Need feedback on headphones

[mike420]

I am using Zalman 5.1 surround sound headphones
- http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/multimedia/display/zalman-head.html

but I will be buying a new amplifier and don't feel like unpluggoing chords from my mobo everytime I use headphones... (Zalman's have a front, rear and centre plug) so I want new headphones too (fun)!!

These were the first two pairs that grabbed my attention:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde...gid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10029910&catid=

&

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde...gid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS04312500&catid=

My price range is around $100cnd = $89usd. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...
Cheers

p.s. Does anyone know if there is a difference between Neodymium (the seinh's) and Ferrite (the sony's) magnet types?

 

[potato28]

Save some more money. Get the Sennheiser HD555's, they're so much better than the 2 that you have listed. And If I had to choose between those 2, I'd say the Senn's because I don't really trust Sony's low end.

 

[mike420]

Thanks man. I'm gonna take that CS test!

Holy crap, you've got a problem there potato28. I KNOW I have a problem and I am only 70% addicted!! Where do you play most of the time? I like the Pantless servers... See ya in da field.

 

[Trippytiger]

The HD555s that potato28 suggested are a good idea, although you can almost certainly do better than Futureshop's prices. AXE Music carries them for $165 CAD HERE. However, if your budget's not that flexible, or if you're interested in closed headphones, then the Audio-Technica ATH-A500 headphones would be a great choice too. Audiocubes carries them for $89 USD + $13 USD shipping HERE.

Both are supposed to be great headphones for gaming. I think the Audio-Technicas might have better bass.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Trippytiger
The HD555s that potato28 suggested are a good idea, although you can almost certainly do better than Futureshop's prices. AXE Music carries them for $165 CAD HERE. However, if your budget's not that flexible, or if you're interested in closed headphones, then the Audio-Technica ATH-A500 headphones would be a great choice too. Audiocubes carries them for $89 USD + $13 USD shipping HERE.

Both are supposed to be great headphones for gaming. I think the Audio-Technicas might have better bass.

Closed cans(ATH-500) generally have better bass, but open cans(Senn's) have a larger soundstage and better accuracy. And yes, I'm a complete CS addict I usually only play Office2 Webkillers, no lag and dynamic pricing is on. I love having a tmp in the first round

 

[Ika]

The A500s are basically better for gaming than the HD555s, because the A500s are sealed (which means they let in less noise). The soundstage of Audio-Technica's Ax00 offerings are actually quite large, and are probably the best well-rounded closed headphones you can buy. The 555 has its merits, though - being an open headphone, sound will sound (erm...) more realistic and won't have an "echoey"-like sound that most closed headphones have.

 

[mike420]

Thanks guys, some good tips there.
Edblor just recommended Grado headphones. Any thoughts?

Keep in mind that I will be using them almost exclusively for fps like Counter Strike: Source, BF2, R6 Vegas and FEAR.

Thanks kids

 

[edblor]

edblor here yo!

I love my GL SR60s. $110.00 at a local Audio store, and I have not looked back

I would say that they produce a more accurate soundstage, and the bass is present, but not too overpowering like some Sony's or Pannys!

G/L buying Mike...now get back to work you slacker

Ed

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: mike420
Thanks guys, some good tips there.
Edblor just recommended Grado headphones. Any thoughts?

Keep in mind that I will be using them almost exclusively for fps like Counter Strike: Source, BF2, R6 Vegas and FEAR.

Thanks kids

Since gaming is the priority I'd say the A500s might be the best in your price range. The HD-555s wouldn't be bad either (although they're open and I think the A500s are probably better).

Grado makes good headphones but they're designed with music in mind.

 

[Trippytiger]

Originally posted by: mike420
Thanks guys, some good tips there.
Edblor just recommended Grado headphones. Any thoughts?

Keep in mind that I will be using them almost exclusively for fps like Counter Strike: Source, BF2, R6 Vegas and FEAR.

Thanks kids

Grados are great headphones, and I love my SR60s to bits, but they are not gaming headphones. I've used mine as such, and they did okay, but I'm really not a serious FPS gamer. Grado headphones have a very compressed soundstage, and the imaging isn't quite what it should be to make them really effective for games. Don't bother if you're mainly going to be gaming.

Beside which, they're even more expensive than the Audio-Technicas here in Canada thanks to Grado's price fixing and dealer territories.

 

[mike420]

Those Audio-Technicas are sounding like the winners but where can I buy them locally in Toronto? Anyone know of any large chains that carry them?

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think they're Japan only models. I know some few companies do import them but they then mark the price up a good bit as well.

Audiocubes will ship them to you (and charge a reasonable price), so it'll be $89 plus whatever shipping will run ya.

Here's the link.

 

[mike420]

thanks man, what about these ones (ATH Pro 5 @ $75us)???

http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Audio...hnica_ATH-PRO5_Monitor_Headphones.html

Camo! Sweet!!

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: mike420
thanks man, what about these ones (ATH Pro 5 @ $75us)???

http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Audio...hnica_ATH-PRO5_Monitor_Headphones.html

Camo! Sweet!!

I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about those headphones (ever, ever, ever, never, never), so I'm not sure that's a very good idea. Besides, the A500s are only $15 more than that anyway, so I would definitely consider that extra money well spent.

 

[mike420]

10-4

 

[Howard]

How about canalphones?

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: Howard
How about canalphones?

Never for gaming... very limited positioning and imaging.

 

[Howard]

I never understand why people say that. If so many people believe it, there must be some physical explanation, but right now, it seems like nobody knows why.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: Howard
I never understand why people say that. If so many people believe it, there must be some physical explanation, but right now, it seems like nobody knows why.

The way canalphones are designed means that the outer ear (the part you can pull on, you know?) doesn't factor into the sound equation, like normal headphones do. Because of this, the perceived "headstage" of canalphones (equivalent to soundstage in speakers) is different. That's my guess, anyway; I think it makes sense. Another possible explanation is that due to the small driver size of canalphones, it is harder for manufacturers to create good imaging. That might just be BS, but whatever.

And besides, canalphones are more expensive than full-size headphones, and the only reason they're great is because they isolate and they are small. When gaming is the only thing the OP is doing, a big chunk of that benefit doesn't matter.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: Howard
I never understand why people say that. If so many people believe it, there must be some physical explanation, but right now, it seems like nobody knows why.

The way canalphones are designed means that the outer ear (the part you can pull on, you know?) doesn't factor into the sound equation, like normal headphones do. Because of this, the perceived "headstage" of canalphones (equivalent to soundstage in speakers) is different. That's my guess, anyway; I think it makes sense.

I don't think that's the reason. The outer ear changes (distorts) the signal passing through it; if the source is inside the outer ear, then the frequency response changes. The sound still goes through the same route, and it's not like there is cross-talk between the two transducers.

Another possible explanation is that due to the small driver size of canalphones, it is harder for manufacturers to create good imaging. That might just be BS, but whatever.

Funny, in loudspeakers, conventional knowledge is that theoretical point sources have the best imaging.

And besides, canalphones are more expensive than full-size headphones

There are no canalphones for ~$100 CAD?

 

[Ika]

There are no canalphones for ~$100 CAD?

There are, but you won't get as much for your money as you would if you bought full-size headphones for the same price. For example, the Koss KSC-75 will basically destroy any canalphone and the lower-priced IEMs, and it costs under $20.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Aflac

There are no canalphones for ~$100 CAD?

There are, but you won't get as much for your money as you would if you bought full-size headphones for the same price. For example, the Koss KSC-75 will basically destroy any canalphone and the lower-priced IEMs, and it costs under $20.

That's debatable with the Marshmellows, but I agree about the pricing.

 

[Trippytiger]

Originally posted by: Aflac

There are no canalphones for ~$100 CAD?

There are, but you won't get as much for your money as you would if you bought full-size headphones for the same price. For example, the Koss KSC-75 will basically destroy any canalphone and the lower-priced IEMs, and it costs under $20.

Sure, but try finding those in Canada. All nine of Radio Shack's Canadian stores closed down last week.

And although I like my KSC-75s and have been using them quite a bit lately, what with my E2c's out for repairs (well, they will be once I get around to mailing them out), I personally wouldn't say that they destroy my Shures. Plus, I feel that they have fairly well defined imaging, although I can't speak to its accuracy, since I've never used them for gaming. No soundstage whatsoever, of course.

Granted, since my main headphones are Grados, I don't have much of a reference to go off of as far as soundstage and positioning are concerned.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Trippytiger

Originally posted by: Aflac

There are no canalphones for ~$100 CAD?

There are, but you won't get as much for your money as you would if you bought full-size headphones for the same price. For example, the Koss KSC-75 will basically destroy any canalphone and the lower-priced IEMs, and it costs under $20.

Sure, but trying finding those in Canada. All nine of Radio Shack's Canadian stores closed down last week.

Ha. I got a pair from the U of T bookstore.

 

[Trippytiger]

Originally posted by: Howard
Ha. I got a pair from the U of T bookstore.

Lucky you, you've got a consistent source. I'm just glad I bought a couple of extra pairs for cheap ($11.00!) while RS was having its going-out-of-business sale. Should be enough to last me for a while.