Originally posted by: mrgq912
senn hd 280 pro
or
senn hd 580
I am not going to use an amp. And will be using these for movies, games (mostly) and music (rock, pop, rap).
Which will be better for my situation?
The HD580's will beat the pants off the 280's in sound quality.
I have driven 580's without amp and they still sound good, just not their greatest.
Also you'll have to crank up the volume quite considerably on the sound card.
If you don't want to at least get a CMOY or somesuch, maybe the 280's will be better for you.
Originally posted by: mrgq912
And when people say they are open and everyone can hear, at what volume does this apply. Like if the volume is low can everyone still hear what i am playing. And on the flip side, can I play these at low volumes in a lan party or in my room, without being disturbed by minor outside noice (such as computer fan or door opening)
If the volume is low, people can't really hear, especially not in any kind of noisy environment. I crank my 580's quite a bit, and yes they leak more than closed sets, but I don't think it's at all terrible. If you're concerned about LAN parties, don't worry. It's not like you're hanging loudspeakers from your head.
Overall, if the purchase of a cheap headphone amp puts you off, either borrow a HD580 set or buy it where you can return without hassle, then try without amp.