Yet another headphone thread

Soooo my aging Sony Golds are looking real tired with the padding flaking off and falling apart. The battery doesn't last nearly as long as they used to either.

I was considering just grabbing the updated Sony Gold hotness when this came across my feeds.

It's a headset with a usb c dongle! It's advertised as being the first to work seamlessly with the Switch. (Side note: the Sony Golds also work fine with the Switch using an adapter.)

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71rNqEv8-CL._SL1500_.jpg)

It also comes with a usb a dongle for older systems. Very interesting!

Anyone have any experience with the SteelSeries brand? Only 12 reviews so far on Amazon.

Anecdata: I have a SteelSeries mouse that has been one of the most reliable I've ever used. It has outlasted several mechanical keyboards from Razer and Corsair. They keep the software up to date constantly, too.

Not sure how that translates to audio devices, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another SteelSeries product if they had one that suited my needs.

Just a random FWIW:

Over the last few weeks I tried a couple different Audio Technica ATH-G1WL headsets and was again disappointed by a "gaming headset". Range was terrible and audio drop-outs were annoyingly common (though mostly when playing Destiny 2 in particular)

Previous to that I had tried the ModMic Wireless, which while mounting and looking quite a bit like the wired variants, was surprisingly poorly shielded so that you got interference on the side of the headset you mounted it on (I'm primarily using Senn HD280Pro cans but got the same thing on a pair of Hesh 3's that I use at work).

So, I'm back to my Senns with my Modmic 4. The only thing that really annoys me about it is that the HD 280 Pros have the spiral cable which isn't too comfy. Looking maybe to get a different Senn set.

I've enjoyed my Senn HD 58X, and I'm currently using them with the Modmic 4.

WizKid wrote:

I've enjoyed my Senn HD 58X, and I'm currently using them with the Modmic 4.

I'm pondering getting some HD25's.

I'm almost reluctant to bring it up, but...

I've been using my Sony Platinum headset on PC to stream some Crew 2 gameplay. Judge for yourself how well they work (the yapping starts at the 50 second mark, if the link doesn't do that for you):

(Yeah, I know, I "um" a lot. Trying to break that habit.)

I need wireless over ear active noise cancelling headphones that can work with tv AND with a phone (Bluetooth). I'd like it to have a dock so we can leave it with the tv most of the time and just grab it for use out of the house when desired.
$200-$400 is fine

This combination of features has been very hard to search for.

You might consider trying to find a bluetooth transmitter to plug into your TV, which should work with any pair of bluetooth headphones you care to pair with it. This one is well-reviewed on Amazon and seems like it would fit your needs, but I can't speak from personal experience.

As for wireless over-ear active noise canceling headphones, I've got a pair of Cowin E7s which are a good midrange bang-for-your-buck model that seems like it would check your boxes. I'm sure an audiophile can recommend a more expensive model that's even better, but for my pleb ass it seems plenty good. It's also got a headphone jack so that you can use a dual-male headphone cord to plug into non-bluetooth devices in a pinch.

The Sony WH-1000XM3's are the best overall active noise cancelers. Bose has a new model that some say slightly edges them out for just the noise canceling part, but they're still going to sound like every set of headphones Bose has ever made, which is to say... meh. I fly once or twice a week and the Sony's have been absolute lifesavers. They also let me enjoy music or the occasional movie in a hotel room without disturbing the neighboring rooms.

But no dock, so the only way you're getting them to work with your TV is a transmitter like hbi2k recommended. I'm no help on those as I've never used one. I'd make sure whatever you get supports the higher end higher bandwidth lower latency bluetooth versions like aptx or whatever they are though. Without those bluetooth audio starts to sound like listening to things through muddy water or something.

Thin_J wrote:

The Sony WH-1000XM3's are the best overall active noise cancelers. Bose has a new model that some say slightly edges them out for just the noise canceling part, but they're still going to sound like every set of headphones Bose has ever made, which is to say... meh. I fly once or twice a week and the Sony's have been absolute lifesavers. They also let me enjoy music or the occasional movie in a hotel room without disturbing the neighboring rooms.

But no dock, so the only way you're getting them to work with your TV is a transmitter like hbi2k recommended. I'm no help on those as I've never used one. I'd make sure whatever you get supports the higher end higher bandwidth lower latency bluetooth versions like aptx or whatever they are though. Without those bluetooth audio starts to sound like listening to things through muddy water or something.

Another vote for the Sony's. I'll also point out that while they don't have a dock, the battery life is bonkers long (30 hours).

That said, I've tried using them as gaming headphones, and the latency was killer. Might be a problem with the cheapass bluetooth USB dongle I had plugged into my PC though...

PaladinTom wrote:

Soooo my aging Sony Golds are looking real tired with the padding flaking off and falling apart. The battery doesn't last nearly as long as they used to either.

I was considering just grabbing the updated Sony Gold hotness when this came across my feeds.

It's a headset with a usb c dongle! It's advertised as being the first to work seamlessly with the Switch. (Side note: the Sony Golds also work fine with the Switch using an adapter.)

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71rNqEv8-CL._SL1500_.jpg)

It also comes with a usb a dongle for older systems. Very interesting!

Anyone have any experience with the SteelSeries brand? Only 12 reviews so far on Amazon.

LTTP but I just picked up a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7 wireless cans and they're pretty great overall! Save for a few little hiccups with dongle connectivity to the PC (unfortunately I have to swap USB ports every time the computer comes back from sleep, otherwise the dongle remains off and the headset unrecognized) and charging (my headset's port for the charging cable is a little loose so it can wobble enough to lose connection to the cable if I wear them while charging. I also have to press the cable in really hard for the cable to actually connect. I'm planning on an RMA as soon as I get a chance, but honestly this isn't a big dealbreaker for me.).

Sound quality is pretty great, almost as vibrant as my Sennheiser HD 598 SE's (especially after tweaking the EQ).

The "ski mask" head band is pretty comfy, though it could use a little longer of a velcro strip for adjustability, and the cans are super comfortable after several hours of wearing them.

The mic retracts into the left earpiece when you don't need it, and the mic audio is a little tinny but still clear. There's a volume mixer knob on the right earpiece that allows to you tweak audio vs comms which is also pretty nice.

I have the Arctis 7s. I had some issues with charging until I updated the firmware, drivers, etc. I like them a lot.

WipEout wrote:
PaladinTom wrote:

Soooo my aging Sony Golds are looking real tired with the padding flaking off and falling apart. The battery doesn't last nearly as long as they used to either.

I was considering just grabbing the updated Sony Gold hotness when this came across my feeds.

It's a headset with a usb c dongle! It's advertised as being the first to work seamlessly with the Switch. (Side note: the Sony Golds also work fine with the Switch using an adapter.)

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71rNqEv8-CL._SL1500_.jpg)

It also comes with a usb a dongle for older systems. Very interesting!

Anyone have any experience with the SteelSeries brand? Only 12 reviews so far on Amazon.

LTTP but I just picked up a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7 wireless cans and they're pretty great overall! Save for a few little hiccups with dongle connectivity to the PC (unfortunately I have to swap USB ports every time the computer comes back from sleep, otherwise the dongle remains off and the headset unrecognized) and charging (my headset's port for the charging cable is a little loose so it can wobble enough to lose connection to the cable if I wear them while charging. I also have to press the cable in really hard for the cable to actually connect. I'm planning on an RMA as soon as I get a chance, but honestly this isn't a big dealbreaker for me.).

Sound quality is pretty great, almost as vibrant as my Sennheiser HD 598 SE's (especially after tweaking the EQ).

The "ski mask" head band is pretty comfy, though it could use a little longer of a velcro strip for adjustability, and the cans are super comfortable after several hours of wearing them.

The mic retracts into the left earpiece when you don't need it, and the mic audio is a little tinny but still clear. There's a volume mixer knob on the right earpiece that allows to you tweak audio vs comms which is also pretty nice.

I've liked mine too but just started having problems with that right dial that adjusts audio vs. comms. It's now just a generic volume dial.

PaladinTom wrote:

Soooo my aging Sony Golds are looking real tired with the padding flaking off and falling apart. The battery doesn't last nearly as long as they used to either.

I was considering just grabbing the updated Sony Gold hotness when this came across my feeds.

It's a headset with a usb c dongle! It's advertised as being the first to work seamlessly with the Switch. (Side note: the Sony Golds also work fine with the Switch using an adapter.)

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71rNqEv8-CL._SL1500_.jpg)

It also comes with a usb a dongle for older systems. Very interesting!

Anyone have any experience with the SteelSeries brand? Only 12 reviews so far on Amazon.

Did you end up getting these? My son needs a headset and wants new headphones (currently has in-ear headphones. I came here to ask about a headset/headphone combo and saw this. The wired ones are $100 and the wireless ones are $40. If you did get them, how do you like them?

EvilHomer3k wrote:

Did you end up getting these? My son needs a headset and wants new headphones (currently has in-ear headphones. I came here to ask about a headset/headphone combo and saw this. The wired ones are $100 and the wireless ones are $40. If you did get them, how do you like them?

No, I didn't. There were too few reviews and my old headphones are still hanging on for now.

Just bought the CORSAIR Void PRO Surround Gaming Headset - Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound Headphones and I've got to say I'm impressed. I got them for $49 (renewed which is new but was unboxed) and the surround sound is absolutely amazing. I loaded up Battlefield V and it was like I was in a real warzone. These are by far the best budget headphones I've ever had.

I bought the 1More Stylish in-ear bluetooth headphones 2 weeks ago, and am really happy with them. They sound great, have excellent battery life, are stylish, and I get to snub all those colleagues with Airpods.

They don't have noise cancelling, which I prefer, but as many here seem to find that really important I thought I'd mention it.

If anyone is shopping for a headset, I had to pick up a new pair; my Corsair set broke just above the ear piece in an non-repairable way after many years of service.

I bought the Logitech G533 on deep discount. They're a couple years old, list for $149.99, and they're on sale at Amazon for $64.99.

It's entirely possible they're on permanent deep discount, but even so, I'm happy with them so far and they're reasonably priced if someone's looking for a new set. Bonus points: My wife told me they look more stylish than other sets we've had in the past. Straight black, no colors or logos or excessive flashing lights.

I just got a Steelseries Arctis 7, as a semi-impulse purchase when I was researching upcoming Black Friday deals and found they were already cheaper than I was expecting ($115 at Amazon). They're pretty nice.

Also got a pair of Galaxy Buds for my work cell, and I would have been pissed had I paid the $130 asking price as they sound pretty sh*t, but given that they were a freebie, are fine as a pair that live in the kitchen so I can listen to a podcast while I cook.

Please don’t hate me for skimming:

I have collected holiday gold and want to turn it into true wireless earbuds.

Ideally, they

-Are good for light workouts. I’m not running a Tough Mudder, but I would like to use them for jogging and lifting

-I am a bit of an audiophile. I like base (from years of Tuba and Euphonium) but generally like a full, balanced sound.

-I need a good fit. I don’t know what that means, but I want a good seal without fearing they will fall out.

Thoughts, suggestions, tips?

Outside of the usual suspects from Apple, Sony, Jabra, Plantronics, and Bose, the Anker Soundcore Liberty Neos are the only ones I would suggest looking at.

I got a refurb Sony WH1000MX3, trying to figure out if this issue Im having is normal or if I should get an exchange. When active the battery has great life, I only lost about 10% during a 5 hour flight; however when inactive the battery still seems to drain really fast. Most times I've picked it up after more than a day it's been nearly dead or dead.

I've made sure to turn it off each time, so I dont think its just being on (It has no external indicator to let you know if its on or off). It seems to lose its charge regardless of if its on or off.

Edit: Of course it defies me by losing 0% overnight when I test it after writing this. Its either weirdly inconsistent or Im somehow not turning it off when I think Im turning it off.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Please don’t hate me for skimming:

I have collected holiday gold and want to turn it into true wireless earbuds.

Ideally, they

-Are good for light workouts. I’m not running a Tough Mudder, but I would like to use them for jogging and lifting

-I am a bit of an audiophile. I like base (from years of Tuba and Euphonium) but generally like a full, balanced sound.

-I need a good fit. I don’t know what that means, but I want a good seal without fearing they will fall out.

Thoughts, suggestions, tips?

Check out the Jabra Elite Active series. They are pretty much made for running / workouts and always recommended by tech sites. You also don't need to worry about rain or sweat breaking them.

I really love my PSB M4U 2s, and I was psyched that the PSB M4U 8s were bluetooth, so they'd be easier to travel with.

But with ANC on the bass just sounds awful. I'm not a bass head, but it's super muddy and dominant in a single earcup. It's very odd. I bought them used, so no returning them to PSB, alas.

It's a shame because otherwise it checks all my boxes, the sound quality without ANC is good, it uses regular, USER REPLACEABLE buy them at the store batteries as god intended. Making it super easy to keep charged on the go or replace in a pinch. It can work with a headphone cable or without it. If you have rechargeable batteries inserted, the USB port can charge them. Much sturdier than the M4U 2s.

Still a good bluetooth set for non-amp, or amp with no ANC.

I've been hard pressed to think of other brands where the headphones run on regular batteries, and still sound good. I keep an eye out, but maybe one day they'll put out an M4U 16 that checks all the boxes.

Even though I'm out of warranty I emailed them, and the official explanation is that my ears deceive me. PSB says they're properly tuned, but ANC makes the sound different, which makes me just *think* it's muddy.

I'm no audio expert but isn't that... kind of bullsh*t? Wouldn't you tune the headphones to accommodate that, ideally? And the audio quality/distortion in the M4U 2s is practically non-existent by comparison.

So my perpetual wishlist:

Sound quality
Good build quality
Fits giant heads
Replaceable earpads
User replaceable rechargeable battery
Bluetooth
Built-in amp (bonus if available)

I have the WXM3s and the earcups just barely fit over my ears, so listening gets really uncomfortable after awhile. But they do pack up nice and small compared to the PSBs.

ccoates wrote:

I really love my PSB M4U 2s, and I was psyched that the PSB M4U 8s were bluetooth, so they'd be easier to travel with.

But with ANC on the bass just sounds awful. I'm not a bass head, but it's super muddy and dominant in a single earcup. It's very odd. I bought them used, so no returning them to PSB, alas.

It's a shame because otherwise it checks all my boxes, the sound quality without ANC is good, it uses regular, USER REPLACEABLE buy them at the store batteries as god intended. Making it super easy to keep charged on the go or replace in a pinch. It can work with a headphone cable or without it. If you have rechargeable batteries inserted, the USB port can charge them. Much sturdier than the M4U 2s.

Still a good bluetooth set for non-amp, or amp with no ANC.

I've been hard pressed to think of other brands where the headphones run on regular batteries, and still sound good. I keep an eye out, but maybe one day they'll put out an M4U 16 that checks all the boxes.

Even though I'm out of warranty I emailed them, and the official explanation is that my ears deceive me. PSB says they're properly tuned, but ANC makes the sound different, which makes me just *think* it's muddy.

I'm no audio expert but isn't that... kind of bullsh*t? Wouldn't you tune the headphones to accommodate that, ideally? And the audio quality/distortion in the M4U 2s is practically non-existent.

that's a lame excuse, especially since you're only heading it in one ear. Could let someone else try them and see if they have a similar experience.

Chairman_Mao wrote:

that's a lame excuse, especially since you're only heading it in one ear. Could let someone else try them and see if they have a similar experience.

That's a good idea. Just to make sure I wasn't going nuts I even flipped them around, same earcup seems to be dominant.

Maybe if the price drops enough I'll buy a pair direct from PSB so I qualify for warranty, on the chance that it's just QC issues (PSB seems to struggle with that sometimes, iirc I had to replace my PSB m4u 2s twice within six months).

I also just remembered sometimes the Bluetooth will turn into loud (and startling) static. Turn it off and on, and it's fine.

So close otherwise, though.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Please don’t hate me for skimming:

I have collected holiday gold and want to turn it into true wireless earbuds.

Ideally, they

-Are good for light workouts. I’m not running a Tough Mudder, but I would like to use them for jogging and lifting

-I am a bit of an audiophile. I like base (from years of Tuba and Euphonium) but generally like a full, balanced sound.

-I need a good fit. I don’t know what that means, but I want a good seal without fearing they will fall out.

Thoughts, suggestions, tips?

I have just posted a set I got for Christmas over in teh trading thread. They would fit your bill if your interested.

https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

Thinking about getting the Sennheiser HD 650 but they are pretty penny. Anything cheaper but still good?

Baron Of Hell wrote:

Thinking about getting the Sennheiser HD 650 but they are pretty penny. Anything cheaper but still good?

Have you looked at the Massdrop made ones?

The price will be hidden unless you login, but it's $200.