hi, i am looking at a few different headphones and one headset.
what i am looking at:
1. superlux hd668b
2. takstart pro 80
3. pioneer se-a1000
4. takstar hi2050
5. kingston hyperx cloud.
i will be using these mainly for voice and games. i do listen to music but to a lesser extent with headphones on. if i get headphones i will use a external mic with them. i was looking at the zalman clip on, the antlion mod mic, and the blue snowball. money is a issue i would like to keep it under 80. for now. i think any of these will be a upgrade from my current Siberia v2's.
First of all, I would like to address the mic issue. I think that the Blue Snowball is a great choice. I've heard very mixed reviews about the clip on style of mics and that leaves me skeptical about it. The Antlion is a great choice, but it does have its limitation, namely that you have to attach it you your headphones. That is great if you aren't really going to ever upgrade. You can just put more of the magnetic holders on whatever other headphones you want, but honestly it seems like more hassle than it is worth, especially considering the extra cable. The desktop mic would give the best quality, be the most future proof, and would keep you from having another cable coming from your headphones that needs to plug into your computer (my headphones have a really long cable, and are plugged into an external amp, so it would be really inconvenient for me). There is another that I liked more than the Snowball, called the CAD U37 on Amazon. You should check it out. Either would be a great choice though.
Now for the more intricate part. The headphones that I would recommend will vary widely depending on what you want from them. Do you want to be able to hear footsteps from across the map in a FPS (competitive footstep listening is how most audiophile refer to this online)? Do you want to be immersed in the explosions and music? Do you care if sound leaks both out and in? Do you get easily fatigued by prominent highs? Do you have an external amp, or plan to ever get one? What kind of music do you listen to, and what do you want to really be able to hear in that music? How important is comfort to you (it isvery easy to underestimate hte importance of comfort)? In general, Superlux has a very lean sound, and Takstar is pretty similar but not as lean iirc. Both companies make great sounding headphones though, especially for the price.
now here is where i contradict myself. i really want clear clean sound in most ranges, i do not need booming bass but clear not muddy would be great. i love good mids so they could be raised and i would be ok with that. highs are important for foot steps and shots but i do not want them to be overly present.
about the mics i will check that one out on amazon when i get home.
It seems that funds are a little tight for you, so I don't really want to recommend you get an open backed headphone if you aren't completely ok with the drawbacks of it. That said, you can return it to Amazon, and so long as you haven't abused the return system in the past, they won't give you any hassle about it. I just don't want to see you spend all of your money and get something that you aren't happy with.
From the sound that you have described so far, I am thinking that an opened set of cans would likely be a good choice for you. However, Superlux seems to be a bit harsher than what you are wanting. For opened, that Takstar 2050 seems like the best choice in that price range, for closed, the Takstar Pro80 would probably be better. Both should have better comfort quality than the Superlux (I have a pair of Superlux myself and find them to be uncomfortable) as well as slightly better sound quality. Overall, the Pro80 seems like the best all-arounder with the flattest sound signature. I am unsure of its leather-y pads though. Those are often hit or miss. The pads on the 2050 seem to me like they would be more comfortable. The CAL! is also something to consider. You should read what you can find about those three and then decide for yourself (I like reviews and impressions from Head-fi personally).
EDIT: Finally found a direct comparison of the 2050 and the Samson 850/Superlux hd668b and the 2050 supposedly lack the resolution of the 850/668b, and they have a more U shaped sound signature. So, out of the opened headphones, I would suggest the hd668b, but would probably recommend the Takstar pro80 overall though as I have heard great htings about them. It really comes down to what you want out of them. Do you want an open and clear sound (and are you willing to deal with the harsh highs that come with it)? Do you want a more neutral sound?
i have read a lot on headfi the last week or so while trying to make up my mind. i am under no delusion that these will be the best head phones i can get but i am looking for bang for the buck. my only issue with the takstar's is that the hyperx clouds are pretty much pro 80's with a mic. as for the superlux they have been on my list for a while. for the money i might take the chance. the pioneers come highly recommended on headfi that's why they are on the list.
As far as I am concerned, you know most everything that you need to know in order to make a decision on these. Any of these headphones discussed so far as a great choice, and so long as you are aware of what you are getting, I think that you can't make the wrong choice here. If you want to spend as little money as possible, then Superlux is probably the best choice and are likely good enough to hold you over until you can get the funds for more expensive ones. That is actually exactly what I did.
thank you. i appreciate all the advice and input. and i have been looking at that mic. do you think it is better than the snowball for around the same price?
I personally like the look of the CAD better, and iirc it has better sound quality. You can find plenty of videos on youtube about how each of them sounds though so you can check for yourself. Again, can't go wrong with either.
i ended up going with the hd668b's. i got them some new ear pads and the zalman clip mic. i know the mic is the weak point but it has good reviews and it will do till i have the money to get a better stand alone mic. i will post on how good they are together when they arrive.
You will have to report back about your satisfaction. Also do note that there are tons of mods for the 668b, so if you ever get bored with the sound, spice it up some (that is what I did with mine after a few years with my Superlux).
I've sent back 4 headsets this year, finally found one that doesn't suck.
1: logitech g230, comfy, fairly quiet, mic boom went all floppy after about 4 months, returned
2: Corsair 2100 wireless, sexy,hefty, value, sound good, disconnected everything else on my computer, returned
3: logitech g430 same as the 230 but with surround dongle,of course logitech software wouldn't install so no surround, returned
4: razer kraken pro, thought these would be a safe bet, sound like a $5 headset from the reject shop, and "the most comfortable headset in the world" shouldn't have the clamping force of a retarded child hugging a bunny rabbit to death, returned
5:corsair vengeance 1500, same as the 2100 but non wireless, nice and loud, surround software works well and super comfy, $100 bargain.
open style headphones usually give a wider / expanded sound stage ... the trick is finding not only width but depth .. along with accurate placement with clean , clear oomphfff ... there I go getting ll technical again lol
but ... if you are in the living room ... you will bug and be bugged by the kids and old lady
EDIT ... unless you have a very good high volume amp lol