[Bad Santa]

Money is a tight at the current moment, and I'd really like to have a new pair of headphones for music and a new headset for gaming, but I can't really afford both, so I was wondering what would be the best headphone for gaming and listening to music (Mainly rock/alternative). I only have ~$300 to spare for headphones, clip on mic, and soundcard. So far the main things I have found that are said to be the best are:
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013
 
Asus Xonar DS 7.1
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NK344/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_g23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ZJ2QYCQR8WYBXDBKHKM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
 
DT 990
 
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337649357&sr=1-1
 
HD598
 
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K-701-WHITE-HEADPHONES/dp/B000EBBJ6Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337649399&sr=1-1
 
K701
 
 
Unfortunately, I've also found that none of them are very good for rock/alternative. So, what of these headphones would be the best, or, if not these, what headphone?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Money is a tight at the current moment, and I'd really like to have a new pair of headphones for music and a new headset for gaming, but I can't really afford both, so I was wondering what would be the best headphone for gaming and listening to music (Mainly rock/alternative). I only have ~$300 to spare for headphones, clip on mic, and soundcard. So far the main things I have found that are said to be the best are:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013
Asus Xonar DS 7.1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NK344/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_g23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ZJ2QYCQR8WYBXDBKHKM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
DT 990
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337649357&sr=1-1
HD598
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K-701-WHITE-HEADPHONES/dp/B000EBBJ6Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337649399&sr=1-1
K701
Unfortunately, I've also found that none of them are very good for rock/alternative. So, what of these headphones would be the best, or, if not these, what headphone?

First off the Xonar DS (& DSX, DX, D1) are not that great for driving headphones.
The cheaper Xonar DG & DGX come with a half-way decent headphone amplifier.
Headphone wise, I would say just get the Senn HD558.
Total for DGX & HD558 would be around $210.

 

[Bad Santa]

Quote:

First off the Xonar DS (& DSX, DX, D1) are not that great for driving headphones.
The cheaper Xonar DG & DGX come with a half-way decent headphone amplifier.
Headphone wise, I would say just get the Senn HD558.
Total for DGX & HD558 would be around $210.

 
How much better (If so) do the 598s sound than the 558s? Plus I just can't get passed how nice looking the 598s are...
 
And am I correct to think that the DGX is better than the DG?

 

[RayleighSilvers]

Does it have to be open? I'd recommend the Xonar DG and Beyerdynamic DT770/80. Terrific soundstage, good bass and will be better than the other headphones in your list for immersive gaming. For competitive gaming you can easily turn down the bass with the soundcard.

 

[Grado77]

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[Bad Santa]

I've never had a pair of open headphones so I'd kinda like to try a pair, but no, they don't specifically have to be open.
 
Edit: And @Grado77 - I haven't heard much about those, I'd really like to know how they sound.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

How much better (If so) do the 598s sound than the 558s? Plus I just can't get passed how nice looking the 598s are...
And am I correct to think that the DGX is better than the DG?

I've never listened to the HD598, just the HD558s.
The HD558 and HD598 use the same driver.
I've removed the black rubber tape from inside my HD558s, makes them more open.
More open like the HD598, but not claiming than it matches the HD598 in sound.
The DGX (PCI-Express) and the DG (PCI) are equal.
Asus just took the DG and gave it a PCI-Express interface and called it the DGX.
The DG(X) work well with headphones up to 150-Ohm, but only decently with 250-ohm headphones.

 

[SONIC BOOM]

grados are not really good for gaming, I would say the dt990

 

[jwusoccer]

I would go with either the hd 598 or the k701. I own the hd 598 and have heard the 558, and although the drivers are the same, the casing for the headphone itself is different, and thus it sounds different than the hd 558. From my memory, there wasn't that much of a difference, but the 558 had a bit more bass. If you're like me though, I can't live with buying the 558 knowing that i could have gotten the 598 for only a little more . An plus, i think the hd 598 looks amazing! The 598 is pretty amazing for competitive gaming, although if you want to enjoy the experience you would be better off getting a headphone with more bass. As for alternative rock, i didn't think that it sounded too bad on them. As for the k701, i've heard good things about them for gaming as well, but they also from what i've heard have little bass.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

I would go with either the hd 598 or the k701. I own the hd 598 and have heard the 558, and although the drivers are the same, the casing for the headphone itself is different, and thus it sounds different than the hd 558. From my memory, there wasn't that much of a difference, but the 558 had a bit more bass. If you're like me though, I can't live with buying the 558 knowing that i could have gotten the 598 for only a little more . An plus, i think the hd 598 looks amazing! The 598 is pretty amazing for competitive gaming, although if you want to enjoy the experience you would be better off getting a headphone with more bass. As for alternative rock, i didn't think that it sounded too bad on them. As for the k701, i've heard good things about them for gaming as well, but they also from what i've heard have little bass.

With the HD558 you listen to, was the black rubber tape removed from the cans?

 

[Grado77]

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[Bad Santa]

I'm a bit of a noob here so I'm not sure if I'd really wanna take apart a pair of new headphones to remove the tape, so I'll probably just go with the 598s.

 

[RudeWolf]

Why not HD25-II?

 

[Bad Santa]

Are they any good for gaming?

 

[sjondenon]

the 598 is great for alternative rock as well  as for gaming.