Thinking of dropping $150 on a set of headphones.. is it really worth it?

[Impudent]

It's the ultrasone pro 550's, I've realized that I've never really gotten into high quality audio - never had the experience of hearing someone's footsteps in a video game.

I've been reading audophile forums and the 550's are a really good set, with good bass and overall sound, closed.

Is it worth the $150, or should I stick with a regular pair of earbuds? I'm currently using an $80 pair of sennheiser gym headphones.

[emerica243]

$150 justified for a pair of headphones? lmao. Hope it can suck a mean dick too

[Otaman]

Got Bose quiet comfort 3 years ago for $350+

one of the best purchases I've ever made. Still work great, comfortable as hell.

If anything I would look into an upper class headphones if I were you OP.

Spend once on Bose, Seinnheiser, etc and enjoy it for years

[Impudent]

Got Bose quiet comfort 3 years ago for $350+

one of the best purchases I've ever made. Still work great, comfortable as hell.

If anything I would look into an upper class headphones if I were you OP.

Spend once on Bose, Seinnheiser, etc and enjoy it for years

The ones I listed are ones recommend on a very reputable audiophile forum.. I can't afford $300+ for a set of headphones right now. $150 is pushing it already.

[krankd24]

Got Bose quiet comfort 3 years ago for $350+

one of the best purchases I've ever made. Still work great, comfortable as hell.

If anything I would look into an upper class headphones if I were you OP.

Spend once on Bose, Seinnheiser, etc and enjoy it for years

This, even though it's alot it'll pay off, you'll use it for years

[r4ndomh3ro]

this for a just a game or for an ipod too? if for music and you like music with bass id recomend the skull candy headphones with mini subs in each ear. only 75 or so at bestbuy

[Impudent]

This, even though it's alot it'll pay off, you'll use it for years

can't afford $300 on a headset lmfao

It's for gaming (BF3, Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2, CS: GO, Mass Effect 3) as well as music.

I heard gaming headsets are pure garbage, heard this from audiophiles. Bose is too expensive, and I prefer a closed headset, with good soundstage. Some of the sennheisers are good, but they aren't closed headsets and their soundstage isn't as good.

[CDbrah]

Love my grado 225, however, I dont think they'd make good gaming headphones
Def Worth the 200 bucks to me tho. I'd heard plenty of 50-70 dollar phones and it blew those away.
You won't regret it if you get a really nice pair.
Cant help ya with closed headphones(open fan here), but I'm sure someone with info will chime in soon

[Impudent]

Love my grado 225, however, I dont think they'd make good gaming headphones
Def Worth the 200 bucks to me tho. I'd heard plenty of 50-70 dollar phones and it blew those away.
You won't regret it if you get a really nice pair.
Cant help ya with closed headphones(open fan here), but I'm sure someone with info will chime in soon

are open headphones usable in a gym setting? I wouldn't want to be blaring my music out in the open, I tend to listen to it fairly loud while I'm at the gym.

I wanted closed generally for trips and for gym usage.. otherwise I'd stick with open since it makes no difference when I'm at home.

[CDbrah]

are open headphones usable in a gym setting? I wouldn't want to be blaring my music out in the open, I tend to listen to it fairly loud while I'm at the gym.

I wanted closed generally for trips and for gym usage.. otherwise I'd stick with open since it makes no difference when I'm at home.

No, no, open would be bad for the gym. Youd hear everything and people would hear your music too easily.
Also think closed is better for gaming. You'd heard less outside noise and a good closed headset is detailed enough to hear just about anything in game.
I prefer open for music because I believe it presents tones more naturally. How you plan on using your set, closed is def the way to go.

[AdamDTX]

this for a just a game or for an ipod too? if for music and you like music with bass id recomend the skull candy headphones with mini subs in each ear. only 75 or so at bestbuy

lol

[oButto]

Very underrated headphones you should check out:

AiAiAi TMA-1's. They have a signature dark sound. I have them. Pretty good overall. Amazing for trance, etc. They don't need an amp like most headphones to sound good as well. They have good ratings at headfi.

You can probably find them $150 used/in extremely good condition. They have an exchangeable wire so you can swap'em out once they break (your wire will break when your using it for the gym. it's only a matter of time). Also, if you're coming from crappy headphones, you won't really hear the difference at first. It's only when you become accustomed to better sound that you start to appreciate it. After listening to some good headphones for 3 months, try your crappy ones again. it will hear the huge difference.

[Impudent]

No, no, open would be bad for the gym. Youd hear everything and people would hear your music too easily.
Also think closed is better for gaming. You'd heard less outside noise and a good closed headset is detailed enough to hear just about anything in game.
I prefer open for music because I believe it presents tones more naturally. How you plan on using your set, closed is def the way to go.

yea, figured as much. seems impossible to figure out which one though.. I've been searching all day and the ultrasone 550 pro seems to be the best one, but not many people talk about it.. everyone mentions open sets and most of the closed sets that people mention have poor soundstage which makes them bad for gaming..

[CDbrah]

Heard denon makes some good closed sets
Shure makes regular headphones, def check those out.(pretty sure they're closed)

[Vagitarian]

can't afford $300 on a headset lmfao

It's for gaming (BF3, Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2, CS: GO, Mass Effect 3) as well as music.

I heard gaming headsets are pure garbage, heard this from audiophiles. Bose is too expensive, and I prefer a closed headset, with good soundstage. Some of the sennheisers are good, but they aren't closed headsets and their soundstage isn't as good.

Oh for gaming? I just picked up the Logitech G930 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326735167&sr=8-1) recently...it rocks.

Great comfort, great sound quality, built in mic, wireless...what more could you ask for?

[Impudent]

Oh for gaming? I just picked up the Logitech G930 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326735167&sr=8-1) recently...it rocks.

Great comfort, great sound quality, built in mic, wireless...what more could you ask for?

I could get that but apparently it's a ripoff for the quality it gives.. according to audiophiles at least

[MiKey4]

Does it have to have a mic? Sennheiser HD280s or Beyerdynamic DT770s are two good ones in that range. Beyond this you're probably seeing diminishing returns without a decent sound card /dedicated headphone amp

[P51]

550s or M50 are the only ones that matter at that price.

Got a few thousands dollars in headphones and in ears, these are your best bet. Your computer wont be able to drive them though (if you have a cheap laptop or something. You're gonna need an amp.

[Defiled]

lol

I laughed as well.

If you like good sound it is most certainly worth it. May want to look into getting a headphone DAC/amp after as well if you are using it with your PC.

Also try to make sure the music on your PC are made with decent rips. Either V0/320 for MP3s or FLAC.

[maybesew]

I got Turtle Beach x41

[Impudent]

550s or M50 are the only ones that matter at that price.

Got a few thousands dollars in headphones and in ears, these are your best bet. Your computer wont be able to drive them though (if you have a cheap laptop or something. You're gonna need an amp.

Yea I think I will go with the 550s.. but for some reason people don't mention them very much on forums. Do I really need an amp though, because I wanted to stay under $150 for everything.. my motherboard is a Z68 gigabyte motherboard with decent onboard sound I think.. do I need a sound card as well?

[chevy72blu]

Tritton AX720 pros were a waste of money.

The faux surround is kind of neat, but the highs and lows are on par with some $10 ear buds I have (srs).

[Jinru]

Audio Technica ATH-M50 are tried and true cans.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s

[stefano445]

Audio Technica ATH-M50 are tried and true cans.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s

this guy knows whatsup

OP don't waste your money on ''gaming headsets'', buy the M50 or 558's and get a seperate mic. You get way better quality stuff for the money and you can actually use the headphone outside of your house which is ncie

[P51]

Yea I think I will go with the 550s.. but for some reason people don't mention them very much on forums. Do I really need an amp though, because I wanted to stay under $150 for everything.. my motherboard is a Z68 gigabyte motherboard with decent onboard sound I think.. do I need a sound card as well?You don't need, but its like having a 10 second car and only ever going 45mph.

[LetsGetSwole]

Yea I think I will go with the 550s.. but for some reason people don't mention them very much on forums. Do I really need an amp though, because I wanted to stay under $150 for everything.. my motherboard is a Z68 gigabyte motherboard with decent onboard sound I think.. do I need a sound card as well?

Get the cans first and listen to them. If they are too weak, then look into an amp (FiiO's will probably fit your budget). But try the cans on their own for a week or two and then see if you need to drive them.

[Impudent]

Audio Technica ATH-M50 are tried and true cans.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s

Those are garbage apparently because there is very poor soundstage, which makes it useless for gaming.

[Nostalgiac]

Are you from Australia?

Check headphones.com.au out, amazing website for reviews and to buy them from.

Do recommend Audio Technica's, have had the AD-700?'s for about 3-4 years now, super comfy, amazing quality + long cord.
(Played CSS competitively + listen to all genre's of music).

[bronze34]

pick sennheiser if you're willing to drop 150$ for a pair of very high quality headphones

[LoKx]

$150 justified for a pair of headphones? lmao. Hope it can suck a mean dick too

I would get M50's (have some and they're awesome)
emerica243 your mom sucks dick for free so OP can spend his money on headphones and get both.

[TheCaz]

It's the ultrasone pro 550's, I've realized that I've never really gotten into high quality audio - never had the experience of hearing someone's footsteps in a video game.

I've been reading audophile forums and the 550's are a really good set, with good bass and overall sound, closed.

Is it worth the $150, or should I stick with a regular pair of earbuds? I'm currently using an $80 pair of sennheiser gym headphones.

You mention gaming. Are they for gaming? If so go with the Audio Technica AD700s and save some money, best headphone around, not as bassy. If not and they are for music, either go with Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (80 ohm) or Audio Technica M50s. All three are some of the best in their price range.

[Impudent]

You mention gaming. Are they for gaming? If so go with the Audio Technica AD700s and save some money, best headphone around, not as bassy. If not and they are for music, either go with Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (80 ohm) or Audio Technica M50s. All three are some of the best in their price range.

ad700's have very poor bass. I listen to music with bass, and play BF3, so bass is a must. furthermore, the M50's have very poor soundstage which makes them crap for gaming. the DT770 pro is $200.. too expensive.

[TommyStarwind]

Out of all the ones mentioned so far which are the most comfortable? I can't wear headphones for more than an hour without my ears going numb. ****ing sucks. I just want to put on some nice headphones and just zone out for a bit anything under 500.

[Strengthftw]

check out the superlux 668b or samson sr 850

rave reviews for 40 bucks. has decent bass and decent soundstage for gaming

mine are coming in now