Hi, I want to buy a headphone for gaming, but I’ve read a fair few times that it’s better to have normal headphones and a dedicated mic than to have gaming headsets. I mean, it certainly has been true for nearly everything except mice so far (I really appreciate the extra buttons), but then again, it hasn’t been true for mice. Currently I only have an Apple wired earphone, and it’s pretty good, but I would also like to have headphones.
For some context, my budget is about $150, and I necessarily want either wired headphones, or wireless ones that can also operate via an AUX cable. I don’t really mind mic quality, so long as does have any serviceable mics that can get my voice across. I can go with both stereo or surround. I do play fps games - but I’ve played for about 5 years with a stereo gaming headset with no problems in directional audio.
One thing I’ve noticed is that out of the four gaming headsets me and my family have bought, all of them have disintegrated really quickly - like 2 years from purchase. That’s one of the reasons I believe gaming headsets fall into the overpriced category compared to normal headphones, for now. Plus alongside being able to game on a normal headphone, I would have something for movies and music too - all in one device.
So, is it better for me to purchase gaming headphones, or use normal ones? What would be some of your recommendations?
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I’m just using the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
ATH-M50x is a great pair of cans.
They’re not a good fit for people with big ears.
If your primary concern is sturdiness, get a Sennheiser HD6XX and clip a modmic to it. Sound quality will be pristine! If you have a kind of sound signature you’re going for, it’s best to demo headphones at a hifi store. They aren’t very common though.
Fun fact: I did the very first modmic video review! They’ve changed dramatically since then, so my review doesn’t actually matter. They used to call themselves antlion.
People suggest that for listening to music because you get higher quality headphones without the integrated microphone. But gaming headsets have surround sound, which I don’t think you can accomplish with a regular headphone like Seinhauser or Beyerdynamic. You might be better off with an actual gaming headset if your primary use is gaming.
Edit: I haven’t tried this particular model, but the older Spirit Wolf headset from this manufacturer was way better than it had any right to be for the price. If you want a cheap option then check these out.
I went through this not too long ago. I had a HyperX Cloud 2 that I’ve used for years, but sadly it fell apart so I bought a Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro 80ohm. So far it’s been:
- Comfy
- Sturdy
- Sounds good
- Looks nice
Got it for around 120 euros. It doesn’t have a microphone, it’s wired, and so far I’ve been happy with it.
I don’t like steel series as a company but the 2017 and 2019 Arctis 7 headphones are decent. I have a pair of the former and use them practically every day to date.
Strong wireless perf/range, decent battery life, a dedicated physical chat/media crossfade dial called chatmix (they nerfed this on newer models), excellent mic quality, physical mic mute button, works perfectly on Linux (if you care about that sort of thing), and you can route your desktop speaker system through the headset reciever (3.5mm) to have it dynamically switch audio output when the headset is on/off.
I appreciate that it looks low profile and not at all gamery. I know that you’re set on having a dedicated mic but I take so many calls/meetings from the kitchen with crystal clear VoIP audio and it’s a game changer.
Some cons:
- the earcup hinge design is daft (several people have had this break on them)
- the physical mute button isn’t always reliable (meaning this is a software switch rather than physical disconnect)
- uses MicroUSB instead of USBC (A7+ has USB C but they made the receiver design super basic)
- it uses this weird proprietary cable for 3.5mm analogue use (comes with the headset but still shitty)
- and as you might expect, the chatmix feature doesn’t work when used as an analogue device.
Idk what to buy but seeing this at 3 am, get yourself something thats comfortable as hell if you have sessions that go on for at least an hour. Studio headphones are not always a good choice. My audio technica sucks after like 45 minutes.
Beyerdynamic Dt 770 is a great one, same with audio Technica m50x, both are listed by others as well. The one thing I will say, is that not having a mic has been a total pain for me and I can never justify paying for a dedicated one. If you often do voice calls, I’d recommend looking at gaming headphones in that price-range as the convenience is really nice. I had razer chimera / kraken? Or something back in the day that was great until my cousin stole it. Took a good beating and never broke, but I’ve had issues with razer quality control lately so wouldn’t be comfortable recommending them anymore.
Sony MCR 7506
These are professional audio gear for a reasonable price. And every part is repairable/ replaceable. You’ll need a separate mic, but that’s well within your budget.
My daily driver headphones are my Samson SR850 open backs. They sound great for music, sound great for shows and movies, and sound great for the gaming I do. They are open back, so noise bleeds out like crazy, and the sub-bass isn’t as punchy as closed back headphones, but I enjoy that wider sound staging you get with open backs. The ear cups weren’t as deep as I wanted, so I bought deeper, softer, more comfy ear cups, and I can wear them for hours without any discomfort.
I honestly know nothing about gaming headsets or what specific demands they fill, but if you’re looking for Non-gaming headphones The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros should be right at your price point (I think I paid $159) and I find the sound amazing and they are all-day comfortable.
I use an AudioTechnica ARD2100x mic that I picked up on sale for $29. I liked that it was a USB mic that also has an XLR interface if I ever want to start upgrading and go down that route…
For me there’s a couple of aspects:
- fit (can you wear them for hours on end, I hear the M50x can get tight if you wear glasses)
- sound (virtual surround can be very nice for gaming, but those aren’t great for hifi music)
For me, this leads me to the AKG K371 (optionally the Bluetooth ones).
Keep in mind that in Windows, you get two audio devices for Bluetooth. Using your mic while listening to audio will make use of the driver that makes your sound very crappy (call quality).
Ideally you should just have a gaming headset, a music headset (preferably one per genre) and a studio headset if you’re a musician. Getting one allround set means compromising.
