[sR.Kumo]

Hello there :3
I need to decide on one of two headsets. The costs are one of the many differences, but I'd like to know from you guys which you'd pick, ignoring the costs, and why you'd select that one.
Razer Banshee - http://www.razerzone.com/store/starc...-razer-banshee
Logitech G930 - http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/product/7248
If you've at some point owned either of the two, I'd be grateful if you could tell me from your personal experiences why that one was either good or bad, and even if you haven't owned either, if you know your way through these sorta things, It would really help if you could look at the specifications on either and inform me which is better :P
As you can see, I'm pretty helpless when it comes to tech~y equipment specifications :P
Thanks!

[exan]

Assuming you're in Aus.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...42c1fe14f3e1ca

Lot of choices there.

I've not tried any of them, I use non "gaming" headphones, but I think these seem better than the banshee.
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...42c1fe14f3e1ca

[|Erasmus|]

Why is it only one of those two?

There are better headphones that can be paired with something like this (http://pccasegear.com/index.php?main...oducts_id=2885) that would be a similar price...

Being in europe, some of the cheaper sennheiser/beyerdynamic/akg models should have a lot less of a markup than out here in aus and will beat the pants off a "gaming headset" for sound quality for the same price range over there (if you care about that).

[exan]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

Why is it only one of those two?

There are better headphones that can be paired with something like this (http://pccasegear.com/index.php?main...oducts_id=2885) that would be a similar price...

Being in europe, some of the cheaper sennheiser/beyerdynamic/akg models should have a lot less of a markup than out here in aus and will beat the pants off a "gaming headset" for sound quality for the same price range over there (if you care about that).

Erasmus makes a good point, I use a similar mic to the one he linked and some AD700s.

[ToRDjvillian]

I owned the Razer Banshee headset which died around the 2 year mark of having them. personally i didn't think they were all that great apart from the APM lighting system which i couldn't see because i was focused on the game itself and can't see my ears without a mirror.

i also found the mic to produce a lot of static when used if it wasn't sitting in a good position (mic is removable).

in other words they do the job.

[pXtAYY]

DO NOT RECOMMEND the Razer Banshee, its ******* terrible. The mic is absolute trash and the headset crackly all the time, got mine replaced to ensure it wasn't just the headset, new one did the same. I did some research on it and apparently it had to do with HD audio drivers, but still don't recommend that headset, it was also pretty good at giving me headaches.

So out of those 2 in particular, definitely the G930.

Earbuds master race.

Quick Comments

sR.Kumo:

haha :P I have quite a few earbuds, but personally I dislike them, I always have trouble keeping them in my ear >.>

[sR.Kumo]

Wow guys, thanks for so many replies so quickly!
I guess I'll start off by widening my view and looking at a few more then.
A lot of people seem to have had negative experiences with the Banshee, although it didn't look too terrible from the little I've seen (except the chunkyness of it).

Originally Posted by exan

<snip>

I'm in Europe, not australia :3 although I will look through the sites nevertheless :3
Another issue is, I prefer the sort of headsets that cover the entire ear, rather than those that actually sit on the ear. A lot of the other ones I've looked at have been the kind that don't entirely cover the ear, so I disregarded them as options.

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

<snip>

what exactly do you mean by "lot less of a markup" D: I don't quite get that part.
Although, I suppose I will go look at headphones that are less exclusively gaming :3 thanks :P

Once again guys, thanks for all the criticism and help!

[T3CHavOc]

I would recommend a pair of Audio Technica AD700s with a standalone/clip-on mic... you won't regret the decision

Quick Comments

|Erasmus|:

Good headphones, but better off buying eu brands at that price in europe.

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by Kumo

what exactly do you mean by "lot less of a markup" D: I don't quite get that part.
Although, I suppose I will go look at headphones that are less exclusively gaming :3 thanks :P

One of the reasons a lot of the people here seem to like the "gaming headets" over looking into brands like those is because they are european (sennheiser/beyer are german, akg are austrian) brands and the prices seem to double as soon as you decide to import that kind of stuff to australia.

Even the Japanese brands (audio-technica etc.) are way overpriced here.

In europe, i assume you can get better models from those brands for the same price as the razer products, which imo would far better for sound quality. IMO, for listening to music I'm yet to hear a gaming headset that's good value. (doesn't help they are all tuned to be quite bassy for listening to dubstep or something i guess, and I dislike that in general, so I -am- a little biased)

[sR.Kumo]

Ah, that makes sense :P Well, this thread is a gold mine of information!
I'll spend tomorrow (it's half past four in the night (...morning?)) here, so I'm going to spend the majority of tomorrow going through a whole bunch of earphones, trying to compare :3
*bookmarks thread*

edit:
well, there's certainly a lot being said about the standalone / clip-on microphone. I'm quite suprisized, I've never actually heard of mics that you clip on to your headphone before o_o
I'll have to look into that too! (:

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by Kumo

edit:
well, there's certainly a lot being said about the standalone / clip-on microphone. I'm quite suprisized, I've never actually heard of mics that you clip on to your headphone before o_o
I'll have to look into that too! (:

There's a few options... you can get a clip-on mic like the Zalman that is supposed to be quite good. There are also plenty of desktop mics out there. Logitech make a serviceable one that I use, if you'd like that rather than having it attached to your headphones.

[chlippry]

I own a pair of the Logitech G930's and have had them for almost 1 and a half years. havent had any issues with the sound quality or the comfort. the mic sounds real clear. only gripes i would have is that the material around the left earcup has started to peal off which isnt too bad, you dont notice it when they are on. also the battery life will only last about 6-7hrs of gaming (note, this also coupled with skype calls and music)

for the price of them, id say they are a good buy and have decent range on the signal before they drop out

[FStitanium]

steelseries V2 series are awesome, do check them out!

[b3nje909]

Astro a40 or a50

Do not waste you time on anything else.

https://content.ebgames.com.au/websi..._detail_v2.jpg


http://www.astrogaming.com/media/cat..._pdp_image.jpg


pricey, but the known leaders of gaming headphones for a reason.

I have a50's, but sometimes wish I had a40s for variosu reasons.
wireless is good tho, as I sometimes wear them around the unit and listen to music without distrubing anyone else.



(why are images not working???)

[alt24]

Originally Posted by b3nje909

Astro a40 or a50

Do not waste you time on anything else.





pricey, but the known leaders of gaming headphones for a reason.

I have a50's, but sometimes wish I had a40s for variosu reasons.
wireless is good tho, as I sometimes wear them around the unit and listen to music without distrubing anyone else.

Bahaha. If you were going to spend over $100 on a pair of headphones and the brand is astro, logitech or razer (etc) than you don't know better.

If you're going to invest decent money into a pair of cans, you have to get a studio brand. Why? Because they simply sound better and they're built to last, unlike astros which are renowned for breaking.

Shure SRH440 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=445 They sound better than a40s and are built like tanks. They're also much cheaper and are a closed design too.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=178 These are an open design and sound amazing and are great for long periods of use. If you play any FPS games I'd recommend open design over closed design.

Beyerdynamic DT440 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=5 Probably the best sounding sub $200 headphones on the market

Whatever you pick, just go for a studio brand, you won't be disappointed as headphones and sound is what these companies specialize in. If you need a microphone just grab a clip-on one, they cost like $10.

[b3nje909]

Originally Posted by alt24

Bahaha. If you were going to spend over $100 on a pair of headphones and the brand is astro, logitech or razer (etc) than you don't know better.

If you're going to invest decent money into a pair of cans, you have to get a studio brand. Why? Because they simply sound better and they're built to last, unlike astros which are renowned for breaking.

Shure SRH440 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=445 They sound better than a40s and are built like tanks. They're also much cheaper and are a closed design too.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=178 These are an open design and sound amazing and are great for long periods of use. If you play any FPS games I'd recommend open design over closed design.

Beyerdynamic DT440 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=5 Probably the best sounding sub $200 headphones on the market

Whatever you pick, just go for a studio brand, you won't be disappointed as headphones and sound is what these companies specialize in. If you need a microphone just grab a clip-on one, they cost like $10.

I've heard and read ALOT of reviews about people breaking their headsets, and I am yet to fathom why and how they do it, they either throw them around, or treat them like shit.
mine are fine, like anything pricey, u have to look after them.

I am very happy with my astros. alot better than my turtle beaches I had previous.
Ive also had Sony MDr v700's which lasted about 10 years (still have them someplace).
But if I was going to buy a quality set of headphones, I'd get Senni HD25's. I just cannot justify $500+ on a set of headphones.

My Astros I got cheap as I was good mates with an EB manager so I'm cool with having a brand that means "I dont know better"

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

Gamecom make some very nice headsets worth checking out too! They support eSports but are better quality than most "gaming headsets"

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by alt24

If you're going to invest decent money into a pair of cans, you have to get a studio brand. Why? Because they simply sound better

^^ Will always and forever be my logic. Have I heard every "gaming headset"? No, but I've heard enough of them, and enough studio brand headphones at various price points to know that they're never getting my money. Some of them aren't terrible, even for the cost, but many of the ones I've tried have been (imo) worse than even some $20 earbuds i've used in terms of sound quality.

[alt24]

Well if you get them heavily discounted than that makes them a suitable choice of course, its about what you're getting for your money.

[Pandan]

It's already been said; but never buy audio products from Razer. Most mice, mouse mats and some of the keyboards are pretty good (DeathAdder is one of the best ever). Never ever buy their audio gear, ever - so bad

[HaZaRd.]

I RECOMMEND all GameCom Plantronics headsets! The mics have good quality and the sound is great! Also they are extremely comfy! Also ill suggest some more.

Here are the headsets I suggest:
http://www.plantronics.com/au/product/gamecom-777

Amazon

Amazon

http://steelseries.com/products/audi...fnatic-edition (NOTE it doesnt have a mic but the sound quality is insane!)
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/store/...C=1164&ID=2103

Well they are the headsets I suggest. I have the gamecom plantronics 777 headset.

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

I guess you need to buy to suit your wants and needs.

- Do you want a brand that supports gaming teams
- Do you want a really nice long lasting pair of very good headphones
- What is your budget

Something that suits one person may not suit another, If you just want to buy a brand that supports esports then thats cool, but totally different price/longevity wise than a pair of nice studio headphones.

Maybe outline how much you want to spend, what you mainly use them for (most people dont need studio headphones to play sc2 remember so the investment might not be what you are after) what you want in terms of weight, size, features etc.

There is a lot of good recommendations and advice in here but its still a very personal thing I think. Maybe head to a store and try some different styles out. I know the Razer Banshee is a really heavy headset, the SteelSeries Siberia V2's are much lighter etc. Without trying them on its hard to know whats going to be comfy for you

Take time when you are looking too, check out different stores for pricing and online too. Make sure you choose something that fits nicely and suits your needs then you will be happy regardless

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by b3nje909

But if I was going to buy a quality set of headphones, I'd get Senni HD25's. I just cannot justify $500+ on a set of headphones.

There are a -lot- of other headphones under $500. It's a pretty hardcore amount to spend, and if you are, you should also be spending even more on having decent sources/amplification for most of them.

There are enough well respected headphones at even <$100...

[exan]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

There are a -lot- of other headphones under $500. It's a pretty hardcore amount to spend, and if you are, you should also be spending even more on having decent sources/amplification for most of them.

There are enough well respected headphones at even <$100...

More good advice, $150-200 headphones and a decent DAC would sound infinitely better than $500 headphones, which are probably not easy to drive off PC hardware alone.

[b3nje909]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

There are a -lot- of other headphones under $500. It's a pretty hardcore amount to spend, and if you are, you should also be spending even more on having decent sources/amplification for most of them.

There are enough well respected headphones at even <$100...

I have wanted a pair of HD25s since I started DJing over 10 years ago.
to me THEY are the headphone to own.

Beats by Dre, are liek the Iphone of headphones and everyone seems to want to own a pair (amazing marketing).

Funnily, everyone who buys shit hot headphones listen to MP3's on them, which is the worst audio format around... (long live Vinyl)

For serious advice to the OP, Id consider asking some Audio Engineers who actually can tell the difference between good sound and bad sound and great sound.
"loud" and "bassey" does not always mean good, as much as the salesman will tell you such, but at the end of the day, budget and personnel preference should be your ultimate guide.

Me personnally, I struggle to hear the price difference between $100 and $500 headphones, but fit and what I think sounds good, means I like Astros and Sennis (plus they look cool)

happy hunting

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by b3nje909

Me personnally, I struggle to hear the price difference between $100 and $500 headphones

From what source?

I can tell you that many $200+ headphones will sound like crap without amping or from a poor source. I bought my first pair of okay headphones (Senn 558) without really knowing what I was doing, and was initially disappointed cause I was hearing all sorts of noise and stuff and they improved soooo much when I added a relatively basic dac/amp. And they're a relatively easy to drive "high end" headphone.


I still don't know why this is relevant though. The one thing I am interested in, is the people who recommend gamecom headsets, or steelseries headsets... what have you compared them to when you "recommend" them? It implies you've compared them to other products in the same price range...

[b3nje909]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

From what source?

I can tell you that many $200+ headphones will sound like crap without amping or from a poor source. I bought my first pair of okay headphones (Senn 558) without really knowing what I was doing, and was initially disappointed cause I was hearing all sorts of noise and stuff and they improved soooo much when I added a relatively basic dac/amp. And they're a relatively easy to drive "high end" headphone.


I still don't know why this is relevant though. The one thing I am interested in, is the people who recommend gamecom headsets, or steelseries headsets... what have you compared them to when you "recommend" them? It implies you've compared them to other products in the same price range...

my source.

I have basically ruined my hearing from being in the army, riding motorbikes and djing.

when I lie down to sleep, there is a ringing in my ears..
there is no way I could hear all frequency ranges now.
but also, I dont work with Audio, and dont claim to. I can only go on reviews and what friends/acquaintances who do work with audio can tell me, and my own experiences.

Most headphones, either people take a gambit and buy, or listen to them instore, to probably a bass heavy dance track. I doubt many people here are audiofidelity freaks and go out and compare headphones.

Me, ive owned two sets of DJ headphones, two sets of gaming headphones, and a Beats Pro set (which are most definitely fake, but actually sound pretty bloody good) and numerous in ear headphones.

My TB's, which i ordered from OS, felt flimsy to start with, they also had cables running all over the place (DX-11's). I got them for my xbox and Gears 3. straight away there was a static sound over very heavy sequences (1st Brumack) for example. My Astro's dont have that for that area.

the only issue I have with my Astros is that occasionally they get inductance from me having cables going from my laptop to monitor and xbox (inductance is an electrical term for those who dont know), I found that buy earthing a loose HDMI cable from my xbox (just put metal to metal) and it went away., I also sometimes seem to pick up some radio station on them when I am charging and not playing any sound through them.

Anyway, this aint helping the OP.
I like my Astros, I thought I'd recommend them to him. Its up to him to make his own mind.

[|Erasmus|]

All way off topic now... point being companies like sennheiser/beyerdynamic etc. don't -only- make expensive headphones. And even their cheaper models are (imo) better value than gaming brands.

Even at the $80-90 range here. Which is the kind of price you're really just looking at running them off the headphone out of your computer/mp3 player.

[alt24]

To anyone without a dedicated soundcard I recommend getting a Asus Xonar DG or DGX (same card just pci/pci-e difference). You can get them for $30 and they have a headphone amp that is bloody powerful. Fantastic upgrade for the price.