Anyone take the plunge on a good headset? • Gaming • Xbox One • Eurogamer.net

trxibadas5s 14 Dec 2016 16:02:05 2 posts
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So I'm looking to upgrade my gaming headset - seems to be quite a few deals over the holidays so I figured now would be the best time if any.

Anyone have some advice on where I should start my search? I'm currently using my stock xbox headset so anything would be an upgrade for me I'm sure. Is turtle beach still where its at or am I better off looking at something else? I've got about $150 to blow but it would be great if I could find something for less.

Thanks in advanced!

Skirlasvoud 14 Dec 2016 17:22:26 4,039 posts
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Logitech G430. 50 pounds gets you a dolby surround headset that's as good as any of the overpriced brands.

yippeekiyay 15 Dec 2016 09:38:11 12 posts
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I was looking at getting a new set of heaphones to replace my 15 year old set, so I did a bit of research on the net. Damn it took up quite a bit of time. I'm not really an audiophile and how headphones sound are a personal preference.

First of all the Logitech G430's Dolby Surround will only work on PCs through Logitech's software. You won't get Dolby through them on the Xbox.

The only way to get Dobly Surround from the Xbox through headphones(at the moment)is to get an Astro Gaming Mixamp Pro which costs about Ł100/$130 or Ł200/Ł250 with the A40 headphones. The A40 headphones are not supposed to be very good.

I went for the HyperX Cloud since there were reduced in the Black Friday sales. The sound quality is good. I can hear background effects that I couldn't hear before eg. footsteps of enemies approaching me from behind in Titanfall 2.

For Ł150/$167 I would go for the Sennheiser Game One or Game Zero. One is open ear the other is closed. They are supposed to be the best out there.
If you want to save yourself a bunch of cash then get the Sennheiser HD 558 which is basically the same headphones without the mic, buy a seperate mic and adapter of cheap.
Audio Adapter
mic

BUT...there is a problem with the high Nominal impedance of the HyperX Cloud(60ohms) or Sennheisers(50ohms). The Xbox/PS4 controller or Mixamp Pro do not output enough power to drive them. My HyperX Clouds are extremely quiet when plugged into my Xbox controller.
I had to buy a headphone amplifier which is connected to my Xbox via optical cable to get the full quality out of my headphones.

I was thinking about getting a Mixamp Pro for the surround sound but the cost of it plus the headphone amplifier was too much for me.
I just read that Xbox will have Dobly Atmos output in the near future so that makes the Mixamp Pro redundant...
Dolby Atmos Sound Coming to Xbox One and Windows 10

"it will be possible to enable virtually any pair of headphones with the Dolby Atmos experience"
So I'm guessing the Xbox with do the audio mixing of the Dolby Atmos and output it to the controllers headphone output.

I should have gone for the Sennheisers as they are better for music and movies and supposedly more comfortable.
Not that the HyperX Clouds aren't comfy. They are a little tight which doesn't make them uncomfy but they do get a bit hot during long sessions.

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y2rich 15 Dec 2016 09:40:31 3,501 posts
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Superlux HD 668B, modmic, y adapter to let them plug into the controller. Ł80 total and 10x better than any gaming headset you'll get for 3x the price

trxibadas5s 15 Dec 2016 15:03:22 2 posts
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I was considering the Astro A40s they seemed to get good reviews but you've got me worried about spending so much only to get "not very good" headphones. The hyper x cloud is next up on their list and is easier on the wallet - probably what I am going to end up going with.

Where can you find a modmic and adapter if I were to go the hd 668B route?

y2rich 15 Dec 2016 15:40:22 3,501 posts
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@trxibadas5s all on Amazon I believe. You can then also drop a tenner on some nice velour earpads for the extra comfort on those Superlux if you find the fake leather a bit too sticky after a gaming session

I'd go Modmic 4.0 with Mute if you do go that route. You don't need the extra features of the latest model and the mute button is a handy feature to have.

Kilters 15 Dec 2016 15:48:58 658 posts
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Have astro A50's. Bit pricey but have been very happy with them for the past 2 years.

Barrel_Trollz 15 Dec 2016 16:26:22 777 posts
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If you want the best of both worlds, buy an old Turtle Beach DPX-21, then a pair of 3.5mm-connected, high quality headphones. With the DPX-21, you get a dolby audio processor and a pair of PX-21 wired gaming headphones. They're unremarkable, but the microphone is the best I've found, and the chat boost plus in-line controller is useful for balancing audio during the game.

For single player stuff, the dolby box will work with standard headphones, which sounds excellent with my M50X headphones, giving you a surround experience that outpaces Turtle Beach's top-end headphones (trust me, I tried).

This is what I've been doing for years now, it saves you from buying a pair of overpriced gaming headphones. In my experience, you have to sacrifice on either audio quality, sound balance, or the microphone. This way, you make no compromise (and no modmic faff).

Pazie 27 Nov 2017 20:03:50 1,343 posts
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Just bought the Astro A10 in the sale on their official site and was wondering if it’s worth forking out another Ł35 for the M60 MIXAMP to go with it.

matrim83 27 Nov 2017 21:08:48 5,713 posts
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Dont get "gaming" headsets. For the most part they are utterly trash and way overpriced. With very, VERY few exceptions. Like -

yippeekiyay wrote:
I went for the HyperX Cloud since there were reduced in the Black Friday sales. The sound quality is good. I can hear background effects that I couldn't hear before eg. footsteps of enemies approaching me from behind in Titanfall 2.

For Ł150/$167 I would go for the Sennheiser Game One or Game Zero. One is open ear the other is closed. They are supposed to be the best out there.
If you want to save yourself a bunch of cash then get the Sennheiser HD 558 which is basically the same headphones without the mic, buy a seperate mic and adapter of cheap.
Audio Adapter
mic

This is solid advice. Both the Sennheiser and the HyperX cloud are really good.

Pazie 27 Nov 2017 21:13:56 1,343 posts
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Thanks for the advice. I’d already bought the Astro one though.