Gaming headsets

[JSN]

You might consider a Dragonfly if you want more volume and a higher sound quality listening from your smartphone:
https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-red

They're not cheap, though:
($199) AudioQuest - DragonFly Red USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier

thanks for the suggestion! That is pretty tempting. I will definitely keep my eye on those and similar devices to see if they price comes down. Right now I don’t think a bit louder/better audio would be worth $200 to me, but my ears aren’t getting any better with age.

 

[TheSauce]

How do our HeadFi enthusiasts think this desktop headphone amp on Massdrop stacks up against the competition? 300 ohms headphone, DAC is not wanted, and portability is not valued/required.

Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amp: Desktop Edition
$95

Spoiler: The competition

JDS Labs Atom
$100

Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli
$100

Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amp and Preamp
$120

I say go with the atom. Here are measurements that compare it to other amps at that price range and above https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ents-of-new-jds-labs-atom-headphone-amp.5262/

I would also invest in a $100 dac such as the topping d30 or modi 3. You gain more connectivity options like usb, optical, coax so you can use your headphones on multiple devices (pc, tv, ps4). It will also eliminate possibility of double amping from your desktop and other types of interference. My original set up was a magni 3 connected directly into my pc. I upgraded to magni 3 into smsl sanskrit and heard an improvement. Then magni 3 into topping d30 improved on that. Then replaced the magni 3 with the jds atom and everything came together. Lowering distortion to get the cleanest sound is all that matters, so buying based off measurements is the way to go. i compared my $200 amp/dac stack against more expensive options such as chord mojo, audeze deckard, and ifi black label and couldn't hear a difference.

 

[BorisSiomin]

I've been using their #3 for the past year or so. It's god tier. Great sound and never breaks.

Yeah, HyperX Alpha is impressive model

 

[Holic]

The reason I bought it was cause I kept going through logitechs and razers like water. Plastic frames just don't cut it, the shelf life on them is 1-2 years at best.

 

[erhnamdjinn]

I just got HyperX Cloud Alpha but I cant figure out how to get the mic to work

Nobody can hear me in the games, its plugged into the front input jack (computer recognized it when I plugged it in, it popped up and said I plugged a device in) but I cant figure out how to get it working

Can anybody help me figure out if its a computer issue or faulty product?

i had that issue in the start my cable was on mute, check the toggle switch there.

 

[Drain Bamage]

i had that issue in the start my cable was on mute, check the toggle switch there.

Already figured it out but thx broskie

Cable werent pushed in all the way

 

[erhnamdjinn]

Already figured it out but thx broskie

Cable werent pushed in all the way

I had trouble with it first I thought the cable itself wasnt pushed in well , or there was something in my settings lmao checked reddit, the people I was playing with hahaha

 

[Gregolian]

I like my A40s.

 

[jefferz]

I say go with the atom. Here are measurements that compare it to other amps at that price range and above https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ents-of-new-jds-labs-atom-headphone-amp.5262/

I would also invest in a $100 dac such as the topping d30 or modi 3. You gain more connectivity options like usb, optical, coax so you can use your headphones on multiple devices (pc, tv, ps4). It will also eliminate possibility of double amping from your desktop and other types of interference. My original set up was a magni 3 connected directly into my pc. I upgraded to magni 3 into smsl sanskrit and heard an improvement. Then magni 3 into topping d30 improved on that. Then replaced the magni 3 with the jds atom and everything came together. Lowering distortion to get the cleanest sound is all that matters, so buying based off measurements is the way to go. i compared my $200 amp/dac stack against more expensive options such as chord mojo, audeze deckard, and ifi black label and couldn't hear a difference.

What would your second choice for an amp be at the $100 and below price point? I looked at the Atom but it has too much plastic for my taste.
I ordered a Schiit Modi 2 USB DAC for $60 off of Amazon and I'm using a pair of Philips SHP9500's.

 

[Lone Coyote]

How do our HeadFi enthusiasts think this desktop headphone amp on Massdrop stacks up against the competition? 300 ohms headphone, DAC is not wanted, and portability is not valued/required.

Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amp: Desktop Edition
$95

Spoiler: The competition

JDS Labs Atom
$100

Monolith by Monoprice Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli
$100

Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amp and Preamp
$120

Dx3 pro for an all in one machine. Portability not required.

For amp only, get the atom

 

[TheSauce]

What would your second choice for an amp be at the $100 and below price point? I looked at the Atom but it has too much plastic for my taste.
I ordered a Schiit Modi 2 USB DAC for $60 off of Amazon and I'm using a pair of Philips SHP9500's.

The monolith liquid spark is a good choice. A used magni 3 would be under $100 but they can have scratchy volume pots which can be annoying. Your headphones are low impedance so you don't need power, just clean non-distorted sound.

 

[jefferz]

The monolith liquid spark is a good choice. A used magni 3 would be under $100 but they can have scratchy volume pots which can be annoying. Your headphones are low impedance so you don't need power, just clean non-distorted sound.

This is my first foray into higher end audio stuff so I apologize if I ask a noob question.
Would a Monolith Liquid Spark allow me to upgrade headphones later?
I’m a little bit confused on the type of pre outs as well on a headphone amp. I’m currently using a Sony STRDH130 receiver to power a set of Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers. I’d like to replace the receiver with a smaller form factor amp. If I go with the Liquid Spark, will the volume knob on the Spark control the volume on the amp fir the speakers? I’d like them to be able to be controlled separately.
Is Schiit the only Murican made stuff in this price range?

 

[TheSauce]

This is my first foray into higher end audio stuff so I apologize if I ask a noob question.
Would a Monolith Liquid Spark allow me to upgrade headphones later?
I’m a little bit confused on the type of pre outs as well on a headphone amp. I’m currently using a Sony STRDH130 receiver to power a set of Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers. I’d like to replace the receiver with a smaller form factor amp. If I go with the Liquid Spark, will the volume knob on the Spark control the volume on the amp fir the speakers? I’d like them to be able to be controlled separately.
Is Schiit the only Murican made stuff in this price range?

You can use the liquid spark with more expensive headphones. Some headphones need a lot of power like the hifiman he-6. Other headphones are easy to drive like my focal clears. They sound good with or without a amp.

The liquid spark has preamp outputs so you can use it for volume control

 

[jefferz]

You can use the liquid spark with more expensive headphones. Some headphones need a lot of power like the hifiman he-6. Other headphones are easy to drive like my focal clears. They sound good with or without a amp.

The liquid spark has preamp outputs so you can use it for volume control

I ended up buying some used stuff locally. I got an SMSL Sap 2 headphone amp and a Micca OriGain speaker amp for $100. I'm waiting on cables for the speaker amp.

 

[JoeyJoeJoeJr]

Had to return the Astro A40s.

First the mixamp pro would not work consistently, and eventually did not work at all. The cords were making the headphones emit some loud buzzing if they moved, and the sound quality was nowhere near the astro a50s even though I was told it was the same.

Overall they are not good at all

 

[GhostZ06]

https://www.pcgamer.com/best-gaming-headset/

2019 edition.

lol razer....

 

[jefferz]

lol razer....

Definitely not the best headset but it does offer the haptic feedback feature that no other product does.
One thing about Razer, their quality is usually sub par but they do tend to stay ahead of the curve in innovation.

 

[Drain Bamage]

I got the Cloud Alpha's. Love 'em.

 

[Madmick]

Absurd sale on the Sennheiser PC-373D-- dropped from $250 to $100:
Amazon: Sennheiser PC-373D

 

[TheSauce]

Audeze has a new gaming headset for $900 https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-collection/lcd-gx

I already own the lcd-2c but audeze haven't been known for their soundstage apart from the lcd-4 (costs $4000) and the mobius. I'm sure they will tweak these so they don't sound as closed in as the lcd2c and the x.