CHAT VOLUME: I so appreciate how you break down details and not just manufacturer selling points. I always feel that chat volume vs. game volume does need discussion because it's a big feature for many like me who have lost some of their hearing. It is a such a disappointment to buy what I think is a great headset but then I find out features are negated when I realize I can't adequately adjust that mix.
I don't have any Steelseries products, but I absolutely cannot go without their "Steelseries GG" software. It makes this process super easy, creating a virtual device that you can use just for chat audio (either through discord and whatever or the game) and have it's own volume. Also the ability to EQ the microphone or whatever you want.
5:31 Actually, you want to set bit depth as high as possible while leaving sample rate at 44.1 or 48 KHz. Having the sample rate at insane numbers can cause issues in certain games and it will resample the audio, which might even lower the quality slightly. It doesn't work like upscaling resolution: the more you upscale audio, the worse it might sound.
I will push back and say neither matter. Your higher bit depth and rate matter a lot more for editing and producing, even then I think it is questionable past sample rates, but not really for consumption. It is suppose to increase you dynamic range and that is more placebo tbh (just like Atmos and the rest of the audio woo). If you really want to change it, then match the source.
@@zakur0978 That is probably the safer option (DVD quality), and actually what I do. Win 11 is selects higher if iirc. Sometimes having weird sound settings can cause issues to boot. Some older Unreal engine games won't even boot if Windows sound settings aren't set correctly. Many games now change your bit rate when you select TV, Sound System, Headphones, etc. for your dynamic range (mostly just ceiling), but other than getting a little louder it won't actually change much.
I can't even find that window or settings in my copy of Windows 10. I remember seeing on my old, old laptop running Windows XP. Is this something microshit removed from Windows 10 in order to push people to the spyware/advertising platform that is Windows 11?
Good video but I disagree about the joints. Ears are not "flat" against the head and are slightly angled forward, the swivel makes headphones sit better on them without added pressure (which is a huge game changer for prolonged use), that's where the "marketed comfort" aspect comes from. I understand why people do that, but headphones are not designed to be wrapped/stored/carried around your neck.
Totally agree and exactly my thoughts as well when looking at that section. It's one of the main criterias I have when looking at an headset/headphone. If it can't swiwel, it won't be comfortable for me unfortunately. Have been through that experience before.
Closed vs Open also had an impact on your relationship with your SO. The fact that I can hear my SO when they call for help or just try to talk to me saved my relationship countless times. Gaming is important to me but not the most important thing, I couldn't go back to closed design. Also open design gives audio feedback so it's much easier to control the volume of my voice. My cs2 duo partner tend to shout extremely loud late at night when gaming and it's causing issue with their SO
Let this man cook! With closed backs and iem's I was always shouting and talking at a very high volume haha When I finally got a open back, I was finally able to hear how loud I was with having my girlfriend throw a pillow at me. Also being able to hear her the first time around instead of saying "what?" Then her getting mad as result of it saved me too.
this is one of the unseen benefits of the nova pro wireless anc/hearthrough. I have very young kids, and so being able to hear my wife and them is a blessing - sometimes. when the infant is screaming and you're trying to rock them back to sleep, your patience is MUCH higher when they aren't blowing your eardrums. being able to choose between those modes has been a godsend for my and my wife's patience.
Only thing for me is that there are no open back wireless gaming headsets. It’s a very niche market but I’d buy in a heartbeat if they were decent all around.
Very helpful guide, covering many considerations which i had never even thought of. I would LOVE to hear what your go to set for playing battlefield would be.
2.4 GHz TWS with dedicated dongles for gaming seem to be a fast growing segment. I just bought the Sony inzone buds, compared them before to several others, but they came out on top. The mic of these is not the best, but I use a separate mic. All together a super comfy setup and no lag sound. Wearing big headsets over a long period always caused an indentation on top of my head. Also, in ears look more profess for meetings
@@TheMstwntdLMSV123 That's just not true... professional FPS players pretty much only use IEMs. Look at any CS2 tournament and you'll see they wear IEMs under the headsets (and the headsets are pretty much only used for their mics and noise cancelation).
I went to you guys before I stuck with my G533 based on all your reviews, and now I'm back here after looking for my next one. Thanks for the work you do!
@@revE3rse I am using KZ ZS10 Pro 2 for IEMs. I bought a cheaper set first just to see if I liked having IMEs in my head. For $55 on amazon they are awesome. My $200+ Logitech headphones went to the trash after I got these. The ability to accurately hear where sound is coming from plus all the small details that I never heard before makes all the difference. They plug into the back of the PC and work fine.
This guide was super helpful. There are many headsets out there and there are a lot of gimmicks out there, I’m happy I can now pick out a new pair and know what to specially look for. You the best D
No kidding. I just bought a pair of Astro a50s and the headband that’s held together by straws of hay popped off, constant buzzing from shitty Bluetooth, and it cost an arm and a leg
some audio/electronic stores have a possibility to try on and test headphones, it is realy good to try out and feel before buying, especially if going high end
Personally I just bought the HS80 MAX from Corsair and I'd say overall it's pretty good but I did buy the leather ear cups for the better seal/bass and I absolutely had to tune the EQ. It isn't very good on default settings. The battery life is amazing though! It's rated for like 60 hours. I haven't actually checked how long they last, but it's definitely a long time. Multiple game sessions and still plenty of battery left.
On a scale from 1-10, how loud would you say they are? I have the wired version of them, and they sound too low for my liking. What about the wireless version
Learning a lot from this channel. My AKG K-80s (now considered vintage!!) just gave up the fight, so researching new headphones. Wow things have changed!
Something that Most people don't know is Open Back VS Closed Back is the Health of your Ear drum . With Closed back the air pressure is all over the ear drum , with Open back the air pressure of the headphones membrane does not destroy the ear drum like Closed back do... That's been proven .
Surround sound in these headsets is mostly marketing. What they really want is "sound stage" or "separation" which I doubt you are getting in a head "set". You're gonna need a dedicated pair of cans most likely which might get into dac amp setups depending on how high you go. But for me, paired with a modmic, it's well worth it since I listen to a lot of music while working too.
@@dannyexpo5740 no complaints here, they sound great on Series X especially using Dolby Atmos/DTS apps to boost sound quality. I got them on sale on Amazon for $90, they retail for $180
While it's easy to tell left from right in stereo, surround sound makes it clearer whether the sound is coming from the front, back, above, or below. Of course, the software matters, and I think Dolby Atmos is a great example.
really disagree on the plastic vs metal part. my Sony 1000xm3's broke after prolonged use, my Audeze Penrose plastic broke in less than 2 years, and my 8 year old HyperX cloud2s are still solid. and believe me i was always super careful with them
Sounds like you're not even if you think you are. Or you're incredibly unlucky but odds across so many brands and headphones are low. My xm4s (about 3 years old now) still going strong, my razer krakens from eons ago still going strong, the only thing that broke on me were my corsair hs65, the top band broke but corsair replaced it. Now onto my g pro x 2. Idk man, plastic has been super good to me, very light weight, best comfort. I had the audeze maxwell, and my god I had to return them, amazing sound for sure but incredibly uncomfortable and fragile too. I genuinely believe those are the most overhyped headsets of the past few years.
Surround sound headsets just don’t seem to work for me. It’s exactly like your edit, audio just sounds compressed to hell. Like I‘m listening to one of my 64kbps mp3s in 2007 lol.
Since i found Audeze Maxwell, the end game journey for finding "Gaming headset" is at its time. Simply no delay & can be EQ'ed for mobile game/music (No noticeable delay on Online game), audio on PC with usb dongles is just 😳
Bit depth and sample rate does not matter beyond 16-bit and 48000 Hz. If anything, it will use more data possibly limiting wireless range. Keep it at 16-bit 48 kHz.
Would strongly reccomend AGAINST the Audeze Maxwell for build quality. My first had tinfoil sounds coming from both drivers within 4 hours (returned) and the second after a month. Never left my desk, never dropped.
Mine has some issues too with interference, you can see exactly what in my full review. Still an excellent sounding headset with a tonne of features. Sucks to hear about QC tho. -D.
@@Filti_ In my opinion, to start off just get a pair of KZ ZS10 Pro 2 for about $55 USD and see how you like IEMs. They have switches so you can change the profile to more bass or more treble or more everything. They will work fine without a DAC so you can just plug them into your computer's audio port. I first bought cheaper set of IEMs before these came out to just see if I liked IEMs then bought the Pro 2 after they came out. You could get something cheaper but for the features and sound these have they are a really good buy.
I know it sounds weird but I am looking for the best gaming headset mics. When making TH-cam content people want you to sound as good as possible. I had a Corsair that had an amazing mic but the ear cups wore out in less than 6 months has shown earlier in the video.
I tried a few gaming headsets but i didnt liked any of them so i went and bought a studio headphones (beyerdynamic DT 770pro) which cost almost the same but sound so much better. Using them since 2021 and i love them.
To whomever is reading this comment; do not buy the Blackshark V2. They fall apart at the hinges consistently. I owned one for six months and was careful with every use, the hinges still fell apart.
Thank you very much 🙏🏽❤. I appreciate this video because now I have a better perspective on buying a headset for long term use as an online student that will be teaching online once I'm done with my course this year.
I currently have the turtle beach 600 gen 2s and I hate it as I feel too much pressure on my head, too much noise isolation, etc. I just purchased a Steelers nova pro wireless and looking fwd to transparency sound, Bluetooth from second audio device, less clamping force, etc. Can’t wait to see how it goes.
Honestly if you can afford it, it's better for you to get something like the Sennheiser HD560s and a mic cable for it if you care about competitive games or just want to immerse yourself more with the soundtracks of games instead of just big explosions all of the time. A much better option than spending hundreds on gaming headsets with still subpar quality mic and sound quality.
You're talking about virtual "surround" sound. Real surround sound makes a pretty big difference vs stereo or virtual "surround" sound. I am looking to replace my wonderful Roccat Kave XTD 5.1 digital true surround sound headset I bought in 2015. But most reviewers conflate virtual garbage with true surround sound and it's kind of annoying.
I feel like it's better value for money to buy a Good open-back or even closed back "non-gaming" headphones that can be used for enjoying music as well as games. Aren't these "gaming headphones" mostly just normal headphones with bass-boosted ? Only drawback would be lack of mic ig but that has easy workarounds.
I always default to the V-Moda headsets. They are built like a tank, and sound great especially when paired with a sound card (external or internal). For the best mic quality, get the boom attachment or some 3rd party one (these are not expensive and will sound better than most gaming headset mics).
Im use Creative soundblaster Jam 2, they sounds very good, in case sponges will wear out I bought for 3 dollars 50 sponges. They are light, do not put pressure on the head, sound very good, you can amplify the lower tones with one button on the headphones, there is nothing to break except the battery, but it is very easy to replace , just like the sponges on them.
Hey Dmitry, great content! i writting from Spain and just wanted to know what do you think about the Sennheiser's HD 560S? i have the them + V-moda boom but willing to know if i can improve a little bit now that gaming headsets have been growing in quality, what would you recomend? tks mate!
8 years ago i watched one of your videos about this very topic when i was deciding on my new headset, you convinced me to buy the Cooler Master MH752 for its comfort and high quality mic, after about 2 refunded pairs (left earcup stopped working about 7 months into each pair apart from the current one which has lasted since 2020) ive decided to once again come to you for my next upgrade as this pair is looking rather sorry :)
I just got the Corsair HS80 RGB USB (wired), its so good for the price. Top tier microphone quality and High res audio. The comfort is amazing. One thing to note is that you need to tune the EQ in the ICue software as it sounds flat out of the box.
Fun fact, surround headphones, even 7.1 surround headphones are actually just stereo heaphones. They just have 1 speaker on each side. The surround effect is just software trickery.
00:50 Perfect surround sound comes from binaural rendering of audio. If games did that, you'd have perfect surround sound over a stereo pair of headphones. No need for DTS, Dolby, etc. Just need two channels unless you're doing surround sound with speakers, in which case an object oriented format would work better. I wonder with the game settings in many games asking about headphones vs speakers and such if they are subtly doing binaural focused audio for the headphones option, regular stereo for speakers, and I don't know what for multi-speaker surround sound that seems very niche.
This was helpful, thank you. Ive never bought a headset before and don't know anything about them. So I was having a bit of anxiety. Then I heard about the Maxwells and thought I'll just get them. Then I heard about how heavy they are as I have trouble with my neck while gaming due to my terrible posture. This video helped ameliorate my concerns somewhat. I think I'm just going to have to get them so I can see, or I'll never know. Thanks for the video.
i got the h6pro open for 99 at blackfriday so if so canuks if you caan tell me if there's something better for that range of price I would be happy with it
i think you are wrong. i have hyperx revolver S with sound card dolby . i can play 7.1 im not hearing im wallhacking . it make you to see the opponent possition but you need first to setup in windows as 7.1 . not going as streo and you want to play as surround sound its wont work .
I love surround sound for it's cross-feed aspect, way more natural for games Say a gun fires on the left in a game, it's extremely unnatural to only hear the shot on the left in stereo Usually music doesn't have a particular element only in left or right channel so it's less jarring to be in stereo
My issue with what he says is that for competitive gaming, it’s not physically possible for stereo cans to let me hear sound from in front or behind. For example, despite having one of these “virtual” surround headsets, I cannot tell if someone is sneaking up behind me or coming from in front of me
On top of the ModMic there is the whole world of just using your favourite headphones with a desk mic. Can't beat the quality of the mic and the longevity and like the ModMic it opens up the world of headphones you can use.
@@HardwareCanucks OneOdio 10 Studio Professional DJ Headphones. Built on the cheaper side as they have failure points I am SHOCKED at how good they are for the 30 bucks I spent on them as a holdover until I could get a good set of wireless cans. I am going to try a pair of the same brand before spending $100 on something else first I am so surprised.
@@HardwareCanucks As someone that owns a lot of studio mics and just a few headset mics.... A lot of mics are just a bunch of bs honestly. I think a pair of used 380 pros with new pads and a mod mic with proper technique is the best.
Im still using my he-4XX for gaming, I feel like maybe I should find an upgrade like the sundara or maybe the sen hd 599, I was curious about thr Beyer TYGR 300 a while back but thats hard to find now..
For gaming Sundara would be a downgrade in anything competitive related unless you heavily EQ. Even then, your money is better off spent somewhere else
In have found the hd560s to be great imo out of the box but with minor equipment it excels. Id rather go with the maxwell or turtle beach pro for that scene. If casual gaming then use whatever sounds good to you tbh. This is just my experience
@@saucyg6371 Yeah sundara I was hoping could be good for gaming and if not music only is more than enough. I forgot to mention the 560s too so yeah those are on my radar too. A shame that its hard to find one headphone that does really well for both gaming and music. At least for my ears.
@@VEN0M415 ive tried 4xx, have 6xx and sundara. listen carefully. upgrading from 4xx to sundara is not worth it. When it comes to high res headphones like mentioned earlier, all that matters is sound signature, or should i say how do you like your headphones to sound. 4xx is very close to 6xx, laid back type of sound, fun, enjoyable, while sundara is completely analytical, theres no fun, only detail and head pain from pressure because sundara is heavy. sure, sundara is technically better for gaming, but not worth the pain imo, unless you play up to 2h at a time. if you really want some kind of gaming sound upgrade, hd560s is the way to go without breaking the bank.
Ok i need advice after watching this video. I m as now using Cloud II as main headset for most of games on PC ( 5 years uasge) At PS5 i m using Arctis 7P+. So what you recommend to buy as new headset that can surpass Cloud II? This days i m looking between Maxwell and Razer blackshark v2 pro 2023 ( did some research on reviews both of them are my style of usage) Mostly for FPS games and some games of World of Warships. As always any advice or help is welcomed. Thank you.
Am having a difficult time choosing headsets for mobile gaming. Please recommend me a good headset for competitive gameplay and hearing footsteps from the proper direction. Thank you 🙏🏻
Great video 👍 Still rockin hyper x cloud 2 and recently bought cloud 3 they don’t disappoint. And I Never used surround sound on headset cuz in most of the games I play there’s already build in quality surround sound . So if u use surround sound on the headset that means you put a filter sound on top of another and you will get confused in gun fights
This is a very good guide for people. I'd like to say also be aware on which pair you can change 1) (and most important) - ear cushions and 2) head-rest; no1 will wear and tear fast on daily drivers. From my experience sadly from expensive brands Audeze Mobius fell apart really fast and I had to buy new ones TWICE in a bit over 2y time. Some much cheaper brands lasted longer. Don't know about Maxwell yet so not talking about that successor to Mobius.
Loved that video. So much useful info. One note is when you mentioned that steelseries nova pro and the stealth pro have hotswap batteries that let you swap without losing connection, the stealth pro loses connection. I love them and wouldn't trade them for any other headset but the one major con is how long they take to connect when you start them and reconnect after battery swap. I have made the swap within a few seconds and it doesn't matter. They disconnect as soon as you remove the battery.
Nice video, I've had the Steelseries Arctis 7 for over 4 years and one of hinges is nearing to break. Now I'm not sure what I want to replace them with. An advantage I have now is that I have a Yeti Nano Mic
Very informative video, thank you. I need a headset to use with Xbox but also be able to connect to the TV. Any recommendations for low latency bluetooth headset for TV use.
Gotta mention IEMS I recently switched from over a decade of being a headset wearer to using iems and its been amazing I can play for way longer without getting a headache from either the weight on my head and neck or the clamping force around my ears. I got the Truthear Hexa and the Simgot EM6Ls and ended up choosing to keep the EM6Ls
that's funny because for me it's the other way around. I don't like IEMS they never seem to fit well in my ears and just get painful ears after an hour or so. So yeah just saying there is no perfect solution for everyone, because I know others can wear them happily all day long just not me :(
ngl i'm jealous of people who are comfortable with IN the Ear headphones, i haven't found any size or shape in that category that's comfortable for me , mostly the earbuds. So i use Bluetooth headphones, thinking of buying moondrop chu 2 to give it another shot since i only tried these commercial brands like Samsung , sony, Realme etc so far.
but isnt problem with wireless that you cant hear the game and discord for example? like the only way to do that is with laptop mic,no? (or by buying another mic separately)
I've always wondered why you have not tested the JBL Quantum 910 (or its predecessors) so far - since you show so much dedication towards headset reviews. Is there any chance we will see this in a review?
It chaps me, too. Been using JBL speakers in my vehicles for DECADES. I was hyped when I learned about the Quantums, but never had the $$ to spare for them. My Turtle Beach PX22s have been goos to me for years, too. But dammit, I want JBL!
Would you be able to give me a recommendation on headsets? So I’ve always had my Astro a40 tr,s and for me if always been happy with them. I’ve been looking around but just a bit overwhelmed on what to get. I wouldn’t mind getting a wireless headset but if I could get one that is wired also so I can use it when the battery starts to die I’d be happy with that. Also great vid, it’s been helpful but would like an opinion still if you can. I should add sorry that I’m on Xbox also, plan to get a pc some point when I have the room to put it in😂
The price of flagship wireless headsets is starting to push so high that you might as well get headphones and a dedicated mic for the PC folks. Some of them are so expensive that you might be able to squeeze an XLR mic with an audio interface paired and respectable headphones at near the same cost. If you can forgo wireless i'd consider it. The upgrade in mic and audio quality is something you don't want to give up once you have it.
I’ve been rocking the same set of Sennheiser Game Ones hooked up to an Astro mixamp with my PlayStation for like 6 years now. Don’t think I could ever go back to closed back.
i've had the corsair void elite usb for a while now. the elastic 'fake leather' on the outside that holds the cups has disintegrated over time, so i got some cheap replacements for a few bucks. the problem is, the inner cushions on the new cups are also this fake leather (glossy) and i can hear the difference as it probably reflects and bounces of the sound inside the cup, so i now get a noticeably more 'sea shell' sound that i don't like as much. the original cups cushions have more of a clothy fabric lining, which probably absorbs the sound better.
This wasn't short but packed with non-obvious content so, thank you. I need to get a new headset and I'm down the rabbit hole. One thing I want to add is how dumb it seems to me there isn't pause/play/next/prev buttons, even at least a multifunction one. I don't think it is so weird of me to use my headset for wirelessly listening to music/podcasts.
My HyperX Revolver is dying from it's p2 plug 😞 unfortunately the Microphone fails intermittently, and I have to mess around with the connector of the headset for it to come back. It's weird. 😞
I love you Chris Pratt
Mario loves you
This one is Crisp Rat, don't you know.
Gotta shoot my own videos by day :)
-D.
Soft like an ear piece
You can expect Star Lord to know a thing or two about sound
CHAT VOLUME: I so appreciate how you break down details and not just manufacturer selling points. I always feel that chat volume vs. game volume does need discussion because it's a big feature for many like me who have lost some of their hearing. It is a such a disappointment to buy what I think is a great headset but then I find out features are negated when I realize I can't adequately adjust that mix.
I don't have any Steelseries products, but I absolutely cannot go without their "Steelseries GG" software. It makes this process super easy, creating a virtual device that you can use just for chat audio (either through discord and whatever or the game) and have it's own volume. Also the ability to EQ the microphone or whatever you want.
You guys always do a fabulous job of delivering information that is easy to digest and helps us make good consumer decisions.
Awesome to hear :)
-D.
Dont be afraid to mess with EQ either. A youtuber helped me tune steelseries nova pro wireless to sound better.
This was also my first reaction, what came into my mind. Very important points for a decision which other channels or videos do not cover.
5:31 Actually, you want to set bit depth as high as possible while leaving sample rate at 44.1 or 48 KHz. Having the sample rate at insane numbers can cause issues in certain games and it will resample the audio, which might even lower the quality slightly. It doesn't work like upscaling resolution: the more you upscale audio, the worse it might sound.
i've heard most games support up to 96khz already tho
I will push back and say neither matter.
Your higher bit depth and rate matter a lot more for editing and producing, even then I think it is questionable past sample rates, but not really for consumption. It is suppose to increase you dynamic range and that is more placebo tbh (just like Atmos and the rest of the audio woo). If you really want to change it, then match the source.
most people recommend 24bit 48khz and it's windows default aswell.
@@zakur0978 That is probably the safer option (DVD quality), and actually what I do. Win 11 is selects higher if iirc.
Sometimes having weird sound settings can cause issues to boot. Some older Unreal engine games won't even boot if Windows sound settings aren't set correctly.
Many games now change your bit rate when you select TV, Sound System, Headphones, etc. for your dynamic range (mostly just ceiling), but other than getting a little louder it won't actually change much.
I can't even find that window or settings in my copy of Windows 10. I remember seeing on my old, old laptop running Windows XP. Is this something microshit removed from Windows 10 in order to push people to the spyware/advertising platform that is Windows 11?
Good video but I disagree about the joints. Ears are not "flat" against the head and are slightly angled forward, the swivel makes headphones sit better on them without added pressure (which is a huge game changer for prolonged use), that's where the "marketed comfort" aspect comes from. I understand why people do that, but headphones are not designed to be wrapped/stored/carried around your neck.
Yeah very good addition! It's true, pairs with full swivel joints have awesome fit on my head.
-D.
Totally agree and exactly my thoughts as well when looking at that section. It's one of the main criterias I have when looking at an headset/headphone. If it can't swiwel, it won't be comfortable for me unfortunately. Have been through that experience before.
Closed vs Open also had an impact on your relationship with your SO. The fact that I can hear my SO when they call for help or just try to talk to me saved my relationship countless times. Gaming is important to me but not the most important thing, I couldn't go back to closed design.
Also open design gives audio feedback so it's much easier to control the volume of my voice. My cs2 duo partner tend to shout extremely loud late at night when gaming and it's causing issue with their SO
Let this man cook! With closed backs and iem's I was always shouting and talking at a very high volume haha When I finally got a open back, I was finally able to hear how loud I was with having my girlfriend throw a pillow at me. Also being able to hear her the first time around instead of saying "what?" Then her getting mad as result of it saved me too.
what headset you use for cs2? Im new to to the game
Whats SO?? 'Senior Officer" ??
this is one of the unseen benefits of the nova pro wireless anc/hearthrough. I have very young kids, and so being able to hear my wife and them is a blessing - sometimes. when the infant is screaming and you're trying to rock them back to sleep, your patience is MUCH higher when they aren't blowing your eardrums. being able to choose between those modes has been a godsend for my and my wife's patience.
Only thing for me is that there are no open back wireless gaming headsets. It’s a very niche market but I’d buy in a heartbeat if they were decent all around.
Very helpful guide, covering many considerations which i had never even thought of. I would LOVE to hear what your go to set for playing battlefield would be.
2.4 GHz TWS with dedicated dongles for gaming seem to be a fast growing segment. I just bought the Sony inzone buds, compared them before to several others, but they came out on top. The mic of these is not the best, but I use a separate mic. All together a super comfy setup and no lag sound. Wearing big headsets over a long period always caused an indentation on top of my head. Also, in ears look more profess for meetings
This is a great option for casual gamers, but IEMs have a very limited ability to properly image, hurting positional awareness in competitive games
@@TheMstwntdLMSV123 That's just not true... professional FPS players pretty much only use IEMs. Look at any CS2 tournament and you'll see they wear IEMs under the headsets (and the headsets are pretty much only used for their mics and noise cancelation).
I went to you guys before I stuck with my G533 based on all your reviews, and now I'm back here after looking for my next one. Thanks for the work you do!
Did you choose your next one already? I was looking for G733
@@WanderyenErin I replaced my Logitec gaming headset with a cheap IEM and it is no comparison. Headsets are trash.
@@bmacaulay18could you share what was your iem choice?
@@revE3rse I am using KZ ZS10 Pro 2 for IEMs. I bought a cheaper set first just to see if I liked having IMEs in my head. For $55 on amazon they are awesome. My $200+ Logitech headphones went to the trash after I got these. The ability to accurately hear where sound is coming from plus all the small details that I never heard before makes all the difference. They plug into the back of the PC and work fine.
This guide was super helpful. There are many headsets out there and there are a lot of gimmicks out there, I’m happy I can now pick out a new pair and know what to specially look for. You the best D
No kidding. I just bought a pair of Astro a50s and the headband that’s held together by straws of hay popped off, constant buzzing from shitty Bluetooth, and it cost an arm and a leg
some audio/electronic stores have a possibility to try on and test headphones, it is realy good to try out and feel before buying, especially if going high end
Personally I just bought the HS80 MAX from Corsair and I'd say overall it's pretty good but I did buy the leather ear cups for the better seal/bass and I absolutely had to tune the EQ. It isn't very good on default settings. The battery life is amazing though! It's rated for like 60 hours. I haven't actually checked how long they last, but it's definitely a long time. Multiple game sessions and still plenty of battery left.
On a scale from 1-10, how loud would you say they are? I have the wired version of them, and they sound too low for my liking. What about the wireless version
Amazing video, covered so much and for anyone looking to isolate what they should be focused on this will undoubtedly help
Learning a lot from this channel. My AKG K-80s (now considered vintage!!) just gave up the fight, so researching new headphones. Wow things have changed!
Something that Most people don't know is Open Back VS Closed Back is the Health of your Ear drum . With Closed back the air pressure is all over the ear drum , with Open back the air pressure of the headphones membrane does not destroy the ear drum like Closed back do... That's been proven .
Surround sound in these headsets is mostly marketing.
What they really want is "sound stage" or "separation" which I doubt you are getting in a head "set". You're gonna need a dedicated pair of cans most likely which might get into dac amp setups depending on how high you go. But for me, paired with a modmic, it's well worth it since I listen to a lot of music while working too.
Got the EPOS H6 Pro Closed a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier!
How are they?
@@dannyexpo5740 no complaints here, they sound great on Series X especially using Dolby Atmos/DTS apps to boost sound quality. I got them on sale on Amazon for $90, they retail for $180
Still rocking HyperX solo mic with WH-1000XM5 headphones
While it's easy to tell left from right in stereo, surround sound makes it clearer whether the sound is coming from the front, back, above, or below. Of course, the software matters, and I think Dolby Atmos is a great example.
One of the MOST helpful reviews I've seen. This channel has always been my favourite
really disagree on the plastic vs metal part. my Sony 1000xm3's broke after prolonged use, my Audeze Penrose plastic broke in less than 2 years, and my 8 year old HyperX cloud2s are still solid. and believe me i was always super careful with them
Sounds like you're not even if you think you are. Or you're incredibly unlucky but odds across so many brands and headphones are low. My xm4s (about 3 years old now) still going strong, my razer krakens from eons ago still going strong, the only thing that broke on me were my corsair hs65, the top band broke but corsair replaced it. Now onto my g pro x 2. Idk man, plastic has been super good to me, very light weight, best comfort. I had the audeze maxwell, and my god I had to return them, amazing sound for sure but incredibly uncomfortable and fragile too. I genuinely believe those are the most overhyped headsets of the past few years.
Surround sound headsets just don’t seem to work for me. It’s exactly like your edit, audio just sounds compressed to hell. Like I‘m listening to one of my 64kbps mp3s in 2007 lol.
Since i found Audeze Maxwell, the end game journey for finding "Gaming headset" is at its time. Simply no delay & can be EQ'ed for mobile game/music (No noticeable delay on Online game), audio on PC with usb dongles is just 😳
Bit depth and sample rate does not matter beyond 16-bit and 48000 Hz. If anything, it will use more data possibly limiting wireless range. Keep it at 16-bit 48 kHz.
Would strongly reccomend AGAINST the Audeze Maxwell for build quality. My first had tinfoil sounds coming from both drivers within 4 hours (returned) and the second after a month. Never left my desk, never dropped.
Mine has some issues too with interference, you can see exactly what in my full review. Still an excellent sounding headset with a tonne of features. Sucks to hear about QC tho.
-D.
so what to buy?
Hyper x cloud 3 wireless, nova 7, hs80, blackshark v2 pro in the $140 range
I don't really recommend the Razer Blackshark, the sound is flat@@abdulrahmanemran8659
@@abdulrahmanemran8659 how about razer black shark v2 X ?
@@abdulrahmanemran8659hey Dude. Is the cloud 3 or cloud 3 wireless better in sound quality? And isn't the mic utterly ass?
Wireless is better for audio quality
So.... Which one should i buy
Audeze maxwell, every single review I have seen said the same.. they are in a class of their own, a step above everything else.
@DMorgan94 I own them. Sadly way too big and heavy. Looking for something comfortable now
None. Get IEMs instead.
@@bmacaulay18what iem are the best for the fps games?
@@Filti_ In my opinion, to start off just get a pair of KZ ZS10 Pro 2 for about $55 USD and see how you like IEMs. They have switches so you can change the profile to more bass or more treble or more everything. They will work fine without a DAC so you can just plug them into your computer's audio port. I first bought cheaper set of IEMs before these came out to just see if I liked IEMs then bought the Pro 2 after they came out. You could get something cheaper but for the features and sound these have they are a really good buy.
I know it sounds weird but I am looking for the best gaming headset mics. When making TH-cam content people want you to sound as good as possible. I had a Corsair that had an amazing mic but the ear cups wore out in less than 6 months has shown earlier in the video.
The mmx 300 and 330 pros have the best mic I've ever heard
I tried a few gaming headsets but i didnt liked any of them so i went and bought a studio headphones (beyerdynamic DT 770pro) which cost almost the same but sound so much better. Using them since 2021 and i love them.
How good is tracking the location of sounds in games? Like being able to locate where footsteps are coming from etc?
@@Centurio_Romae Its pretty good if the game have good 3D audio
To whomever is reading this comment; do not buy the Blackshark V2. They fall apart at the hinges consistently. I owned one for six months and was careful with every use, the hinges still fell apart.
I love that this channel doesn't waste our time, just teach us what matters.
Gaming headsets are trash open your third eye
@@ms3862 do you feel better now
they all matter just not yet for starters
really just listen to 'correct' sound first, its important base
I still reach for my Maxwell's over my other high end headphones, just for the convenience.
Thank you very much 🙏🏽❤. I appreciate this video because now I have a better perspective on buying a headset for long term use as an online student that will be teaching online once I'm done with my course this year.
I currently have the turtle beach 600 gen 2s and I hate it as I feel too much pressure on my head, too much noise isolation, etc. I just purchased a Steelers nova pro wireless and looking fwd to transparency sound, Bluetooth from second audio device, less clamping force, etc. Can’t wait to see how it goes.
Honestly if you can afford it, it's better for you to get something like the Sennheiser HD560s and a mic cable for it if you care about competitive games or just want to immerse yourself more with the soundtracks of games instead of just big explosions all of the time. A much better option than spending hundreds on gaming headsets with still subpar quality mic and sound quality.
Also I can wear 560s longer than any headphone I own. which is important I think.
Totally agree, comfort is #1. But man, + Swivel = Stinkin Cozy
Ha for sure! Thanks for stopping by man :)
-D.
What was the cable at 19:17 it seems to be similar with the cable that epos h6pro? and is it really compatible with h6pro?
You're talking about virtual "surround" sound. Real surround sound makes a pretty big difference vs stereo or virtual "surround" sound. I am looking to replace my wonderful Roccat Kave XTD 5.1 digital true surround sound headset I bought in 2015. But most reviewers conflate virtual garbage with true surround sound and it's kind of annoying.
I feel like it's better value for money to buy a Good open-back or even closed back "non-gaming" headphones that can be used for enjoying music as well as games. Aren't these "gaming headphones" mostly just normal headphones with bass-boosted ?
Only drawback would be lack of mic ig but that has easy workarounds.
I'm right-handed player, but prefer the cable to be at the right, because my PC is (and most PCs in general are designed to be) at the right
Usually the wireless is compressed and doesn't sound as great as 3.5mm pole straight plugged in the input/output for sound quality
I always default to the V-Moda headsets. They are built like a tank, and sound great especially when paired with a sound card (external or internal). For the best mic quality, get the boom attachment or some 3rd party one (these are not expensive and will sound better than most gaming headset mics).
This is a great video!
I'd love to see an updated gaming headset Vs Headphone video though. just to compare some of the headsets to headphones.
Great video, answered none of my questions and left me with so many more :'D
I'm still using the original HyperX Cloud 2 from the day 1 launch. Best 100€ I ever spent and it was a great investment, still is!
Mine just broke...after 8 years going strong. Not sure where to go from here since HP acquired HyperX
Im use Creative soundblaster Jam 2, they sounds very good, in case sponges will wear out I bought for 3 dollars 50 sponges. They are light, do not put pressure on the head, sound very good, you can amplify the lower tones with one button on the headphones, there is nothing to break except the battery, but it is very easy to replace , just like the sponges on them.
Hey Dmitry, great content! i writting from Spain and just wanted to know what do you think about the Sennheiser's HD 560S? i have the them + V-moda boom but willing to know if i can improve a little bit now that gaming headsets have been growing in quality, what would you recomend? tks mate!
I'd love a round up of wireless headsets at each price point.
Thank you very much for this important, accurate and distinctive information. I have benefited a lot from you. Peace. 💐
8 years ago i watched one of your videos about this very topic when i was deciding on my new headset, you convinced me to buy the Cooler Master MH752 for its comfort and high quality mic, after about 2 refunded pairs (left earcup stopped working about 7 months into each pair apart from the current one which has lasted since 2020) ive decided to once again come to you for my next upgrade as this pair is looking rather sorry :)
I just got the Corsair HS80 RGB USB (wired), its so good for the price. Top tier microphone quality and High res audio. The comfort is amazing. One thing to note is that you need to tune the EQ in the ICue software as it sounds flat out of the box.
Good call on the EQ 👍
-D.
Fun fact, surround headphones, even 7.1 surround headphones are actually just stereo heaphones. They just have 1 speaker on each side. The surround effect is just software trickery.
Can you please recommend best wireless headphone for Mac mini m4 pro?
00:50 Perfect surround sound comes from binaural rendering of audio. If games did that, you'd have perfect surround sound over a stereo pair of headphones. No need for DTS, Dolby, etc. Just need two channels unless you're doing surround sound with speakers, in which case an object oriented format would work better.
I wonder with the game settings in many games asking about headphones vs speakers and such if they are subtly doing binaural focused audio for the headphones option, regular stereo for speakers, and I don't know what for multi-speaker surround sound that seems very niche.
This was helpful, thank you. Ive never bought a headset before and don't know anything about them. So I was having a bit of anxiety.
Then I heard about the Maxwells and thought I'll just get them. Then I heard about how heavy they are as I have trouble with my neck while gaming due to my terrible posture. This video helped ameliorate my concerns somewhat. I think I'm just going to have to get them so I can see, or I'll never know.
Thanks for the video.
So how do you like the Maxwells?
Noob question, dont the wireless headsets have a lag especially when playing games on phone ?
i got the h6pro open for 99 at blackfriday so if so canuks if you caan tell me if there's something better for that range of price I would be happy with it
if i have a 7.1 surround sound headset, can i still use stereo sound for it, so should i activate stereo sound on it for competive games?
Would you recommend the hyperx cloud 2 or another pair of gaming headsets for around 60€?
Can you recommend a headset that doesn't need to install the manufacturer's software?
Amazing Analysis
Incredible Work
Good Breakdown
Thank You Great Man
i think you are wrong. i have hyperx revolver S with sound card dolby . i can play 7.1 im not hearing im wallhacking . it make you to see the opponent possition but you need first to setup in windows as 7.1 . not going as streo and you want to play as surround sound its wont work .
for logitech headsets watch out for the attachment part that holds the headband to the headphone, the screws usually break.
Awesome video, really appricated the depth, gangsta
I love surround sound for it's cross-feed aspect, way more natural for games
Say a gun fires on the left in a game, it's extremely unnatural to only hear the shot on the left in stereo
Usually music doesn't have a particular element only in left or right channel so it's less jarring to be in stereo
My issue with what he says is that for competitive gaming, it’s not physically possible for stereo cans to let me hear sound from in front or behind. For example, despite having one of these “virtual” surround headsets, I cannot tell if someone is sneaking up behind me or coming from in front of me
@@speedracer9132You understand that "surround" only adds reverb that makes it sound like you're in a tunnel, right?
Wow. Thank you so much. Your videos always Rock!
Great Review as usual.
May I know what your top 3 suggestion would be for mobile gaming (mostly play FPS w Battle Royale and Multiplayer)?
On top of the ModMic there is the whole world of just using your favourite headphones with a desk mic. Can't beat the quality of the mic and the longevity and like the ModMic it opens up the world of headphones you can use.
For sure, what are you people using for headphones in daily gaming? I love the DT 700 Pro X right now, with a Wave:3 mic on an arm.
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks OneOdio 10 Studio Professional DJ Headphones. Built on the cheaper side as they have failure points I am SHOCKED at how good they are for the 30 bucks I spent on them as a holdover until I could get a good set of wireless cans. I am going to try a pair of the same brand before spending $100 on something else first I am so surprised.
@@HardwareCanucksPhilips SHP-9500S, they sound fantastic, far better than any "gaming headset" I've used.
@@HardwareCanucks I rock a good ol' pair of PC38x
@@HardwareCanucks As someone that owns a lot of studio mics and just a few headset mics....
A lot of mics are just a bunch of bs honestly. I think a pair of used 380 pros with new pads and a mod mic with proper technique is the best.
Im still using my he-4XX for gaming, I feel like maybe I should find an upgrade like the sundara or maybe the sen hd 599, I was curious about thr Beyer TYGR 300 a while back but thats hard to find now..
HD6XX/600 could be a good side-grade.
For gaming Sundara would be a downgrade in anything competitive related unless you heavily EQ. Even then, your money is better off spent somewhere else
In have found the hd560s to be great imo out of the box but with minor equipment it excels. Id rather go with the maxwell or turtle beach pro for that scene. If casual gaming then use whatever sounds good to you tbh. This is just my experience
@@saucyg6371 Yeah sundara I was hoping could be good for gaming and if not music only is more than enough. I forgot to mention the 560s too so yeah those are on my radar too. A shame that its hard to find one headphone that does really well for both gaming and music. At least for my ears.
@@VEN0M415 ive tried 4xx, have 6xx and sundara. listen carefully. upgrading from 4xx to sundara is not worth it. When it comes to high res headphones like mentioned earlier, all that matters is sound signature, or should i say how do you like your headphones to sound. 4xx is very close to 6xx, laid back type of sound, fun, enjoyable, while sundara is completely analytical, theres no fun, only detail and head pain from pressure because sundara is heavy. sure, sundara is technically better for gaming, but not worth the pain imo, unless you play up to 2h at a time. if you really want some kind of gaming sound upgrade, hd560s is the way to go without breaking the bank.
For comfort and sound quality for Singleplayer games, which headset would you recommend? I don't care abt other features.
At 0:22 in the background is a white storage unit, steel mesh, 6 drawer, with a top. I'd love to know where you got that.
Ok i need advice after watching this video.
I m as now using Cloud II as main headset for most of games on PC ( 5 years uasge)
At PS5 i m using Arctis 7P+.
So what you recommend to buy as new headset that can surpass Cloud II?
This days i m looking between Maxwell and Razer blackshark v2 pro 2023 ( did some research on reviews both of them are my style of usage)
Mostly for FPS games and some games of World of Warships.
As always any advice or help is welcomed. Thank you.
What did you end up going with? How are the Arctis 7P+?
Very good explanation & presentation.
Am having a difficult time choosing headsets for mobile gaming. Please recommend me a good headset for competitive gameplay and hearing footsteps from the proper direction. Thank you 🙏🏻
Great video 👍 Still rockin hyper x cloud 2 and recently bought cloud 3 they don’t disappoint. And I Never used surround sound on headset cuz in most of the games I play there’s already build in quality surround sound . So if u use surround sound on the headset that means you put a filter sound on top of another and you will get confused in gun fights
Did You have any issue with the Audeze Maxwell ?
I need a long time feedback, and I can read some speaker have a problem after few month.
Which is best for streaming for recording good voice and casual gaming ?
This is a very good guide for people. I'd like to say also be aware on which pair you can change 1) (and most important) - ear cushions and 2) head-rest; no1 will wear and tear fast on daily drivers. From my experience sadly from expensive brands Audeze Mobius fell apart really fast and I had to buy new ones TWICE in a bit over 2y time. Some much cheaper brands lasted longer. Don't know about Maxwell yet so not talking about that successor to Mobius.
Loved that video. So much useful info. One note is when you mentioned that steelseries nova pro and the stealth pro have hotswap batteries that let you swap without losing connection, the stealth pro loses connection. I love them and wouldn't trade them for any other headset but the one major con is how long they take to connect when you start them and reconnect after battery swap. I have made the swap within a few seconds and it doesn't matter. They disconnect as soon as you remove the battery.
thanks bro for the detailed guide
Nice video, I've had the Steelseries Arctis 7 for over 4 years and one of hinges is nearing to break. Now I'm not sure what I want to replace them with. An advantage I have now is that I have a Yeti Nano Mic
Really good vid. Tons of info. 👍
Very informative video, thank you. I need a headset to use with Xbox but also be able to connect to the TV. Any recommendations for low latency bluetooth headset for TV use.
Gotta mention IEMS I recently switched from over a decade of being a headset wearer to using iems and its been amazing I can play for way longer without getting a headache from either the weight on my head and neck or the clamping force around my ears. I got the Truthear Hexa and the Simgot EM6Ls and ended up choosing to keep the EM6Ls
that's funny because for me it's the other way around. I don't like IEMS they never seem to fit well in my ears and just get painful ears after an hour or so. So yeah just saying there is no perfect solution for everyone, because I know others can wear them happily all day long just not me :(
@@fs9553Same for me. Can't wear IEMS at all. Never fits no matter what I do and those times it does fit it starts to hurt within an hour.
I just moved to iems the other week lmao
ngl i'm jealous of people who are comfortable with IN the Ear headphones, i haven't found any size or shape in that category that's comfortable for me , mostly the earbuds. So i use Bluetooth headphones, thinking of buying moondrop chu 2 to give it another shot since i only tried these commercial brands like Samsung , sony, Realme etc so far.
but isnt problem with wireless that you cant hear the game and discord for example? like the only way to do that is with laptop mic,no? (or by buying another mic separately)
This is a great guide and breakdown of various things. Ty.
I'm planning to buy new headphones but can't decide which one Razer kraken v3 X, Razer blackshark v2, HyperX Cloud III
I've always wondered why you have not tested the JBL Quantum 910 (or its predecessors) so far - since you show so much dedication towards headset reviews. Is there any chance we will see this in a review?
It chaps me, too. Been using JBL speakers in my vehicles for DECADES. I was hyped when I learned about the Quantums, but never had the $$ to spare for them. My Turtle Beach PX22s have been goos to me for years, too. But dammit, I want JBL!
Would you be able to give me a recommendation on headsets? So I’ve always had my Astro a40 tr,s and for me if always been happy with them. I’ve been looking around but just a bit overwhelmed on what to get. I wouldn’t mind getting a wireless headset but if I could get one that is wired also so I can use it when the battery starts to die I’d be happy with that. Also great vid, it’s been helpful but would like an opinion still if you can. I should add sorry that I’m on Xbox also, plan to get a pc some point when I have the room to put it in😂
The price of flagship wireless headsets is starting to push so high that you might as well get headphones and a dedicated mic for the PC folks. Some of them are so expensive that you might be able to squeeze an XLR mic with an audio interface paired and respectable headphones at near the same cost. If you can forgo wireless i'd consider it. The upgrade in mic and audio quality is something you don't want to give up once you have it.
so basically , comfort+good mic+wired with wireless and light weight would be the best combination ,also having ANC is a bonus
Very complete video. Thanks man!
Great video. Well done. I'm still sat on my wired headset with a mod-mic but do think about wireless.
Good video answered questions I didnt realize I valued having answered
I’ve been rocking the same set of Sennheiser Game Ones hooked up to an Astro mixamp with my PlayStation for like 6 years now. Don’t think I could ever go back to closed back.
Sony's new inzone with planar driver is coming this month, and this video is already out?
i've had the corsair void elite usb for a while now. the elastic 'fake leather' on the outside that holds the cups has disintegrated over time, so i got some cheap replacements for a few bucks. the problem is, the inner cushions on the new cups are also this fake leather (glossy) and i can hear the difference as it probably reflects and bounces of the sound inside the cup, so i now get a noticeably more 'sea shell' sound that i don't like as much. the original cups cushions have more of a clothy fabric lining, which probably absorbs the sound better.
This wasn't short but packed with non-obvious content so, thank you. I need to get a new headset and I'm down the rabbit hole. One thing I want to add is how dumb it seems to me there isn't pause/play/next/prev buttons, even at least a multifunction one. I don't think it is so weird of me to use my headset for wirelessly listening to music/podcasts.
My HyperX Revolver is dying from it's p2 plug 😞 unfortunately the Microphone fails intermittently, and I have to mess around with the connector of the headset for it to come back. It's weird. 😞
Why you just brig caps headsets? Audeze Mobius? Awesome Hi-FI, 3D options and 7.1 with internal Dac.