Looking for large, fully closed-back headphones

Does anyone out there have a solid recommendation for a high-quality stereo headset? I'm looking for something that hits a few specific marks:
1. It needs to be fully closed-back so I can actually block out the world and get some peace and quiet.
2. Over-ear design is a must. 🙂 My ears are... let's just say they aren't exactly small, so I need drivers large enough to actually fit comfortably without feeling like my head is in a vice.
3. Most importantly, it has to be light enough that I won't feel like I'm wearing a heavy construction helmet after a few hours of use.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of budget are we looking at here?

Look $167, if we’re talking serious audiophile territory—like, say, picking up some used Bavaria gear—I’d be willing to drop even 1,000 🙂

What else are you looking for in a set... Are you satisfied with basic stereo, or are you aiming for 5.1/7.1 surround sound?
Do you need them to be wireless, or would a wired connection work for you?

For instance, I ended up getting the SteelSeries - wireless gaming headset Arctis because my main priority was going wireless without sacrificing too much audio quality... So, I set aside a bit more money (okay, a lot more), but now I have a pair that I absolutely love... They cover my ears completely and block out almost all ambient noise, plus they feature 7.1 surround (which I didn't specifically ask for, but came included 😍)... I can't say they are incredibly lightweight, though... They aren't exactly heavy, but they feel fine to me; however, my boyfriend finds them a bit too heavy for long sessions since he needs something he can wear for hours at a time.

If you don't strictly need wireless but really want that 5.1 surround experience, I’d suggest the ones my boyfriend recently picked up... Razer Kave. He swears they are super light and comfortable for extended use, and having at least 5.1 was his top priority. They also isolate outside noise really well. He’s thrilled with them, and they cost him significantly less than what I paid for mine.

I can definitely recommend them because I've seen how well they work firsthand.
If those are a bit out of your budget (since they are on the pricier side), I think there are plenty of great high-end stereo headphones out there...
But trust me, if you're a gamer and plan on using them constantly, it's worth investing a little extra...
We aren't exactly the Rockefellers (I'd say we're closer to the opposite 😬)...
I saved up for my pair for about three or four months, but I don't regret it for a second...
And even though my boyfriend hesitated quite a bit because of the price, he is beyond happy with them now.

P.S. - I see you've turned into a number in the meantime... 😁
In that case, you're definitely in the same league as us when it comes to headphone spending... 😉
I see the Kave are available at Best Buy for $217 (we bought ours at Links for a bit more)
The G930 were $333

Thanks for such an exhaustive breakdown. I realized after hitting send on my first post that I actually left out a few crucial details:

1. I’m looking for a strictly analog headset—none of that USB sound card nonsense; it needs to plug directly into my Creative Sound Blaster
2. Standard stereo is fine, though obviously, if we can find a solid 5.1 setup that won't break the bank, I'd much prefer that.
3. Wired only. No wireless excuses here.

Also, just to give you some context, I've been using 5.1 headsets for ages now (gone through several different models over the years). The Rocat Kave looks decent so far, but does anyone know if it's truly "closed-back"? I need to know if the passive noise isolation is actually legit and capable of blocking out the world.

Analog headphones have their perks: no USB, no internal DAC, and none of those annoying driver headaches... just pure analog simplicity 🙂

When you ask if they are "truly fully closed," what exactly do you mean by that? If you mean whether the padding sits flush against the skin to seal around the ear, then yes... I honestly don't see how they could be any more closed than that 🤷

And regarding whether the "noise isolation is complete," we really need to define what "complete" means to you... 🙄
With the Kava, you could say that if even a hint of sound leaks through, the wearer wouldn't even notice someone talking at a normal volume just half a foot away. If absolutely nothing can be heard through the headphones, the wearer might still hear a muffled version of someone speaking nearby, and if they focus hard enough, they could probably understand them
I'm not quite sure how else to put it. But frankly, I highly doubt any headphones can offer better isolation than professional-grade gear...

http://www.bestbuy.com/?akg/639/headphones...-518-dj/K518DJ
http://www.bestbuy.com/?akg/639/headphones-akg-k-514/K514
http://www.bestbuy.com/?akg/639/headphones-akg-k-530/K530
http://www.amazon.com/?sennheiser/191/...r-hd-438/HD438
http://www.amazon.com/?sennheiser/191/...r-eh-350/EH350
http://www.amazon.com/?sennheiser/191/...r-hd-428/HD428
http://www.amazon.com/?sennheiser/191/...r-eh-250/EH250

If you actually want decent headphones, stick to the high-end hi-fi shops. 😁
Props to Logia, Razer, and the rest of them, but still...

hollowcanyon56: That’s exactly what I was getting at—I’m talking about total isolation from the outside world. That’s the whole point; I need them to shut everything else out. Since my ears are on the larger side, could you please just tell me one thing: will these actually fit *inside* the earcups? I need the pads to fully surround my ears rather than having my ears pressed right against the driver.

gamerz.ivan: The Alphas are decent enough, but honestly, my ears just won't fit inside them; I gave it a shot and it didn't work. I haven't had a chance to test how the Sigma models handle that, but since they're pricier than the Razer stuff, I think I'll stick with my first choice, coffee.

darkowl72: Look, I know a thing or two about audio quality because when it comes to my music setup, I swear by Grado 🙂. But for this specific situation, I'm looking for something strictly for gaming.

I mean, it kind of feels like Joshua Smith42 is actually looking for a headset—you know, the kind with a built-in mic included?

So... I mean, how big can ears actually get? 🤣

My boyfriend claims any headphones larger than his would fit just fine, and he’s got pretty average-sized ears

I took some measurements of my own so you can judge for yourself...

There's about 9 cm of space left right below the opening.

Good luck finding some new headphones that actually work for you...

I practically acted like a spokesperson for these, as if I’d gain anything from you buying them... 🤣
but I'm just glad I could help... 😉

Honestly, Nanook, thanks a million for laying all that out for me—you really nailed it. When you’re dropping cash on a new pair of headphones, you absolutely have to try them on first if you can, but if you're stuck buying online or something, you definitely need someone like you to give them a proper, honest breakdown before you commit. 🙂