Any audiophile headphone users here? Need suggestions for gaming.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Need some more headphones. Im not doing anymore gaming headsets, moving to studio hifi. This will be for PS5 FPS and Single Player games.

Im thinking I buy both closed back and open back headphones. Would that be a good idea? My reasoning is closed back for FPS and open back for single player.

Im hearing open back is more immersive, but you prone to environment noises. Also will I need an amp? Plugging into the controller probably won't take full advantage of the tech.


Right now waiting to see when the Maxwell 2 will release.


My budget is around $350.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Need some more headphones. Im not doing anymore gaming headsets, moving to studio hifi. This will be for PS5 FPS and Single Player games.

Im thinking I buy both closed back and open back headphones. Would that be a good idea? My reasoning is closed back for FPS and open back for single player.

Im hearing open back is more immersive, but you prone to environment noises. Also will I need an amp? Plugging into the controller probably won't take full advantage of the tech.


Right now waiting to see when the Maxwell 2 will release.


My budget is around $350.

I've spent too much on headphones over the years. My opinion is always go open back for anything competitive unless you play in a loud environment with little kids and shyt. Open back sounds like speakers on your head, and enemy movements are MUCH clearer and cleaner. Closed back has a lot more bass and echo, with enemy sounds meshing together more. Closed back can be more immersive by blocking out background noise.

A DAC and Amp help immensely for improving sound quality, but will increase your budget. I would look into the used market to stretch your budget a lot further. With $350 you could get something in the 6-700 range used. I always recommend Sennheiser for open back. I use Sennhesier HD800's with a DAC, Amp, and custom equalizer on my PC. That's out of your price range, but any of the higher end Sennheiser's should suffice.

This is coming from someone that has probably spent over $10,000 on heaphones, DAC's and Amps over the years

This should help

The 7 Best Open-Back Headphones of 2025

The best open-back headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These premium dynamic driver headphones offer an immersive, speaker-like sound.

www.rtings.com

 

[Pressure]

Unless you play at a desk the cords will kill the experience for most

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Unless you play at a desk the cords will kill the experience for most

The Maxwell is wireless. Ive heard nothing but raving reviews in regards to the best gaming headset.

The open back will have to be wired unless I go turtle beach, which ain't no way in hell im doing. And I'll need an amp too, so definitely a chore.

 

[Uncle Baby Billy]

I play with the Crinacle Zero 2

 

[Allen Poe]

For gaming, I use Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and Sennheiser 560s, both are open back headphones. But i'm using them on PC with a DAC and amp, I'm not sure how well the PS5 controller would drive them. May need to look up how to use a dac and amp on PS5 to get the most of them.

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

Need some more headphones. Im not doing anymore gaming headsets, moving to studio hifi. This will be for PS5 FPS and Single Player games.

Im thinking I buy both closed back and open back headphones. Would that be a good idea? My reasoning is closed back for FPS and open back for single player.

Im hearing open back is more immersive, but you prone to environment noises. Also will I need an amp? Plugging into the controller probably won't take full advantage of the tech.


Right now waiting to see when the Maxwell 2 will release.


My budget is around $350.

January 5th

 

[Remote]

I honestly could not tell a huge difference in headphones once you get past the $200-ish mark.

I have a closed back Beyerdynamic DT 770, and an open back Audio Technica AD700X.

Both bought for dirt cheap years ago. I prefer the open back. It’s just more comfortable and you don’t get as hot. But your wife is gonna hate you because she will hear everything.

I mean yeah you can get some Sennheiser whatevers for $250+ and in all honesty it will be “better”. But for gaming? I don’t …I think it’s diminishing returns. That’s the nice way to put it.

I will say that a bigger impact came from a DAC tho.

Somewhere here I have …I think it’s the Creative Soundblaster G6. And I also have one of the…Astro Mixamp.

I mean these are a few years old and probably not the best on the gaming market but they helped a lot.

 

[JarrodG]

If you are interested in a wireless headphones I would wait for information on the Maxwell 2 and Beyer mmx 230.

For gaming I recommend Tygr 300 R. Cost around 200ish and it will leave you around 150 to buy a nice dac and amp setup.

 

[ORDER_66]

Whats wrong with the ps5 sony headphones?!!?!

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

Whats wrong with the ps5 sony headphones?!!?!

Build quality is doo doo and sound quality is good not amazing.

 

[ORDER_66]

Build quality is doo doo and sound quality is good not amazing.

That's a shame i liked the design of them alot

 

[MurderToCassette]

I got the Beyerdynamic DT 990, upgraded after 15 years with the Audio Technica ATH M50X. Only been a couple months but I love them so far.

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Whats wrong with the ps5 sony headphones?!!?!

Build quality is doo doo and sound quality is good not amazing.

All gaming headphones are overpriced trash.

Studio headphones are where its at.

 

[jilla82]

I use Sennheiser HD560S.

Pretty sure they were recommended by a former pro gamer...
I have no complaints