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Astros.
Not sure... but I looked at reviews for pretty much all the gaming headsets I could find for a few days. Even the stupid high priced ones had a lot of reviews that said they broke in a short time or that the MIC was crap or that they were uncomfortable or that the tech support sucked big time / RMA was a joke when they broke.
Looking at the Sennnheiser GSP 600 and the reviews say that things break on them and the ear pads come un-stitched.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-GSP-600-Professional-Headset/dp/B078VM929R
The Sennheiser Game Zero seem to be ok-ish IF you don't get the Amazon version.. but there are a few quality issue reviews on those as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-G...KNPYAEY/ref=psdc_402053011_t4_B078VM929R?th=1
The same goes for every single other high end brand gaming headsets that I could find. The gaming headsets are just made super crappily compared to their regular headphones.
They make them out of cheap plastic, poor drivers, poor earpads, etc. I must have spent 16+ hours looking at headset reviews before finally saying "screw it" and buying a used set of HD630VB.
If you want a good gaming headset, you are pretty much stuck with getting good cans and a MIC or a set of cans that has an in-line MIC. At least that is my opinion after spending a ton of time trying to find a good gaming headset.
Plus, if you have a separate set of cans and an add-on MIC if one fails you don't have to replace the whole setup.
Then don't buy a set. But by far the best headset I have used in the last 5 years.I'll be honest... I have always been a fan of the Astros or at least how they look. But I've always been turned off by the mic. Not only do I think the mic sounds slightly muffled but have also seen a lot of complaints about the mic drooping (over time) with the way it's plugged in vs permanent.
I'm looking for a quality headset (with mic) that has the 3.5mm plugs to use with the Soundblaster AE-7 soundcard. Would be used for gaming and my budget would be anywhere up to about $500.
- What kind of games do you usually play (FPS, RTS, etc)?
- And will you be using your headset for things other than gaming? If so, how frequently? (for example, 50% gaming/40% music/10% movies)
- Audio preferences (more thumping, more clarity/detail, balanced between both, etc)
- Closed-back or open-back? (closed usually helps with sound/noise isolation, open with soundstage & hearing your significant other's demands)
I would say 90% FPS, 5% RTS and 5% 3rd Person.
100% for gaming as I just use my speakers for music, movies etc.
Mostly balanced but a little thump never hurt anyone.
Closed-back... significant others demands while gaming is why I'm twice divorced lol.
Still got my eye on the Arctis Pro (non GameDac wired version) but not 100% sold on it as of yet.
I would skip the MH571... check out the 1-star and 2-star reviews. Cheaply made plastic pieces of crap:
https://www.amazon.com/product-revi...r&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar
https://www.amazon.com/product-revi...e=all_reviews&pageNumber=1#reviews-filter-bar
Two options for 'audiophile' headsets:
Beyerdynamic MMX-300:
https://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/mmx-300.html
Audeze LCD-GX:
https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-gx
Be careful when looking up the price of the second one...
Two options for 'audiophile' headsets:
Beyerdynamic MMX-300:
https://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/mmx-300.html
Audeze LCD-GX:
https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-gx
Be careful when looking up the price of the second one...
Man if I had the cash to pick up those Audeze... I put it in my favorites so maybe in the future I can treat myself. lol
As for the MMX-300... I'm seriously considering them now. Still not 100% sold. I'm wondering though how these will sound with my Sound Blaster AE-7 because I have seen in my Google searching a lot of complaints about low volume and people suggesting to use a MixAmp like from Astro? I know nothing about this stuff but I'm assuming the mixamp is the soundcard and plugs into PC with USB? Do I have that right?
MixAmp is a mixer and amplifier solution, with a few presets I guess. Changes the volume of various frequencies (mix) for a better sound clarity, bass, etc. depending on what your listening to. Also adjusts overall volume(amp).Man if I had the cash to pick up those Audeze... I put it in my favorites so maybe in the future I can treat myself. lol
As for the MMX-300... I'm seriously considering them now. Still not 100% sold. I'm wondering though how these will sound with my Sound Blaster AE-7 because I have seen in my Google searching a lot of complaints about low volume and people suggesting to use a MixAmp like from Astro? I know nothing about this stuff but I'm assuming the mixamp is the soundcard and plugs into PC with USB? Do I have that right?
Only "knock" about the Audeze LCD-GX is that it's open-back (as per OP's requirements) ... apart from that, it's the Holy Grail of ultra high end, "audiophile" gaming headsets atm. The MMX 300 is a solid choice, though (based off of the DT 770) -- it will work fine with your AE-7 as that has a pretty decent headphone amp.
The "MixAmp" they are talking about is the Astro Gaming one (which I wouldn't recommend -- there are many better and cheaper ones out there).
MixAmp is a mixer and amplifier solution, with a few presets I guess. Changes the volume of various frequencies (mix) for a better sound clarity, bass, etc. depending on what your listening to. Also adjusts overall volume(amp).
Looks like USB and TOSlink (in back) and maybe a 3.5mm aux input in the front according to the specs. Thats for the new version, havent looked at the old model specs.But you connect your headset to the mixamp and then the mixamp connects to the PC via... USB?
I'm looking for a quality headset (with mic) that has the 3.5mm plugs to use with the Soundblaster AE-7 soundcard. Would be used for gaming and my budget would be anywhere up to about $500.
While I recommended two headsets, and one mostly in jest, I do want to echo what 5150Joker is saying here: a good pair of cans and a good microphone will obliterate any headset.Please don't waste your time and money on any gaming headset. Just get a decent external microphone (e.g. audiotechnica at2020) with an arm and a pair of good headphones like the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee. I have the Astro A50 Gen 3 and Gen 4, Hyper X Alphas and a myriad of other gaming headsets and they are ALL TRASH. Believe me, as soon as I put on my Sennheisers and fired up Apex, all of the sudden I could hear footsteps that I couldn't with my Astros and it became a major game changer--almost like I suddenly had ESP. The imaging (which is important for games, especially FPS) just annihilates any of these gaming headsets and even most audiophile headphones until you start pushing $500+ territory.
Leave it to Creative to put the DACs and amps in the PC and then run an analog godsdamned I/O pod out to the desktop. This is a flashy consumer convenience product, not a product designed for quality audio.Not to mention I want to use my Sound Blaster AE-7 for both and just make it simple
Also, the mic on the Audeze LCD-GX is trash. You're mostly paying for a lighter-weight set of Audeze high-end cans tuned for gaming instead of music (LCD-2C) or mixing (LCD-X). You'd still want a good mic to go with them.
Just for fun: a true FPS-oriented, "respected by all" headphone setup would be the Sennheiser HD 800/800s + a pretty solid mic (Rode NT-USB, possibly)? That'll set you back around $1570 USD before tax, though ($1399 for HD800/800s + $169 for the Rode NT-USB). Unbeatable soundstage & imaging, but the HD 800/800s is open-back (HD 820, the closed-back variant, seems to have been a disappointment for all closed-back lovers).
Actually...Are there no quality mics that would just use an existing sound card vs USB? That's still the direction I want to go with. I know the AE-7's Controller is crap which is why I don't even have it hooked up. I want the mic and headset/headphones connected to the AE-7.
I just switched to A40s from some more expensive wireless because I wanted corded - too many issues with wireless and switching between headphone/speaker output. So far they're quite good and would recommend checking them out.
Was ready to get the GSP 600 but not sure now with some of the reviews I've been reading in terms of their durability.
I was looking at the A40's but been hard finding people that have used it without the mixamp and using it with a solid sound card to get a good impression of their opinion. These give me flash backs from yrs ago with how I always liked and wanted an Alienware system and then when I get one it ends up being garbage. Are you using these with or without a mixamp? And if without... what are running them with?
Actually...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U86RBU8/ref=emc_b_5_t?th=1
Didn't know that this specific model existed, but it looks just about perfect with the suggested VMODA boom mic. And it's pretty cheap!
Was ready to get the GSP 600 but not sure now with some of the reviews I've been reading in terms of their durability.
While I recommended two headsets, and one mostly in jest, I do want to echo what @5150Joker is saying here: a good pair of cans and a good microphone will obliterate any headset.
Honestly, after the HD600 pair I own -- which I ain't giving up! -- I'm not in a hurry to run up Sennheiser's chain. My Focal Elex really do what I want there if I want something a little more open, while retaining the low end that the HD800 just outright ignores. I'd likely push higher up Focal's range if not Audeze's or Hifiman's.My next headset is going to be the Sennheiser 800 with a high end DAC
Honestly, after the HD600 pair I own -- which I ain't giving up! -- I'm not in a hurry to run up Sennheiser's chain. My Focal Elex really do what I want there if I want something a little more open, while retaining the low end that the HD800 just outright ignores. I'd likely push higher up Focal's range if not Audeze's or Hifiman's.
That's not to knock the HD800 for what they do well, and in that facet they really do stand alone, but it's not something that I'm honestly finding myself in need of .