PC Headset/Headphone's audiophile's POST here!

[Kerberoz]

You still need to remove the cable part.

Why?

[Boyiee]

Because a lot of true audiophiles are using $300+ cables on their higher end equipment, or customizing their own.

They offer better shielding, flexibility, weight, and some people that are presumably blessed with superhuman hearing actually can hear a difference.

Cables do in fact make a difference and are worth it for some people. They won't make a difference to audio quality, but they do offer extra benefits in some other areas and are worth it to many. We're not talking Monster here, of course.

Some people are using $800+ headphones, with 1500-2500$ amps... They definitely aren't running their setups through 3$ cables from monoprice. They aren't worth it for the most part, but they are for some.

Also, the point of this thread has been completely missed already.

[Kerberoz]

Because a lot of true audiophiles are using $300+ cables on their higher end equipment, or customizing their own.

And a lot of true believers think meditating over crystals cures their osteoporosis. What's your point? The crystals are certainly worthwhile for them, right?

Show me a double-blind study of "true audiophiles" being able to tell the difference in sound quality between $10 and $100+ cables of the same gauge and length, please. Or, even, double-blind studies confirming the existence of "true audiophiles".

[Boyiee]

I posted other reasons, thanks for zeroing in on the one I was sarcastic about.

Cables make a difference to some people, end of story. You don't need a double blind study for some of the benefits of using higher end cables.

[Boyiee]

There are 500 posts of this on Headfi a day. There is a placebo effect, there is bullshit, and there is better shielding and other positives. Some cables are just better. You'll see a lot of people modding hd650 cables onto other cans as well. I'm not starting this debate here when it already exists on other forums. All I asked was for you to remove that one bit from your quote because cables do matter to some people.

This thread went in the wrong directions a few posts after the OP. The titles states "audiophiles" and people are posting their favorite 60$ headsets lol.

[Kryssan]

I don't really consider myself an audiophile by any means, but I do like being immersed in sound when I'm working at home (and can't use a speaker system since apartment / neighbors... yay past noise pollution complaints) and have recently purchased a set of ATH-M50S and a FiiO E7/E9 to setup. Should arrive middle of next weekish.

I will say after reading this thread I decided to go that route rather than get one of Sennheiser's headsets, since I decided to go with the M50S and one of those attachable mics. I don't really use a mic all that often, so it wasn't a big deal breaker either way. This way was a lot cheaper though, and hadn't really thought about / considered it until it was mentioned. Yay for waiting I guess.

[Ghost_Wheel22]

Burn-in could also be viewed as a placebo, but generally accepted. Cables can be a bit harder to justify because of the the cost but if you have the disposable income to support it then go for it. $100 cables will never impact my life directly so why care so hard about it?

[Boyiee]

I value burn-in much higher than I do cables. I run all my higher end phones for at least 60-100 hours when I first get them. I think even sennheiser plays their headphones for 72hours straight before sending them to reviewers, although their reasons are not for burn-in.

There is really nothing lost by burn-in. Even if it doesn't exist, there is no harm in it.

[Darus Grey]

As a "true audiophile" when someone asks me what kind of cable to use, my response:

"Copper, definitely copper"

The shielding stuff is BS too, yes it's "better" but there's a threshold for effectiveness in shielding, and even $10 monoprice cables often exceed them. Past that you're only protecting against really extreme interference...which if it's an issue for you...you should probably leave the area, it's not safe, lol. Once you have "enough" shielding, more doesn't increase signal integrity.

It's like the audiophiles who argue about $2000 power cords, these people lack a basic understanding of electricity and signals. In their mind more $ = better, and that's ALL it boils down to. As you say, Plaecbo.

[Hitoshura]

G930 Wireless 7.1 DD set for sale at BB for $99.

[Demosthenes]

[edit]
Oh shit someone already posted head-fi links.

[Tweek]

necroish bump.

Surround comes from your soundcard/drivers, not headphones. Multiple speakers in each ear = gimmick.

I wanna know why some people say multiple speakers in headphones are a gimmick. does Sennheiser not make any true 5.1 headphones? It would make sense that they don't most of their headphones aren't for gaming.

I can understand the advantage of going with a high quality pair of cans for listening to music but many people just want a headset for just gaming. I have a hard time believing you can pinpoint exactly where a noise is coming from or someone is shooting you from with a stereo headset.


for me, when i'm gaming (on PS3 console) 3D audio positioning is the absolute most important thing for me since I play a majority of FPS. I think a lot of the people on bg value sound quality for music listening more than 3D audio positioning. It's just something to consider I guess when talking shit about 'em. I got a pair for gaming I use on my ps3 and I only use them for gaming, wouldn't ever bother using them for listening to music.

[Kerberoz]

No one makes "true 5.1" headphones. Please, find me headphones with a center speaker and subwoofer... for your center ear, I guess. You have two ears. Two. Unlike stand-alone speakers, headphones are fixed in place relative to your ears. Directional sound is an illusion created by your brain, just like depth perception, and your brain is very, very easily fooled. It is entirely possible to emulate surround just as well with 2 speakers as with 6 or more speakers, when those speakers are in a fixed position no matter how you move your head. "Gaming" headphones are a joke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA (turn off any surround emulation and listen with stereo cans)

[hey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA

That's incredible.

[Tweek]

No one makes "true 5.1" headphones. Please, find me headphones with a center speaker and subwoofer... for your center ear, I guess. You have two ears. Two. Unlike stand-alone speakers, headphones are fixed in place relative to your ears. Directional sound is an illusion created by your brain, just like depth perception, and your brain is very, very easily fooled. It is entirely possible to emulate surround just as well with 2 speakers as with 6 or more speakers, when those speakers are in a fixed position no matter how you move your head. "Gaming" headphones are a joke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA (turn off any surround emulation and listen with stereo cans)

which models have you tried playing fps with to compare?


for the headsets i've used stereo vs true 5.1 there is an undeniable difference between simulated 5.1 and "true 5.1" headsets (8 speakers). Yes I agree simulated 5.1 is very good and works well but it's not the same and unless you've really tried both your brain won't know the difference. Sure simulated 5.1 sounds great and it seems like you know the general direction in which a sound is coming from and with a nice set you can especially hear distance, depth and easily which side but it's not the same as the true 5.1's one easy test is try both sets and stand next to something loud in game like a chopper for instance on BF and then spin around.

Headset Review Roundup (not my review)
http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/P3070079.jpg


Again, I'm not saying there aren't better quality headsets for cheaper or better sounding headsets especially for listening to music my only point and my main concern when using a gaming headset is 3D audio positioning, if you disagree please explain to me how/why and what experience you've had with what headsets.

next you're going to tell me listening to the drum scene in house of flying daggers can be simulated with dolby digital to sound the the exact same as a nice true 5.1 setup speakers?

[Kerberoz]

why do you keep saying 5.1 you know 5.1 means 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer so what is your experience for saying 5.1 and explain your experience see the thing is all headphone surround is emulated because the speakers are in a fixed position next you're going to say we hear in 5.1, what I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them, you can't explain that, from a certain point of view of trying stereo cans with a good soundcard give the same illusion of 3D audio but in superior fidelity and why are you comparing speakers to headphones that'sonlyvalidifyourheadislockedinavice

[Tweek]

oh so you haven't actually tried the headsets you're talking about? because i mean for one it would mean you need to admit to your headset audiophile friends that you were retarded enough to fall for the gimicky multi-speaker headset marketing scam or maybe you tried them on in a store, yeah i'm sure that gives the same experience.

yeah i've experienced simulated 3D audio, with a good mixamp you can hear some great sound stages that sound pretty realistic and help with 3d positioning... but i've also tried what in the gaming headset industry is known as "true 5.1" with multiple drivers and can say the sound was no where near the same.. most multi-speaker headsets end up using smaller drivers and produce inferior sound quality but they still make for a better 3d positioning experience which again is what many gamers value the most. it might be something you consider when knocking shit you haven't even tried first hand, many people would prefer a better speaker quality for a better price and 3d positioning is not the most important thing to them but that's their choice you can't make that choice for others

[hey]

I've never tried monster cables, but i still know they're no better than coat hangers.

The "you've never tried it, so you don't know" argument is bullshit.

[Boyiee]

Tweek, you do not need any special surround headphones for gaming. Games are designed in a way such that headphones can hear positional audio. Most competitive fps players use whatever their sponsor gives them, which are typically non-surround headphones. You can hear footsteps and shooting to your left, to your right, behind you, etc.

The reason BG people prefer better headphones is for better audio quality, which this thread was designed for. Some things can get gimmicky, or take away from other aspects of audio. When you buy a set of quality headphones, you get better overall sound, and any extra speakers on your head is not going to make a difference in your skill at a game.

[Tweek]

I've never tried monster cables, but i still know they're no better than coat hangers.

The "you've never tried it, so you don't know" argument is bullshit.

terrible analogy.


well ok, yall can enjoy the simulated 3d experience I very much did for a long time and found it very useful.

for those looking for a strictly gaming headset with a good 3d experience there is no harm in trying out an 8 driver set, you could even buy from some retail stores and take them back if you don't like and feel they're not for you.