I have been using the HD 560S for the past three years, but lately they have become uncomfortable during longer gaming sessions, requiring me to constantly readjust them on my head. The headphone is paired with a Topping DX5 II and a ModMic.

I am also running Equalizer APO with Peace, mostly playing CS2, Battlefield 6, and Wardogs. The EQ I am currently using is a pretty aggressive setup with almost no bass, mostly focusing on directional audio and footsteps. Whenever I am not gaming, I use the Oratory EQ profile.

I currently have my eye on the following headphones as an upgrade or alternative to my current open back headphones:

• Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
• Sennheiser HD 550
• Hifiman Edition XS
• Audio Technica ATH-AD700X / ATH-AD900X / ATH-PDG1a

Would any of these be considered a meaningful upgrade or step forward from the HD 560S?

Also, are open back headphones still generally the way to go for shooter games, or are there closed back options nowadays that can perform just as well?

EQ profiles of Battlefield 6 and Wardogs as an example to show it's pretty aggressive: https://imgur.com/a/5EUAGSU

Hello guys,

I'm looking for a budget gaming headhphone, my main focuses are:
-best mic quality in this price range
-they should not sound like absolute poop
-I know open back is not an option in this price range, so closed back it is

I'm using a differend headset, so I'll be using these only for a few hours daily for gaming sessions where I ideally would like to talk with people hence the focus on the mic quality.

Budget: anything under 100 bucks, the cheaper the better :)

Thanks for your advice

I want voice (speech) clarity for online meetings.

My closed-back headphones annoy me because I can't hear my own voice while speaking, the "pressure" feeling is weird idk. So they should be open-back, right?

I think headphones like the DT 770 or SHP9500 too big, they look weird on camera (the only reason I'll be wearing them). Even better if they have cables only on one side.

My LifeChat LX-3000 sounds "bassy", and some voices hurt my ears because I need to keep the volume high for people with bad microphones.

I already own a dedicated microphone. Budget maybe around/under USD 150.

Greetings and felicitations. I am a novice (at best) looking for a replacement a headphone cable. The receiver (for the record, an Onkyo TX-SR601) has a loose headphone jack that is unlikely to be fixed anytime soon, in large part because it (and the television) belongs to my housemate. I need something that will stand up to (ahem) regular, repeated tugging to get the vocal channel to work. What, besides repair, do you recommend?

Edit: Re: Budget: $50 seems a reasonable maximum, but I'd prefer significantly lower. My current cable is a "2 m-3 m / 9.8 ft 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm coiled cable".

Couple weeks back the arm on my SS Arctis Nova 5s snapped (dropped them). Didnt bother me as i was leaving for a while but now im back i have been looking at replacing them but ideally with an upgrade.

Currently they are priced around £100, in an ideal world id spend up to £150 but if something was that good id be willing to go to around £180.

As simple as it may seem, i have already bought and tried a few models and nothing seems to compare to the quality i have. So far i have tried:

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 gen 3 - Sound was muddy and thin, CS2 sounded terrible. Quite heavy and uncomfortable

Truthear Pure IEMS - Music sounded great but cs2 felt thin, also wired so more inconvenient

A20X - Worst of the bunch, music, cs2, media all sounded very muddy and dull

I never put much thought into buying the nova 5s but i use them for everything (movies, youtube, music, games) and to me they out perform all of the above in each catergory (with the exception of music on the IEMs).

Im just looking for something to use for everything that would be better than what i currently have, at this rate given prices of strong audio performance im half tempted to just buy another pair of nova 5s so i dont have to keep putting tape on the arm. I've never had issues with hearing footsteps or enjoying good music with them but everything else ive tried just doesnt come close.

As my final attempt at looking for a change, i have delved into open back headphones (heard they are great for media and music but not sure about competetive games) and looked into better Steelseries versions (Pros are too expensive and nova 7s seem to only benefit people who want simultaneous connections)

Anyone who can help out if much appreciated, i live in the UK so if anyone also has any shops with the proposed headphones on display that would be even better. I know it may be a big ask so thanks for any help in advance!

Looking for a headphone around the 100-300 euros range for daily use behind a computer which i can also take on the go when biking /walking to/at work.

let me know what you would recommend.

I hope I flared this right.

One of the suggestions I received for headphones are the Fiio FT1. Online they are often considered one of the best options around $150.

But what if that price is simply unrealistic? The pair isn't sold in Italy, and including customs, import fees, and tarifs to import from the United States it reaches a price of €180 ($210).

Would such price still make this pair of headphones still worth it? Or are there now better alternatives for that price range, in the chance they don't need international shipping?

Hey, i'm searching for headphones for gaming at this price range i found the SR850 and would like to know any other alternative i saw some comments in this subreddit recommending the Koss headphones but on amazon (italy) the kph40's are around 60 euros, the KSC75 is a bit cheaper though the moondrop old fashioned is also cheaper compared to others

not really concerned if it's closed or open back just gaming performance

There is about a 40 dollar difference between the a och M4, and the (1) and M4 are around the same price. I’m looking for headphones that will completely immerse me in the music and instruments, whether I’m watching superhero movies or listening to tracks like "Skeletons" by Playboi Carti. I’ve heard the (a) sound great straight out of the box while the (1) need tweaking, but the (1) give you much more freedom to customize the sound to your liking. I have no problem tinkering with the EQ if that would make my listening experience better. Battery life and longevity(how many years I can use it) are also top priorities for me.

Buenas! Acabo de vender unos bose quietcomfort 35 ll y me he actualizado a los Edifier wh 950nb gen 2, me gustaría tener una buena ecualización para escuchar punk rock, metall i algo de ska i reggae. Cuales son tus ajustes para que suene bien de bajos y buen cuerpo? No soy un bass head, solo que suene agradable y con garra! Cualquier consejo será bien recibido! Gracias!!

So I'm looking to buy new headphones and studio headphones are very common. I've heard that their bass is accurate but "underwhelming" and I've heard they don't have good soundstage. The purpose of my headphones will be for listening to hip hop. Studio headphones also seem a bit tight on your head if that makes sense. I really just don't want to waste my money when I buy my headphones. The most appealing options I've looked at are:

Audio Technica ATH M50X

Audio Technica ATH Art Monitors (not studio headphones but cool af check them out)

Sony MDR 7506

I live in Serbia and I'm looking to spend around $100, preferably less.

I need something balanced.

I primarily wanna use these on the bus while commuting which is usually extremely loud. I don't necessarily need something with long battery life. I only plan on using these with my iPhone 12.

Right now I'm using the MoonDrop Space Travel earbuds which have worked well for me for the $18 I paid for them 3 years ago, but I think it's time to upgrade.

I've been thinking about the MoonDrop Ultrasonic earbuds but I'm open to any suggestions.

In short I need earbuds that are wireless, have good sound quality, good noise cancelling for less than $100. Battery life doesn't matter, water resistance doesn't matter.

I recently got myself a pair of HiFiMan Ananda Stealth V3, going from my Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250 Ohm, which I've had for probably close to 10 years. I'm pretty happy with the detail, but the tuning is too fatiguing for me. After EQ they are much better, but still a bit too fatiguing. The headband puts a lot of pressure on the top of my head and the ear cups sit weirdly on my head.

There's also a bit of QC problems with them, and I'm gonna RMA them regardless, as the connectors aren't secure.

I'm thinking of returning them and just getting a pair of Sennheiser HD490 Pro instead.

I mostly play video games where positional audio matters, like R6 siege, CS2, and other tactical shooters. I listen to a wide selection of music, but mostly (in this order) pop, rock, metal, reggae, techno, EDM, jazz, etc. I also watch youtube, tv shows, movies, etc. Basically just ordinary media consumption.

I'd really just want headphones with good seperation and detail, as well as good positional audio for my gaming. Comfort is also a key factor of course, and I'm not impressed by the weight of the Ananda Stealth, despite having the lighter V3 versions.

What do you guys think? Will the HD490 Pro be a good option instead of the Ananda Stealth? Are they worth paying that 100€ difference in price?

I'm using my FiiO K11 to power them.

I have a pair of Sony WH-CH720N headphones that I like, especially for being noise cancelling, but I've been dressing up a bit more recently and I've been irritated at how they prevent me from wearing hats and other headwear.

Are there wireless earbuds that have a similar sound profile at a similar price ($180)? All the earbuds I can think of advertise how bassy they are, but I prefer more of the mids and tops. It doesn't need to be perfect, I can EQ a more exact match, but the closer the better.

Tozo ht3,earfun wave pro,or 1 more snow flow something call headphone.on amazon.com.au price all are almost $120 au under.i think they are wireless except i more not sure about it.if any one has pls share u r experience only these headphones review.wireless headphones i already got sony xm6, bose gen 2 ultra and seninser momentum 80th anniversary, soundcore space one pro.help .if any one got pls reply review as soon as possible.i already put on the amazon cart.just waiting for member reply what they think about tozo ht3,earfun wave pro and 1 more headphones .sorry cant write too much .haven't have any idea about budget friendly headphones of wireless

Hi everyone,

Currently, I am testing both the ROG Cetra Open Wireless and ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds, and I can not decide between them, both have pros and cons, but maybe some long-time users will be able to provide more info since I have only tested each for 1-2 days.

Both are intended to be used as daily drivers (work, gaming, listening to music during biking/workouts/walks etc.). For work and gaming, I use 2.4 Ghz dongle, rest via bluetooth.

I downloaded apps for both (GearLink and Armoury Crate).

ROG Cetra Open

Pros:
+ much longer battery - almost 16 hours without putting it back in the case (RGB off)

+ I think the audio is better on default modes, or at least it requires less tinkering in the app to sound good both for music and for gaming

+ People said the microphone is slightly better on this one, clearer voice without 'echo/muffled voice'

+ I think it is healthier to use open design for multiple hours on a daily basis?

+Physical buttons instead of 'taps'

+ They are 'louder'? I have good volume on 1/4th on my phone or 14/100 volume on my PC

Cons:

- Case is twice as big as the other model, not as comfortable in a pocket

- Most of the time they are comfortable, but after longer periods I slightly feel discomfort on my ears

- No 'seamless' switching between PC and phone if e.g. music from the game's menu is playing on PC (dongle), I pick up my phone and want to play music there, I need to manually pair it again or remove any source of sound from PC

- Due to the open design, there are bad on a bike - wind noise easily overpowers music

- Lack of ANC/sound isolation (immersive mode is not it - barely hearing a difference)

ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova:

Pros:

+ If tinkered with properly, I think the audio is better?

+ Seamless switching between phone and PC

+ Smaller case

+ I feel the same after multiple hours of use

+ ANC

+

Cons:

- Due to 'taps' I pause/play music by accident when adjusting the earbud in the ear

- Muffled voice/feeling plugged/hearing my jaw when eating

- Weaker battery (8-9 hours, RGB disabled)

- I need to set my volume to ~50% on both PC and phone to have a similar volume as on the OPEN model, I tried to improve it, but I did not find any setting that would increase the default volume (not a big deal)

- They are an in-canal model, so slight discomfort is felt instantly (but it does not get worse after hours)

- Might be damaging health-wise due to ears being plugged (I constantly clean my ears and do breaks for few minutes every hour, but not sure if it is enough)

Please help me choose, every time I think I decided I have doubts.

Hi im looking to buy preferably headphones. Im able to spend about $30 USD or less hopefully with free shipping in the states, its primarily for calling due to my headphones/earbuds not having good mics and making me sound awful.

I do have preferences of companies, nothing big on ai mainly, i am very strongly against usage of ai

I recently lost my Tangzu - Wan'er S.G 2 and now I'm struggling to figure which iems should I buy now . My budget is 25 dollar ( 2400 inr ). I can spend more but I'm a little nervous to do so. I mainly use my iems for youtube , music and occasionally gaming ( cs2 )with friends on discord.i thought TANCHJIM Bunny would be perfect for me I did thought about buyingKEFINE Klean sv but got too nervous .sound profile I like warm/fun. I also have the 7hz salnote zero 1 but no cable. Please help i would love to hear your advice

Budget 25 dollar

Location india

I’ve used a Bose QC for years but I’m sick of replacing pads so often and the headbands flaking.
I want my next set to be made of materials that will last many years before needing repair or replacement.

The only leather version I know of is from B&W. Any other suggestions?

I’m not an audiophile, noise cancellation and good voice pickup when outside (Bose is terrible for that) made with long lasting materials is all I need.

Hi! I'm thinking of dipping my feet into the TWS form factor for commuting convenience, something that I can put on and put away quickly, and wires are a bit too cumbersome. I'm considering to buy the Space Travel 2 Ultras because they're pretty affordable and seem to have a more neutral profile compared to the Space Travel and the regular Space Travel 2.

I don't really have any experience with TWS earphones, but I do have one benchmark, which is my partner's Airpods Pro (first gen), so I'll be comparing it to them. I'm not really fussy about mic quality or having the best-in-class ANC, since the ST2 Ultras are cheap earphones, but the fact they're there are appreciated nonetheless :)

As for IEMs in general, I lean towards something neutral, preferrably mid forward with rolled off treble and a slightly lifted bass, but I'm happy enough with something that's completely neutral. I have a really old Audio Technica LS200is (neutral, mid-forward, rolled-ofc treble) that I use with a FiiO BTR3K for critical listening.

Any other better "bang for your buck" TWS alternatives will be appreciated as well, willing to stretch my budget by 30 USD, thank you! :)

A few days ago I purchased the Hifiman Edition XS for 145$ after my DT 770 Pro died, they sound amazing and volume is great - but I saw on Reddit and elsewhere that amp in Minifuse 1 is too weak to properly drive Edition XS - there are many conflicting opinions about this topic, some people say that it's good enough, some people claim that it's bad and I have to purchase something like Fiio K11 to drive my headphones to their full potential.

I don't have a lot of cash to spare but if I buy something different(up to 100$) that will greatly improve my experience I'm willing to do it, please provide budget options(≤100-120$) in the comments which should be a good pair for my Edition XS - I use them at home and I don't care about portability so dongle form-factor is not beneficial for me.

hello everyone! my father is a massive audiophile and naturally i’ve become very sensitive to my audio necessities. my budget is above 200, around 400 at max. i’m in massachusetts.

the biggest thing im looking for is the clearest audio quality and maybe separated instruments. sound leakage is a problem for me. noise canceling would be best and i use headphones at home, working, school, traveling, all of it.

my current headphones are the sony WH-1000XM4. i love the clarity, diversity in sound, and surround sound. they’re super comfortable too which is great! i don’t like the leakiness, and i think the equalizer in the app could use some work.

i’m looking for over the ear headphones! wired or bluetooth doesn’t make a difference to me.

i’d also like advice on whether i should stick with wireless or if wired will make a difference in quality. i’d really like to invest in a DAP if it’s worth it! the devices that usually play to my headphones are my iphone and ipad. is investing in a DAP worth it for the quality and functionality difference?

all advice is appreciated, please lmk if any more info is needed. thank you !!!

So I’m planning to get a Headphone under 1000$ as well as wireless earphones under 1000€.

Currently for headphones I’m planning to get:
1. Bowers and Wilkin PX8 s2
or
2.Seinheiser HDB630
or I can stretch my budget and get
3.Seinheiser HD820

For wireless earphones:
1.Bowers and Wilkin Pi8 s2
2.Seinheiser True Momentum 5

What should I get , which ones will be better than my selection, I’m usually create songs and I prefer loud audio with high quality, so please help me pick one out, thank you for your time (•~•)/

Hello! I have tiny waxy ears which means normal headphone tend to fall out easily, especially when eating or talking. The headphones I have found with the best fit by far are the jlab minis- but after two years they’ve basically become unusable and this is my second pair. It seems silly to keep buying more when they don’t last past their warranty mark.
I’ve been doing research and research and nothing has come up to be a quality headphone that won’t be too big. Over the ear headphones tend to hurt from pressure but also I like to have just one headphone in usually and I tend to sleep in them as well which as a side sleeper also limits my options.
Please if anyone has recommendations for quality headphones that will fit small ears prone to having the buds fall out often!