I am wondering if someone could advice me a good Gaming headset. I'm hesitating between those 2:
Sennheiser pc 363d VS Beyerdynamic MMX 300
Which one do you think I should go with? Did anybody tried them?
My budget is pretty high so the price is really not a major factor. I want something for pure Gaming online (so communication matters). I play mostly Battlefield 4, League of Legends, Dota, Starcraft 2.
For Dota and LOL I use background music.
good
-pretty wide soundstage since its an open set.
-U sound signature which focuses on bass and highs but doesnt completely drop out mids (similar to how the m50s feel)
-good bass levels. this is pretty rare for open type headphones. its also fairly capable of sub bass for those really deep hits.
-warm sound, a bit of sparkle to the highs but not shrill.
bad
-the stock cable which is used should be replaced as it has issues and makes the headphones sound like utter crap unless you replace it.
-the earpads are glued on so are not...
for that kind of a budget.... why dont you go with a seperate pair of headphones and a desk mic?
something like lets say... sennheiser hd698 with an atr2500 or blue snowball mic with stand.
if you look in perepherals and home audio you will see quite a few similar threads where i made suggestions.
http://www.tomshardware.com/s/ssddx+headphone/
http://www.tomshardware.com/s/ssddx+headset/
for that kind of a budget.... why dont you go with a seperate pair of headphones and a desk mic?
something like lets say... sennheiser hd698 with an atr2500 or blue snowball mic with stand.
if you look in perepherals and home audio you will see quite a few similar threads where i made suggestions.
http://www.tomshardware.com/s/ssddx+headphone/
http://www.tomshardware.com/s/ssddx+headset/
Hi,
Thanks for your answer. I appreciate the fact that you are trying to help but please stick to the question.
i was completely on topic... unless of course you refuse to hear any possible alternatives regardless of if they are better or cheaper. in which case you can just skip down to the bold text
--
you do realize that the mmx 300 is very similar to a dt770 old model (premium) with a modmic added right? except that you're paying $400 for something you could be paying $230 ($190+$40) for. the only difference is an added external soundcard which isnt worth the difference in cost.
you could use the newer dt770pro (the mmx is based on the dt770premium). the older model is more bright but with less bass. the newer models have more bass but coarser highs.
for the price of the mmx you could get something like the dt990 which has much better positional accuracy with a modmic and have something similar in quality but better sounding for gaming.
--
the pc363d is based on the hd555/hd595. its regarded as being very bright even for sennheiser standards with good clarity but low bass output. it appears that the hd595 is now discontinued however it was available online for as low as $160.
within your budget a better choice would be a hd598 + modmic combo as this would give you the same "headset" type setup however the mic is removeable and the 598's offer better positional accuracy, better clarity and slightly more bass. they are still bass light... but should be good for anyone but a basshead.
--
this is what the modmic looks like in case you wondered. similar to boom mics on other headsets but removeable. it also gets pretty good ratings for quality (similar to many headsets with good quality mics). http://i.imgur.com/YIbon.jpg
--
however, if for some reason you are completely stuck on those two overpriced headsets... and and absolutely refuse to hear any other potential products which might work for you both better and/or cheaper then you may want to read the below to figure out which you want:
if you want better positional audio (due to an open design) with a bright sound signature but without too much low end bass you might like the pc363d since its based on the 555/595. this also will have a wider soundstage.
if you want a fairly bright sound signature but with some refined bass (but still not all that much) and a closed design for sound islolation but less soundstage then perhaps the mmx 300 is more your style.
if you prefer round cans you might like the 300. if you like oval you may like the 363. different shapes fit different head/ear shapes. i'm not sure which you fit.
the 363 comes with a cheap soundcard for virtual surround which is why it lists 5.1/7.1.... i dont consider this a real factor as you can do the same for the 300. a good internal soundcard is much better anyways.
as for which is the better sounding of the two... the 300 is generally regarded as sounding better than the 363. (however a 598+modmic would sound better yet for less $)
closed design headphones (like the 300) can get a bit hot after time so you need to take them off for a few minutes here and there. open designs (like the 363) arent as bad in this regard.
i was completely on topic... unless of course you refuse to hear any possible alternatives regardless of if they are better or cheaper. in which case you can just skip down to the bold text
--
you do realize that the mmx 300 is very similar to a dt770 old model (premium) with a modmic added right? except that you're paying $400 for something you could be paying $230 ($190+$40) for. the only difference is an added external soundcard which isnt worth the difference in cost.
you could use the newer dt770pro (the mmx is based on the dt770premium). the older model is more bright but with less bass. the newer models have more bass but coarser highs.
for the price of the mmx you could get something like the dt990 which has much better positional accuracy with a modmic and have something similar in quality but better sounding for gaming.
--
the pc363d is based on the hd555/hd595. its regarded as being very bright even for sennheiser standards with good clarity but low bass output. it appears that the hd595 is now discontinued however it was available online for as low as $160.
within your budget a better choice would be a hd598 + modmic combo as this would give you the same "headset" type setup however the mic is removeable and the 598's offer better positional accuracy, better clarity and slightly more bass. they are still bass light... but should be good for anyone but a basshead.
--
this is what the modmic looks like in case you wondered. similar to boom mics on other headsets but removeable. it also gets pretty good ratings for quality (similar to many headsets with good quality mics). http://i.imgur.com/YIbon.jpg
--
however, if for some reason you are completely stuck on those two overpriced headsets... and and absolutely refuse to hear any other potential products which might work for you both better and/or cheaper then you may want to read the below to figure out which you want:
if you want better positional audio (due to an open design) with a bright sound signature but without too much low end bass you might like the pc363d since its based on the 555/595. this also will have a wider soundstage.
if you want a fairly bright sound signature but with some refined bass (but still not all that much) and a closed design for sound islolation but less soundstage then perhaps the mmx 300 is more your style.
if you prefer round cans you might like the 300. if you like oval you may like the 363. different shapes fit different head/ear shapes. i'm not sure which you fit.
the 363 comes with a cheap soundcard for virtual surround which is why it lists 5.1/7.1.... i dont consider this a real factor as you can do the same for the 300. a good internal soundcard is much better anyways.
as for which is the better sounding of the two... the 300 is generally regarded as sounding better than the 363. (however a 598+modmic would sound better yet for less $)
closed design headphones (like the 300) can get a bit hot after time so you need to take them off for a few minutes here and there. open designs (like the 363) arent as bad in this regard.
Lol Please dont be offended. Thanks for all this info. I must admit this info you provided me with is very detailed and very informative!
You convinced me to consider other possibilities
If you dont mind I would like to ask you what you think about the Philips Fidelio X1s for gaming?
Ok let's put it another way to choose. As long as a product has a reasonable finishing, I like to have a some bass (for a better immersion) when playing. I am not obsessed with having very little bass to hear every little footsteps because I think you get a good sense of positioning without 7.1 and good headphones.
So according to what you described the MX 300 seems more appropriate to me or the DT770. What do you think about the Philips Fidelio X1s?
Would you recommend anything else that has some good bass response without being excessive? The budget in the an issue as long as we dont go overboard (not more than $300 since mic is not included). I would really appreciate your help on this
good
-pretty wide soundstage since its an open set.
-U sound signature which focuses on bass and highs but doesnt completely drop out mids (similar to how the m50s feel)
-good bass levels. this is pretty rare for open type headphones. its also fairly capable of sub bass for those really deep hits.
-warm sound, a bit of sparkle to the highs but not shrill.
bad
-the stock cable which is used should be replaced as it has issues and makes the headphones sound like utter crap unless you replace it.
-the earpads are glued on so are not replaceable easy. as you need to replace them every few years this could be a potential issue if you use them alot.
-strong bass can cause the inside cloth to move and tickle your ears. this might be an annoyance.
-they sound like junk unless you have a decent soundcard. its also best if you impedence match since they are so low impedence. some soundcards might not be ideal for this.
---
please note.. none of these are "basshead" headphones which put deep bass ahead of everything else. these are all headphones which while capable of some bass still maintain good clarity to the highs and mids.
the hd650 has pretty controlled bass but it cuts off at a point and offers no sub-bass (the lowest of the lows) so might not be good for everyone. it has a bit more bass than the hd598.
the ath50s have pretty strong bass at least for anyone but a basshead. they manage to boom and at the same time maintain clarity.
the dt770pro-80ohm has the most bass out of the different dt770 models. its also the perfect impedence for pairing up with most soundcards.
the dt990pro isnt quite as bassy as the dt770pro however is capable but with a wider soundstage.
--
a quote regarding bassy headphones without a budget
1. Ultrasone Pro 900
2. Denon D5000
3. Audio Technica Pro700MKII
4. Pioneer DJ2000
5. Beyerdynamic DT770s
6. Sony XB500/700
a quote about some headphones for bassheads under $300
Heya,
Well, what else do you want besides "booming bass?" Do you want it to be a balanced capable bass with normal mids and some sparkly treble? Do you want the treble to be completely smoothed out so that it's less bright? Do you have a preference towards sub-bass or are you more into mid-bass ( huge difference )? Are you limiting this to closed back (assuming yes)?
Denon D2000 - Best sub-bass in it's class to me for all genres, but man is it exquisite with EDM/Dub/Trance. Really digs low, and presents it very well, sub-bass is absolutely phenomenal here. The mids and treble are great too, overall great sound for everything, kind of like a little speaker set.
Ultrasone PRO900 - Massive mid-bass, but sub-bass is less obvious, mids are drown out pretty badly (vocals in trance for example will sound distant), treble is very spiked, so it's very bright, quite sibilant. I would actually suggest the PRO 750 instead. Better overall sound, assuming you don't want to just hear mid-bass cannons and nothing else. Consider the Ultrasone HFI 580 too here. The PRO750 and HFI580 are better for a more balanced sound but still very bass capable and engaging while not being overly bright (still bright mind).
M-Audio Q40 - Big sub-bass, sizable mid-bass, normal mids for a "V" (but vocals still sound fine, they're not distant), and treble is really rolled off, so they're a smooth/darker sounding headphone, less harsh in treble, very forgiving sounding because of that. The bass is similar to that of the Ultrasone series, and because of that, I think the Q40 is simply the better bassy headphone and the PRO900 is actually just too wonky and too bright, the Q40 is just better for this.
Beyer DT990 PRO - Big mid-bass, decent sub-bass (less impact, it's open), good mids, bright treble. Great for a bassy open headphone. Not much really is bassier in the open-back design class in this price range. Very comfortable.
The Q40 with a Fiio E11 pumps out so much bass, while still having normal sounding mids (vocals/instruments) and has no fatigue smoothed out treble, that it allows you to listen fairly loud, and get more bass output than most headphones in it's class and even above it's class. It's just such a bassy can. I like it's bass presentation and level more than the XB500 because it does it without drown out mids, and more than the PRO900 because it doesn't have ear piercing treble. I prefer the D2000 to them all because it sounds more natural and speaker like and is way more comfortable, but it's going to sound less immediately bassy, and it's twice as expensive (if not three times).
Since you don't want it so bassy that you can hear mids normally, I would put you on the Q40, D2000, PRO750 & HFI580 for closed.
not listed above... beyer custom one. really bassy and hits low except its muddy because of it.
keep in mind that some of them have issues because of the bass. for instance the sony XB series has tons of bass but the mids and highs sound like crap (i owned pair for 12 hours before returning them). even the respected d2000 is a bit slow so might not be great for some vocals.
once you start getting into really deep bass territory you start losing out on some things. i find its better to get a pretty solid headphone which just tends towards bass (such as the list i wrote up not the quotes here) but thats your choice.
--
of course... if you just wanted "adequate" bass...
you could go with the hd598 with its huge soundstage. it doesnt have great bass but its enough for games. just not as good for big bass drops in music like dubstep and the like.
good
-pretty wide soundstage since its an open set.
-U sound signature which focuses on bass and highs but doesnt completely drop out mids (similar to how the m50s feel)
-good bass levels. this is pretty rare for open type headphones. its also fairly capable of sub bass for those really deep hits.
-warm sound, a bit of sparkle to the highs but not shrill.
bad
-the stock cable which is used should be replaced as it has issues and makes the headphones sound like utter crap unless you replace it.
-the earpads are glued on so are not replaceable easy. as you need to replace them every few years this could be a potential issue if you use them alot.
-strong bass can cause the inside cloth to move and tickle your ears. this might be an annoyance.
-they sound like junk unless you have a decent soundcard. its also best if you impedence match since they are so low impedence. some soundcards might not be ideal for this.
---
please note.. none of these are "basshead" headphones which put deep bass ahead of everything else. these are all headphones which while capable of some bass still maintain good clarity to the highs and mids.
the hd650 has pretty controlled bass but it cuts off at a point and offers no sub-bass (the lowest of the lows) so might not be good for everyone. it has a bit more bass than the hd598.
the ath50s have pretty strong bass at least for anyone but a basshead. they manage to boom and at the same time maintain clarity.
the dt770pro-80ohm has the most bass out of the different dt770 models. its also the perfect impedence for pairing up with most soundcards.
the dt990pro isnt quite as bassy as the dt770pro however is capable but with a wider soundstage.
--
a quote regarding bassy headphones without a budget
1. Ultrasone Pro 900
2. Denon D5000
3. Audio Technica Pro700MKII
4. Pioneer DJ2000
5. Beyerdynamic DT770s
6. Sony XB500/700
a quote about some headphones for bassheads under $300
Heya,
Well, what else do you want besides "booming bass?" Do you want it to be a balanced capable bass with normal mids and some sparkly treble? Do you want the treble to be completely smoothed out so that it's less bright? Do you have a preference towards sub-bass or are you more into mid-bass ( huge difference )? Are you limiting this to closed back (assuming yes)?
Denon D2000 - Best sub-bass in it's class to me for all genres, but man is it exquisite with EDM/Dub/Trance. Really digs low, and presents it very well, sub-bass is absolutely phenomenal here. The mids and treble are great too, overall great sound for everything, kind of like a little speaker set.
Ultrasone PRO900 - Massive mid-bass, but sub-bass is less obvious, mids are drown out pretty badly (vocals in trance for example will sound distant), treble is very spiked, so it's very bright, quite sibilant. I would actually suggest the PRO 750 instead. Better overall sound, assuming you don't want to just hear mid-bass cannons and nothing else. Consider the Ultrasone HFI 580 too here. The PRO750 and HFI580 are better for a more balanced sound but still very bass capable and engaging while not being overly bright (still bright mind).
M-Audio Q40 - Big sub-bass, sizable mid-bass, normal mids for a "V" (but vocals still sound fine, they're not distant), and treble is really rolled off, so they're a smooth/darker sounding headphone, less harsh in treble, very forgiving sounding because of that. The bass is similar to that of the Ultrasone series, and because of that, I think the Q40 is simply the better bassy headphone and the PRO900 is actually just too wonky and too bright, the Q40 is just better for this.
Beyer DT990 PRO - Big mid-bass, decent sub-bass (less impact, it's open), good mids, bright treble. Great for a bassy open headphone. Not much really is bassier in the open-back design class in this price range. Very comfortable.
The Q40 with a Fiio E11 pumps out so much bass, while still having normal sounding mids (vocals/instruments) and has no fatigue smoothed out treble, that it allows you to listen fairly loud, and get more bass output than most headphones in it's class and even above it's class. It's just such a bassy can. I like it's bass presentation and level more than the XB500 because it does it without drown out mids, and more than the PRO900 because it doesn't have ear piercing treble. I prefer the D2000 to them all because it sounds more natural and speaker like and is way more comfortable, but it's going to sound less immediately bassy, and it's twice as expensive (if not three times).
Since you don't want it so bassy that you can hear mids normally, I would put you on the Q40, D2000, PRO750 & HFI580 for closed.
not listed above... beyer custom one. really bassy and hits low except its muddy because of it.
keep in mind that some of them have issues because of the bass. for instance the sony XB series has tons of bass but the mids and highs sound like crap (i owned pair for 12 hours before returning them). even the respected d2000 is a bit slow so might not be great for some vocals.
once you start getting into really deep bass territory you start losing out on some things. i find its better to get a pretty solid headphone which just tends towards bass (such as the list i wrote up not the quotes here) but thats your choice.
--
of course... if you just wanted "adequate" bass...
you could go with the hd598 with its huge soundstage. it doesnt have great bass but its enough for games. just not as good for big bass drops in music like dubstep and the like.
wow! Great thx a ton for all these options. I will look into each one of them Thank you so much for your time!
When you talk about sound cards, do you recommend buying one? I have the one from my MOBO and it is mainly for gaming and listening to music while gaming. MOBO
if you buy something easy to power... then its optional
if you are happy with how it sounds... then its optional
if you require virtual surround from dolby headphone... then its mandatory
if you buy a hard to power set... then its mandatory
--
will there be improvement is you use a soundcard over your onboard? yes. depending on the headphones you buy and how bad/good your onboard is there can be quite a difference.
i would try to figure out what headphones you like before you figure out what card you want though. this can have a huge influence on what cards or solution is best.
another option instead of a soundcard is to get an external dac+amp for your headphones. this doesnt support dolby headphone for virtual surround though (so you will be giving this up)
if you buy something easy to power... then its optional
if you are happy with how it sounds... then its optional
if you require virtual surround from dolby headphone... then its mandatory
if you buy a hard to power set... then its mandatory
--
will there be improvement is you use a soundcard over your onboard? yes. depending on the headphones you buy and how bad/good your onboard is there can be quite a difference.
i would try to figure out what headphones you like before you figure out what card you want though. this can have a huge influence on what cards or solution is best.
another option instead of a soundcard is to get an external dac+amp for your headphones. this doesnt support dolby headphone for virtual surround though (so you will be giving this up)
Awesome! THx so much. That's everything I always wanted to know about sound cards summarized in a few lines
Please dont be offended. Thanks for all this info. I must admit this info you provided me with is very detailed and very informative!
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram