Nice headphones for games / music

Hamster_style

Greetings fellow H/A'ers!

So, I WAS looking to buy some nice noise - cancelling headphones. Upon advice from you guys, I'm only looking for high quality headphones I can wear for long periods of time. These would be used for two things, games and music. I like having directionality in games (ie, the noise from something behind me sounds like it's behind me), and I believe this is possible with headphones.

So, my question to you is, what are some nice headphones that people use? I have laughably huge ears, so something that actually fits around them would be nice. Also, warranty / durability is important to me, I hate having to buy shit more than once - I want this to last for years.

Anyone have any specific recommendations?

EDIT: Edited out the noise canceling stuff, I'm not gonna get that on everyone's advice. Bonus points since it's less expensive that way!

proXimity

What price range are you looking at?

Hamster_style

Nice, as in, maybe a couple hundred bucks?

etdragon

Is there any particular reason you are looking for noise canceling specifically?

I own a pair of Sennheiser HD-595s that I use to play games and edit my podcast while my husband is working or watching the other TV. They are open air which means they do bleed out sound that can be heard by those around you if you turn them up phenomenally loud but they are extremely comfortable, over the ears and provide an incredible sense of directionality for playing games. I can tell when noise is coming from behind my character or to the left or right.

The only reason I would shell out the extra cash specifically for noise canceling would be if you intend to use them while on a plane or a bus. If you are going to mostly use them at home it's almost not worth the extra cash to get the noise canceling.

Hamster_style

Fair enough, I'll probably check out stuff that isn't noise canceling as well. My question should have been "what are some nice gaming headphones?"

Thanks for the suggestion on the HD-595, I'll check them out!

Fagadaba

Yeah, if noise canceling was a major factor I'd suggest Vic-Firth's ones for drumming. But the sound is shit compared to same-priced headphones. Plus they don't last more than 3 years after intense regular use.

For really good headphones? I don't really know.

rnoose

I'm currently stuck deciding between the Razer Megaladon and the Logitec G35 myself so see if those interest you.

Hypatia

If you're looking for noise canceling you might also want to consider canalphones, unless you're really against those...I don't know if you really need that type of noise blockage though

Powerpuppies

Look at the Grado noise cancel headphones. Tough to get ahold of (basically you have to order them, either off amazon or to a local retailer). They've been reviewed very well and they're much cheaper than the BOSE ones. I have BOSE myself and they're heavenly, though they charge accordingly.

Vortigern

I'll make the same suggestion I did from the last headphones thread. Sony MDR7506's.

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=126640&navigationPath=46881n100128n100155

The 7505's are about 10 bucks cheaper and are also nice, but most people find the 06's more comfortable.

geckahn

I'd go with ear canal headphones. You cant hear anything out of them when theyre on, and they have the highest sound quality. Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 pro are very nice.

etdragon

Do you guys wear your ear canal headphones while you play games? I have a really hard time wearing headphones like that for an extended period of time. I like them for when I travel though because they really discourage other people from bothering me and they do a great job of blocking out sound.

geckahn

I can wear them for a very long time. But I have really nice ones. You need to experiment with what tips to use for the best comfort/sound.

shadydentist

I would advise against noise-cancelling headphones, as the sound quality necessarily suffers.

Hamster_style

Due to everyone's advice, I probably won't get noise canceling; I don't have to deal with noise all too much. So, any other suggestions on nice headphone sets would be appreciated!

I also updated the OP / title.

Sir Red of the Manti

If you don't mind open-aural headphones Sennheiser 555s or 595s will do the trick, as will Audio Technica ATH-AD700s or ATH-AD900s. Grados are apparently not that great for game/dvd watching, but they are supposedly awesome for music (I've yet to get my hands on a set, but countless reviews make them out to be top notch).
If you absolutely don't want other people to be able to listen to what you're listening to and you need to go closed-aural, your options start to get a bit limited. Sennheiser 280s tend to be a bit lackluster compared to their open cousins in the 500 line. Closed Audio Technicas on the other hand don't loose too much from the open designs, but tend to cost a bit more. Given your big ears, I'd probably go for ATH-A700s over ATH-M50s. If you have a strong neck and don't care about how ugly your cans are KOSS 4AAs or 4AAAs might do the trick, and they happen to have a kickass lifetime warranty on them that people who got the things 30 years ago are still taking advantage of.
Keep in mind however that if you live in Canada, your options are going to be extremely limited unless you're willing to pay near insane prices to import sets over from the states. Typically you'll be stuck with a choice between Sennheisers if you're ordering in the north.

etdragon

Sir Red of the Manti wrote: »

If you don't mind open-aural headphones Sennheiser 555s or 595s will do the trick, as will Audio Technica ATH-AD700s or ATH-AD900s. Grados are apparently not that great for game/dvd watching, but they are supposedly awesome for music (I've yet to get my hands on a set, but countless reviews make them out to be top notch).
If you absolutely don't want other people to be able to listen to what you're listening to and you need to go closed-aural, your options start to get a bit limited. Sennheiser 280s tend to be a bit lackluster compared to their open cousins in the 500 line. Closed Audio Technicas on the other hand don't loose too much from the open designs, but tend to cost a bit more. Given your big ears, I'd probably go for ATH-A700s over ATH-M50s. If you have a strong neck and don't care about how ugly your cans are KOSS 4AAs or 4AAAs might do the trick, and they happen to have a kickass lifetime warranty on them that people who got the things 30 years ago are still taking advantage of.
Keep in mind however that if you live in Canada, your options are going to be extremely limited unless you're willing to pay near insane prices to import sets over from the states. Typically you'll be stuck with a choice between Sennheisers if you're ordering in the north.

Yeah I agree with all of this. I had a pair of Sennheiser 280s and they didn't blow my mind. I found that I like the sound quality on the open-aural headphones so much better. I've also found headphones that are open-aural provide a much better sense of directionality of sound when compared to their closed-aural counterparts.

Hypatia

I got these Shure SE530PTH canalphones and I'm pretty happy with them so far--as a disclaimer though, I wanted to make sure to get ones that would be good for long airplane hauls.

Sir Red of the Manti

Hypatia wrote: »

I got these Shure SE530PTH canalphones and I'm pretty happy with them so far--as a disclaimer though, I wanted to make sure to get ones that would be good for long airplane hauls.

I typically don't endorse ear canal headphones as the wiring for them in general is notoriously weak. That said the audio quality from a decent set is pretty incredible, though the way they handle bass reproduction takes a bit to get used to.

Xantus

I'd put in a mention for http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html
the Music Series One

I've tried many headphones and as far as lasting for years around computers...these are tanks.
I've rolled over the cord with my chair so many times and they've held up great.
they can take some getting used to as they sit on your ears rather than around.. but unlike most headphones that sit on your ears, the headband for these is a rather pliable metal piece instead of some sort of clamping mechanism. it makes them easy to adjust so they don't press too hard. they also weigh very little. yes they are "open" but when you have music playing you don't hear too much outside your room.

then when I want isolation I use http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/westone-um1-single-driver/4505-7877_7-31694877.html

I tried some shure IEM's but found the westones to be more comfortable.. (they're a smaller more ergonomic form, they don't hurt to lay sideways on a pillow like the shures did)
the braided cord that loops around your ears doesn't give any microphonics (annoying noises when the cord bumps or moves against you and it sounds like your ears are inside the whole cord)

you can get both of these for less than 200$ total and the size of your ears isn't a factor.

oldsak

I have some Grado SR225's. They're quite simply amazing. Listening to them the first time was like hearing music the first time.

They were recommended to me by a friend who is a total audiophile and knows his stuff.

Look into Grado.

Fizban140

I don't mean to necro this thread but the prices seemed to have dropped, between these two which is better?
Technica ATH-AD700 for $90 or the Sennheiser HD-555 for $106?