Headphone recommendations?

I haven't had any hands-on experience with these myself, but if they're being marketed toward DJs, they really ought to have solid passive noise isolation...

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audi...s-japan-import

Looking for some gaming headset recommendations under $83 that pack a serious bass punch.
I’m currently eyeing the Medusa NX 5.1, but I'm wondering if I'll need a dedicated sound card or if my built-in motherboard audio (like an ASUS Prime series) will cut it.
Is there anything out there that offers better bang for my buck?

I’m not going to weigh in on the headset selection because, honestly, you probably won't find anything significantly better at that price point. Medusa has been around long enough that we'd already know if they were garbage.

But when it comes to the sound card? Now I have an opinion. 😬 My son actually bought some high-end Razer headphones a while back that came with their own USB sound card. But he could have just plugged them directly into the motherboard's audio jack—I'm pretty sure his board was identical to yours. The difference in quality was night and day. It just goes to show that most onboard audio processors are basically useless (unless you're rocking one of those high-end enthusiast boards these days).

The bottom line is this: those headphones will sound fine on integrated audio if you're tight on cash, but they aren't going to reach their full potential until you invest in a dedicated sound card.

darkowl72 said:I won't weigh in on the headset choice because you probably can't find anything significantly better for that kind of money anyway. Medusa has been around long enough that if there were major flaws, people would have noticed by now.

But I definitely want to talk about the sound card.😬 My son actually bought some high-end Razer headphones a while back that came with a USB sound card. However, they could have easily plugged directly into the motherboard's audio jack—I think the board was even identical to yours! The difference in quality was night and day. It just goes to show that integrated audio processors are actually pretty essential, at least on higher-end boards.

My point is this: those headphones will sound perfectly fine on your integrated audio if you're on a budget, but they really won't hit their full potential until you invest in a dedicated sound card.

What’s the deal with the Medusa XE? It's cheaper, but it doesn't offer 5.1 surround sound. Is it actually worth paying the extra cash for the 5.1 Medusa version?

I get that, but I don't think Speedlink can even be compared to Razer. As long as they get the job done, you're good—you can always upgrade to a better sound card later! ;-)

I wouldn't know anything about those differences... sorry...

darkowl72 said:I wouldn't know anything about those differences... sorry...

Thanks! 👍

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some solid advice on a new headset. I’ll be using it strictly for gaming—about 80% of my playtime is spent grinding Call of Duty—and I’m hoping to stay within a budget of roughly $500$200. Up until now, I’ve gone through two different Sound BlasterX TactX headsets, but they both ended up breaking on me, so I’m really looking to step up to something with much better build quality this time around. Thanks a million!!

I’m putting my vote behind Click. They're solidly built—honestly, they probably have the best sound quality in this tier—plus you get a detachable mic if that matters to you. In that same price bracket, you could also look at the Logitech G430 or the SteelSeries Siberia V2, which are both decent, well-made options

Your link basically opens up a massive catalog of a hundred different headsets, so I’m honestly a bit lost on which specific one you were actually aiming for 😁. I spent quite a while weighing my options, looking closely at some SteelSeries gear, but it turns out Amazon won't ship them over to my neck of the woods here in the States. I also had my eye on the Logitech G430, but after a bit of thought, I ended up pulling the trigger on the Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma instead. Honestly, the sound quality is just phenomenal—that virtual 7.1 surround sound works like a charm, and they are incredibly comfortable to wear for long sessions. Even though the build feels a little lightweight since it's mostly plastic, it seems decent enough, so we'll just have to wait and see how well they hold up over time 👍

The HyperX Cloud is probably the best headset ever made.

Thanks so much for letting me know, I'll definitely keep that in mind for next time!!

I’m on the hunt for some decent headphones for my PlayStation 4 and my PlayStation Portable:
- earbuds style
- needs a 3.5 mm jack
- inline volume control on the cable
- clear audio and decent volume levels
- something from Best Buy—budget-friendly, but nothing total junk

Right now, I've just been using these old buds I scavenged from an ancient Chinese transistor radio, and strangely enough, they actually work on both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Portable. It's hard to say if they're any good since I have nothing else to compare them to, but let's face it—they aren't exactly high-fidelity. Since I'm splitting my time between two consoles, I figured it was time to look for something a bit more reliable.
Any suggestions on what to pick up or where to find them? Appreciate the help.

I’d say go for the Apple MacBook Pro headphones. I kept seeing people rave about how much bang you get for your buck regarding sound quality, so I finally bit the bullet and picked up a pair. I’ve been using them every single day for nearly a year now, and honestly, they haven't let me down—especially since I used to settle for cheap junk until $17. They look sharp, too, plus they come with an inline mic and controls. I wasn't even sure if you could find these locally, so I just ordered mine online from China. Xiaomi is one of those brands that really knows how to deliver decent tech without charging a premium.

Review:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/xiao...hybrid.825485/