The Best Gaming Headset for 4-6K ZAR

[KAiRO]

Hey Folks!

I have another conundrum ** Gaming Audio** and looking for help from anyone with an audiophile-like experience with various PC gaming headphones

I have the Corsair HS70 Pro (They are not bad) - and the RTINGS would agree - Corsair HS70 Wireless Review
(As you can see sound profile accuracy and consistency are solid as well as the Imaging and Soundstage ratings)
From my experience they are very consistent and provide great quality across multiple games.

As I was looking to upgrade I tested the waters and bought an Epos H6PRO Open Back Acoustic Headphone

In BF2042 I was not blown away but I could pick up that the soundstage was a lot wider, The imaging though lacked consistency as the footsteps were sometimes overshadowed by objects that were further away.

Elden RIng sounded VERY flat, like a hollow tin sounding flat... not good.

I then looked again at RTINGS to find the upgrade I was looking for.
The Corsair HS80 MAX, Logitech G PRO X 2, and Steelseries Nova 7 are worse than the HS70 Pro rating VS my references as mentioned above...

Even the Audeze Maxwells showed worse Imaging and soundstage which needless to say blew my mind and sent me down the rabbit hole...

and now... I am left even more oblivious...

VERSUS.com comparisons are also conflicting*

Any suggestions before I go on and purchase every gaming headset known to man under 7K lol


THANK YOU

 

[Word1995]

EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Wireless Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset​

i got these based on a few reasons:

bluetooth
Removable Mic so i can wear them in public without looking stupid
ANC (not the party, the tecnology)
Good reputation for quality sound.

my findings:
Awesome headset, love them. ANC works like a charm.
Long battery life.
I get very hot with earphones and these stayed cool
Comfortable for 6+hr gaming sessions

would recommend, however im no audiophile but these work perfectly for what i wanted!

 

[goldfritter]

The best gaming headset is not a gaming headset. It's HiFi headphones with a DAC/amp and a separate mic.

In your price range are Sennheiser HD660, Beyer DT770 or DT880 or DT990, or Philips Fidelio X2HR, or most of the Hifiman range, along with an iFi Zen or similar.

RTings, Versus etc. are good for the stuff you can measure, but most of what matters when it comes to sound quality, is not measurable. So I wouldn't worry too much about that. Maybe try find a reviewer that liked the headphones that you liked and didn't like the ones you didn't like, and see what else they like.

 

[KAiRO]

EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Wireless Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset​

i got these based on a few reasons:

bluetooth
Removable Mic so i can wear them in public without looking stupid
ANC (not the party, the tecnology)
Good reputation for quality sound.

my findings:
Awesome headset, love them. ANC works like a charm.
Long battery life.
I get very hot with earphones and these stayed cool
Comfortable for 6+hr gaming sessions

would recommend, however im no audiophile but these work perfectly for what i wanted!

Hey! Thank you for your input - I think that's a good suggestion if I had to choose the H3PRO from the start - but now I am thinking aren't the H3PRO and H6PRO similar... Will update you on my decision

 

[KAiRO]

The best gaming headset is not a gaming headset. It's HiFi headphones with a DAC/amp and a separate mic.

In your price range are Sennheiser HD660, Beyer DT770 or DT880 or DT990, or Philips Fidelio X2HR, or most of the Hifiman range, along with an iFi Zen or similar.

RTings, Versus etc. are good for the stuff you can measure, but most of what matters when it comes to sound quality, is not measurable. So I wouldn't worry too much about that. Maybe try find a reviewer that liked the headphones that you liked and didn't like the ones you didn't like, and see what else they like.

Hey! I've heard that's the saying going around. I can only find the HD 660S2 and they are 10K (whoosh goes the money train )

I can also only find the Philips L3 Fidelio Bluetooth Over-Ear ANC Headphones - How do they compare to the X2HR?

 

[Mattye]

In this budget I'd be looking at something like the Sennheiser HD599s + a dac and USB mic. The 599s have great soundstage and imaging

 

[goldfritter]

Hey! I've heard that's the saying going around. I can only find the HD 660S2 and they are 10K (whoosh goes the money train )

[For Sale] - Le-urgent- Sennheiser HD660s for sale - pta - R3500 | Headphones

Comes with box and manual, one cable 3m with 3.5mm aux converter. Item: Sennheiser HD660S Age: 2+ y Price: R 3500 Payment Method Accepted: fnb/cash Warranty: none Warranty Holder: none Packaging: complete Condition: Great Location: Brooklyn Pretoria Reason: unused in le-closet Shipping: once...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennheiser HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone + Extra Replacement Headband | Headphones

Item: Sennheiser HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone +Extra Replacement Headband Age: Around 2.5 years Price: R4500 Payment Method Accepted: EFT Warranty: Nope Warranty Holder: N/A Packaging: OEM Condition: Excellent Location: Kempton Dark Reason: DT 1990 Pro Shipping: Sure...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennhesier HD560S Wired Open Back Headphones | Headphones

Item: Sennhesier HD560S Over the Ear Reference Headphones Age: Purchased 02/06/2023 (used for one month in total since then) Price: R2800 Payment Method Accepted: EFT Warranty: 2 Year Warranty Warranty Holder: Sennheiser Packaging: Complete Condition: Excellent Location: Johannesburg Reason: The...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennheiser HD599 SE Black | Headphones

Item: Sennheiser HD599 SE Black open back headphones Age: 2+ years Price: R2500 Payment Method Accepted: EFT / CASH Warranty: Nada Packaging: Yes all original packaging Condition: Excellent, used a handful of times Location: Centurion / Midrand Reason: Sooo many headphones Shipping: Yes cost and...

carbonite.co.za

or (if you prefer closed-back)

[For Sale] - Beyerdynamic DT770 250 OHM - R2800 | Headphones

Item: Beyerdynamic DT770 250 OHM Pro Headphone - Black Age: Purchased 21 May 2023 Price: R2800 Payment Method Accepted: Instant EFT / Geo-Payment Warranty: Yes Warranty Holder: Takealot Packaging: Comes with Beyerdynamic headphone bag Condition: Excellent Location: Bergvliet, Cape Town Reason...

carbonite.co.za

and then

[For Sale] - FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp - R1200 | Amps & DACs & DAPs

Item: FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp (Note, this isnt the new one) Age: Sep 16, 2022 Price: R1300 shipped Payment Method Accepted: Instant EFT Warranty: No Warranty Holder: Packaging: N/A Condition: Good, just has a few scuffs from use (Will send pics) Location: Durban Reason: Not...

carbonite.co.za

or (either one)

[For Sale] - 2 X Affordable DACs | Amps & DACs & DAPs

Item: Aiyima DAC A1 24bit 192khz DAC Bluetooth 5.0 Headphone amplifier Can also be used as an ASIO Age: 2 months Price: R1750 Payment Method Accepted: Warranty: 30 days Warranty Holder: Packaging: will package well Condition: very good Location: Cpt Reason: deciding between my 2 dacs...

carbonite.co.za

and then pretty much any of these except maybe the little lapel one

Takealot

I can also only find the Philips L3 Fidelio Bluetooth Over-Ear ANC Headphones - How do they compare to the X2HR?

Nah don't bother with these. The X2HR is not sold in SA but they come up on Carb every now and then. Great headphones, I liked them so much I bought two pairs.

 

[KAiRO]

In this budget I'd be looking at something like the Sennheiser HD599s + a dac and USB mic. The 599s have great soundstage and imaging

Thanks for your input - How is the Base on these? Considering I bought the Epos HS6PRO Open back - The lack of bass was not to my liking at all and the soundstage was too wide that it messed with the distance perception of footsteps

 

[KAiRO]

[For Sale] - Le-urgent- Sennheiser HD660s for sale - pta - R3500 | Headphones

Comes with box and manual, one cable 3m with 3.5mm aux converter. Item: Sennheiser HD660S Age: 2+ y Price: R 3500 Payment Method Accepted: fnb/cash Warranty: none Warranty Holder: none Packaging: complete Condition: Great Location: Brooklyn Pretoria Reason: unused in le-closet Shipping: once...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennheiser HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone + Extra Replacement Headband | Headphones

Item: Sennheiser HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone +Extra Replacement Headband Age: Around 2.5 years Price: R4500 Payment Method Accepted: EFT Warranty: Nope Warranty Holder: N/A Packaging: OEM Condition: Excellent Location: Kempton Dark Reason: DT 1990 Pro Shipping: Sure...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennhesier HD560S Wired Open Back Headphones | Headphones

Item: Sennhesier HD560S Over the Ear Reference Headphones Age: Purchased 02/06/2023 (used for one month in total since then) Price: R2800 Payment Method Accepted: EFT Warranty: 2 Year Warranty Warranty Holder: Sennheiser Packaging: Complete Condition: Excellent Location: Johannesburg Reason: The...

carbonite.co.za

or

[For Sale] - Sennheiser HD599 SE Black | Headphones

Item: Sennheiser HD599 SE Black open back headphones Age: 2+ years Price: R2500 Payment Method Accepted: EFT / CASH Warranty: Nada Packaging: Yes all original packaging Condition: Excellent, used a handful of times Location: Centurion / Midrand Reason: Sooo many headphones Shipping: Yes cost and...

carbonite.co.za

or (if you prefer closed-back)

[For Sale] - Beyerdynamic DT770 250 OHM - R2800 | Headphones

Item: Beyerdynamic DT770 250 OHM Pro Headphone - Black Age: Purchased 21 May 2023 Price: R2800 Payment Method Accepted: Instant EFT / Geo-Payment Warranty: Yes Warranty Holder: Takealot Packaging: Comes with Beyerdynamic headphone bag Condition: Excellent Location: Bergvliet, Cape Town Reason...

carbonite.co.za

and then

[For Sale] - FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp - R1200 | Amps & DACs & DAPs

Item: FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp (Note, this isnt the new one) Age: Sep 16, 2022 Price: R1300 shipped Payment Method Accepted: Instant EFT Warranty: No Warranty Holder: Packaging: N/A Condition: Good, just has a few scuffs from use (Will send pics) Location: Durban Reason: Not...

carbonite.co.za

or (either one)

[For Sale] - 2 X Affordable DACs | Amps & DACs & DAPs

Item: Aiyima DAC A1 24bit 192khz DAC Bluetooth 5.0 Headphone amplifier Can also be used as an ASIO Age: 2 months Price: R1750 Payment Method Accepted: Warranty: 30 days Warranty Holder: Packaging: will package well Condition: very good Location: Cpt Reason: deciding between my 2 dacs...

carbonite.co.za

and then pretty much any of these except maybe the little lapel one

Takealot

Nah don't bother with these. The X2HR is not sold in SA but they come up on Carb every now and then. Great headphones, I liked them so much I bought two pairs.

Alright Alright - Down the road of becoming a headset collector we go haha

Appreciate all of the references!

DAC: FiO K3 or if I can find the BlasterX G6

Let's narrow down the headsets: HD 600 vs HD599 or DT 770


Who has:

1. Better Base EQ response for immersive games such as Elden Ring?
2. The Competitive Edge in Battlefield and Siege?

An honorable mention if I can find them PC38X

Thanks!

 

[goldfritter]

Alright Alright - Down the road of becoming a headset collector we go haha

Appreciate all of the references!

DAC: FiO K3 or if I can find the BlasterX G6

Let's narrow down the headsets: HD 600 vs HD599 or DT 770


Who has:

1. Better Base EQ response for immersive games such as Elden Ring?
2. The Competitive Edge in Battlefield and Siege?

An honorable mention if I can find them PC38X

Thanks!

If you're interested in heavier bass then actually the hifi options might not be for you. All of the above will probably disappoint you, as they aim for a more neutral response, which doesn't lend it itself to what you seem to be describing. The closest would be the X2HR probably but even they are likely to have much lighter bass than what you're after.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the EPOS you tried has heavier bass than any of these suggestions. But that's just a guess.

(Note when you see RTings review bass response, they're not measuring the heaviness of the bass, but rather its accuracy - so a headphone that scores higher than your current set, might actually have lighter bass, if it's more accurate).

This is not a value judgement - audio is subjective and there is nothing wrong with preferring more emphasised bass over a neutral response.

It's also worth noting that the hifi suggestions lose out on convenience features like wireless and an integrated mic.

If you're lucky, some of the sellers of the used headphones I listed may let you demo them and see what you think.

But overall... If you're very happy with what you currently have, then it's actually totally fine to stick with them. You'd certainly save a lot of energy and money.

 

[KAiRO]

If you're interested in heavier bass then actually the hifi options might not be for you. All of the above will probably disappoint you, as they aim for a more neutral response, which doesn't lend it itself to what you seem to be describing. The closest would be the X2HR probably but even they are likely to have much lighter bass than what you're after.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the EPOS you tried has heavier bass than any of these suggestions. But that's just a guess.

(Note when you see RTings review bass response, they're not measuring the heaviness of the bass, but rather its accuracy - so a headphone that scores higher than your current set, might actually have lighter bass, if it's more accurate).

This is not a value judgement - audio is subjective and there is nothing wrong with preferring more emphasised bass over a neutral response.

It's also worth noting that the hifi suggestions lose out on convenience features like wireless and an integrated mic.

If you're lucky, some of the sellers of the used headphones I listed may let you demo them and see what you think.

But overall... If you're very happy with what you currently have, then it's actually totally fine to stick with them. You'd certainly save a lot of energy and money.

Yea, the base is measured by the number of decibels. I think the H6PRO has a similar base to the PC38X...

Seems that the HD599 has the most neutral base amount.

Think my problem is wanting the best of both worlds. Base with precise imaging and a great soundstage that also provides a Competitive edge in other games that require no bass...

I'd probably need 2 Headsets then...

I'll have to give one of the suggested recommendations a shot otherwise I'll never know hey - because, again I'm mainly looking for a headset that can provide a more competitive edge in FPS and your reference falls into this category!

Thank you again for taking the time to advise

 

[Mattye]

Thanks for your input - How is the Base on these? Considering I bought the Epos HS6PRO Open back - The lack of bass was not to my liking at all and the soundstage was too wide that it messed with the distance perception of footsteps

The bass was a little underwhelming if I'm being honest, but nothing a quick EQ couldn't fix. I did try my HD599s with the Fiio E10k (With the bass boost switch) and it really did help bring some good bass to these. The HD599s do have that elevated bass curve in the mid and upper bass

 

[goldfritter]

Yea, the base is measured by the number of decibels. I think the H6PRO has a similar base to the PC38X...

Seems that the HD599 has the most neutral base amount.

Think my problem is wanting the best of both worlds. Base with precise imaging and a great soundstage that also provides a Competitive edge in other games that require no bass...

I'd probably need 2 Headsets then...

I'll have to give one of the suggested recommendations a shot otherwise I'll never know hey - because, again I'm mainly looking for a headset that can provide a more competitive edge in FPS and your reference falls into this category!

Thank you again for taking the time to advise

Alternatively you could try one of the neutral headsets and experiment with EQ. Have a preset for competitive games and another for where you want lots of bass. I don't know much about EQ though so someone else would have to advise.

Try seeing if you can demo some of the headsets on sale.

 

[KAiRO]

Alternatively you could try one of the neutral headsets and experiment with EQ. Have a preset for competitive games and another for where you want lots of bass. I don't know much about EQ though so someone else would have to advise.

Try seeing if you can demo some of the headsets on sale.

Wootware has a special on the HD560S and considering I need to return my H6PRO - I think I'm going with this + Soundblaster X4

Read a bunch of good things about the HD560S and it's EQ ability

Cheers

 

[Pickled_Dick]

EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Wireless Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset​

i got these based on a few reasons:

bluetooth
Removable Mic so i can wear them in public without looking stupid
ANC (not the party, the tecnology)
Good reputation for quality sound.

my findings:
Awesome headset, love them. ANC works like a charm.
Long battery life.
I get very hot with earphones and these stayed cool
Comfortable for 6+hr gaming sessions

would recommend, however im no audiophile but these work perfectly for what i wanted!

Cough someone buy my pair for sale cough

 

[NI∀ƆOƆ‾⊥ᴚ∩ʞ]

Cough someone buy my pair for sale cough

No, you coughed on them.

 

[NI∀ƆOƆ‾⊥ᴚ∩ʞ]

Buy my HD 600, trust me you will smell where the enemy is.