for the deja vu bois yes, this is a reupload, originally uploaded on 20th September 2021 on the original crinacle channel before it was aliven't. RIP to OG crinacle :(
One key thing to note about buying mic and headphone separate, is that if you break one, you won’t have to replace both! This is nice, as you don’t have to spend that much to get good mic, and you can spend more on headphones and IEMs.
I got the Koss KSC75 and you're totally right they're fantastic. I had bought some other "gaming" headphones and was really unsatisfied with them and now I have these great cheaper alternatives and couldn't be more pleased. Thank you!
When it comes to headphones the thing I always take account into is its compatibility in general to modern devices (especially non-wired). Since some consoles/portable devices don't support certain headsets. Another thing I realised is it's always better to have a separate mic from your headset when you're recording, at least then you can guarantee the audio quality without worrying about silly factors as breathing into the mic or sounds being picked up in the background (if u have a directional mic).
@@3n3j0t4I'm primarily a rhythm gamer. Bluetooth has a minimum audio latency of around 100-200ms. My target accuracy is +/-30ms or so with an average timing deviation of 15-20ms. You can buy a cheap DAC and run it through a powered USB hub and skip the bluetooth. A mic can run over bluetooth just fine unless you're doing music production.
@@totally_not_a_bot Bluetooth Le audio has, at least theoretically, much lower latencies than Bluetooth had before. But sadly it's not that common yet.
I think this was the video that got me hooked to your channel. Uncle Crin truly gave me hard lessons. I hope you reupload the other ones! Rip OG channel
I finally have a video to link to friends when I go on this rant. I've convinced a few of them to go with a headphone/mic combo, and they were surprised how much more they liked it. And now my discord audio sounds so much better, lol.
Wow this was such a refreshing take. Telling people the truth. I tried 5-10 headphones and ended with the conclusion that I played the same with either one and went with the cheapest option. Subscribed for sure!
Thanks to you and all the people that work on the autoeq project, I have finally found a set of headphones for me. I got my hands on the beyer dynamic team tygr. The fox mic and tygr 300 R combo. It sounds great and has an amazing soundstage.
@@cristianjimenez2582 I have the headphone running through the mics aux port. The mic is plugged in with usb c on my motherboard. The mic has a bit of audio processing for output audio.
The KSC75 was exactly what I was looking for. Before, I was gaming on a Logitech G435, which was a wireless headset that weighed only 165 grams. They were super comfortable to wear for many hours at a time, but I was constantly having issues with random disconnects and the microphone not working. So I wanted to get a new headset, but I didn't want anything that was heavier than what I was already using, but since most gaming headphones are over 200 grams, my options were pretty limited. I'm so glad I found this video because I would not have known about the KSC75 nor would I have considered them otherwise.
Been using my Sennheiser HD 600 for about a year now, and I’ve been very happy with it in games! Those HD 800s are very enticing, but I’m not quite ready to spend more on my headphones than I spend on my entire pc lol.
@@dankdutchthey can get pretty loud, though I tend to keep m the sod honed on the quieter side. I uses Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) and I can hear pretty much everything well with windows volume at 100% and my audio interface turned up to about 1/3 of the way. Edit: forgot to answer about the bass. They’re very well-rounded headphones, so they’ve got a great range of everything, including bass. I personally don’t like headphones to be bass-heavy, so if you’re looking for a little more “oomph” for bass in particular, then the HD 650s might be a better choice (at least from what I’ve heard about them).
@@Frostycrypton i had my dt770 pros maxed 100% on interface windows on the application or game im using and they didnt do it for me , maybe therre just good for music , sounded great on music videos on youtube i have to say just overall use was 6-7/10 super comfortable im really disappointed i was hyped for them to blow me away coming from a overpriced "gaming " wireless headset to some studio headphones , hopefully i can find something to suit my needs under 200$
its always been 'starter' worries, they usually ended up upgrading after but hd600 is very good might want to upgrade the setup
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I have had a pair of AKG's K702 for almost a decade now and I still don't see a reason to change or upgrade them, especially at the current price point. Yes, I have a Fiio K3 to drive them, which is also one of the cheapest "Hi Res" DAC/AMP combo you can buy to drive them and I have incredible soundstage and localisation especially with Dolby Atmos for headphones.
I love the KSC75 (Both my Silver and Black are MMCX modded). I use them mostly for music, entertainment like YT and watching streams and gaming, mainly at home. As for mic, I used to have a Samson Meteor but switched to Fifine K690 and it’s great.
I did an mmcx mod too but honestly mmcx female connectors are kind of janky so I just used the IEM cable that I had and basically replaced the original wire with a better one.
Thanks crin, I've just gone ahead and ordered a Sennheiser HE-1 for my gaming headset. I hope it comes with a 3.5mm jack and not a 6.3mm so I can plug it into my Xbox controller without needing an adapter. Can't wait!
Best gaming headset (competitive): Audiotechnika ADG1X (open design) -> extremely wide soundstage, extremely clear highs, very good microphone Con: completely open -> not good in noisy environments... Best gaming headset (Immersion/overall): Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (closed design) -> very sturdy (lasts a lifetime) -> very good microphone -> very good soundstage and highs (for a closed back design) -> solid base and passive noice canceling (due to closed design)
On point. Earlier this year, tired of all my gaming headphones dying - cups falling off, horrible mics, pleather materials flaking off etc. So I got the V Moda boom pro and connected it to my Phillips X2HR's ($125-150). Great bass and treble with wide soundstage and light and comfortable. Add a great mic with full sound and a mute button that actually works. Excellent for music, movies and gaming. $150-$175 total. Done.
@@Icy_Capibara I don't but the X2HR's are extremely light and comfortable. I would try them if you could. If you go Amazon (currently on sale) you can always return them easily.
I use the moondrop Aria with a mic cable to play fps and I am very pleased with it, the thing is, use whatever headphone or IEM you want to play, just leave us alone
Yeah i recently got into IEMs too, bought S12 Pro and I use it for everything. Honestly whatever bs people was spouting about IEMs not having good positional awareness is bs (imo), i can hear and pinpoint enemies just as fine as my dusty MH751 headset waiting for its final days.
I ended up getting the beyerdynamic MMX300 which is branded as a gaming headset but actually quite decent unlike the rest. Sounds alright and it's the well known solid beyerdynamic build quality so I can drop it on the floor as much as I want and replacement parts are quite easy to get. A bit expensive for what it is but I'm alright with that.
I finally made the move to non-gamer branded headphones roughly six months ago and haven't looked back since. My previous headset was the Plantronics Rig 800. For being a wireless headset at $150, they were great, and still maintained great battery life after 5 years of daily use. They weren't the greatest for music, but for gaming they were pretty good and imaging was spot on. Im pretty mid at shooters and my friend who is a lot better accuracy and reaction time wise has been shocked several times by how I know where to look at any given time. Those RIGs were great... but the Beyerdynamics DT770s were leagues better for the same price. Sure I lose the wireless capability, but the cable is so long that I can go from my desk to my bed and have plenty of length to spare to get to other key parts of my room. For those wondering I got the 80 ohm versions. I didn't get a DAC/Amp so it is running off of my motherboard audio. I know some of you would balk at the idea, but its got a Realtek ALC1220-VB and ESS Sabre 9018 DAC setup in it. There is absolutely ZERO noise no matter what my PC does, and 55/100 is already getting comfortable RUclips video watching level versus my old wireless that needed to be at 90 to sound the same as these on 55. And the soundstage even though the 770s are closed back is amazing. It gets extremely close to feeling like the sound is coming from around me but just barely falls short, and it doesn't feel unnatural. I also really wanted to keep a lot of the bass performance personally. Im sure there are some open back headphones with good bass, but I wanted to get something that I KNOW I will be satisfied with first before experimenting with open back headphones. I have ideas on what open back headphones I want to try, but all in due time.
I got my SHP9500 years ago when they ran for like $50. Enjoyed it for what it was. Super comfortable and the sound stage was better than any Skullcandy or beats and stuff I tried before. Don't use it anymore but I do think it's comfort is it's best quality. I could game all day with that and very easily takes the vmoda boom pro. I use my HD 560s now cause it doesn't matter. I'm not good enough for it to make a difference. And don't play multiplayer much anyways
….that last paragraph had a tone of sadness to it. Don’t worry, think how much time you’re saving by not playing multiplayer (I only play single player games)
@@TheHulksMistress Haha, I just prefer singleplayer games more these days anyways. I'll hop on StarCraft 2 for my competitive fix but headphones truely don't matter in that game at all.
dude, the comfort!! I don't use speakers, only headphones so I really enjoy my SHP9500... it's simple: I put them on and I forget they are there. While using the Sundaras, omg such a sound quality, but boy... I can't wear them for more than 2 hours, they really hurt my ears
Hd560s is one of the best for gaming, pinpoint imaging and good Soundstage, not too much bass. I modded it with a vmoda boom pro. Open it up, delete the locking mechanism, put it back together and use a 2.5mm to 3 5mm adapter and you can use the vmoda boom hehe.
Amazing advice! Because of this, I ended up with a set of HD 560s and a Zen Dac v2. I came from years of HyperX cloud IIs and it feels like I’m hearing music for the first time.
Have u watched Fresh Reviews videos? As I think that was what he recommended the most. Also, how is your setup now? I have currently used the Cloud Alpha for 3+ years and am planning to buy the KSC75 while saving for the HD560s and Zen Dac v2.
@@gabby.alcantara still going strong! I am really enjoying the headphones and DAC. By no means am I an expert or audiophile but the difference is highly noticeable. There were certain nuanced details, in many songs I listen to, that I had never noticed. The setup is more than adequate for my needs and better than anything I’ve used previously. I’m not familiar with Fresh Reviews.
Nice i have a hyperx headphone tooz ive got the cloud alpha I switched from plugging into my motherboard to plugging into my audio interface and the difference is stratospheric Turns out DAC is a massive difference lol, my cloud alpha feels like its resolution just got upgraded from 480p to 4k
Fantastic video, I've been using my old DJ headphones the ( Sennheiser hd 25-1 ii ) for over 15 years now and I have bought many " gaming headphones " in hopes of replacement, however, this has always resulted in pure disappointment. I always go back to HD25's as my daily driver as there simply isn't any real reason to change, they are indestructible and the sound quality and clarity seems to be the best I've heard at their price point. Crinacle & team thank you very much for your video and i look forward to the next one.
About buying mics and headphones separately, this can lead to more quality, yes, but this only works in it’s full display if you: 1) don’t game in a console, because then it would be more hassle than it’s worth to connect separately a good headphone and a good mic, probably with a separate audio deck to intermediate things because the controller internal DAC sure as hell won’t support well a AKG K712 plugged directly. 2) if you already have an audio deck or a good quality DAC lying around, because if not, you would be spending a fuck ton of money buying in one go a good quality headphone, a good quality mic and a DAC that you can use to plug both in your computer without the audio sounding like it’s coming from Narnia just to play fucking Call of Duty I think that gaming headsets are a good alternative for anyone who just wants a good enough headset to play Fortnite with their friends without thinking too much. In 9 out of 10 cases no one would listen to music with their gaming headsets because if they can afford a console/gaming PC and a library packed full of AAA games, they probably can afford a second pair of headphones to listen to music (I know I have separate headphones for both gaming and listening to music).
Ofc he's talking about PC gaming, console ppl don't even consider the option to choose between the two. Unless they play PC and console on the same monitor like me, in that case might buy a audio mixer. Bold of you to say that, who bought a gaming PC and lots of AAA games and still afford to buy spare headphones. So you buy separate headphones and think everyone else do the same ? People like that are called rich people and 9 out of 10 people are not rich, and they don't buy separate headphones for different occasions. Why buy more headphones if I can use that money to buy more AAA games and upgrade my PC ? It's not that people have infinite amount of money. Buying good quality headphones and a microphone is better than buying a gaming headset especially if you listen to other thing than playing videogame (everyone do that). Gaming headsets's sound quality are not worth their price and their mic is terrible that's why people are recommending alternatives, there are cheaper headphones which are better than them, good microphones that are cheap af but still better than built in ones. At the end of the day, your money your decision. But the truth is buying normal headphones + separate microphone bring the best bang for your buck vs AIO gaming headset in the long run. For people who can afford both, it's great, but its not the option for everyone.
@@GreatExtended my dude, we both know Crinacle isn’t talking about buying cheap headphones and a cheap mic in this, he is talking about buying a good quality pair of headphones and a good quality mic. These aren’t cheap, and definitely aren’t, combined, cheaper than a pretty good gaming headset. Yes, obviously would be better, but it would demand more money upfront, and that’s not even considering the price of an audio interface if the headphones and the mic can’t run directly on the computer. No, this is just an audiophile trying to see gaming with an audiophile mindset. A gaming headset won’t be great to do anything other than gaming, and the mic wouldn’t be great, but in a sweaty online match, it’s perfectly serviceable. And buying a pretty good pair of gaming headsets allows you, with that same budget you would use to buy the good quality stuff plus the audio interface, to buy another pair of headphones to listen to other stuff. This would end up way cheaper on your wallet and would please anyone who doesn’t care about listening music exclusively through FLACs.
@@GreatExtended would you have any recommendation for a non gaming headphone that's sound quality and comfort wise, better than Razer Black Shark V2 X, Cloud II or Cloud Alpha S ? that's combined with a cheap mic not more expensive than them ?
I bought three "gaming" headsets over the years and always hated it because I generally use all audiophile grade equipment that put the headsets to shame. I now use my Focal Celestee headphones connected to a very high end preamp or my balanced portable USB C DAC/Amp and a separate desktop studio mic. Couldn't be happier because now I have proper audio quality for gaming. When I'm playing single player, sound comes out of my Kanto Tuk speakers and Monolith M-10 v2 sub.
you are right about PC38X, it's more of a music listening focused headphone but has a mic for gamers (or just people who needs the mic for regular online chatting) and funny enough, been using PC38X for 2 years and i like it a lot, since im a gamer regularly online on Discord with friends and is someone who wants a good mic attached to the headphones, but cares more about listening to music than footsteps in games. my previous pair of gaming headphone was the Game One from Sennheiser
Well I play competitive at very high level and I've never bought into the gaming gear bullshit. Very very happy with my R70X paired with a Fulla Schiit, works wonders, great soundstage, sounds marvelous and have endured many years and I'm positive they will last many more.
The Corsair HS80 has such an insane microphone that I ask to myself what the f* are all other headset companies doing. The mic in the HS80 sounds literally as good as a dedicated desk mic. With some EQ on it you can make it sound insanely good. But even if you don't do anything and use it stock, it's absolutely unbelievable. The HS80 might not have the best sound, but the mic is so freaking far ahead of ALL the competition even those 3x its price, it's just insane. If you want an all in one headset that's easily available everywhere and need the best mic ever for streaming without needing a dedicated desk mic, the HS80 is a no brainer. Just hear some mic tests on youtube and you will get surprised.
Mine cracked in half at the plastic piece of the headband in the center just this morning as I put it on my head. I have a narrow head even. Only 4 months of use Corsair had to replace both earcups under warranty for me because the seems split. These headsets have been mostly great but the durability is extremely questionable. I also do not like the fact it uses Windows audio and the sound balancing is terrible to use if you are trying to stream games or movies with audio to friends in Discord but this is a small nitpick. Mic and Sound quality have been great. I don't personally like the floating headband design from a stability perspective either because these headsets are quite heavy. If you tilt your head forward they will slip off your head.
yeah plus if you only use for pc, there's a USB version which sounds better than the wireless i have been wondering of which one to go for ( HS80, H560S, PG38X, H6PRO )
Do you game on PC? Because Playstation, for example’s has a cap on the mic audio bandwidth in their party chat so it doesn’t matter how good the mic is..
@@zososoundliterally no one over the age of 14 should be gaming on anything but a pc in 2023 bozo . The reason about caps on the mic is yet another reason gaystation is terrible.
I have the PS5 headset. Find it awesome for gaming. It has no cables hanging so it's much more confortable. Also has a lot of interface buttons that allow for quick mute and volume controls. Soundwise I find I can easily locate footsteps. Now, I have no idea on how beautiful the sound really is, but for a competitive advantage it definitely feels like it gives it to me.
I have the same Pulse 3D headset, and I think they sound alright. Mess with the eq app and they sound a lot better. I also have the ATH-R70x and they blow the pulse out of the water. But I still prefer the wireless and the lag from the wireless adapters I have is very noticeable. I prefer the ATH when I'm playing COD or something alike but anything else I prefer the pulse.
I just tend to use any kind of IEM or Headphone with a Mic. Yes, if I want B2's, I'd want it with a Mic. Currently using Massdrop's KSC75's as it comes with Mic. Best choice. Thank you Uncle Crin. 😮
I am honestly having the time of my life using the Schitt Magni Heresy and Modi 3 for my audio. I have been using the hell out of the Fostex T50rp Mk3 as my “gaming” headphones. I do also use the HD650s from time to time. I love the setup to death! My mic is a Samson Meteor desk mic.
I went on a big journey to find gaming headphones and ended up trying many in this lineup, and still felt dissatisfied. Long story short, I landed on the EPOS H6pro open backs. They have a really wide soundstage and pinpoint imaging. I EQ a slight V for single player games, and just leave them as-is for competitive ones and I couldn't be happier.
I found them for $150 AUD which is about $100 AUD, and I don't regret the purchase. The only other good headphones I have used are the Sennheiser HD6XX, and yeah, they aren't the same, but for the price I paid, I am VERY happy with the headphones, and the microphone is just a bonus for me. No way I would pay 4x the price to get the 6XX over these. I used to increase the treble to closer match my old Logitech G633's, and I slowly decreased it until I now run it flat with a bit of a bass extension boost and I couldn't be happier.
Crin! Crin! You forgot the MOST IMPORTANT feature! The RGBs! You can't game without the RGBs! You can't be a GAMER without at least fifteen -blinding- awesome RGBs per ear to tell everybody around that you are indeed GAMING! And you better use that awesome -rootkit enabler- control software to turn them up to eleven so that you can see -the glare- that they're working in the reflection!
personally I got the AKG K240 Studio for 50€ and a samson C01 Pro for 70€ (both were discounted) and are both serving me extremely well for over 5 years now, as you stated multiple times in the video purchasing the two separatly in most case will lead to better results and, compared to "gaming" devices, even to a lower final price.
@@whenwillitbecold I noticed that it depends on the device i use them with: with the laptop that my workplace provided me with they sound pretty quiet but with my desktop they get pretty loud when I go beyond 30 with system volume control.
I ain't an audiophile neither a huge fan of this guy but man is spitting some genuine shit. One thing i would like to add is use wired headphones for gaming specially for FPS shooting games because low tier wireless headphones will come with latency issues so it's better to stick with wires for some years.
Based on Crinacle's recommendation, I bought the AKG K612 Pro. The staging and imaging are noticeably better than, for example, the Steelseries Nova Pro, which is marketed as a gaming headset. The only issue with the K612 Pro is that these headphones don't pick up footsteps very well. Specifically, in the context of PUBG, I have to significantly increase the gain and volume to clearly hear footsteps. Overall, I rate this product very positively. I like that I can simultaneously hear what's happening in the room, and I also like the very long cord because it allows me to move around freely. I'd really like to try the HD800 one day. I want to compare and see if the extra 1300€ makes a significant difference.
Better if you can run studio type headsets through an amplifier or an interface at the very least - they can supply a bit more power than just running it from the soundcard
the criteria for gaming are often not audio based, people want to hear some audio (of the game) while having a microphone, preferably everything wireless (no BT, since it causes delay). All in one, even the possibility to mute your microphone, the ability to lower the volume of the game while increasing the volume of voice chat at the same time, noise canceling from outside (?), no need for separate DACs, preferably no cables at all (already mentioned), oh and they should be comfortable for long hour sessions. Gaming headphone isnt just about audio
If you know what your priorities are when buying a gaming headset, that's great. What gaming headsets do better than normal headphones are ease of access, wireless connection, convenience with a built in mic. Other than that, gaming headsets don't have any edge over normal headphones in terms of ingame sound quality (Crin explained in the video, don't trust the marketing buzzwords), ANC (normal headphones have PNC which is good enough in most cases) is great if you are gaming in a living room with people around or you usually come to the LAN party (which not everyone does), normal headphones are built to be comfortable for long hour sessions too (have they not ever?), I can hear everything with my separate microphone and mute it too so what's the different ? DAC is not a must have for gaming. Furthermore people can still play video games and listen to music in good quality from a normal headphone which sound better than gaming headset at the same price. Separate cheap microphone can blow any built in mic out of the water.
@@GreatExtended but this is exactly what a "gaming" headphone is. A headphone suited for gaming, not listening to music. And no, no cheap separate microphone can blow a built in mic into the headphones. Thats the solution many people here offer, buy good headphones for music and just separate mic. But thats not working good. Also, as I mentioned, you want much more stuff than just mic. Wireless gaming headphones are a thing. Also you dont need expensive headphones for gaming since most audio in games isnt hq anyways.
Shure SM7B + Focal Radiance is my current gaming setup. Though I also have ModMic Wireless + Hifiman Sundara. Honestly, I find a dedicated mic to be less work cause it's less dangling cables, less fiddly bits, and (for me) one less thing to battery manage; also just more consistent, good sound quality
I daily drive an HD800 and it's just the best headphone I've ever tried and for gaming (and for critical listening). While it has its advantages, buying it SOLELY for gaming purposes is not really worth it. As a do it all headphone for music, production, gaming and all that, definitely. But man, if this isn't the most immersive headphone on the market, then I don't know what is.
@@zhanurdos I've tried things beyond 2K like the Empyrean and LCD4z and as far as instrument separation and imaging and layering/depth to the soundstage, it's still better on the HD800/800S. For preferences though, the bass is better on both the Empyrean and LCD4z.
IEMs that have seal very well and have fun tuning will do in place of headphones I game using Hype 4 or Pilgrim and can clearly hear everything like footsteps of enemy sneaking up on me
I'd love to see a review of the Steel Series Arctis Nova Pro, people have been saying it's a game changer for gaming headphones but I'd love to hear what you have to say about them.
It is a great headphone, i got them wired and it is indeed game changer, but you do need to tweak the settings in order for it to be GrEaT, you can't just download someone else tune, but there are presets in the Sonar App.
@@IceBurNCABR I ended getting both wired and wireless because I loved the comfort and sound so much but I've just been curious to hear what Crinacle has to say about them :D
its the same thing with "gaming chairs". they're several hundred dollar leather spinny car seats when a regular adjustable office chair with a seat made out of netting is cheaper and healthier for your back and more comfortable, but it doesnt look fancy and doesnt have the word gaming attached to it so its somehow worse. whats even worse is they're not even like the big impractical leather office chairs, theyre just regular sized chairs with open or no armrests so you cant even spin and waddle around in them. 0/10
Honestly I think the Harmonic Dyne Zeus are slept on for a "gaming" headphone. I love mine for both general enjoyment, but also how accurate they are when I'm playing a competitive tac shooter. Footsteps are clear, and directional. I drive mine with the Schiit Audio Magnius. I also throw on my HD660s with Dekoni pads.
For me, the best headphones ive used are shp9500. The sound is great, but thats not why. Its because of confort, weight and breathability. Not to mention the cable setup makes it easy to add a mic cable to make it into a headset
I have it too. For 1 years more. Just re equalizer it with crinacle graph tool web. reduce freq 5-6k and 17k. It will be good heaphone. And replace the earpads with velour. Original earpads not good clamp on my head
Trusting the KOS and lapel combo, hoping it’ll be good because I’m just tired of searching for headphones and you seem to just be straight practical with this no gimmicks
While I mostly agree with your points, there is one caveat you didn't seem to have considered. which is wireless. Bluetooth even with aaptx LL has quite bad lateny compared to the higher end "gaming" wireless headsets. We are talking about 50ms with aptx LL vs below 15ms for the high end "gaming" headsets. A much more minor caveat also related to wireless is the headphone vs headset debate of course. There is the antlion modmic as you mentioned, but that alone is over 100bucks for a frankly average sounding mic which might have a different wireless range than your headphones and that can also be quite frustrating. There are a few other modmic competitors which also are either absurdly expensive or utter crap. And you also might run into potential frequeny overlap with two devices directly clipped to each other which can worsen lateny, range, and even introduce cutting out audio. You also might end up with very different battery life and as someone that wears his headset for literally more than 16 hours a day if I include the many times I fell asleep wearing it, this becomes a legitimate concern imo. The frustrating part about this is that I seem to be unable to find an actually good wireless headset which also supports true low latency even with almost unlimited budget even if I include true wireless buds. And I am not asking for studio quality at 10ms. Just the ability to switch between good quality and good lateny like the aptx profiles allow you but with actually low latency would be enough.
Bluetooth audio has terrible latency because it's a far more complex data stream than something like a keyboard or mouse which just needs to send a single input at a time. it has been getting better over time but the latency is still bad enough to where it matters a lot in games where needing sound cues matters. I don't recommend wireless headphones for a lot of gaming for that reason if you're trying to get serious about it, and I tend to not recommend wireless mics in any situation for the reason that they almost always sound terrible, especially ones in a wireless headset or earbuds, or are more expensive than wired options at similar sound quality. I know wireless is good for convenience and everything and it is nice to not be stuck in one place, but most of the compromises you need to make are too much for me compared to the reliability a cable provides.
I bought my R70x about a year ago when I came across the original video. Miles ahead compared to my previous headset which was the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDac. Thanks Crin!
I just got a pair and I must have big ears because they hurt after about an hour. Switched to dt1990pros, much more comfortable, but I feel like the r70x sound better.
@@ignacio8597 You can get bigger after market pads for them, which I did. I have the Brainwavz XL Micro Suede on my ATH-R70x and they enormously increase the wearing comfort by cupping all of your ears. However, they of course somewhat alter the sound of the headphones. I found them to be slightly darker than with the stock pads, but with a much much better bass extension, which is actually bonus for me. Also the overall imaging becomes less intimate, due to the driver being removed further from your ear as compared to stock. This I feel makes music sound more natural / live-performance like, with a more organized and wider soundstage. Came for the better comfort, stayed for the subjectively better sound signature.
@@ignacio8597 Those are exactly(!!!) my thoughts as well. I had the same experience! Large ears, so the R70x started to hurt after a couple of hours, got the DT1990 but I'm always looking back at the AT's.
Thank god you made this and I found your channel from dank pods I was trying to find any reason if I should consider surround gaymin headphones because they might have a more attuned to game audio levels But I also wanted some entry level good headphones for film and music after spending a hefty sum on my new computer and enjoying editing as a hobby Glad my scepticism about those gaming headphones was confirmed
I used to daily drive sennheiser HD700 and i honestly think that there is not a better gaming headphone. Comfort was super good and has alot of qualities from hd800
I'll say, as much as they may sound "bad" I adore the skullcandy crushers for action shooters. The booms rumbling on your head just put a smile on my face, even if they sound a bit worse than something like my FHEs. The fun factor is just too perfect for that type of game.
I use AKG K712 Pro and Antlion Modmic on PC for gaming and music. HiFiMan Sundara on PS5. Both sound great on their respective setup's. Each have their own dedicated Mayflower DAC/Amp's. I'm sharing this video right away to a PC gaming group. Too bad I left the two console groups cause those scrubs could use a lesson in audio.
My k712s have been a fantastic job at being immersive in gaming and Dolby Atmos. However I recently got a pair of N90Q'S and have found myself using the surround option with those for that level of immersion, mainly when I'm going on a handheld. For a microphone, I just got me a cheap fifine mic, and applied a live voice isolating filter, and it is decent for the price.
K712s are awesome. I love how detailed they are -- however, they're a little light in the bass department. When I am using them I turn on my 10inch sub. Listening to both is a heavenly experience and really rounds out the sound.
i think the clarity, sound-stage and EQ balance of a headphone is the most important. doesnt really matter what you use as long as you can identifying and hear well, a person's own hearing is probably more important that what you are using.
To me personally Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro is more than enough for gaming. It feels to kinda give more detail than Grado SR60e (which also were really good tho) and is probably a bit wider, but I don't remember for sure
I agree with everything you say in this video except for the KSC75 being good for gaming. I have a pair, and they sound fantastic, but they're uncomfortable. I think comfort is the most important aspect because you could be gaming for several hours
I use 6xx, it's enough for a decent idea of where footsteps are but definitely leaves a bit to be desired. Eventually I'll get headphones with better imaging, but not to rank up or anything lol
Hd58x. Recently sold mine and went back to my other only pair of headphones (Hd6xx) and now regret selling the 58x. 6xx aren’t bad headphones. They’re amazing for movies and music but for gaming, they’re not great.
My friend just recently looking for a 'gaming headphone' just because he only got a switch that can game,and for voice chat purposes.I just told him to look at some of the mics on the headsets that are offering and buy the cheapest one that doesn't sound like shit. Turns out the mic from the Corsairs' lower ended wired headphones have a pretty good mic. $60 is not a bad deal.
Which kind of RGB lights are the best to improve sound in gaming? j/k, I went to a shop, just asked for speakers and the seller mentioned the lights as if they were a plus .-.
the issue with this video and the thought process behind it is: the customer wants a headphone + microphone all in one product. we do not want to buy seperate microphones to clip onto our headphones or clip onto our shirt or whatever, WE WANT THE ALL IN ONE PACKAGE. so yea, this is why "gaming headphones" are actually a good option to buy for gamers, because they come as a full package. you did not give us any good alternatives in this video. all you did was basically tell us to buy regular headphones and a seperate mic, which is exactly what most consumers do NOT want to do.
As a cheap console pleb, I tried investing about $100 in the SHP9500+BoomPro mic precisely because people like crin recommended this combo online. I found this combo AWFUL for any online team gaming. The mic kept picking up game sounds from the open back cans. For HALF the price, HyperX Cloud II have worked wonderfully. The mic is far clearer, has background noise-cancelling, and is still easy to mute/unmute. Performance for online voice chatting is the key difference between "gaming" headsets and regular cans IMO, and this video misses the mark on that. You can't just slap a "good mic" together with some "good cans" and it automatically be good for gaming. There needs to be a synergy in the setup; and often an AIO "gaming headset" is priced cheaper, less fuss, and a better value than trying to get the "better" gear working together adequately.
@@PhantasmXYZ completely agree.i myself run a Corsair HS80 wireless gaming headset and both the sound quality, microphone quality, comfort are all great for the price. Not to mention because its wireless i can keep it on my head while i grab some food or go to the toilet.
I would love to switch to other, better headphones, especially since I already have a separate mic. But there are 2 features I haven't found in any other good headphones that my current steelseries arctis pro wireless have: 1. 2.4ghz/5ghz wireless. Bluetooth has too much latency for gaming. Yes, I know, some newer low latency codecs aren't that noticeable anymore, but in games latency > sound quality. And no, wired isn't necessarily lower latency than wireless, there are even some wireless technologies out there that are faster than most wired products. 2. Multi input. I can have my pc connected wirelessly over 2.4ghz and my phone via bluetooth. An absolute gamechanger, since I use my gaming peripherals also for working from home. I pretty much dont take my headset off anymore. Both of those points are only comfort, I want to be able to get up between gaming sessions, while still talking in discord, take calls while gaming, listen to music while in a boring teams call (don't tell my colleagues;) ), etc. I wish there were actually good headphones out there that could do that. But unfortunately I haven't found those yet.
Gaming performance definitely does not scale with headphones because any deficiencies in your headphones can easily be overcome by having the best dac and amp. Would love to see a best gaming dac and amp video with multiple price points like under 100, under 500, under 2000. /s
And start with the Samsung and Apple USB-C - 3.5mm dongles that cost about $10. Then see if any of the more expensive ones make a difference. My guess is probably not.
@@katrinabryce Dongle is certainly a strong performer and might be all you need, but I just love that extra bit of immediacy in a 12000 dollar dac its like having negative latency where you can know where your enemies are before they even know where they are. Paired with my razer krakens it takes my KD ratio from 0.1 to 0.15 when I go from dongle to the high end dac
Was using a normal sony earpiece for gaming for years well and decided to buy a so called "gaming headphone" recently. Instantly regret it because it was very warm and I can't use it for more than 10 minutes at a time because of the heat, man this reupload came late
Best part about buying a nice regular headphone for gaming is that you can also use it to listen to music without looking like an idiot and it’ll actually sound good. Gamer brand headphones only have a place where people want to look the part and don’t care about spending money on an overpriced pair of dollar store headphones. (Unless you spend a lot of money for the “good” ones, but it’s still way cheaper to buy a similar quality mic and headphone separately.)
Thank you for this, I found you a few days ago looking for tech info and you sir are exactly what I was looking for. It's so nice to hear somebody else say "GAMING" gear is BS. gaming headsets = garbage, gaming chairs = hurt you, gaming prebuilt = garbage, "gaming" branding is basically a red flag not to buy for me lol. Btw, I've been watching your videos, I was just trying to determine if you were honest, it didn't long, :) I look forward to all your videos now, subbed with the bell Uncle crinacle! AND, i fuckin love your skits, it really adds a special touch to your videos, 10/10. Keep up the good work, we need more ppl like you and fewer ppl telling us to buy more junk.
the thing with having a headset with a mic is its just convenient you never have to worry about having a mic in front of your face, it takes up less space, uses less power and if you have a wireless headset you don't have to be at your setup to hold a conversation.
Can't lie, I've really enjoyed my $70 corsair headset's sound the past few years lol (no overbearing bassand footsteps and gun shots are pretty clear). But I do want to get some good headphones, I already have an audio techinca mic, which I love.
I'm one of the people that has gaming headphones as a all-in-one lol. I love it though, it's the Audeze Penrose. I'd love for you to review the Audeze Maxwell coming out soon. I've pre-ordered it.
Thank you for the recommendation Crin. This video made me buy the Audio Technica ATH R70x. I love it for music listening and gaming. It maybe my last audiophile headphone purchase.
When people say they want a gaming headphones they are not always talking about competitive advantage. We are just trying to find what presents the best sound stage
for the deja vu bois yes, this is a reupload, originally uploaded on 20th September 2021 on the original crinacle channel before it was aliven't. RIP to OG crinacle :(
So if I am right, this is the 3rd Crinacle channel? RIP OG Crinacle channel and Crinacle+
when will you review Bang and Olufsen headphones?
@@sweetsurrender815 no, this is crinacle+ you're watching, just renamed to crinacle
when crinacle pro max
So that’s why i feel like I watched this before.
One key thing to note about buying mic and headphone separate, is that if you break one, you won’t have to replace both! This is nice, as you don’t have to spend that much to get good mic, and you can spend more on headphones and IEMs.
Any recommendations on a super cheap standalone mic?
@@ebiooo Razer Seiren Mini, it's often on sale for like 30$
using the siren mini with equalizer apo + peace makes the mic SO much better trust 👌
@@beegest_yoshi i would also like to know this
@@felkmane same
This video never gets old "don't get half ass one thing get a whole ass 2 thing" 😂
I think its a Ron Swanson quote
I got the Koss KSC75 and you're totally right they're fantastic. I had bought some other "gaming" headphones and was really unsatisfied with them and now I have these great cheaper alternatives and couldn't be more pleased. Thank you!
What other head sets do you have and what kind of games you play
the headset that dosn't give me headset hair. ive been using it, its great
@@jagen304Yeah or the iconic streamer head dent. I can also use them when my hair is wet and it still dries
Can you easily hear the footsteps in any direction?
When it comes to headphones the thing I always take account into is its compatibility in general to modern devices (especially non-wired). Since some consoles/portable devices don't support certain headsets. Another thing I realised is it's always better to have a separate mic from your headset when you're recording, at least then you can guarantee the audio quality without worrying about silly factors as breathing into the mic or sounds being picked up in the background (if u have a directional mic).
Bluetooth >>>
@@3n3j0t4 L take tbh
@@3n3j0t4I'm primarily a rhythm gamer. Bluetooth has a minimum audio latency of around 100-200ms. My target accuracy is +/-30ms or so with an average timing deviation of 15-20ms. You can buy a cheap DAC and run it through a powered USB hub and skip the bluetooth. A mic can run over bluetooth just fine unless you're doing music production.
@@totally_not_a_bot Bluetooth Le audio has, at least theoretically, much lower latencies than Bluetooth had before. But sadly it's not that common yet.
Compatibility with consoles is gatekeeping from the console makers so they can license some silly firmware. Trash practice.
I think this was the video that got me hooked to your channel. Uncle Crin truly gave me hard lessons. I hope you reupload the other ones! Rip OG channel
I finally have a video to link to friends when I go on this rant. I've convinced a few of them to go with a headphone/mic combo, and they were surprised how much more they liked it. And now my discord audio sounds so much better, lol.
Wow this was such a refreshing take. Telling people the truth. I tried 5-10 headphones and ended with the conclusion that I played the same with either one and went with the cheapest option. Subscribed for sure!
Thanks to you and all the people that work on the autoeq project, I have finally found a set of headphones for me. I got my hands on the beyer dynamic team tygr. The fox mic and tygr 300 R combo. It sounds great and has an amazing soundstage.
Hey man thinking about getting these have you paired them with a audio interface or did you plug them straight into the motherboard audio ?
@@cristianjimenez2582 I have the headphone running through the mics aux port. The mic is plugged in with usb c on my motherboard. The mic has a bit of audio processing for output audio.
The KSC75 was exactly what I was looking for. Before, I was gaming on a Logitech G435, which was a wireless headset that weighed only 165 grams. They were super comfortable to wear for many hours at a time, but I was constantly having issues with random disconnects and the microphone not working. So I wanted to get a new headset, but I didn't want anything that was heavier than what I was already using, but since most gaming headphones are over 200 grams, my options were pretty limited. I'm so glad I found this video because I would not have known about the KSC75 nor would I have considered them otherwise.
Been using my Sennheiser HD 600 for about a year now, and I’ve been very happy with it in games! Those HD 800s are very enticing, but I’m not quite ready to spend more on my headphones than I spend on my entire pc lol.
Buy em used baby
how loud are they ? how is the bass , i just got some dt770 pro with a focusrite gen4 and they are dull and flat im sad .
@@dankdutchthey can get pretty loud, though I tend to keep m the sod honed on the quieter side. I uses Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) and I can hear pretty much everything well with windows volume at 100% and my audio interface turned up to about 1/3 of the way.
Edit: forgot to answer about the bass. They’re very well-rounded headphones, so they’ve got a great range of everything, including bass. I personally don’t like headphones to be bass-heavy, so if you’re looking for a little more “oomph” for bass in particular, then the HD 650s might be a better choice (at least from what I’ve heard about them).
@@Frostycrypton i had my dt770 pros maxed 100% on interface windows on the application or game im using and they didnt do it for me , maybe therre just good for music , sounded great on music videos on youtube i have to say just overall use was 6-7/10 super comfortable im really disappointed i was hyped for them to blow me away coming from a overpriced "gaming " wireless headset to some studio headphones , hopefully i can find something to suit my needs under 200$
its always been 'starter' worries, they usually ended up upgrading after
but hd600 is very good might want to upgrade the setup
I have had a pair of AKG's K702 for almost a decade now and I still don't see a reason to change or upgrade them, especially at the current price point. Yes, I have a Fiio K3 to drive them, which is also one of the cheapest "Hi Res" DAC/AMP combo you can buy to drive them and I have incredible soundstage and localisation especially with Dolby Atmos for headphones.
Happy to see these being re-uploaded to the new channel
I love the KSC75 (Both my Silver and Black are MMCX modded). I use them mostly for music, entertainment like YT and watching streams and gaming, mainly at home. As for mic, I used to have a Samson Meteor but switched to Fifine K690 and it’s great.
I did an mmcx mod too but honestly mmcx female connectors are kind of janky so I just used the IEM cable that I had and basically replaced the original wire with a better one.
I'm kinda surprised I'm not the only one here that uses ksc75s for gaming lol
For music and movies, it's clear, but severely lacks bass extension. Better off with some decent closed backs for movies.
Thanks crin, I've just gone ahead and ordered a Sennheiser HE-1 for my gaming headset. I hope it comes with a 3.5mm jack and not a 6.3mm so I can plug it into my Xbox controller without needing an adapter. Can't wait!
Ah yes, now you can listen to those footsteps in 4k!!
But a nice GAMING CHAIR however, makes a difference. It helps you aim and “feel” where the opponent is through walls!
Best gaming headset (competitive): Audiotechnika ADG1X (open design)
-> extremely wide soundstage, extremely clear highs, very good microphone
Con: completely open -> not good in noisy environments...
Best gaming headset (Immersion/overall): Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (closed design)
-> very sturdy (lasts a lifetime)
-> very good microphone
-> very good soundstage and highs (for a closed back design)
-> solid base and passive noice canceling (due to closed design)
On point. Earlier this year, tired of all my gaming headphones dying - cups falling off, horrible mics, pleather materials flaking off etc. So I got the V Moda boom pro and connected it to my Phillips X2HR's ($125-150). Great bass and treble with wide soundstage and light and comfortable. Add a great mic with full sound and a mute button that actually works. Excellent for music, movies and gaming. $150-$175 total. Done.
Do you wear glasses? I'm looking for some comfortable headphones because the ones i have now keep hurting me with pressure on the glasses arms
@@Icy_Capibara I don't but the X2HR's are extremely light and comfortable. I would try them if you could. If you go Amazon (currently on sale) you can always return them easily.
@@moonsofjupiter ty
I use the moondrop Aria with a mic cable to play fps and I am very pleased with it, the thing is, use whatever headphone or IEM you want to play, just leave us alone
i went iems for gaming and i will never look back. Even conviced 2 of my friends to get iems and they both love it
@@cyko5950 same I couldn't spend any more than 20 dollars on an iem at the moment. Just got the Chu and was satisfied.
Yep, I have a bunch of phones that are decent for games, but I most frequently grab my Aria, Chu, or Tin T2... Whatever happens to be nearby.
Yeah i recently got into IEMs too, bought S12 Pro and I use it for everything. Honestly whatever bs people was spouting about IEMs not having good positional awareness is bs (imo), i can hear and pinpoint enemies just as fine as my dusty MH751 headset waiting for its final days.
@@theimaginativeweirdo4537 cheap IEM > cheap gaming headset any day of the week
I like this set better. Feels more natural compared to the new one.
I ended up getting the beyerdynamic MMX300 which is branded as a gaming headset but actually quite decent unlike the rest. Sounds alright and it's the well known solid beyerdynamic build quality so I can drop it on the floor as much as I want and replacement parts are quite easy to get. A bit expensive for what it is but I'm alright with that.
I finally made the move to non-gamer branded headphones roughly six months ago and haven't looked back since.
My previous headset was the Plantronics Rig 800. For being a wireless headset at $150, they were great, and still maintained great battery life after 5 years of daily use. They weren't the greatest for music, but for gaming they were pretty good and imaging was spot on. Im pretty mid at shooters and my friend who is a lot better accuracy and reaction time wise has been shocked several times by how I know where to look at any given time.
Those RIGs were great... but the Beyerdynamics DT770s were leagues better for the same price. Sure I lose the wireless capability, but the cable is so long that I can go from my desk to my bed and have plenty of length to spare to get to other key parts of my room. For those wondering I got the 80 ohm versions. I didn't get a DAC/Amp so it is running off of my motherboard audio. I know some of you would balk at the idea, but its got a Realtek ALC1220-VB and ESS Sabre 9018 DAC setup in it. There is absolutely ZERO noise no matter what my PC does, and 55/100 is already getting comfortable RUclips video watching level versus my old wireless that needed to be at 90 to sound the same as these on 55. And the soundstage even though the 770s are closed back is amazing. It gets extremely close to feeling like the sound is coming from around me but just barely falls short, and it doesn't feel unnatural.
I also really wanted to keep a lot of the bass performance personally. Im sure there are some open back headphones with good bass, but I wanted to get something that I KNOW I will be satisfied with first before experimenting with open back headphones. I have ideas on what open back headphones I want to try, but all in due time.
I got my SHP9500 years ago when they ran for like $50. Enjoyed it for what it was. Super comfortable and the sound stage was better than any Skullcandy or beats and stuff I tried before. Don't use it anymore but I do think it's comfort is it's best quality. I could game all day with that and very easily takes the vmoda boom pro.
I use my HD 560s now cause it doesn't matter. I'm not good enough for it to make a difference. And don't play multiplayer much anyways
….that last paragraph had a tone of sadness to it. Don’t worry, think how much time you’re saving by not playing multiplayer (I only play single player games)
@@TheHulksMistress Haha, I just prefer singleplayer games more these days anyways. I'll hop on StarCraft 2 for my competitive fix but headphones truely don't matter in that game at all.
dude, the comfort!! I don't use speakers, only headphones so I really enjoy my SHP9500... it's simple: I put them on and I forget they are there. While using the Sundaras, omg such a sound quality, but boy... I can't wear them for more than 2 hours, they really hurt my ears
My SHPs got me wall bangs that I've been accused of hacking with.
Hd560s is one of the best for gaming, pinpoint imaging and good Soundstage, not too much bass. I modded it with a vmoda boom pro. Open it up, delete the locking mechanism, put it back together and use a 2.5mm to 3 5mm adapter and you can use the vmoda boom hehe.
This is still one of my fav crinacle vids ever
Amazing advice! Because of this, I ended up with a set of HD 560s and a Zen Dac v2. I came from years of HyperX cloud IIs and it feels like I’m hearing music for the first time.
Have u watched Fresh Reviews videos? As I think that was what he recommended the most.
Also, how is your setup now? I have currently used the Cloud Alpha for 3+ years and am planning to buy the KSC75 while saving for the HD560s and Zen Dac v2.
@@gabby.alcantara still going strong! I am really enjoying the headphones and DAC. By no means am I an expert or audiophile but the difference is highly noticeable. There were certain nuanced details, in many songs I listen to, that I had never noticed. The setup is more than adequate for my needs and better than anything I’ve used previously. I’m not familiar with Fresh Reviews.
Nice i have a hyperx headphone tooz ive got the cloud alpha
I switched from plugging into my motherboard to plugging into my audio interface and the difference is stratospheric
Turns out DAC is a massive difference lol, my cloud alpha feels like its resolution just got upgraded from 480p to 4k
ok now we want the immersion ones for those that don't play competitively
Fantastic video,
I've been using my old DJ headphones the ( Sennheiser hd 25-1 ii ) for over 15 years now and I have bought many " gaming headphones " in hopes of replacement, however, this has always resulted in pure disappointment.
I always go back to HD25's as my daily driver as there simply isn't any real reason to change, they are indestructible and the sound quality and clarity seems to be the best I've heard at their price point.
Crinacle & team thank you very much for your video and i look forward to the next one.
This video is the reason I got the ATH-r70X and I haven't looked back since thanks Crinicle.
About buying mics and headphones separately, this can lead to more quality, yes, but this only works in it’s full display if you:
1) don’t game in a console, because then it would be more hassle than it’s worth to connect separately a good headphone and a good mic, probably with a separate audio deck to intermediate things because the controller internal DAC sure as hell won’t support well a AKG K712 plugged directly.
2) if you already have an audio deck or a good quality DAC lying around, because if not, you would be spending a fuck ton of money buying in one go a good quality headphone, a good quality mic and a DAC that you can use to plug both in your computer without the audio sounding like it’s coming from Narnia just to play fucking Call of Duty
I think that gaming headsets are a good alternative for anyone who just wants a good enough headset to play Fortnite with their friends without thinking too much. In 9 out of 10 cases no one would listen to music with their gaming headsets because if they can afford a console/gaming PC and a library packed full of AAA games, they probably can afford a second pair of headphones to listen to music (I know I have separate headphones for both gaming and listening to music).
Ofc he's talking about PC gaming, console ppl don't even consider the option to choose between the two. Unless they play PC and console on the same monitor like me, in that case might buy a audio mixer.
Bold of you to say that, who bought a gaming PC and lots of AAA games and still afford to buy spare headphones. So you buy separate headphones and think everyone else do the same ? People like that are called rich people and 9 out of 10 people are not rich, and they don't buy separate headphones for different occasions. Why buy more headphones if I can use that money to buy more AAA games and upgrade my PC ? It's not that people have infinite amount of money.
Buying good quality headphones and a microphone is better than buying a gaming headset especially if you listen to other thing than playing videogame (everyone do that). Gaming headsets's sound quality are not worth their price and their mic is terrible that's why people are recommending alternatives, there are cheaper headphones which are better than them, good microphones that are cheap af but still better than built in ones.
At the end of the day, your money your decision. But the truth is buying normal headphones + separate microphone bring the best bang for your buck vs AIO gaming headset in the long run. For people who can afford both, it's great, but its not the option for everyone.
@@GreatExtended my dude, we both know Crinacle isn’t talking about buying cheap headphones and a cheap mic in this, he is talking about buying a good quality pair of headphones and a good quality mic. These aren’t cheap, and definitely aren’t, combined, cheaper than a pretty good gaming headset. Yes, obviously would be better, but it would demand more money upfront, and that’s not even considering the price of an audio interface if the headphones and the mic can’t run directly on the computer.
No, this is just an audiophile trying to see gaming with an audiophile mindset. A gaming headset won’t be great to do anything other than gaming, and the mic wouldn’t be great, but in a sweaty online match, it’s perfectly serviceable. And buying a pretty good pair of gaming headsets allows you, with that same budget you would use to buy the good quality stuff plus the audio interface, to buy another pair of headphones to listen to other stuff. This would end up way cheaper on your wallet and would please anyone who doesn’t care about listening music exclusively through FLACs.
@@GreatExtended would you have any recommendation for a non gaming headphone that's sound quality and comfort wise, better than Razer Black Shark V2 X, Cloud II or Cloud Alpha S ? that's combined with a cheap mic not more expensive than them ?
The most thought out gaming headphones review I have watched so far. Despite the comical delivery, I learned a lot from this video. Thanks Crinacle!
I bought three "gaming" headsets over the years and always hated it because I generally use all audiophile grade equipment that put the headsets to shame. I now use my Focal Celestee headphones connected to a very high end preamp or my balanced portable USB C DAC/Amp and a separate desktop studio mic. Couldn't be happier because now I have proper audio quality for gaming. When I'm playing single player, sound comes out of my Kanto Tuk speakers and Monolith M-10 v2 sub.
you are right about PC38X, it's more of a music listening focused headphone but has a mic for gamers (or just people who needs the mic for regular online chatting) and funny enough, been using PC38X for 2 years and i like it a lot, since im a gamer regularly online on Discord with friends and is someone who wants a good mic attached to the headphones, but cares more about listening to music than footsteps in games. my previous pair of gaming headphone was the Game One from Sennheiser
Same exact experience goes for me, that's why I love them, I bought them for music and didn't have room for a microphone stand/arm
Well I play competitive at very high level and I've never bought into the gaming gear bullshit. Very very happy with my R70X paired with a Fulla Schiit, works wonders, great soundstage, sounds marvelous and have endured many years and I'm positive they will last many more.
The Corsair HS80 has such an insane microphone that I ask to myself what the f* are all other headset companies doing. The mic in the HS80 sounds literally as good as a dedicated desk mic. With some EQ on it you can make it sound insanely good. But even if you don't do anything and use it stock, it's absolutely unbelievable. The HS80 might not have the best sound, but the mic is so freaking far ahead of ALL the competition even those 3x its price, it's just insane. If you want an all in one headset that's easily available everywhere and need the best mic ever for streaming without needing a dedicated desk mic, the HS80 is a no brainer. Just hear some mic tests on youtube and you will get surprised.
Mine cracked in half at the plastic piece of the headband in the center just this morning as I put it on my head. I have a narrow head even. Only 4 months of use Corsair had to replace both earcups under warranty for me because the seems split. These headsets have been mostly great but the durability is extremely questionable.
I also do not like the fact it uses Windows audio and the sound balancing is terrible to use if you are trying to stream games or movies with audio to friends in Discord but this is a small nitpick. Mic and Sound quality have been great. I don't personally like the floating headband design from a stability perspective either because these headsets are quite heavy. If you tilt your head forward they will slip off your head.
yeah plus if you only use for pc, there's a USB version which sounds better than the wireless i have been wondering of which one to go for
( HS80, H560S, PG38X, H6PRO )
Do you game on PC? Because Playstation, for example’s has a cap on the mic audio bandwidth in their party chat so it doesn’t matter how good the mic is..
My headband cracked in half too
@@zososoundliterally no one over the age of 14 should be gaming on anything but a pc in 2023 bozo . The reason about caps on the mic is yet another reason gaystation is terrible.
I have the PS5 headset. Find it awesome for gaming. It has no cables hanging so it's much more confortable. Also has a lot of interface buttons that allow for quick mute and volume controls. Soundwise I find I can easily locate footsteps. Now, I have no idea on how beautiful the sound really is, but for a competitive advantage it definitely feels like it gives it to me.
I have the same Pulse 3D headset, and I think they sound alright. Mess with the eq app and they sound a lot better. I also have the ATH-R70x and they blow the pulse out of the water. But I still prefer the wireless and the lag from the wireless adapters I have is very noticeable. I prefer the ATH when I'm playing COD or something alike but anything else I prefer the pulse.
The mic is not the best though
I just tend to use any kind of IEM or Headphone with a Mic. Yes, if I want B2's, I'd want it with a Mic. Currently using Massdrop's KSC75's as it comes with Mic. Best choice. Thank you Uncle Crin. 😮
I am honestly having the time of my life using the Schitt Magni Heresy and Modi 3 for my audio. I have been using the hell out of the Fostex T50rp Mk3 as my “gaming” headphones. I do also use the HD650s from time to time. I love the setup to death! My mic is a Samson Meteor desk mic.
I like high sound quality with surround sound. It helps me hear where the enemy is without having to look because of the direct it's coming from
I went on a big journey to find gaming headphones and ended up trying many in this lineup, and still felt dissatisfied. Long story short, I landed on the EPOS H6pro open backs. They have a really wide soundstage and pinpoint imaging. I EQ a slight V for single player games, and just leave them as-is for competitive ones and I couldn't be happier.
I found them for $150 AUD which is about $100 AUD, and I don't regret the purchase. The only other good headphones I have used are the Sennheiser HD6XX, and yeah, they aren't the same, but for the price I paid, I am VERY happy with the headphones, and the microphone is just a bonus for me. No way I would pay 4x the price to get the 6XX over these.
I used to increase the treble to closer match my old Logitech G633's, and I slowly decreased it until I now run it flat with a bit of a bass extension boost and I couldn't be happier.
Crin! Crin! You forgot the MOST IMPORTANT feature! The RGBs! You can't game without the RGBs! You can't be a GAMER without at least fifteen -blinding- awesome RGBs per ear to tell everybody around that you are indeed GAMING! And you better use that awesome -rootkit enabler- control software to turn them up to eleven so that you can see -the glare- that they're working in the reflection!
personally I got the AKG K240 Studio for 50€ and a samson C01 Pro for 70€ (both were discounted) and are both serving me extremely well for over 5 years now, as you stated multiple times in the video purchasing the two separatly in most case will lead to better results and, compared to "gaming" devices, even to a lower final price.
nice to see im not alone with the K240 lol, I bought a cheap mic tho thats okay
are your k240 also quiet? mine are extremely quiet
@@whenwillitbecold I noticed that it depends on the device i use them with: with the laptop that my workplace provided me with they sound pretty quiet but with my desktop they get pretty loud when I go beyond 30 with system volume control.
I ain't an audiophile neither a huge fan of this guy but man is spitting some genuine shit.
One thing i would like to add is use wired headphones for gaming specially for FPS shooting games because low tier wireless headphones will come with latency issues so it's better to stick with wires for some years.
Based on Crinacle's recommendation, I bought the AKG K612 Pro. The staging and imaging are noticeably better than, for example, the Steelseries Nova Pro, which is marketed as a gaming headset. The only issue with the K612 Pro is that these headphones don't pick up footsteps very well. Specifically, in the context of PUBG, I have to significantly increase the gain and volume to clearly hear footsteps. Overall, I rate this product very positively. I like that I can simultaneously hear what's happening in the room, and I also like the very long cord because it allows me to move around freely. I'd really like to try the HD800 one day. I want to compare and see if the extra 1300€ makes a significant difference.
Better if you can run studio type headsets through an amplifier or an interface at the very least - they can supply a bit more power than just running it from the soundcard
@@marcusj17 I use Sound blaster G6 with high gain for these headphones.
It's funnier now that his collab with Truthear is the default Warzone streamer go-to, for it's "Competitive advantage"
the criteria for gaming are often not audio based, people want to hear some audio (of the game) while having a microphone, preferably everything wireless (no BT, since it causes delay). All in one, even the possibility to mute your microphone, the ability to lower the volume of the game while increasing the volume of voice chat at the same time, noise canceling from outside (?), no need for separate DACs, preferably no cables at all (already mentioned), oh and they should be comfortable for long hour sessions. Gaming headphone isnt just about audio
If you know what your priorities are when buying a gaming headset, that's great. What gaming headsets do better than normal headphones are ease of access, wireless connection, convenience with a built in mic.
Other than that, gaming headsets don't have any edge over normal headphones in terms of ingame sound quality (Crin explained in the video, don't trust the marketing buzzwords), ANC (normal headphones have PNC which is good enough in most cases) is great if you are gaming in a living room with people around or you usually come to the LAN party (which not everyone does), normal headphones are built to be comfortable for long hour sessions too (have they not ever?), I can hear everything with my separate microphone and mute it too so what's the different ? DAC is not a must have for gaming. Furthermore people can still play video games and listen to music in good quality from a normal headphone which sound better than gaming headset at the same price. Separate cheap microphone can blow any built in mic out of the water.
@@GreatExtended but this is exactly what a "gaming" headphone is. A headphone suited for gaming, not listening to music. And no, no cheap separate microphone can blow a built in mic into the headphones. Thats the solution many people here offer, buy good headphones for music and just separate mic. But thats not working good. Also, as I mentioned, you want much more stuff than just mic. Wireless gaming headphones are a thing. Also you dont need expensive headphones for gaming since most audio in games isnt hq anyways.
@@GreatExtended also reply to my other stuff I mentioned, try to get all of that separately and you go way over the price of any expensive headphone
"just use whatever you want". Indeed, this is the case for me. I only use a pair of cheap Tangzu Wan'er IEMs and still manage the play well.
Shure SM7B + Focal Radiance is my current gaming setup. Though I also have ModMic Wireless + Hifiman Sundara. Honestly, I find a dedicated mic to be less work cause it's less dangling cables, less fiddly bits, and (for me) one less thing to battery manage; also just more consistent, good sound quality
Watched this many times on the old channel. The whole reason I subscribed.
I daily drive an HD800 and it's just the best headphone I've ever tried and for gaming (and for critical listening). While it has its advantages, buying it SOLELY for gaming purposes is not really worth it. As a do it all headphone for music, production, gaming and all that, definitely. But man, if this isn't the most immersive headphone on the market, then I don't know what is.
Not immersive, staging is ok but imaging no
@@zhanurdos Did we hear the same headphone? Lol
@@Auruchius 800s only has wide soundstage but best imagination depth instrument placement etc is higher tier headphones 2k+ ends with HE1
@@zhanurdos I've tried things beyond 2K like the Empyrean and LCD4z and as far as instrument separation and imaging and layering/depth to the soundstage, it's still better on the HD800/800S. For preferences though, the bass is better on both the Empyrean and LCD4z.
IEMs that have seal very well and have fun tuning will do in place of headphones
I game using Hype 4 or Pilgrim and can clearly hear everything like footsteps of enemy sneaking up on me
I'd love to see a review of the Steel Series Arctis Nova Pro, people have been saying it's a game changer for gaming headphones but I'd love to hear what you have to say about them.
It is a great headphone, i got them wired and it is indeed game changer, but you do need to tweak the settings in order for it to be GrEaT, you can't just download someone else tune, but there are presets in the Sonar App.
@@IceBurNCABR I ended getting both wired and wireless because I loved the comfort and sound so much but I've just been curious to hear what Crinacle has to say about them :D
its the same thing with "gaming chairs". they're several hundred dollar leather spinny car seats when a regular adjustable office chair with a seat made out of netting is cheaper and healthier for your back and more comfortable, but it doesnt look fancy and doesnt have the word gaming attached to it so its somehow worse. whats even worse is they're not even like the big impractical leather office chairs, theyre just regular sized chairs with open or no armrests so you cant even spin and waddle around in them. 0/10
Honestly I think the Harmonic Dyne Zeus are slept on for a "gaming" headphone. I love mine for both general enjoyment, but also how accurate they are when I'm playing a competitive tac shooter. Footsteps are clear, and directional. I drive mine with the Schiit Audio Magnius. I also throw on my HD660s with Dekoni pads.
I like this guy. Pure truth flat out right from the start. Good man here
For me, the best headphones ive used are shp9500. The sound is great, but thats not why. Its because of confort, weight and breathability. Not to mention the cable setup makes it easy to add a mic cable to make it into a headset
I have it too. For 1 years more. Just re equalizer it with crinacle graph tool web. reduce freq 5-6k and 17k. It will be good heaphone. And replace the earpads with velour. Original earpads not good clamp on my head
Trusting the KOS and lapel combo, hoping it’ll be good because I’m just tired of searching for headphones and you seem to just be straight practical with this no gimmicks
Can confirm the koss is worth trying. Hopefully you enjoy.
While I mostly agree with your points, there is one caveat you didn't seem to have considered. which is wireless. Bluetooth even with aaptx LL has quite bad lateny compared to the higher end "gaming" wireless headsets. We are talking about 50ms with aptx LL vs below 15ms for the high end "gaming" headsets.
A much more minor caveat also related to wireless is the headphone vs headset debate of course. There is the antlion modmic as you mentioned, but that alone is over 100bucks for a frankly average sounding mic which might have a different wireless range than your headphones and that can also be quite frustrating. There are a few other modmic competitors which also are either absurdly expensive or utter crap. And you also might run into potential frequeny overlap with two devices directly clipped to each other which can worsen lateny, range, and even introduce cutting out audio. You also might end up with very different battery life and as someone that wears his headset for literally more than 16 hours a day if I include the many times I fell asleep wearing it, this becomes a legitimate concern imo.
The frustrating part about this is that I seem to be unable to find an actually good wireless headset which also supports true low latency even with almost unlimited budget even if I include true wireless buds. And I am not asking for studio quality at 10ms. Just the ability to switch between good quality and good lateny like the aptx profiles allow you but with actually low latency would be enough.
Bluetooth audio has terrible latency because it's a far more complex data stream than something like a keyboard or mouse which just needs to send a single input at a time. it has been getting better over time but the latency is still bad enough to where it matters a lot in games where needing sound cues matters. I don't recommend wireless headphones for a lot of gaming for that reason if you're trying to get serious about it, and I tend to not recommend wireless mics in any situation for the reason that they almost always sound terrible, especially ones in a wireless headset or earbuds, or are more expensive than wired options at similar sound quality.
I know wireless is good for convenience and everything and it is nice to not be stuck in one place, but most of the compromises you need to make are too much for me compared to the reliability a cable provides.
I like this guy. Great delivery with the humor. He had me laughing so much!
Unfortunately for console gaming an all in one is the most convenient solution. We have a limited amount of usb ports.
pc master race
Another reupload? yes please.
I bought my R70x about a year ago when I came across the original video. Miles ahead compared to my previous headset which was the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDac. Thanks Crin!
I just got a pair and I must have big ears because they hurt after about an hour. Switched to dt1990pros, much more comfortable, but I feel like the r70x sound better.
@@ignacio8597 You can get bigger after market pads for them, which I did. I have the Brainwavz XL Micro Suede on my ATH-R70x and they enormously increase the wearing comfort by cupping all of your ears. However, they of course somewhat alter the sound of the headphones. I found them to be slightly darker than with the stock pads, but with a much much better bass extension, which is actually bonus for me. Also the overall imaging becomes less intimate, due to the driver being removed further from your ear as compared to stock. This I feel makes music sound more natural / live-performance like, with a more organized and wider soundstage. Came for the better comfort, stayed for the subjectively better sound signature.
@@ignacio8597 Those are exactly(!!!) my thoughts as well. I had the same experience! Large ears, so the R70x started to hurt after a couple of hours, got the DT1990 but I'm always looking back at the AT's.
I need more videos of Crinacle thickening the accent.
Thank god you made this and I found your channel from dank pods
I was trying to find any reason if I should consider surround gaymin headphones because they might have a more attuned to game audio levels
But I also wanted some entry level good headphones for film and music after spending a hefty sum on my new computer and enjoying editing as a hobby
Glad my scepticism about those gaming headphones was confirmed
I used to daily drive sennheiser HD700 and i honestly think that there is not a better gaming headphone. Comfort was super good and has alot of qualities from hd800
is the HD 700 really good for gaming? I'm thinking about buying the HD700 or ATH-70X 🤔
seeing crinacle just appear and say "ARE YOU A GAMER?" again makes my day so much better
I'll say, as much as they may sound "bad" I adore the skullcandy crushers for action shooters. The booms rumbling on your head just put a smile on my face, even if they sound a bit worse than something like my FHEs. The fun factor is just too perfect for that type of game.
I use AKG K712 Pro and Antlion Modmic on PC for gaming and music. HiFiMan Sundara on PS5. Both sound great on their respective setup's. Each have their own dedicated Mayflower DAC/Amp's. I'm sharing this video right away to a PC gaming group. Too bad I left the two console groups cause those scrubs could use a lesson in audio.
My k712s have been a fantastic job at being immersive in gaming and Dolby Atmos. However I recently got a pair of N90Q'S and have found myself using the surround option with those for that level of immersion, mainly when I'm going on a handheld.
For a microphone, I just got me a cheap fifine mic, and applied a live voice isolating filter, and it is decent for the price.
K712s are awesome. I love how detailed they are -- however, they're a little light in the bass department. When I am using them I turn on my 10inch sub. Listening to both is a heavenly experience and really rounds out the sound.
I'm glad MH751 got mentioned, underrated headphone imo
Hey Crinacle, how about a video on wireless headphones/headsets? Bluetooth or 2.4ghz, vs wired, and why, why not, etc
i think the clarity, sound-stage and EQ balance of a headphone is the most important. doesnt really matter what you use as long as you can identifying and hear well, a person's own hearing is probably more important that what you are using.
To me personally Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro is more than enough for gaming. It feels to kinda give more detail than Grado SR60e (which also were really good tho) and is probably a bit wider, but I don't remember for sure
Crinacle recommends the DarkViperAU drip
But Crinacle, I really do need the staging and imaging for my P2W strategy games on mobile
I agree with everything you say in this video except for the KSC75 being good for gaming. I have a pair, and they sound fantastic, but they're uncomfortable. I think comfort is the most important aspect because you could be gaming for several hours
I use 6xx, it's enough for a decent idea of where footsteps are but definitely leaves a bit to be desired. Eventually I'll get headphones with better imaging, but not to rank up or anything lol
Hd58x. Recently sold mine and went back to my other only pair of headphones (Hd6xx) and now regret selling the 58x. 6xx aren’t bad headphones. They’re amazing for movies and music but for gaming, they’re not great.
My friend just recently looking for a 'gaming headphone' just because he only got a switch that can game,and for voice chat purposes.I just told him to look at some of the mics on the headsets that are offering and buy the cheapest one that doesn't sound like shit. Turns out the mic from the Corsairs' lower ended wired headphones have a pretty good mic. $60 is not a bad deal.
Which kind of RGB lights are the best to improve sound in gaming? j/k, I went to a shop, just asked for speakers and the seller mentioned the lights as if they were a plus .-.
It’s so weird how rgb leds became a gaming thing. I wonder if the first person who did it feels the great shame and regret they should very much feel
This video was released at the perfect time
the issue with this video and the thought process behind it is: the customer wants a headphone + microphone all in one product. we do not want to buy seperate microphones to clip onto our headphones or clip onto our shirt or whatever, WE WANT THE ALL IN ONE PACKAGE. so yea, this is why "gaming headphones" are actually a good option to buy for gamers, because they come as a full package. you did not give us any good alternatives in this video. all you did was basically tell us to buy regular headphones and a seperate mic, which is exactly what most consumers do NOT want to do.
As a cheap console pleb, I tried investing about $100 in the SHP9500+BoomPro mic precisely because people like crin recommended this combo online. I found this combo AWFUL for any online team gaming. The mic kept picking up game sounds from the open back cans.
For HALF the price, HyperX Cloud II have worked wonderfully. The mic is far clearer, has background noise-cancelling, and is still easy to mute/unmute.
Performance for online voice chatting is the key difference between "gaming" headsets and regular cans IMO, and this video misses the mark on that. You can't just slap a "good mic" together with some "good cans" and it automatically be good for gaming. There needs to be a synergy in the setup; and often an AIO "gaming headset" is priced cheaper, less fuss, and a better value than trying to get the "better" gear working together adequately.
@@PhantasmXYZ completely agree.i myself run a Corsair HS80 wireless gaming headset and both the sound quality, microphone quality, comfort are all great for the price. Not to mention because its wireless i can keep it on my head while i grab some food or go to the toilet.
The KSC75 was my secret weapon in Black Ops 2
I would love to switch to other, better headphones, especially since I already have a separate mic. But there are 2 features I haven't found in any other good headphones that my current steelseries arctis pro wireless have:
1. 2.4ghz/5ghz wireless. Bluetooth has too much latency for gaming. Yes, I know, some newer low latency codecs aren't that noticeable anymore, but in games latency > sound quality. And no, wired isn't necessarily lower latency than wireless, there are even some wireless technologies out there that are faster than most wired products.
2. Multi input. I can have my pc connected wirelessly over 2.4ghz and my phone via bluetooth. An absolute gamechanger, since I use my gaming peripherals also for working from home. I pretty much dont take my headset off anymore.
Both of those points are only comfort, I want to be able to get up between gaming sessions, while still talking in discord, take calls while gaming, listen to music while in a boring teams call (don't tell my colleagues;) ), etc. I wish there were actually good headphones out there that could do that. But unfortunately I haven't found those yet.
Love the brutal honesty 👏
Gaming performance definitely does not scale with headphones because any deficiencies in your headphones can easily be overcome by having the best dac and amp. Would love to see a best gaming dac and amp video with multiple price points like under 100, under 500, under 2000. /s
And start with the Samsung and Apple USB-C - 3.5mm dongles that cost about $10.
Then see if any of the more expensive ones make a difference. My guess is probably not.
@@katrinabryce Dongle is certainly a strong performer and might be all you need, but I just love that extra bit of immediacy in a 12000 dollar dac its like having negative latency where you can know where your enemies are before they even know where they are. Paired with my razer krakens it takes my KD ratio from 0.1 to 0.15 when I go from dongle to the high end dac
@@headphonesuser1234 🤣
Was using a normal sony earpiece for gaming for years well and decided to buy a so called "gaming headphone" recently. Instantly regret it because it was very warm and I can't use it for more than 10 minutes at a time because of the heat, man this reupload came late
Best part about buying a nice regular headphone for gaming is that you can also use it to listen to music without looking like an idiot and it’ll actually sound good. Gamer brand headphones only have a place where people want to look the part and don’t care about spending money on an overpriced pair of dollar store headphones. (Unless you spend a lot of money for the “good” ones, but it’s still way cheaper to buy a similar quality mic and headphone separately.)
That "STOP" gets me every time 🤣🤣
I'll gladly watch this again mate. Love your content please keep it up
Thank you for this, I found you a few days ago looking for tech info and you sir are exactly what I was looking for. It's so nice to hear somebody else say "GAMING" gear is BS. gaming headsets = garbage, gaming chairs = hurt you, gaming prebuilt = garbage, "gaming" branding is basically a red flag not to buy for me lol. Btw, I've been watching your videos, I was just trying to determine if you were honest, it didn't long, :) I look forward to all your videos now, subbed with the bell Uncle crinacle! AND, i fuckin love your skits, it really adds a special touch to your videos, 10/10. Keep up the good work, we need more ppl like you and fewer ppl telling us to buy more junk.
Except gaming chairs are actually ergonomic and not just for aesthetic, you can buy it just fine.
the thing with having a headset with a mic is its just convenient you never have to worry about having a mic in front of your face, it takes up less space, uses less power and if you have a wireless headset you don't have to be at your setup to hold a conversation.
Uncle Crin's voice across the table dropping truth bombs
Can't lie, I've really enjoyed my $70 corsair headset's sound the past few years lol (no overbearing bassand footsteps and gun shots are pretty clear). But I do want to get some good headphones, I already have an audio techinca mic, which I love.
Thank you for reminding us! LOL! Love your content bro! More to come!
Lol I was half expecting Crinacle to say "Haiyaa" when ranting about the headsets lol. I've been watching too many Uncle Roger videos I think 😆
I'm one of the people that has gaming headphones as a all-in-one lol. I love it though, it's the Audeze Penrose. I'd love for you to review the Audeze Maxwell coming out soon. I've pre-ordered it.
Thank you for the recommendation Crin. This video made me buy the Audio Technica ATH R70x. I love it for music listening and gaming. It maybe my last audiophile headphone purchase.
Thank you for reuploading!
I like that you reupload all the old videos.
yes yes bring back all the videos
When people say they want a gaming headphones they are not always talking about competitive advantage. We are just trying to find what presents the best sound stage