for an open back
- $75 USD (~60€)
<strong>Sennheiser HD 598 SR</strong>
- Comfortable
- Easy to listen to for extended periods of time
- Nice accurate bass which is good for movies/games
- Better build quality over the Philips
- Open box on ebay for $125 USD (~100€)
I strongly recommend Philips SHP9500 with V-MODA BoomPro over HyperX Cloud (II).
[](/text)
Setup:
It's all straightforward. You attach the mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. To connect them to the controller, you just plug the cable in. To connect them to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter. You'd need to use a Y-splitter because the BoomPro terminates in a single plug while adapters have dual jacks. A Y-splitter is included with the BoomPro.
[](/text)
Sound:
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile with the exception of subdued sub-bass. Sub-bass is how deep the bass goes and is where rumble comes from. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. For gaming, SHP9500 has spectacular clarity. It's not far away from headphones from reputable brands that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, HifiMan HE400i (revision), Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound, like virtual surround sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
BoomPro has great quality for voice chat and casual streaming. You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
[](/text)
Build, comfort and features:
SHP9500 has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the earcups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing through to some extent. The sonic benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to sweat, then the open design can help. SHP9500 has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum frame. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earcups tilt and swivel. The earpads are large, but shallow. They are, however, detachable and easily replaceable. The pads are soft and well padded. They are made of smooth, non-itchy fabric and breathe well. The headband has great weight distribution and doesn't cause hotspots on top of my head. The clamping force is very light for an average sized head.
BoomPro has great build quality with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. The cable is free of microphonics. The mic is almost unnoticeable in your peripheral vision, especially when you're immersed in the game. Which is personally a huge plus for me. It has a volume and mic mute control, which have an appropriate amount of resistance and feels consistent, not sluggish or sticky, to adjust.
[](/text)
Alternatives:
If you need sound isolation, then I recommend Superlux HD669 first and AKG K52 second. Attach an Antlion ModMic, which is easy to do, and you have a headset.
Status Audio CB-1 is a closed headphone that's compatible with the BoomPro.
If you don't need sound isolation and are open to using a ModMic, then I have several other recommendations and suggestions.
[](/text)
I've used AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audeze LCD-2 Classic, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms), HiFiMan HE400i (the revision), HiFiMan HE500, HyperX Cloud, Koss Porta Pro, Monoprice Monolith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2, Philips SHP9500, Sennheiser HD598, Sennheiser HD700, Sennheiser HD800, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD669, Superlux HD681 EVO, Tritton Pro+ and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven for gaming, and my go-to recommendation is Philips SHP9500 with V-MODA BoomPro.
If you're from North-America, then the headphone often goes on sale for around $50 on Newegg.
[](/text)
Setup:
It's all straightforward. You attach the mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. To connect them to the controller, you just plug the cable in. To connect them to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter. You'd need to use a Y-splitter because the BoomPro terminates in a single plug. A Y-splitter is included with the mic.
[](/text)
Sound:
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. The sub-bass, which is where rumble comes from, it subdued. It has clean bass. The treble (high tones) can sound smooth or a little bright / too sparkly depending on how treble sensitive you are and what headphones you're used to. SHP9500 has spectacular clarity, it's not far away from headphones that cost several times more. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound, like virtual surround sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well. I assess headphones mainly in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 since I'm intimately familiar with its environment and sound design and rely heavily on it.
BoomPro has great quality for voice chat and casual streaming. You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
[](/text)
Build, comfort and features:
SHP9500 has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the earcups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing through to some extent. The sonic benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to sweat, then the open design can help. SHP9500 has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum frame. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earcups tilt and swivel. The earpads are large, but shallow. They are, however, detachable and easily replaceable. The pads are soft and well padded. They are made of smooth, non-itchy fabric and breathe well. The headband has great weight distribution and doesn't cause hotspots on top of my head. The clamping force is very light for an average sized head.
BoomPro has great build quality with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. The cable is free of microphonics. The mic is almost unnoticeable in your peripheral vision, especially when you're immersed in the game. Which is personally a huge plus for me. It has a volume and mic mute control, which have an appropriate amount of resistance and feels consistent, not sluggish or sticky, to adjust.
[](/text)
Alternatives:
If you need sound isolation, then I recommend Superlux HD669 first and AKG K52 second. Attach an Antlion ModMic, which is easy to do, and you have a headset. I don't recommend HyperX Cloud (II) because it has been surpassed by HD669, K52 and especially SHP9500 in sound quality.
Status Audio CB-1 is a closed headphone that's compatible with the BoomPro.
If you don't need sound isolation and are open to using an Antlion ModMic, then I have several other recommendations and suggestions.
[](/text)
I'm looking at getting a new headset with a mic for gaming and online communication.
- Budget: About $100 CAD. I can go a little higher, but I'd prefer to stay relatively budget-minded.
- Source: They'll most commonly plug into either my PS4 controller, or my computer. I've heard some of the more powerful headsets need additional power or something? But they're probably outside of my budget anyway. I don't know if those would work out of a PS4 controller, either.
- Requirements for Isolation: I'll be using it at home, so there's not a big need for isolation, although sometimes I use it at night, and don't want to wake the family.
- Preferred Type of Headphone: I guess the best ones for gaming would be full-sized or something? I don't have much experience with headphones, just the occasional IEM and my current headset, which is:
- Past headphones: Microsoft LX-3000. It's not the greatest thing in the world, but it was $30, and that was really all I cared about. It creaks/rubs whenever I turn my head, move my jaw, or otherwise make any motion, which transfer directly into my ears. It's a plasticky, irritating sound, but I don't know if that's just a characteristic of headsets in general, or just the cheap ones.
- Preferred tonal balance: Not an audiophile, so I'm gonna go with balanced? I probably wouldn't notice the difference.
I went to the purchase assistant, and looked at the options there. I was thinking of a SHP9500 with the V-Moda boom, but I'm hearing both praise and criticisms at the 9500 (overhyped, etc). Also, I was only able to find them for $130, which is a little more than the ~$60 USD the assistant had. The alternatives I'm looking at are the Superlux 668B ($57), 681 (about the same price), or the 681-EVO ($72). However, I don't know if there's compatibility between the V-Moda and any of these, I've never used a mic that didn't come attached to the headset before. If I look for an all-in-one package, maybe a HyperX Cloud ($104)? I'm just going by the recommendations in the Assistant page here, I've got no idea what I'm doing, I just want the best value for my dollar, and a headset that doesn't creak.
Would this be the ones you are referring to for Phillips? [link]
I've used AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audeze LCD-2 Classic, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms), HiFiMan HE400i (the revision), HiFiMan HE500, HyperX Cloud, Koss Porta Pro, Monoprice Monolith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2, Philips SHP9500, Sennheiser HD598, Sennheiser HD700, Sennheiser HD800, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD669, Superlux HD681 EVO, Tritton Pro+ and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven for gaming, and my go-to recommendation is Philips SHP9500 with V-MODA BoomPro.
[](/text)
Setup:
It's all straightforward. You attach the mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. To connect them to the controller, you just plug the cable in. To connect them to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter. You'd need to use a Y-splitter because the BoomPro terminates in a single plug while adapters have dual jacks. A Y-splitter is included with the BoomPro.
[](/text)
Sound:
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile with the exception of subdued sub-bass. Sub-bass is how deep the bass goes and is where rumble comes from. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. For gaming, SHP9500 has spectacular clarity. It's not far away from headphones that cost several times more. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound, like virtual surround sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
BoomPro has great quality for voice chat and casual streaming. You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
[](/text)
Build, comfort and features:
SHP9500 has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the earcups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing through to some extent. The sonic benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to sweat, then the open design can help. SHP9500 has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum frame. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earcups tilt and swivel. The earpads are large, but shallow. They are, however, detachable and easily replaceable. The pads are soft and well padded. They are made of smooth, non-itchy fabric and breathe well. The headband has great weight distribution and doesn't cause hotspots on top of my head. The clamping force is very light for an average sized head.
BoomPro has great build quality with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. The cable is free of microphonics. The mic is almost unnoticeable in your peripheral vision, especially when you're immersed in the game. Which is personally a huge plus for me. It has a volume and mic mute control, which have an appropriate amount of resistance and feels consistent, not sluggish or sticky, to adjust.
[](/text)
Alternatives:
If you need sound isolation, then I recommend Superlux HD669 first and AKG K52 second. Attach an Antlion ModMic, which is easy to do, and you have a headset. I don't recommend HyperX Cloud (II) because it has been surpassed by HD669, K52 and especially SHP9500 in sound quality.
Status Audio CB-1 is a closed headphone that's compatible with the BoomPro.
If you don't need sound isolation and are open to using an Antlion ModMic, then I have several other recommendations and suggestions.
[](/text)
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The mic plugs directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. The headphone/mic cable plugs directly into the controller. You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR, or a USB adapter, like this one, instead.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
It has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing in and out to some extent. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum headband and no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow. The headphone sits comfortably on my head.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. I'm not going to say anything else about the sound quality than that it's great for voice chat because you can (and you should) listen to sound tests on YouTube to judge for yourself.
Another headphone/headset I've compared it to is HyperX Cloud, which I bring up because it's so well known. It sounds very muddy, has scratchy and awful treble, and it has a smaller soundstage and worse imaging.
If you need sound isolation, Status Audio CB-1 is a popular headphone for gaming in the audio enthusiast community that's compatible with the BoomPro. If you're willing to attach an Antlion ModMic or a Massdrop Minimic to headphones, which is very easy to do, then I have other recommendations and suggestions, open and closed.
Look at the Philips SHP9500. They are open backed (they have a grille instead of hard plastic shell covering the ears). If you keep them at a lower volume, you can hear the world around you just fine. I use them with my wife in the room, and all's well.
You can sometimes get them on sale for $50. Add a mic and you're good to go.
The downsides to this headset are only the 2, non removable pads and open ears.
So I'm not sure why but my brand new pair of Phillips headphones crackle sometimes, but it seems to only be when a certain game is running? Or just occasionally, when it happens i'm not even moving my head any so the wire is stationary.
Is this the link you purchased from? www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW
Thanks man, these are the ones I want, right? www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW
CHeck out the Phillips SPH9500 and the V-Moda BoomPro. Insane value. Mic plugs straight into the headphones, no extra wires like with the Antlion boommics. However, you won't be using these headphones in public as they're open back, but seeing how most gaming headsets look, I don't think you were planning on that anyways.
You have two CPU coolers in there. Get rid of the liquid cooler and pick a motherboard with a better VRM.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Get the Philips SHP9500 headphones and a V-Moda Boom Pro microphone.
If you really insist on going with earbuds, you definitely can't go wrong with VE Monk. But I really wouldn't recommend it for gaming.
Get a good pair of cans like the SHP-9500, it usually goes on sale for around $35~40. Then slap a ModMid or V-Moda Boompro on it
(Copy/pasting from a previous comment I made for headphones/mics, but yeah)
>What's your budget?
> I'd personally recommend going with a nice pair of headphones and a separate microphone. The Philips SHP9500 paired with the Samson Go are a killer $90 combo.
They're gonna offer a much better experience than your current gaming headset will do.
As far as monitors go, the Dell 2417DG is the best ≤400 G-Sync monitor.
Also, not sure if you left it off by accident but if you didn't, please get a hard drive. Filling up SSDs makes for slower speeds (You want about 15-20% of it left open in case of game/OS/program updates or random file additions).
You wrote that you wanted a headset that's completely wireless...
I strongly recommend Philips SHP9500 with a V-MODA BoomPro mic and Superlux HD681 EVO with an Antlion ModMic 4 or Massdrop Minimic over HyperX Cloud (II).
[](/text)
SOUND QUALITY
SHP9500 and HD681 EVO have very good clarity and detail retrieval. They have clean and distortion-free bass. They have treble that's smooth and sparkly, not sharp or dull. Both have an overall great sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more. SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects across the soundstage; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well. HD681 EVO is warm and fun sounding with a spatial / three-dimensional soundstage and impactful and rumbling bass. But it has poor imaging and separation.
As for the mics, the sound quality is the one thing you can judge for yourself before buying by listening to sound tests on YouTube.
[](/text)
BUILD & COMFORT
Both headphones have durable and lightweight builds. They don't have flimsy or squeaky parts. They have an open design, so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which largely isolate sound from passing in and out. The benefits of an open design is a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones. I recommend taking out the loose felt inside the cups of HD681 EVO because the earpads are shallow and the drivers stick out a bit. I also recommend buying velour pads from Brainwavz; they're deep, made of memory foam, have fine velour, great quality and are amazingly comfortable. The pads might be expensive to you, but the sound quality is more than worth it. SHP9500 have good pads and is comfortable.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck. The cable has great quality and is braided and tangle-free.
The ModMic 4 can be bought with and without a mute switch. It has very good build quality with a very good cable. For volume control (and mic mute control), you can use a Fosmon, Insignia or Lucid Sound AdjustR audio controller.
[](/text)
SETUP
The BoomPro mic plugs straight into SHP9500 and the they plug straight into the controller. It's also possible to use a sound card, like Astro MixAmp Pro TR and Creative Sound BlasterX G1.
The ModMic attaches magnetically to a base that you stick to either cup. The Minimic uses a very similar clasp system. They're very easy to attach and remove and are compatible with all headphones. You need a TRRS Y-splitter (three black rings on the connector) to connect the headphone cable and mic cable to the controller. You can also use a sound card, like the ones aforementioned, or a DAC and headphone amplifier, like Audio Engine D1 and SMSL SD793-II.
I don't recommend a sound card or a DAC and an amp unless you want to connect to the PS4 instead of DS4 or you experience electromagnetic interference or have other issues with the controller. These headphones improve only a little with much better sources.
[](/text)
Other headphones/headsets I own: AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990, B&W P7, Creative Aurvana Live!, HiFiMan HE400i, HyperX Cloud, Koss Porta Pro, Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Ebony, Philips Fidelio X2, Sennheiser HD598, Sennheiser HD700, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B and Superlux HD669. Have owned: Monoprice Monolith M1060, Tritton Pro+, and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven.
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The mic plugs straight into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. The headphone/mic cable plugs straight into the controller. You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR, or a USB adapter, like this one, instead.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
It has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing in and out to some extent. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable.
I strongly recommend SHP9500 over HyperX Cloud (II) if you don't need sound isolation. For sound isolation, I recommend Superlux HD669 or AKG K52 with an Antlion ModMic or a Massdrop Minimic. Alternatively, Status Audio CB-1 is a very popular headphone for gaming in the audio enthusiast community that's compatible with the BoomPro.
I strongly recommend Philips SHP9500 with a V-MODA BoomPro mic over HyperX Cloud (II).
The mic plugs straight into the headphone and the headset plugs straight into the controller. It's also possible to use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR and Creative Sound BlasterX G1.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. Clean and distortion-free bass. Smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects across the soundstage; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well. Better than the Cloud.
SHP9500 has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which largely isolate sound from passing in and out. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a braided and tangle-free cable.
If you're open to attaching an Antlion ModMic 4 or a Massdrop Minimic to headphones, then I have other recommendations and suggestions.
I recommend Philips SHP9500 and Superlux HD681 EVO. Add an Antlion ModMic 4, a Massdrop Minimic or a V-MODA BoomPro mic and you have a headset.
[](/text)
SETUP
The BoomPro mic plugs straight into SHP9500 and they plug straight into the controller. It's also possible to use a sound card, like Astro MixAmp Pro TR and Creative Sound BlasterX G1.
The ModMic attaches magnetically to a base that you stick to either cup. The Minimic uses a very similar clasp system. They're very easy to attach and remove and are compatible with all headphones. You need a TRRS Y-splitter (three black rings on the connector) to connect the headphone cable and mic cable to the controller. You can also use a sound card, like the ones aforementioned, or a DAC and headphone amplifier, like Audio Engine D1 and SMSL SD793-II.
I don't recommend a sound card or a DAC and an amp unless you want to connect to the PS4 instead of DS4 or you experience electromagnetic interference or have other issues with the controller. These headphones improve only a little with much better sources.
[](/text)
SOUND QUALITY
SHP9500 and HD681 EVO have very good clarity and detail retrieval. They have clean and distortion-free bass. They have treble that's smooth and sparkly, not sharp or dull. Both have an overall great sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more. SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects across the soundstage; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well. HD681 EVO is warm and fun sounding with a spatial / three-dimensional soundstage and impactful and rumbling bass. But it has poor imaging and separation.
As for the mics, the sound quality is the one thing you can judge for yourself before buying by listening to sound tests on YouTube.
[](/text)
BUILD & COMFORT
Both headphones have durable and lightweight builds. They don't have flimsy or squeaky parts. They have an open design, so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which largely isolate sound from passing in and out. The benefits of an open design is a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones. I recommend taking out the loose felt inside the cups of HD681 EVO because the earpads are shallow and the drivers stick out a bit. I also recommend buying velour pads from Brainwavz; they're deep, made of memory foam, have fine velour, great quality and are amazingly comfortable. The pads might be expensive to you, but the sound quality is more than worth it. SHP9500 have good pads and is comfortable.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck. The cable has great quality and is braided and tangle-free.
The ModMic 4 can be bought with and without a mute switch. It has very good build quality with a very good cable. For volume control (and mic mute control), you can use a Fosmon, Insignia or Lucid Sound AdjustR audio controller.
Other headphones/headsets I own: AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990, B&W P7, Creative Aurvana Live!, HiFiMan HE400i, HyperX Cloud, Koss Porta Pro, Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Ebony, Philips Fidelio X2, Sennheiser HD598, Sennheiser HD700, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B and Superlux HD669. Have owned: Monoprice Monolith M1060, Tritton Pro+, and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven.
[](/text)
The reason I don't recommend HyperX Cloud (II) is that it has a terrible price-performance ratio compared to SHP9500 and HD681 EVO with a ModMic/Minimic/BoomPro. This is partially due to it being closed. The Cloud is better in build quality and materials used in the earpads. For a closed headphone, I recommend AKG K52 with a ModMic or Minimic.
[link] These? If not, can you please give me a link to them?
No doubt some good advice but imo, the best mic and headphones you can get for $100 are the Philips SHP9500 - [link] with a V-moda mic - [link]
Since the philips cable is detachable, you just ditch that and plug your v moda mic into it.
You should check out some audiophile websites about the Philips set, probably the best headset in the $100 range. It beats many that are even more than that.
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
[](/text)
SETUP & USE
The mic attaches to the headphone by plugging it straight into the headphone. You connect the headset to the controller by just plugging it into the headphone jack. DS4 drives it with ease and outputs loud volumes. You can also use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR and Creative Sound BlasterX G1. The mic has a mute switch and volume control.
[](/text)
SOUND
SHP9500 has a neutral/balanced sound profile, meaning the bass and treble aren’t increased or decreased. It presents the game as it was intended to sound like. Please be aware of this if you think more bass equals better sound quality. The bass is clean and distortion-free. The treble isn’t sharp or harsh, it’s smooth and pleasant. The clarity and detail retrieval are very good. SHP9500 has an overall great sound quality that’s not far away from headphones that cost several times more.
Its weaknesses are soundstage, imaging and separation, which constitute positional audio and how well you discern individual sounds from a range of sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well. Soundstage and imaging are shortly told also the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. I strongly prefer stereo because VSS compresses/degrades the sound and it mucks up the positional audio when headphones already have good positional audio. If you find the soundstage and imaging lacking, then you can always add VSS to headphones with a sound card. Note that there are many different VSS technologies and they affect sound quality and positional audio differently.
As for the mic, you can actually judge for yourself by listening to sound tests on YouTube, which you should.
[](/text)
BUILD
SHP9500 has a durable and lightweight build. No flimsy or squeaky parts. It sits around the ears and has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound will pass through freely, unlike closed headphones which largely isolate sound from passing in and out. The benefits to open headphones are that they generally have a larger soundstage and better imaging than closed headphones. The earpads have good quality, they're soft with smooth fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow and it would require a little bit of DIY to replace them.
BoomPro has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck. The cable is braided, tangle-free, and has great quality. I use a desktop mic because I don't like having a mic up in my face, but the BoomPro is barely noticeable in my side vision. The mute switch stays in place and has an appropriate resistance. The volume wheel has a decent size, but could be a little bigger, and a little tighter to not accidentally rub it against your clothes and change the volume.
COMPARISON
To put SHP9500 into scale since I have HyperX Cloud and it's a very well known headset, SHP9500 surpasses the Cloud by far in audio. The Cloud is better in build quality. I haven't even taken its mic out of the box, so I can't say anything about it.
ALTERNATIVES
If you're open to attaching an Antlion ModMic to a headphone, which is very easy to do, then I have other recommendations and suggestions. I've already written a lot of information.
^EXPERIENCE
^I'll ^leave ^this ^list ^of ^headphones ^I ^own ^and ^have ^owned ^here ^because ^I ^generally ^don't ^like ^seeing ^people ^make ^claims ^about ^audio ^without ^mentioning ^what ^other ^experiences ^they ^have. ^Headphones: ^AKG ^K52, ^AKG ^Q701, ^Audio-Technica ^ATH-AD700x, ^Beyerdynamic ^DT990, ^B&W ^P7, ^HiFiMan ^HE400i, ^HyperX ^Cloud, ^Massdrop ^x ^Fostex ^TH-X00 ^Ebony, ^Monoprice ^Monolith ^M1060, ^Philips ^Fidelio ^X2, ^Sennheiser ^HD700, ^Superlux ^HD662 ^EVO, ^Superlux ^HD668B, ^Superlux ^HD669, ^Superlux ^HD681 ^EVO
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The headphone has a neutral/balanced sound profile, meaning it has no increased or decreased bass and treble. It has very good clarity and very good bass and treble quality. Good detail retrieval and positional audio. It has a durable and lightweight build. No flimsy or squeaky parts. The cable and earpads are removable. The earpads are soft and have good quality, but are shallow. The headphone sits around the ears and has an open design, so it allows sound to freely pass out and outside sound to freely pass in. The benefit to this is generally a larger soundstage and better imaging than you what you get with closed headphones. Soundstage and imaging are shortly told the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. Stereo might not sound completely three-dimensional like virtual surround sound, but you retain the sound quality and detail retrieval in return as virtual surround sound uses compression. Virtual surround sound can also make positional audio better or worse, it depends partially on what technology you use. Dolby Headphone is a very common one. Sony and HyperX use their own technology. In any case, I find virtual surround sound to worsen the positional audio when headphones already have good positional audio. Virtual surround sound can always be added to headphones if you find the soundstage and imaging lacking. There are e.g. the Astro MixAmp Pro TR and sound cards from Creative.
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The mic connects to the headphone’s jack, replacing the headphone cable. It has a mute switch and volume control.
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I compare to AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms), HiFiMan HE400i, HyperX Cloud, Monoprice Monolith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2, Sennheiser HD700, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD669 and Superlux HD681 EVO.
If you’re open to attaching an Antlion ModMic to a headphone, which is very easy to do, then I have other recommendations and suggestions.
I advise against HyperX Cloud (II) because SHP9500 surpasses it by far in audio. The Cloud is better in build quality. It’s worse in comfort, but this is so individual.
Here you [link]
I give up trying to link through the text. Make sure you get a mic with it though if you're into talking.
Including a mic, these are $100 combos. I have many other headphone recommendations and suggestions if you have a bigger budget. Just ask if you have questions.
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Headphones:
Has a neutral/balanced sound profile, meaning the bass and treble (high tones) aren’t increased or decreased. It has no bass distortion. No sharp or harsh treble. It has very good clarity and detail retrieval. It has an overall great sound quality that’s not far away from headphones that cost several times more. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is perceived space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately sounds/objects are positioned; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of sounds. I judge headphones by how they perform competitively in FPS games. Soundstage and imaging are the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound.
It has a durable and lightweight build. No squeaky or flimsy parts. It has an open design, so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which largely isolate sound from passing in and out. The benefits to an open design is generally larger soundstage and better imaging than closed headphones.
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Has increased bass and treble. No bass distortion. The treble is a little sharp. It has very good clarity and detail retrieval. SHP9500 has better sound quality, while HD668B has much better soundstage, imaging and separation. It has a durable and lightweight build. No squeaky or flimsy parts. It has an open design.
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This is my favorite for casual/immersive gaming among these headphones. It has a warm and fun sounding sound profile with neutral treble, rumbling bass and a large soundstage. The sound quality is on par with SHP9500. But it has poor imaging for competitive gaming. It has a durable and lightweight build. No squeaky or flimsy parts. It has an open design.
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Has a closed design, so I recommend it only if you need sound isolation. It’s like a closed version of SHP9500 but with less clarity. It has a durable and very lightweight build. No squeaky or flimsy parts.
Other experience:
AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, B&W P7, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, HyperX Cloud, Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Ebony, Monoprice Monolith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2, Sennheiser HD700, Superlux HD669, Superlux HD662 EVO, Tritton Pro+ and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven.
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To put into comparison since most people know of HyperX Cloud, SHP9500, HD668B and HD681 EVO surpass it by far in audio. For closed headphones, I recommend K52. The Cloud is better in build quality.
Alternatives that are well-regarded for gaming in the audio community:
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD500x
- Sennheiser HD558
- Status Audio OB-1
- Status Audio CB-1
- Superlux HD681
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Mics:
The sound quality is the one thing you can judge for yourself before buying by listening to sound tests on YouTube.
Attaches magnetically to a base that you stick to either cup. The mic is very easy to attach and remove. It can be bought with and without a mute switch. The mic itself and the cable have very good build quality. For volume control (and mute toggle), you can use a Fosmon, Insignia or Lucid Sound AdjustR audio controller.
Uses a very similar clasp system as the ModMic. It's also very easy to attach and remove. It's modular and comes with a mute switch. For volume control, you can use the aforementioned audio controllers.
You plug it straight into the headphone. It has a mute switch and volume control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck. The cable has great quality and is braided and tangle-free. It's compatible with Philips SHP9500 and Status Audio CB-1.
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Usage:
To connect the ModMic 4 and Minimic to the controller, you need a TRRS / 4-pole Y-splitter (three black rings on the connector). The BoomPro doesn't require a Y-splitter.
You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR+, or a digital-to-analog converter and a headphone amplifier, e.g. Audioengine D1, with the ModMic 4 and Minimic instead. With the BoomPro, you can't use a DAC and amp.
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Those are only $50 in the US? In Canada those are expenisve as hell. They look really good tho, thanks for the suggestion.
I always recommend open headphones for gaming, but that might now be applicable to your situation.
Anyway, the best headphones you can buy under $100 (and even under $200, really) are the Phillips SHP9500 headphones. That's just headphones but you can easily combine them with the V-MODA boom mic that will literally plug into the headphones.
I'm trying to buy the Phillips SHP9500. On newegg US they are currently selling for $50 and Amazon US they are selling for $70. I live in Ireland so when I checked stores in the UK and Ireland the prices range from $140 to $200 (converted price). For example: Amazon UK. So is there anywhere within the UK or Ireland that i could buy it for a reasonable price?
alright after thinking about it a lot i was gontna suggest either hyprex cloud 2+ cheap adapter or hifiman edition S and a mic+ cheap adapter but the adaper will make everything sound awful, i think your absolute best audio option around that budget is really hard to get in your state with no jack but i think i got smth really nice for 187 or 200 depending on the mic, Phillips SHP9500 - 70$, an Audioquest DragonFly - 100$ which is a better source for your audio and a Vmoda Boompro Mic - 30$ or this Sony clip on mic - 17$
Phillips SHP9500 would be my pick
or these IEM's
you can also consider the Audio Technica M40x but they cost a bit more , cable is propietary so you can't buy cheap cables or microphones and comfort isnt as god with the x's unless you get new pads
for a microphone if you go with my suggestion of the Phillips get the V-Moda BoomPro
Philips SHP9500 ( Open set with big pads that are really comfortable)73$
m40x ( Closed set with balanced signature but the pads aren't as comfortable as the phillips ) 80$ right now id grab the phillips one if not using in public, more comfortable and great sound quality for the price and you can get a great microphone for the phillips cause the cable is detachable , i recommend the vmoda boompro 30$ the m40x has a propietary kind of cable locking so its not gonna work with that
If you're not worried about isolation there are a lot of options that are great for using at home in a relatively quiet environment. These are open back so although they don't isolate particularly well they have a very wide soundstage and great detail and clarity.
$70 Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) - cheap but good
$170 Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphone - These are widely considered the best value for money
If you want something more isolating (closed back);
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones, Black
r/headphones has a huge resource in the sidebar with more options as well.
[link] this plus a cheap USB mic and you'll have a really good setup.
I use a pair of Philips SPH9500s + a Vmoda BoomPro mic
I have two pairs of cans, Superlux HD681 and Philips SHP9500 I'm planning to pick up Micca mb42x. Should I buy an amp or amp+dac combo? Budget $70.
open or closed?
open: I would get these SHP9500 for open (you can find them cheaper if you look) and a boom pro or desk mic.
I'll suggest closed if you want closed
$78 on Amazon US. In the EU, they're either not available or cost €140+, not including shipping (for example). If you ship from the US, the shipping and crucially, the import tax brings the cost to pretty much to what you'd pay in Europe anyway. €125 + a few euros for shipping is actually a good deal from Germany for these.
So I just did a quick Amazon search for Phillips SHP 9500 and they came up as $78. With the attachable mic that is said to be usually bought together with this specific headphone, the price came out to be a little over $100.
Razer headphones on Prime Day were around this price. Now I can't speak about audiophile fidelity, but I think it would just come down to aesthetics without doing audiophile tests. So these aren't necessarily cheaper per se
I swear by the Philips SHP9500 headphones. I have 2 in storage in case my main pair craps out and in case the back-up pair craps out. They are in my opinion the best, most neutrally pure headphones under $500 (and they are like $80 usually). Ever since I started mixing with them 3 years ago I swear I have magically better sounding projects. For normal listening they are also so crisp and clear. On that Amazon page the most helpful review has some good settings to apply to the headphones in order to make them sound even more neutral.
You might need to get a pre-amp to power them a little harder (my audio interface has a shit ton of headroom so a non-issue for me) but if you need a pair of headphones to use at a seated area, get these. Get 2 of them.
Under $100 there's a lot of options from what I've seen. Among open-backed ones (generally better sound, but lacking noise isolation) the commonly backed ones are the Philips SHP9500s, Sennheiser 5x8 series on sale (I personally use the 558, great value), Audio-Technica AD500X (mind the wings, some people like or dislike them), etc.
Obligatory /r/headphones plug. But the SHP and 5x8 are both compatible with some boom mic cables as well for about $30 extra (V-Moda BoomPro and generic for the SHP/5x8 respectively).
EDIT: Besides some comfort complaints (can be modded to a degree), it looks like people enjoy the 668B though. If you're strapped for cash go for it.
Better quality than any "gaming" headset you can find at this price. I also prefer this combination over Astro headsets.
Maybe something like the SHP9500S from Newegg or Amazon and adding a mic.
Maybe a mic like this Sony Clip-on?
Seems the SHP9500 is on Newegg for $30 less than Amazon right now. $120 is nice :D
Actually, wait, that's the SHP9500S, is that better or worse?
As for open vs closed, I do prefer closed because I don't want outside interference, but how open is open? Like, will my headphones drown out outside (mainly voices from my neighbors, I live in a dorm so our walls are pretty thin.) stuff enough that I can ignore it?
>headset with surround sound
That's a scam. There's no surround in headphones. Surround comes from the processing done on the source of the sound. Any stereo headphones are capable of completely realistic surround sound. Any and all headphones and headsets marketed as 7.1 should be avoided, or at the every least, looked very carefully at.
Anyway, here's one of the best things you can get for $100:
Asking this for the second time. I do a lot of long session gaming (anywhere from 4-10 hours + breaks), comfort and build quality are top priorities. I don't play games like CSGO that rely on keen positional awareness. I don't listen to much music either. I use an ATR2100 as my own dedicated mic.
Budget ~$100, flexible
Source Onboard sound with my PC and laptop
Requirements for Isolation I always prefer closed headphones. If they're open, I'd like a minimal amount of sound leak. I don't ever blast the volume on my headphones (volume is around 30% when I check through Windows, though that's probably normal?).
Will you be using these Headphones in Public? No
Preferred Type of Headphone Full-sized over ear
Preferred tonal balance Anything that isn't bass heavy.
Past headphones
1st: HyperX Cloud
+ Really comfortable, semi-portable. Good sound.
- Sound started popping and crackling a lot after about a year and a half. Headphones started to deteriorate overall. Built-in mic was unnecessary, already have one.
2nd: NVX XPT100
+ Ridiculously comfortable, easy to hook up to my laptop if I wanted. Good sound.
- Build quality was less than ideal. I've owned this pair for around ~11 months. The pads are deteriorating, the headband has cracked on the right side and completely snapped on the left. I've super glued it back together, but it might snap again if I twist the headphones on accident. I doubt it's worth replacing the pads and headband if it'll just break within a year again.
I want to say that I've been careful with them, but since they've deteriorated so much already, that's obviously not the case.
Preferred Music Nothing in particular honestly, I don't listen to music regularly.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up I need something that lasts much longer than these two headphones have. I absolutely loved them when they were working in top condition. I've tried on my dad's ATH-M40x's, and while they sound nice and feel really sturdy, it's really tight on my head and the pads feel rock hard.
I was recommended the SHP9500, but I'd be more comfortable with different options.
'Gaming' is just a term that's advertised to people who play video games. All these 'gaming' products are just advertising/word of mouth. Some gaming headphones might sound good but that's because people haven't heard what 'good' is and settle for the for it because of the hype, it's meant for 'gaming', friend/guildmate has it, don't know what else is out there.
What you really want is a headphone meant for music by a real music focused company and not one like Logitech, a company that makes mice, keyboards, speakers, headsets, webcams, etc.
You want a music company like Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, AKG, Grado, Shure, Bower & Wilkins and so on. Your ideal headphones will sound both great for music and great for gaming. It should last you a long time, it should feel like it's constructed well or made of better quality materials than what you see on 'gaming' headphones. I'm not sure what kind of music you're into, so I can't make any suggestions but I can give you starter things to look into. Check out the suggestion thread over in /r/headphones. :)
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X (also the 700X)
Remember, 'Gaming' is just term to cater to 'gamers' and their family/friends. It's just a gimmick, it's all marketing.
These headphones + This mic would give you better quality than any of the headsets you mentioned.
You don't have to go with that exact pairing, that is only a popular example at a great entry price.
Decent headphones + mic, will be better than any "gaming" headset, in both sound quality in gaming, and in voice quality for chatting.
If you must go with a gaming headset, this is the best you'll get.
I usually recommend buying regular Stereo headphones. They're cheaper and have better sound and build quality. Here's a combo my brother uses: Philips SHP9500 and V-MODA BoomPro. They cost about $100/95e. Be warned though, the headphones are "open back", they WILL leak sound. But if you don't care, then you'll be in for a great experience.
Canadian prices are unreal at the moment. Philips SHP9500 plus the V Moda BoomPro mic are $192.99.
Edit: Newegg in Canada has them for $69.99. That's just the headphone. You could get the mic separately from Amazon.
Some that get recommended often are the SHP9500S with a V-Moda BoomPro at 108 USD, and the HyperX Cloud at 80 USD.
You can also use a ModMic, but the price for quality seems eh.
Sticking with the gaming trend, I'd recommend the Hyper X Cloud headsets. Fantastic set of headphones for the price.
If you want a somewhat DIY kit, you can pick up a pair of headphones with a removable cable like the Philips SHP9500's and stick a ModMic or V-Moda Boompro onto it, however, this route can be more expensive, depending on what headset you decide to buy. Honestly, this is the route I'd go.
Links are all non-affiliate.
I have the PX51 which are pretty much the same as the PX4 just with a different transmitter. Excellent headset, but mine is also starting to show its age. I also have the XO Seven, which is a technically an Xbox One headset. But works great on PS4 plugged into the controller. XO Seven has a really good mic and great sound quality. I use that XO Seven when playing with friends and the PX51 for playing solo or watching movies. The XO Sevens are a little bit tight fitting though. I have always had good luck with the quality of Turtle Beach though. I tried the Astro A50 but did not like them as much as the PX51.
I have been eyeing the V-Moda BoomPro though. Thinking of pairing it with the Philips SHP9500. Non gaming headset. Comes out to about $107 from Amazon.
A good alternative to "garbage" gaming headsets would be a pair of headphones and a mic to go with it. Can't really tell what price point you mean by not to expensive is but because I have them I recommend Phillips SHP9500's. Now there are other great headpones out there made by Sennheiser, Audio-Terchnica, etc... but I have only used the SHP 9500's so I don't have an opinion on there quality. For a mic you can get something like a mod mic, v-moda boom pro(recomended for shp 9500) or a zalman clip on mic. Now I would advise looking up some headphones and find a headpone/mic combo in your budget and not just go shp9500/v-moda right away because I recommend them. Now for a soundcard the one in your mobo is good enough. Here is a post about this topic from a while back to shed some more light on it. [link]
Philips SHP9500 are apparently on par or better than headphones that go for $300 or more. I personally own the Philips Fidelio X2's but they are above $100 :/
Philips SHP9500 is only about $63 right now. Great soundstage, great sound quality, very good for gaming. [link]
I've been doing research on this lately and came to the conclusion that "gaming" headsets are generally overpriced for the quality. Best bet would be buy some good quality headphones and attach a mic if you want to. The 2 pairs that I am looking at now for under $100:
They are both open back so they are not noise canceling, just FYI.
you say that till youve seen this
A very popular and sub $100 combo is the Philips SHP9500 headphones paired with the V-MODA BoomPro Mic. They're both highly reviewed on their own and get a lot of recommendations as a pair. I'm currently using them both right now and like it for gaming, music and videos. The headset is constantly on pseudo-sale for under $60.
The headphones sound great and are all day comfortable. The mic works great and is super easy to install and setup.
The Phillips SHP9500 are on sale for 60 bucks right now and are about as good as budget gets (also on Amazon for $60).
They're open back, so a LOT of sound leakage, but that will lead to a wide soundstage and fantastic benefits for positional audio in CS:GO. No surround sound required; they'll be great.
Here's a review from a guy who knows what he's talking about, and is upset at how good they are.
Although, keep in mind that he's a very experienced and critical listener. Some people might not be blown away by them, because they're not going to be overly bassy or anything (those people who think beats are the best thing ever). They let you hear details clearly. That being said, no matter who is listening, they'll still sound quite good.
$86 gets you one of if not the best PSVR/gaming headsets.
SHP9500 Own them and love them. Huge soundstage (very important for 3D audio), incredibly comfortable, and cool (very airy). Get a flat headphone cable and kiss microphonics goodbye. Also they are open headphones which I guess is supposed to help with motion sickness. Also its nice to be able to talk to people around you when you have them on and not be shouting. Also nice to know what's going on in your house while you are strapped in VR
PS grab a moda boompro mic and you have an AMAZING all round gaming headset.
if you don't mind spending a bit more, there are these
ive heard good reviews of them
I would check out /u/zeos guide on their headphones.
Personally I own these because of his recommendation and I love them.
These should come in at around $80 (maybe a tad more) and they're an excellent deal. The headphones also have several well-known mods (if you're into that sort of thing) and can be fitted with more comfortable pads if need be. Also, for future reference, the guys over at /r/headphones will be able to provide better advice in this department!
Do yourself a favor. Check out the Phillips SHP9500.
It's become my dedicated Vive set. Open back for immense soundstage, fantastic balanced audio, very comfortable, and removable standard 3.5mm cable. I just bought a 1 foot, one right angle cable on amazon for these for a couple bucks.
I'll include some links below.
[link] - ZeosPanteras glowing review.
[link] - Amazon link
[link] - And the cable I just bought for these.
Definitely not a headset
Philips SHP9500 seems to be a pretty good high-quality choice for around $80: [link]
I've heard good things about the HyperX headsets, that's a shame they broke in such a short time. I show you what I use for my headset/headphones, they might not appeal to everyone but I'm very happy I went this route. It will be a bit more expensive than the HyperX headsets.
So for headphones, I got the Philips SHP9500. They're $75 on amazon as I write this, and they're just wonderful headphones. Open back, amazing sound, easily the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn, and a detachable 3.5mm cable which is what makes using these as a headset so appealing [link]
To turn these into a headset, you also gave to get the V-MODA BoomPro Mic, which is another $30. Because of the detachable 3.5mm cable on the headphones, the V-MODA BoomPro just plugs directly into the headset [link]
So again this is more expensive and probably not for everyone, but I will personally never buy another gaming headset ever again after using a pair of these headphones
You can definitely find much better cans for the price. Do you need closed-back headphones? If not, the Phillips SHP9500 would be worth a look. They're only 32 ohms so you wouldn't need to purchase a DAC/Amp to power them.
Also, you should use the Daily Headphone Purchase Advice Thread for these kinds of questions. Follow the template there and someone will help you find something that works for you.
If you like modding then again you can do the exact same things to headphones that actually sound better. I'm not saying "you're so dumb" for liking the convenience of gaming headphones. And sure you might not be looking for the best quality. But when you can achieve that quality for usually less than the gaming counterpart and keeping in mind you can spray paint those or whatever just as easily I don't really see your point.
Gaming is for fun. Isn't being totally immersed or being impressed by the quality of that super cool explosion fun too? I'm not even saying you should be an audiophile at all. You can easily build a gaming headset that sounds MUCH better that you can also mod if thats you're jam for cheap.
And again if you like fiddling around with your setup then headphones (not headsets) give you way more options as sometimes gaming headsets limit your sources, dacs, amps, pads, cables. ect ect to what they had in mind out of the box.
Edit - also if you don't want to deal with non-gaming headphones. There's at least a few pairs out there that still give you decent quality (usually better than the $200+ headphones like razer sometimes offers for example) and does not hurt the wallet.
>(which i dont know what it does)
Open construction - air (and sound) are free to flow between inside and outside of ear cups. Makes headphones easier to wear, but allows you to hear outside sounds and people outside hear your headphones.
Closed construction - air/sound in the ear cups is mostly isolated. Provides sound isolation, but makes headphones less comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Here's another option for you:
I do recommend upgrading to a decent pair of headphones, whichever one you find better for you.
I've only heard good things about it for the price.
Edit: Those are open-back. Not good for isolation, but good for soundstage. If you want closed these maybe a better option.
I don't recommend buying gaming headsets, since vast majority of them sound way worse than a pair of headphones and a mic bought separately for the same price, and reliability issues like earpieces breaking off are way common with headsets than headphones for some reason.
The only not bad headset that I know of is HyperX Cloud, and that's only because those are rebranded Takstar Pro80 with a detachable mic included.
Don't get a shitty headset. Instead buy a pair of headphones and a microphone.
My recommendation is Philips SHP9500 with V-Moda Boom Pro microphone. Also these headphones often go on sale and fall to ~$60 (check Amazon and NewEgg).
Alternatively, you can go with the Philips SHP9500 paired with the V-MODA boompro. This is a very popular pairing with exceptional sound quality and comfort for the pricetag ~ $100.
WARNING! These are open back, meaning people around you can clearly hear your sound. If you play around others that would be bothered by this, it might not be a good choice
if you're going for cloud1's, yes. keep in mind they're closed back so bass is gonna be better while other things may not depending on how you like music.
[link] these are the shp9500. the opposite of clouds. lighter bass and open back meaning the soundstage will generally be better as well, high end is nicer which is important if you like classical music.
[link] hd558. more similar to the clouds in sound signature, while retaining the positives (and negatives) of open back. lows are better but still not quite as good as the clouds with leather pads.
i've used all 3 and i personally use the shp9500 now as my main pair of headphones. the 558's were nice but weren't quite as comfortable, though the sound signature was maybe a bit more favorable for me personally without eq'ing the shps.
The Phillips SHP9500s give you awesome bang-for-your-buck sound quality for $75 and they sometimes go down to $60 on Newegg. They are what I use for CSGO.
Yes, 125USD hits my budget, but I'd much prefer <150$ NZD (100 ish USD)
I was hoping seen as you were the only person to reply to my comment, if you could give me a little feedback on a couple headphones I have been looking at?
Phillips SHP9500 (my issue with these would be the big lack of isolation)
And the ATH-M40x
Any feedback about how well these match up with my first comment would be awesome, as well as any other suggestions!
Thank you!
Not necessarily, you'll see these highly recommended around here a lot for a lesser price. [link]
Budget: <175$ NZD
Source: Phone (S3) , PC
Requirements For Isolation: None really, will mostly be using at home, however there may be times I use it out, so at least having some would be preferable.
Preferred Type: Fully over ear, I'm partial to Sennheiser, I've just always heard good things about them, so that would be a preference but not necessary
Preferred Tonal Balance: Would like a well balanced set of headphones, perhaps with a fairly good bass.
Past Headphones Sennheiser MX170 and Logitech G230 but I have also had a few listens using a friends Sol Republics, but I've tried plenty of headphones in electronics stores and have always wanted a decent pair.
Preferred Music I listen to a bit of everything, a lot of pop/brit-pop, dance, but mostly I listen to a range of music.
What are you looking for in your next headphone? I just want a solid pair of headphones, with the best sound for the price, mostly anything would sound like a step-up from what I currently have, but I still want something that sounds really good, louder is also nice.
Location New Zealand
Any help at all would be hugely appreciated, as I'm not that knowledgeable about what I'm looking for as I don't fully understand what does what in the specifications of headphones. So any help would be really really great
I'd much prefer <150$ NZD (100 ish USD) I was also hoping for a little feedback on a couple headphones I have been looking at
Phillips SHP9500 (my issue with these would be the big lack of isolation)
And the ATH-M40x
Any feedback about how well these match up, if they are and good as well as any other suggestions would be really helpful!
Thank you!
I snagged some SHP9500 headphones on for $60 on newegg, they go on sale frequrently (Some of the best bang-for-the-buck open ear headphones you can get, amazing sound stage for 3d presence) and a 1ft 3.5mm headphone cable. The 1ft cable is the perfect length to connect from the headphones, which have a female port on them so you can use whatever cable you want, to the existing vive cable. Easy to unplug and plug back every time you need to use/not-use headphones with the headset.
Headphones on Amazon: [link]
Headphone review that sold me on them: [link]
Cable: [link]
Why would you recommend a tube amp? Those are usually a gimmick (I doubt that one even uses high voltages to power the tubes properly), and the high end ones also have pretty pronounced distortion, only worth it if you're really going for that sound. Not to mention having to replace tubes
Good gaming headphones: [link] They are actually great headphones for the price, easily sound as good as a set of $200 headphones. Also very comfy.
For the headphone amp/DAC, you can either go with: [link]
or spend a little more and get a Schiit stack.
Lots of people are saying ATH MX fill in the blank. Before you go buy those, look into Phillips SHP 9500s. Not only are they cheaper than all of the ATH models being mentioned, they also have a more even frequency response. Here's the response of the 9500s vs the m40x and the m50/m50x. They're a little less even than the Sennheiser HD600, but that's a huge price difference. Plus, they're super comfortable so you can wear them for hours now problem. Only issue with them is that they're open back, so there's a lot of sound leakage, which means they aren't very good to use in public. But if you just plan on using them for production, they're amazing.
Tbh I think these are better [link]
Philips SHP9500 - [link]
I own a pair of these and I love them. I think they will meet a lot of your requirements as well. They sound very neutral/balanced with a lot of clarity. I like to listen to a lot of live recordings and vinyl with these, my current favorite being Jimmy Hendrix Live at Berkley. Voices would be very clear using these for transcription purposes. And your music will sound fantastic with a lot of detail.
They are also extremely light weight and very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They have an expansive and open soundstage and I've heard others say they are great for gaming due to their detailed sound and also their comfort. They're open back which means they aren't super isolating so you wont have a problem hearing LANmates. A lot of people like to attach a V-Moda BoomPro mic. - [link]
.
But I think the best part is the price. Amazon has them for 80$ right now and I've seen them go for even cheaper on flash sales etc. (I got mine for 70 on a New Egg sale)
Seriously, these cans sound absolutely insane considering the price. The SHP9500 can stand its ground against headphones that cost three times as much are a steal for being under 100$. I hope you give these a look, you wont regret it.
Honestly I suggest getting rid of those Razers and purchasing a quality pair of headphones with a modmic. This would be a MUCH better choice. In an enclosed space, multiple drivers are always worse than two well designed drivers.
Also, the hissing could be due to noise from your CPU/network card etc. or just from the headphones themselves... unfortunately that set is mostly marketing and not much of quality design.
If you just bought those new, see if you can return them and get a pair of Philips SHP9500s as well as something like a ModMic. There are less expensive external microphones as well you can check out, but the modmic is of great quality and adheres to the side of the headphone.
That setup is the real deal and would kick the shit out of any headset on the planet.
Amazon is listing them as $78.95 right now, good time to pick up a pair!
if you really care about audio, I would go for Philips SHP9500, Best headphones under 100$ no questions asked (look @ Z Reviews Review of it [link], highly appraised amongst audiophile community AFAIK) with a vmoda boom pro or modmic.
If you don't want the hassle, G930 works as well because its wireless. Sound quality will be MILES off the philip's though
Headsets are typically bad, but you can also get HyperX Cloud for the same price, and they are good. Though I don't really like the fact that they are closed.
Just going to point out, phillips 9500 is going for $76 right now
also HD 598 is $110 and the sales happen a lot.
Budget - I would like to spend as little over $100 as possible. I plan on using the headphones for gaming so I would need to get a mic, and if it's compatible I would get the V-moda boompro mic, so I would like it if the headphones were not over $70 very much and were compatible with the boompro.
Source - I plan to use them mainly for my PC to play games and occasionally some handheld devices such as a 3DS and my phone
Requirements for Isolation - Some isolation would be nice, I plan to use them mostly at home
Will you be using these Headphones in Public? - Maybe occasionally, however as stated above I plan to mainly use them at home.
Preferred Type of Headphone - I would prefer full-sized headphones, I sometimes have an issue with being able to keep IEM headphones in my ears.
Preferred tonal balance -I would like a fairly balanced pair of headphones.
Past headphones - I currently use the Corsair Void Wireless headset. I like dolby surround sound for games (however I don't expect surround sound for the headphones), and I like the headset overall but I feel like the overall audio quality could be better which is what I'm hoping to get out of the headphones.
Preferred Music - I don't really have a preferred genre of music, and usually listen to almost any type of music. I usually go on the proximity youtube channel ([link]) and listen to random songs along with random nightcore
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I was hoping to get more detail out of headphones.
After posting in yesterday's daily thread I am highly considering the Philips SHP9500 headphones ([link]) with the boompro. However I was wondering if there were any other suggestions.
That are the prices in the US. The 9500 are 130€ in Germany for example.
www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENMK1DW + www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ17WKK
You should state your budget though.
As always, I recommend those:
I personally recommend [link].
They sound way above their price range. Also very easy to wear.
Surround sound headphones don't do much to help at all. If you take a good pair of stereo headphones and listen to the virtual barber shop on youtube, it does just as good a job as any surround sound headset. Also, the sound is almost ALWAYS not as good anyway. In the 100 dollar range, I would recommend you stretch the price to 130 dollars, get a philips shp9500 and vmoda boompro. If you need closed headphones, NVX Audio XPT100 with vmoda boompro is also a good choice.
Oops, didnt realize I already said a lot. But stereo headphones do just as good a job as virtual surround at sound stage and direction. Again, going to /r/headphones and asking there might yield some more clear answers.
The Philips SHP9500 is currently very popular on /r/headphones, pair it with the VModa BoomPro and you should have a nice setup.
Amazon has them right now for 69.99!
So my extensive knowledge of audio devices are my Apple ear pods and the cheapest pair of bluetooth headphones I could find on Woot.
That being said, I am in the market for a new pair of decent quality headphones, ideally <$100 but certainly <$150. I am by no means an audiophile and don't really think that I can hear the difference between "great" headphones and mediocre headphones -- but I live to be proven wrong -- as long as it's not tinny and shitty.
What I'm looking at right now is the Phillips SHP9500, the AKG K267s currently on Massdrop and (of course) the M50x's.
Any opinions? The Phillips are $70 right now which makes them really attractive, but they seem less usable in public and portable than the M50x's. The AKGs seem like a fantastic deal, but they are B-stock and I know nothing about them other than they look like a good deal.
Edit: Also considering these Sennheisers, but I'm not as much of a fan of the way they look as the AKG or the M50x's.
Edit 2: My "form:" I'm looking for something absolutely less than $150, but less than $120 or even $100 would be awesome. I'll mainly be plugging these into my iPhone or MacBook listening to a wide variety of music on Spotify (usually EDM, whatever's on the charts, and a lot of classic rock and heavy metal). I would like the headphones -- beyond sounding good -- to be comfortable for extended periods of time and not look bulky, odd, obnoxious, or out of place in public, but also be over-ear. My last pair was the Plantronic Backbeat Pro which was great because it was bluetooth and had a ton of features pertaining to that functionality and active noise cancellation, but my ears would start to hurt where they hit the speakers and my ears got a little sweaty after a long time usually.
Amazon has them right now for 69.99!
Go get them! There are 4 left!
Philips SHP-9500 if you like open backs (which I love).
The Aurvanas posted also are decent at that price for closed backs, which help with sound isolation.
Philips SHP9500 or the Monoprice Hi-Fi DJ Style .
I bought the V-Moda BoomPro mic but the 2 headphones I already had weren't compatible. Just wondering which one is more bang for my buck. Other recommendations are fine as long as they work with the V-Moda
I don't wanna spend much more than $80, I have glasses so comfort is a big thing, I don't plan on using them anywhere but my desktop, isolation would be nice and I prefer over-ear
Best headphones under $250, apparently.
You need a headphone with a detachable cable and the jack has to be 3.5mm without being recessed. Examples include Philips SHP9500 (see how the left earcup has a plug right there?) and the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro
Hope that helps!
This is not my first time posting, but I would like some second opinions, I've also updated the information below.
Budget ~£50-70 [~$80-110].
Source - Computer. Sometimes Computer -> Monitor.
Requirements for Isolation - Some. I would like closed headphones.
Preferred Type of Headphone - On-ear, or just comfy.
Preferred tonal balance - Mad Lust Envy recommends "Dat Bass..." for immersive gaming headphones.
Past headphones - I've never had non-shitty headphones/ earphones, usually use speakers.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I'm looking for a headset to use with gaming, music, movies and skype. I want them to last. It would be nice to have a pair that are wireless, and charged through usb (but not essential). Comfort is important.
Location - UK
Right now, I'm looking at 3 options (But I'm here for second opinions):
Philips SHP9500 + Vmoda boompro - This combo is just outside my price range, and they are open-back. The Vmoda is a great product, but getting them is difficult, the shipping is 6-8 weeks... too long.
HyperX Cloud - Looks like a solid option. I like the detachable mic.
Skullcandy SLYR - From the reviews I've read seems like a good product. Skullcandy has a lot of hate, so I've seen a lot of people online read the name and discount them based on that. If anyone specific knows about this product could give me insight, that would be great.
![[link]](http://d3qk4yk8nq0n55.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/over_on_in.jpg){kind=link}
You probably mean over ear.
I would possibly suggest:
or
Those are both open-back which I find much better for positional queues in gaming.
If you want something closed back for some noise isolation, at under 100 dollars just go for these:
Those monoprices will sound better than what you were using. SALE13 for 13% off right now.
The shipping on the vmoda boompro is 6-8 weeks! At least it's free. [I think, I'm not sure for international]
The pair of SHP9500 and vmoda boompro comes to about £73, just outside my bracket but only a smidgen.
I'll have a look at some reviews, but personally I'd like a little less expensive.
I'm also looking for some cheap [£5-15] earphones for running in. Can you recommend any? Not many reviews here give a value for Doesn't-fall-out-your-ears-ness.
Budget ~£50-70 [~$80-110].
Source - Computer. Sometimes Computer -> Monitor.
Requirements for Isolation - Some. I would like closed headphones.
Preferred Type of Headphone - On-ear, or just comfy.
Preferred tonal balance - Mad Lust Envy recommends "Dat Bass..." for immersive gaming headphones. But I have other uses for the headphones.
Past headphones - I've never had non-shitty headphones/ earphones, usually use speakers.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I'm looking for a headset, to use with gaming, music, movies and skype. I want them to last (however I'm not going to be taking them about, so my requirement for durability is not as high as others). It would be nice to have a pair that are wireless, and charged through usb (but not essential). Comfort is also important to me.
Location - UK
This is my second time asking for advise (2 days ago), but I would like some second opinions, which are always nice. I have also updated the above info with my new knowledge.
Right now, I'm looking at 3 options, 2 from swordknight, and 1 my own:
Philips SHP9500 + Vmoda boompro - This combo is just outside my price range, and the shipping on the Vmoda is 6-8 weeks... too long. They are also open-back.
HyperX Cloud - Looks like a solid option. I like the detachable mic.
Skullcandy SLYR - From the reviews I've read seems like a good product. Skullcandy has a lot of hate, so I've seen a lot of people online read the name and discount them based on that (E.g.).
I've only just found out about the vmoda, which if it was easy to aquire, would open the world of buying a nice pair of headphones then pairing it. But It's not.
Please guide me, thanks for the help.
This is not my first time posting, but I would like some second opinions, I've also updated the information below.
Budget ~£50-70 [~$80-110].
Source - Computer. Sometimes Computer -> Monitor.
Requirements for Isolation - Some. I would like closed headphones.
Preferred Type of Headphone - On-ear, or just comfy.
Preferred tonal balance - Mad Lust Envy recommends "Dat Bass..." for immersive gaming headphones.
Past headphones - I've never had non-shitty headphones/ earphones, usually use speakers.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I'm looking for a headset to use with gaming, music, movies and skype. I want them to last. It would be nice to have a pair that are wireless, and charged through usb (but not essential). Comfort is important.
Location - UK
Right now, I'm looking at 3 options (But I'm here for second opinions):
Philips SHP9500 + Vmoda boompro - This combo is just outside my price range, and they are open-back. The Vmoda is a great product, but getting them is difficult, the shipping is 6-8 weeks... too long.
HyperX Cloud - Looks like a solid option. I like the detachable mic.
Skullcandy SLYR - From the reviews I've read seems like a good product. Skullcandy has a lot of hate, so I've seen a lot of people online read the name and discount them based on that. If anyone specific knows about this product could give me insight, that would be great.
You may also like the Philips SHP9500. I'd recommend posting over in /r/headphones. GL :)
I would exchange them and buy something that is not a 'Gaming Headset'. I'd recommend taking a look at the Philips SHP9500 with a Zalman Clip-on Mic. :)
Also, maybe you could post over in /r/headphones for help.
If the most important thing to you is the sound then you should look for Headphones meant for music that are also good for gaming. Headphones and Headsets also aren't the same. Headsets include a mic and Headphones are standalone without a microphone.
I think Headphones are much superior as they sound better, are usually more comfortable and are built better (stronger build quality than 'gaming' headsets).
For headphones, I would look at the:
If you want a good mic then I would suggest the:
- Zalman Clip-on
- V-MODA BoomPro. This mic will not plug into all of the headphones above btw.
- Mod Mic / Mod Mic at Amazon
- Blue Microphone 'Ice' or the Blue Microphone 'Snowball'. These are 'standalone' mics that will not attach to your headphones.
Hope this helps a little bit! :)
I can't really comment on them as I don't know but I do know they are the same price over on Amazon.
Hi /u/Kombat_Wombat123 :)
I would suggest looking for a pair of headphones meant for music as opposed to a gaming headset. Headphones are better quality and good for both gaming and music. You want something that sound great, are built very well, are comfortable and will last you quite a long time and that's really what headphones are.
The Philips SHP9500 is an 'open' headset. That means it does leak some sound but it should also be very comfortable. I'd recommend reading some of the reviews from amazon but buying from Massdrop as it's cheaper.
You'll have to add a mic to these headphones because 'headphones' don't come with mics attached, so I would recommend something like the Zalman Mic. It's probably different than what you're used to but it sounds just as good.
Please take a chance on these and my advice. :)
Ok I typed the headphones wrong, here [link]
I mean really, "don't exist" what, do you think I was fucking making that up? That I don't have or wear headphones? Christ.
And no, sorry, the gun sounds in WW2 sound much better to me, people just like busting call of duty's balls cause it's a large, popular franchise so its the "cool' thing to do. You're not deep because you like bf over cod.
Its not surprising, a lot of corners were cut in bfv's development and production and it shows, everyone can agree on that. Certainly in the audio department for starters.
I like that you bfv fans are trolling the CODMW subreddit, any mention of slight against that abysmal failure and you people pop up with your little protests.
Modern Warfare is going in more of a bf direction than bf this year, but don't take my word for it, read up. For the beta there's going to be a 32v32 with vehicles, including player driven helicopters and you can try it for yourself.
Bfv failed us this year, I'm a fan of the series, but definitely not bfv, it's the worst bf game made in terms of content and production value.
Open back:
Semi open:
Closed back:
Any of these will pair with a VModa BoomPro if you want a good modular boom mic.
If you'd like to consider a desktop microphone, you could expand the list of headphone options that work well for gaming and music.
Amazon links used for convenience. Shop around for best pricing. The used market is also an excellent option for headphones.
If you can I would get the SHP9500 & VMODA Boom Mic instead of the Cloud II.
Also I can suggest the SwiftRX as good pad.
Also have you looked at offerings from Viewsonic and BenQ for your monitor?
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The mic plugs directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. The headphone/mic cable plugs directly into the controller. You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR, or a USB adapter, like this one, instead.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
It has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing in and out to some extent. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum headband and no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow. The headphone sits comfortably on my head.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. I'm not going to say anything else about the sound quality than that it's great for voice chat because you can (and you should) listen to sound tests on YouTube to judge for yourself.
Another headphone/headset I've compared it to is HyperX Cloud, which I bring up because it's so well known. It sounds very muddy, has scratchy and awful treble, and it has a smaller soundstage and worse imaging.
If you need sound isolation, Status Audio CB-1 is a popular headphone for gaming in the audio enthusiast community that's compatible with the BoomPro. If you're willing to attach an Antlion ModMic to headphones, which is easy to do, then I have other recommendations and suggestions, open and closed.
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The mic plugs straight into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. The headphone/mic cable plugs straight into the controller. You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR, or a USB adapter, like this one, instead.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
It has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing in and out to some extent. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable.
I strongly recommend SHP9500 over HyperX Cloud (II) if you don't need sound isolation. For sound isolation, Status Audio CB-1 is a popular headphone for gaming in the audio enthusiast community. It's compatible with the BoomPro. If you're open to attaching an Antlion ModMic or a Massdrop Minimic to headphones, then I have many other recommendations, open and closed.
Except swap the headphones for these: [link]
Detachable cable means the headphones don't die when the most fragile part inevitably does. All the missed wireless stuff still applies however.
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) [link]
> I don't want a lot of my desk space taken up
If that's your only worry, then you shouldn't be worried at all. Any setup I would suggest would take up the same amount or less space than a standard headset. It's just an added level of complexity. It's slight, but present. I would suggest something like these very nice Phillips headphones, which actually normally drop to $60, and this Sony lav mic which sounds better than pretty much any microphone on any headset. You can just clip it onto the wire for the headphones and forget about it.
>Can you elaborate about what you mean on the KM780?
It's just kind of ugly, seems nonstandard as well. guys over at /r/MechanicalKeyboards are pretty picky about their keyboards. I don't think browns are better for gaming than blues, I think blues are better. I think many actually agree on that point. Pros use Blacks and Reds, but those are linear switches which aren't as good for gaming. The keyboard you have choosen is fine. If I were to spend a bunch of money on a keyboard, though, I would get a Das Keyboard.
Without knowing your budget/expectations/etc. This is about the best i can recommend. They are fantastic for music and games, better sounding than pretty much any headphone under 200 dollars, and possibly the most comfortable headphones period.
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) [link]
V-MODA BoomPro Gaming, VoIP Headset Headphone with Mic (Black) [link]
In this price range I highly recommend this combination:
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) [link]
+
V-MODA BoomPro Gaming, VoIP Headset Headphone with Mic (Black) [link]
Much better than any gaming headset in this price range.. HyperX has pretty bad mic, personally I use BoomPro paired with V-Moda Crossfade Wireless.
The HyperX Clouds are one of the best at that price, the Philips SHP9500 and VModa Boompro are perhaps a better option though they are open backed.
I admittedly have not ever tried any open eared headphones. I got some V-Moda CrossFade LPs and the V-Moda mic. I ended up sending them back because of the leather earcups didn't let me hear myself.
I have thought about picking up one of these and another V-Moda mic. I have heard good things about them from /r/headphones. They are just a bit outside my price range at the moment though.
Much better value and a really good headphone.
Philips SHP9500 + V-MODA BoomPro
The mic plugs directly into the headphone, replacing the original headphone cable. The headphone/mic cable plugs directly into the controller. You can use a sound card, e.g. Astro MixAmp Pro TR, or a USB adapter, like this one, instead.
SHP9500 has a well-balanced sound profile. It has clean bass and smooth treble that's not sharp or harsh. It has great clarity and overall sound quality that's not far away from headphones that cost several times more, e.g. AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT990, HiFiMan HE400i, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD598. Its weaknesses are soundstage, which is how you perceive space and environment of sound; imaging, which is how accurately you locate sounds/objects; and separation, which is how well you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. However, SHP9500 performs well.
It has an open design (as you can see with the grills on the cups), so sound passes freely through, unlike closed headphones which isolate sound from passing in and out to some extent. The benefits of an open design are a larger soundstage and better imaging than most closed headphones (at least in same the price range, of course). It has a lightweight and durable build with an aluminum headband and no flimsy or squeaky parts. The earpads have good quality with soft and smooth, non-itchy fabric, and they're detachable, but they're shallow. The headphone sits comfortably on my head.
The BoomPro has a volume and mic mute control. It has great build quality, with an aluminum gooseneck and a tangle-free and braided cable. I'm not going to say anything else about the sound quality than that it's great for voice chat because you can (and you should) listen to sound tests on YouTube to judge for yourself.
Another headphone/headset I've compared it to is HyperX Cloud, which I bring up because it's so well known. It sounds very muddy, has scratchy and awful treble, and it has a smaller soundstage and worse imaging.
If you need sound isolation, Status Audio CB-1 is a popular headphone for gaming in the audio enthusiast community that's compatible with the BoomPro. If you're willing to attach an Antlion ModMic or a Massdrop Minimic to headphones, which is very easy to do, then I have other recommendations and suggestions, open and closed.