HeaDphone Discussions. (Audiophile and Gaming)

[Ninja_Theory]

Fast forward and we are now in position where even Schiit is able to produce the level of cleanliness in their entry level stack.

I could not possibly disagree with you more. Will just agree to disagree. We have rather different opinions. That's what's great about this game, something for everyone and we all perceive and understand sound in different ways.

THX tech is not the end all and be all of amps

At least there's one thing we agree on Luckily, I don't buy hype. I buy SQ at the budget I can afford.

"THX is not transparent" you pretty much lost me completely here. We certainly have very different views. Good for debate I guess, but man, I'm starting to wonder how much time you actually spent listening vs. reading. After spending a LOT of time on the 789, the only thing I can partly agree with is the treble presentation, and even then "partly". I'm not saying it's the holy grail of amps, although at it's price point, it's pretty damn close. Luckily it's exactly what I was looking for and it paired superbly with my headphones - which was a conscious pairing on my part, and for which I was awarded with countless hours of musical bliss.

 

[Ac!DLeAk]

Good for debate I guess, but man, I'm starting to wonder how much time you actually spent listening vs. reading.

See now that's not really objectively debating is it. I have and continue to listen to new gear which I luckily can borrow from a mate in one of the audio shops here so am I am able to form my own opinions.

I am glad you enjoyed the 789, and I am sure you will enjoy the R28.

All I did, and will continue to do, is to voice my view that there are alternatives to THX. I also predict that you will see a bigger shift away from it over the coming year when the likes of Geshelli and Topping release more products.

 

[Ninja_Theory]

See now that's not really objectively debating is it. I have and continue to listen to new gear which I luckily can borrow from a mate in one of the audio shops here so am I am able to form my own opinions.

I am glad you enjoyed the 789, and I am sure you will enjoy the R28.

All I did, and will continue to do, is to voice my view that there are alternatives to THX. I also predict that you will see a bigger shift away from it over the coming year when the likes of Geshelli and Topping release more products.

I'm talking about the 789 amp (not the THX tech), you're talking THX (and knocking the tech). I'm neutral on the matter. A good THX amp will sound great, as will a good non-THX amp. I don't care too much for anything but SQ (and to some degree, form factor). The engineering behind the implementation of THX (as with any technology in this game) is arguably more important than the technology used. I listened to the 789 and SMSL SP200 in length. Zero comparison. 789 has soul - SP200 is dry and lifeless - both are THX. Do I care that they use THX technology.. definitely not, I couldn't care less. Do I care about what my ears tell me.. most definitely.

 

[Ac!DLeAk]

789 has soul - SP200 is dry and lifeles

Again a subjective point - fine to have, just not doing your credibility any favour.

You've seemed to taken this quite personally. Just be aware that people come here for advice on all products. By suggesting the 789, AudioGD R2R and 650 every time without understanding their budget and needs or even what they like when they listen to music makes your advice in many cases weightless imo. Perhaps less unicorn references and audio bliss and more describing sound.

 

[Ninja_Theory]

Thank goodness for the ignore function on Carb

 

[PandaAttack1]

Thought I better drop a heads up in my favourite thread before I make sale threads for these items. I picked up an Audio GD R-28 this weekend, and I'm about to pick up a beautiful mystery headphone. So I'm selling some stuff I don't need anymore - I'll make sale threads sometime this week:

1. THX789 - Sadly there is a queue but as they say, it ain't over till the fat lady sings. I think I read some negative feedback about the 789 on this thread a while back, but chose not to respond - this has been my daily driver for months. It is nothing short of superb if you enjoy a clean transparent sound sig. As with most things in this game, pairing is everything. I have used it extensively with a HD650, 800S and Fostex Purple Heart.
2. Loxjie P20 - Cheapest balanced hybrid tube amp worth buying this side of Pluto (or possibly the Milky Way)
3. AR.M2 DAP - This DAP is an absolute masterpiece, I just don't have a need for a DAP right now. The sound signature on this thing is simply out of this world. Warm, lush, detailed. Incredible. I doubt it can be matched at even double the price. A true unicorn.
4. FiiO Q5 with AM5 amp upgrade & cover (extras) - @PandaAttack1 has first dibs on this, I'll make a sales thread sometime this week (AM5 link is correct, the AM5 amp fits the Q5 and X7)

I think that's everything audio that I wanna sell for now. If I remember anything else, I'll add it here before I make the sales threads.

Hello Ninja_Inc, I'd like to dibs and order a number 4 please.

 

[Deviation]

I feel like the thread name should be changed to just: Audiophile Headphone Discussions.

Haven't seen any gaming discussion for a while.

 

[dash09]

Dolby atmos for headphones on an open back while playing rdr2 is pure bliss.
There's some gaming talk

 

[PandaAttack1]

Again a subjective point - fine to have, just not doing your credibility any favour.

You've seemed to taken this quite personally. Just be aware that people come here for advice on all products. By suggesting the 789, AudioGD R2R and 650 every time without understanding their budget and needs or even what they like when they listen to music makes your advice in many cases weightless imo. Perhaps less unicorn references and audio bliss and more describing sound.

All of this is subjective beyond a certain point.

Otherwise what's the point of listening at all? Stop listening to the equipment and only reference the spec sheet. That's it. No feeling, no interpretation, no thoughts on pairing. Only spec sheets. Pretty dull isn't it?

The entire idea of this thread is for us to share our feelings, thoughts and impressions. As subjectively as possible. That's the whole point. I want to know about YOUR experience, findings and good pairings. If something is really good, then words like unicorn and bliss are perfect descriptors.

This thread has been all-inclusive for so long. I would like to keep it that way.

 

[PandaAttack1]

I feel like the thread name should be changed to just: Audiophile Headphone Discussions.

Haven't seen any gaming discussion for a while.

This makes sense tbh.

Should I change it?

 

[Bearman]

NO! Sennheiser Game One / PC37x, Best Gaming Headphone I have Ever Tried. /Thread (Curious about MH 751/2, though).

There. Gaming discussion re-established.

 

[PandaAttack1]

NO! Sennheiser Game One / PC37x, Best Gaming Headphone I have Ever Tried. /Thread (Curious about MH 751/2, though).

There. Gaming discussion re-established.

I found a happy medium.

 

[Ninja_Theory]

I'm back on my A50 for gaming. Love that heasdset. Currently playing Death Stranding.

 

[Ninja_Theory]

Hello Ninja_Inc, I'd like to dibs and order a number 4 please.

Done. One of our service consultants will be in touch shortly

 

[goldfritter]

NO! Sennheiser Game One / PC37x, Best Gaming Headphone I have Ever Tried. /Thread (Curious about MH 751/2, though).

There. Gaming discussion re-established.

As a gamer and non-audiophile looking for new gear, I've been a bit torn.

My first-gen HyperX Clouds still work but are starting to look quite tired. Also the fluffy condom on the mic has completely disintegrated.

Half of me wants to dive into the rabbit hole and get an entry-level studio headphone + decent dynamic mic + entry-level audio interface combo.

The other half is like "who are you kidding? You're an audio-pleb. You couldn't tell the difference between gaming headphones and audiophile stuff if it bit you on the ear drum. You don't stream or do professional voice work. You think the Clouds sound great for music when plugged straight into your motherboard, for pity's sake! Just get GSP300s or MH751s, you mortal."

So ja. Guess I'll stick with the grubby Clouds for now.

 

[PandaAttack1]

... MH751 ...

Excellent value headset! The clouds are also basically TacStars with a mic IIRC.

 

[Deviation]

I use my Stax to listen to music.
For gaming, I got the PS4 Gold v2 HP.

🤷‍♂️

 

[goldfritter]

Excellent value headphone! The clouds are also basically TacStars with a mic IIRC.

Yup, both the original Cloud and the MH751 are rebranded Takstars. Which is why I think getting the MH751 would be more than enough for me.

But man... that separate headphone/mic combo call is strong

 

[PandaAttack1]

I use my Stax to listen to music.
For gaming, I got the PS4 Gold v2 HP.

🤷‍♂️

respect -1

 

[PandaAttack1]

Yup, both the original Cloud and the MH751 are rebranded Takstars. Which is why I think getting the MH751 would be more than enough for me.

But man... that separate headphone/mic combo call is strong

@Mb12 recently got the MH751 and he seems happy with his purchase. If it fits your budget, then go for it when the time is right.

 

[dash09]

As a gamer and non-audiophile looking for new gear, I've been a bit torn.

My first-gen HyperX Clouds still work but are starting to look quite tired. Also the fluffy condom on the mic has completely disintegrated.

Half of me wants to dive into the rabbit hole and get an entry-level studio headphone + decent dynamic mic + entry-level audio interface combo.

The other half is like "who are you kidding? You're an audio-pleb. You couldn't tell the difference between gaming headphones and audiophile stuff if it bit you on the ear drum. You don't stream or do professional voice work. You think the Clouds sound great for music when plugged straight into your motherboard, for pity's sake! Just get GSP300s or MH751s, you mortal."

So ja. Guess I'll stick with the grubby Clouds for now.

The first actually good headies I used were the original clouds, before that I owned the regular razers and what not, the clouds were worlds apart from anything. Bought a pair of m50x's but still used the clouds for certain games like titanfall 2, played a lot back in the day.
Any rebranded takstar will serve you very well and wont break the bank. If you want to try something new I recommend an open back pair

 

[goldfritter]

The first actually good headies I used were the original clouds, before that I owned the regular razers and what not, the clouds were worlds apart from anything. Bought a pair of m50x's but still used the clouds for certain games like titanfall 2, played a lot back in the day.
Any rebranded takstar will serve you very well and wont break the bank. If you want to try something new I recommend an open back pair

The Clouds were my first gaming headset. Before that I literally used R 250 Philips headphones so needless to say they blew my mind.

I'm a bit hesitant about open-back because there are two other people who share the room where I use my PC. So I am worried about my sound bleeding out to them, and vice-versa.

Also last time I checked there weren't any open-backs with built-in mic except a pair of Roccats which I can't remember the model now. So then I'd definitely need the separate mic.

 

[dash09]

The Clouds were my first gaming headset. Before that I literally used R 250 Philips headphones so needless to say they blew my mind.

I'm a bit hesitant about open-back because there are two other people who share the room where I use my PC. So I am worried about my sound bleeding out to them, and vice-versa.

Also last time I checked there weren't any open-backs with built-in mic except a pair of Roccats which I can't remember the model now. So then I'd definitely need the separate mic.

If a mic is non negotiable for you then yeah you might be out of luck, I dont do any voice comms so I'm fine without it. Theres honestly not a lot of sound bleeding out, I mean if you are listening at a high volume and the rest of the room is quiet then they will hear a little bit. You will most definitely hear what is going in the room though but in some cases it wont be a bad thing. An example; I can be gaming and the kids are watching a movie behind me, I can hear them clearly and have a conversation with them while also listening to my game. With an open back the audio feels like its coming from the room, not just the drivers on your ears

 

[Mb12]

@Mb12 recently got the MH751 and he seems happy with his purchase. If it fits your budget, then go for it when the time is right.

I am happy, they are comfy and punch above their weight in terms of value for money, the microphone is also quite good. I considered buying another pair, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere I look, except at GeeWiz where the price increased by R500 the day after I bought mine.

 

[goldfritter]

I am happy, they are comfy and punch above their weight in terms of value for money, the microphone is also quite good. I considered buying another pair, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere I look, except at GeeWiz where the price increased by R500 the day after I bought mine.

PCLinkShop has them for a bit cheaper than GeeWiz, but either way they are so cheap it barely matters.

Random question about the MH751s. One of the reason the Clouds are starting to look so old, is because they have this matte-feel soft-touch plastic. It feels nice when new, but it becomes smudgy and grubby very fast, and is basically impossible to clean without physically scraping off the soft-touch coating. It's even worse because I got the white ones.

Do the MH751's have that matte coating? Or are they normal smooth plastic?

 

[Mb12]

PCLinkShop has them for a bit cheaper than GeeWiz, but either way they are so cheap it barely matters.

Random question about the MH751s. One of the reason the Clouds are starting to look so old, is because they have this matte-feel soft-touch plastic. It feels nice when new, but it becomes smudgy and grubby very fast, and is basically impossible to clean without physically scraping off the soft-touch coating. It's even worse because I got the white ones.

Do the MH751's have that matte coating? Or are they normal smooth plastic?

The arms which hold the earcups have this soft touch rubbery stuff, but the cups themselves have texturized hard plastic:

Edit:

 

[Mb12]

@goldfritter Just be aware of this thread

 

[goldfritter]

@goldfritter Just be aware of this thread

Yup thanks, I have actually ordered from them a bunch of times (including my original Clouds!). But looks like they're buckling a bit under lockdown. I'll see what happens though, might not end up upgrading for a while.

 

[goldfritter]

The arms which hold the earcups have this soft touch rubbery stuff, but the cups themselves have texturized hard plastic:

Edit:

Bro I love your diagram thanks very much! Carb is truly an awesome community, where else could you expect people to make you a picture answering your question in such detail. Seriously, thanks!

That rubbery stuff is what I want to avoid. But, if it's black and it's only small sections of the headset, I think it will be fine.

 

[goldfritter]

Here is what I mean. Soap, acetic acid, alcohol - nothing works to get it off. You have to scrape it with something or use a scouring sponge, which gets the gunk off, but also takes off the soft coating and scratches the underlying plastic. And I'm not a dirty person, I don't smoke or eat or anything near my PC.