Dude I bought a set of Sades 810s they was awesome and you pay between 20 and 75 pounds £ sterling but then I tried the 926t Sades and I was hooked no one person sneaks me in CoD. You should do a sades head set test for poor people ha ha or erm (Best Buget headsets below 50 bucks
My Guy try the audeze Penrose or the Maxwell OR for a budget planar magnetic gamer headset buy the new pulse elite form Sony they bought audeze and made that pulse elite I bought the pulse elite to replace my penrose and dam it’s extremely good and a fair price at 150.
I use a $100 HyperX headset that works for both console and pc. Clear audio, mic doesn't pick up ambient noise like my AC, adjustable straps have metal bands for durability, no sweaty fake leather, nice comfortable fit. Only real downside is it's not 100% noise canceling.
I guarantee a 65£$ fiio jt1 will be.ow them clear away and a 300£$ fiio ft3 will destroy them 100x over and so will a epos h6pro openback and ALWAYS USE A DAC AMP
Listen, I have no affinity for Astros or anything, but some of the things you say is wild. The CLOTH makes your ears and head sweat? You mean MORE than standard leather eaecup covers? Cmon dude, that's literally just not how physics works. Most of the better headsets have one of a variety of types of cloth on the earcups to reduce the sweating people suffer from. Are they all getting it wrong? Also, with the mic pickup pattern plus the noise cancelling on the vast majority of higher end headsets, there is NO WAY you were getting mic pick up from the earcups. And finally, you talk a lot about being able to adjust things better through your pc software better than the mix the headsets give you, using a separate mic, etc etc, but the vast majority of ppl that use headsets as opposed to headphones or iem's are console players. So your literally missing the vast majority of the audience who would even consider these with this video. And let's not forget the issue of crosstalk when using a wired 4 pole 3.5mm audio jack. The reason wireless headsets like the steel series arctis nova 7 or astro apps, the hyper x cloud alpha wireless etc, are all so popular is because there is no cross talk issues which are nearly a universal problem when using wired headsets. Which also rules out the majority of iem's. And the bass production capabilities of iem's are inherently way lower than most headsets, given that they use 8-10mm drivers as opposed to 40-50mm drivers (generally). The soundstage, the bass response, the comfort level for most people is far outstripped by using a headset as opposed to iems. And I've bought and tried lots of them. I do generally like them, but as you point out yourself, when gaming, footsteps, gun shots, explosions etc all are in the bass range which iem's struggle to produce clearly when theres a lot of other things going on, or if they're far away. Now don't get me wrong, I do agree Astros and steel series are not worth the premium they charge either, but there's countless better value headsets out there as well. The processed audio is unfortunately a case of pick your poison when it comes to console gaming. The lesser of 2 evils. But the good thing is you can disable most of it and get 90+% clean unfiltered or boosted audio with the eq presets available - just turn it off. Me myself, I've had a half dozen equal or better headsets in the £50-100 range as well, but this kinda comes off as a review that is only seeing the picture from your use case scenario, instead of how a large part of gaming player base looks at it.
This is a conversation I have with people on a fairly regular basis. _So_ many people fall for marketing it's crazy, and most of the time they've convinced they got the best for their money. It's an uphill battle trying to teach them that they were basically ripped off. "But it sounds good to me." Well, you haven't actually experienced good audio yet, your only frame of reference is bad to mediocre, that you've paid a premium for.
@@ytCharismaI literally just bought these 10 minutes ago and should be arriving today. Switching from the Astro a10 which I have owned two sets for 4/5 years now. Recently started playing warzone and needed something clear. Will comment again if they are better than a10s
Of course IEMs are gonna be better sound. They are made for musicians. Problem with IEM headsets like these for console players is there isn’t a mic attached. So as good as an effort of a video this was… u just created another problem. And cheap stand up mic is gonna pick up too much background noise. So when you talk about better options… make sure you are inclusive of the whole gamer community and fully think thru ur advice
@@AbominationalFailure Oh wow. By all means, look up what an IEM is before you spout off about modmic. Especially when someone is talking about it needing to be console capable as well.
@@jtnachos16 In ear monitors. I prefer quality studio style headphones myself, they're more comfortable for me and not as damaging to ear drums, which a mod mic is perfectly suited for. You're right modmic is a bad option if his complaint about IEMs is having no mic for console gaming. I was almost asleep when I replied lol
there are cables that have boom mics for iems specifically with the intent of fixing that one issue you present. Feel free to look into the Kinera Celeste Ruyi, the Kinera Gramr, and the Antlion Kimura.
Just to note on headphone resistance numbers: higher impedance allows the driver to have a tighter response so its good to try to strike a balance between needing low enough power to run and having the sound you want. I use a set of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250ohm for PC gaming that sound absolutely amazing, but of course need an amp to really get the most out of them. For console I have a set of Sennheiser Game One's that are the predecessor to the Pc38x and have the same awesome mic, but they only cost $100 on Amazon.
@@thrax_843 I wasn’t a fan of a dedicated mic for awhile, but after giving it time and tinkering it’s grown on me. Currently using an Audio Technica AT2040 and Elgato’s low profile mic arm.
I’m a musician and been using IEMs & studio headsets since 2020. I noticed right away how much clearer audio was when I stopped using awful products like Astros. A pair of KZs on Amazon are a great option and very affordable!
@@PIRATE9oh4afaik any headphones with combined mic and audio in the same jack works in any series Xbox controller. My KZ work with my Xbox one no problem
@@metalchungus6241 is it just plug and play? I just trued them and cant hear others talk let alone me being able to reply. I looked throu setting and nothing seemed to help
@@Carpenter0102 damage your ears? Really? I never heard of anything such as that happening. To my knowledge the only way that'd happen is if volume is too high, using them for a super long time (ear fatigue), poor fit, poor hygiene. What else is there about them that hurts your ears?
You just confirmed everything I ever suspected in regards to headphone audio. I always buy the cheapest corded headset that has decent reviews. I think my current one cost around $30 and has a mute mic button and volume adjuster on the left ear muff and has a Mic that can be disconnected. I don't think you can get much better without spending almost five times as much.
I bought the Kiwi Orchestra Lite's off of Art's recommendation and I also had the DT 900 Pro X's delivered today. One game on them and I think I might prefer the DT 900's. Seems to be more clarity than the the Kiwi's but not sure. Might just have to change in between each game and see what I prefer.
@@lewijono These are the two choices I'm sitting in-between, care to specify which one you ended up preferring? I mostly play Counter-Strike so I would prefer the one that has the most clarity of the soundstage so I can hear footsteps and where they're coming from while shooting and nades going off at the same time
I own nova pros and have 0 issues. The lack of reviews on amazon on these that ur recommending just proves that u are just getting paid to do this wether you admit it or not lmao.
I've had a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros for about 5 years, use them for gaming and music listening, and they've never disappointed me, love them to death. Last year, I bought my first set of IEM's, the Linsoul Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lites, and boy, do they sound really good. I now use the 1990s for more single-player games to get that wide soundstage/immersive feeling and use the orchestra lites for stuff like competitive shooters. I run them both through a Fiio K5 Pro dac/amp and actually use the steelseries software to route all of my audio and customize the EQ. If you have any other suggestions on ways to improve my sound setup, fire away!
Great video and sums up my experience with expensive gaming headsets. They always seemed to just not be worth the money and was always overhyped. Subbed.
If I switch to IEM with an external mic will I be able to hear my own voice still? Im already loud when I game, the wife will hate me if im shouting because I cant regulate my voice properly
@@oakenmausget an audio interface with mic monitoring. I use a Universal Audio Volt 1, but Schiit makes some, Fiio, focusrite, and so on. Just make sure that whatever interface you purchase, that you download the drivers otherwise you’ll have crazy delay on your monitoring. I’m using a UA Volt1, Rode Pod mic with a cloudlifter, Sennheiser HD560s and it’s great.
Exactly! Those people are insane, they have to be paid for shilling IEMs, i got earbuds like any other guy, and they ARE NOT an alternative to headphones.
@UhKimboze I use them for everything, gaming, music, TV shows. They're terrible for identifying footsteps, when they were brand new I could tell they weren't good but I wasn't going to waste the money I spent.
@@Datakrashcollective basically it’s a mic you can attach to any headphones. So it has a magnet that attaches to your headphones and then you plug the cable straight into your computer. Friends say it sounds clear
Turtle Beach used to sell a wirekess headset with separate game and chat volume physical wheels on the same earpiece for $60. Sound quality was decent, but having separate wheels for game and chat volume was awesome.
Have the 38x and Nova’s and I mostly agree with you. Straight out the box without tuning the 38’s win and the mic is great. I have the Maxwells and love them. What are your thoughts on them?
@OutLanderUSN is that what that is!? I was wondering what it's purpose was. "Upgraded" from arctis pro wireless (due to mobile notifications disconnecting my pc) to the nova pro wireless and that nub was highly annoying and painful after a while. Now I miss my pro wireless and looking for something else to replace these novas as even with thicker ear pads, they are extremely uncomfortable. Looking at the maxwell now.
How do you review headsets, when you're deaf? I don't see using a spectrum analyzer. I'm sorry, but it does not make sense to damage your hearing, while listening to a loud volume. Your take on technology is good. Do agree, that XLR in- and output is the best for sound quality.
I tried everything. From some cheap $50 headphones to $2500 sennheiser hd800s. I have had Tritons, steelseries and Astros. I would say you’re wrong in your assessment. Astro a50x sounds just as good for what they do. As many head phones. But the convenience of having them be wireless, have a mic and tuned for gaming. Yes sennheiser, hifimans, beyerdynamics sound better for music. That’s why you buy headphones for music and gaming headsets for gaming.
This comment right here >>> Aint nothing manipulative when the category of these devices is literally “gaming headset” I kind of get where he’s coming from but he’s coming on too strong with the whole idea that the companies are out to trick customers into spending too much money headsets in general are too much money Anything under $100 is likely NEVER going to sound close to a $200+ device…and if it does??? Boy is that company under selling probably
@@Lurkai facts. The funny thing is. After him saying all of that, he recommends a, “Gaming,” headset. Which to me, sound alright. Not better than a50x. Now I know sound is selective. But no one is going to say some dollar tree headphones sound better than sennheisers. But keeping it honest, I love the convenience of being wireless. That’s why I gave up my schitt audio dac and amp and sold my dt990’s. I like to just get up and go use the bathroom in between warzone rounds with having to take the headphones off. I hate the feel of a wire and it makes my pc desk, look cluttered. I’ll pay for the convenience of that alone. Even if someone says they don’t sound the best.
@@TreSwayy well it’s understandable. But I pay for wireless. I enjoy these Astros. No head phones are leaps and bounds better than it. Yes there’s some the deliver a better sound. But at the cost of a wire. No thank you. I like the freedom to get up and go use the bathroom without touching my headset.
@@1youngkash there’s definitely headphones leaps and bounds better than the Astro. Maybe not wireless, but sound quality wise astros are shit in comparison to the upper echelon of headphones. If you play on a gaming monitor like most people, wires shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
I have been through a lot of "gaming headsets" over the years..I ended up settling on a set of AKG K612 Pro Open Reference headphones.. great positional audio and enough bass but not too "boomy".
After using DT 900 pro x and kiwi orchestra lite, I kept the OL. OL may sound flat and low bass, the clarity, sound stage and imaging in COD is next level. I can pin point where people are in Rebirth Island etc. because its low bass the footsteps are not as loud. Where as Dt900 pro x has more bass so foot steps much louder but to me it also sound crowded and more difficult to pinpoint enemies, however sound immersion is awesome. Thanks Art for the IEM recommendation.
I'm in the same boat as you. Had the Kiwi's for a couple weeks and just had the 900's arrive today. Footsteps defo better on the 900's but only had one game so far. Going to have to chop and change between games I think and see what I prefer. Kiwi's seem a bit washed out in comparison.
@@VTGALLDAY amazing. It is a tad clustered if you have loads of people in your building but not sure anything could isolate that better. I at least know someone is there so have my whits about me. Couple of times I'd definitely have reported me (if I were the other player) for what looks like blatant wall hacks, just good audio. The kiwi's for a me feel a bit washed out but only tried them in Rebirth which has garbage audio. They're brilliant in MP though but couldn't say any better than the DT900's. In that regard for me it's preference as to IEM of headphone.
I have a pair of bose qc35's that I've used since 2017. I use them for work as well as music and gaming. I get perfect game audio. Not to mention I can wear them for 12 hours easy without any discomfort. I can't recommend them enough
I have the MixAmp, but Ive paired them with Philips SHP9000. The Mix amp is the Bread and Butter of my set up. It has many options like connecting my phone to make calls and listening to music. NEVER use Astros on your Mixamp. That's an unwritten rule since the Xbox 360 days.
I thought the same until I learned that many professional/Audiophile headphones (and headsets) can have dead spots in the 360° field. They might be amazing for stereo music but fail when it comes to positional audio. Imaging and staging are the important factors when It comes to depth perception and localizing enemy footsteps.
I love my PC38X headset! I would recommend buying them direct from Drop as they regularly have them on sale. I picked mine up for only $139! I’d also highly recommend the PC37X headset! Only $120 but also regularly on sale under $100 direct through Drop which is a steal! I’ve gifted a pair of those to 2 of my best friends and converted them to higher quality audio for gaming! Also open back headphones just add so much to soundscape when gaming! 🙌🏼
I've used gaming headsets, wireless and wired, but as I've gotten older I've gotten tired of the heat and the headphone hair. Tried IEM's and they were okay, but having them in my ear canal wasn't the most comfortable. What worked for me and what I've been using for the past two years is the Koss KSC75X which are not only cheap at $20, but are the most comfortable headset I have ever used. The mic is only sufficient for meetings so I did pick up a cheap desk mic which has been good enough since discord has really good noise cancelling built into the software which is where I need the mic most of the time.
I think you're underselling the value of Wireless. Maybe it's not useful for YOU, but I use it multiple times on a daily basis. Most often, I will put on a podcast or random UA-cam video, and continue listening to it while I go downstairs and cook food in the kitchen, or doing my laundry, or even quickly using the bathroom. My wife is also a therapist who often works from home doing virtual sessions on the computer. The noise cancelling headset ensures I can walk around freely and don't have to worry about inadvertently listening in on her sessions. The audio quality probably isn't the best, but never once have I been playing a game or watching a movie and said to myself "Wow this audio is so distractingly bad!" Seems like your being especially nitpicky when the average user of these products is going to be playing a console, without a mic stand or GoXLR.
@@theeginga525 are these recommendations bad? what would you recommend? (i currently have hyperx cloud alpha s but i might need to get new headphones someday)
Steel Series are actually really good. But....never ever pay full price. You always find them on 50%+ discount somewhere online. Got mine for $54 after tax. They were supposed to be $150!
brother.. the hyperx clouds are really good for the price. Theres a reason this guy didnt show them in the video - theres not much to complain about i have the hyperx cloud alphas for 4 years and now that they detoriated, im looking for an upgrade, but they are definitely really good still
I think many of us gamers are gaming from the livingroom couch or gamer chair but no desk. Which makes it difficult and uncomfortable to use a seperate mic right?
Hey @ArtIsWar, do you have any tips/advice you can give for console gamers? Specifically for Xbox, my Dad plays on one and always complains about sound in warzone. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Amazing enlightening video! First time watching your video. I had no idea that my Steel Series were just a gimmick in shocked and disappointed in those companies. I subscribed ASAP. I have a PS5 could you make a video with a step by step in which ones you recommend for Consoles specifically and how to set it up please. I'm a newbie in this audio world.
@@Mr_Ruhl He's def trying to sell those $18 ear buds because they are affiliate links. He gets a cut of it and people are more likely to take the chance on $20 (tax and all) vs $300 headphones after he said they sounded better than ALL the headsets.
@@JustAGuy85was curious on what the $20 IEMs were and to my surprise it's the mf Moondrop Chu 2 which a lot of audiophiles can agree is one of the best value IEMs for $20
Yes, any gaming company the sells audio and keyboards are literally all gimmicks and a waste of money which is why you hear a lot of people say if it has "gaming" on it, it's most likely shit. A lot of Chinese brands small and large, provide better value for peripherals for gaming lmao
After 3 years of not wearing overhead headsets and only in ear headphones, my head dent starts slowly to disappear. It's not only about the brand. Everyone's hearing isn't the same, and each ear responds differently to each frequency. What sounds good for one can sound bad for another. It takes some time to find the right headsets for you.
I’ve bought hyper x headsets simply for comfort feel, I can wear them for hours without noticing them. I stopped here to learn about quality comparisons, haven’t delved down this rabbit hole yet, what are your thoughts on the audeeze gaming headset? Is it marketing fluff, or are planar drivers worth the cost?
Art i need that IEM video like warzone needs a good anticheat! Im holding off on buying some...when you do it could you also recommend some we can find in the UK as some of those on amazon aren't available here. keep up the great work ❤
KZ ZX 10 PRO are better than my jbl quantum 800 and steel series cans that cost way more. They are very very loud i honestly think they can blow my eardrums. I use them at 16-18% in warzone
Yeah for me it is a must that the headset is wireless and have support for Bluetooth. I do more than just sit in front of the computer with my headset. I listen to music from the PC while I do cooking, cleaning and other stuff that is not sitting in front of the computer. I have a Steelseries Arctis Pro. They are amazing. I will eventually buy the Nova Pro as well. They look nice and will not stick out when I commute to work. All these extra feature is the reason I went for Steelseries and not other brands. I am a musician as well but for that I have a pair of wired studio headphones. One doesn't exclude the other. I have both the Steelseries DAC and my Studio DAC connected to my computer.
I'm very intrigued with IEM's as well. Would love to see options for mics and being able to adjust game volume and chat volume easily on the fly when using IEM's.
Pc38x user here. I've been using mine for over 5 years and I love them. Best built in mic I've ever used and the audio is super clear (especially coming from razer headphones). Only problem was that the mic switch died around the 4 year mark and about 6 months ago I started hearing a strange pop at one frequency
I have been using the HyperX Cloud 2 for about two years and have loved the comfort of it. It may not sound the same or best as others, I really enjoy it and recommend it.
Completely disagree. I've gone through over a dozen pairs of $150+ headphones. Everything felt same-y (or worse) but the Astro A50s blew me away. Extremely noticeable difference immediately. I will never go back.
Definitely looking into some IEMs but how does everyone do it when it comes to chatting? Do you all just play solo everyday and not say a single word or?
This is an audio file!! They think everything they push on UA-cam is better...bc they are getting paid to push these products!! My a40s have worked great for years, and no problems at all. We are talking about hearing footsteps and wind, not little ticks in a song no one can hear. Let me just say buy what you want bc at the end of the day, every UA-camr will push whatever brand pays them.
Audiophile* and Astros are trash. I'm not paid by Sennheiser and I guarantee you if you listened to my 6XX headphones you wouldn't have the opinion you have. I've owned Astro a40s and I thought they were good until I heard some actual good headphones.
No man, he's not lying. Astros are perfectly fine if you just don't give a shit about sand that badly, but even still your over paying for everything he states in the video. The packaging and marketing verbs are what your buying. That's not to say they are garbage on their own, just in comparison to higher quality products. If you love your Astros then that's awesome man, keep using them. The fact that there are objectively better sets out there doesn't diminish your enjoyment of what you have and it's not as though he's calling you stupid for enjoying them either. I've owned so many gaming branded sets over the years and I'm only recently seeing it for what it is. Just like gaming chairs. They are marketed to gamers even though they are inferior to ergonomic chairs but they look cool like a racing seat from a sports car.
@@Jack-oc2fc NO. I do not buy studio headphones for gaming. its not needed. and how does this make me ignorant? i have a preference. i have astros and beyer dynamic headphones. i use astros to game. and beyers for music or creating videos. they are not any better for gaming. espeicailly if on console. there is no eq while gaming on console. so no need for studio headphones. cry more karen. idgaf. you soft.
I think with the moon drop being such a good budget option you should recommend a budget mic as well to go with it, the wave 3 being $150 was not what I expected to pair with $18 IEM’s
I don't know how to check for an answer to a question. I have been buying gaming headsets that have 7.1 channel sound support, which I use when watching movies with surround sound when not gaming. I am assuming that they are using only two drivers with the 7.1 channels virtualized in software (some faking of binaural sound phasing?). Am I correct, or are there more drivers in these headsets that I don't see listed on the box?
The Nova Pro's aren't anywhere near as bad as he's making them out to be. I get the feeling that he went into this with a massive bias built up and didn't really give either the A40's or the Nova Pro's a real chance.
I switched to the Orchestra Lite IEMs after using Astro A40 with Command Center for years, and no amount of software settings compares to the improvement in audio quality I've experienced over the last few months.
As a musician I use IEMs all the time. But it wasn’t until recently that I was playing a game and didn’t want to wear my astros “they can be uncomfortable after a while to me” I decided to plug in my IEMs. Holy cow. IEMs will give you a better sound than ANY headset I’ve worn. Also great for listening to music. The KZ ZS10 IEMs will blow you away for 40$. They beat out any Bluetooth earbuds, gaming headphones, or music headphones I’ve ever used.
I very much dislike the fact that You picked Wireless headsets to compare to a bunch of corded headsets. The fact that Digital sound Compression over Bluetooth or the HF kills the audio Characteristics of all spatial sound makes them a fail compared to everything you are trying to sell to people. You need to explain this to people so they understand better what is the real problem in those systems. I have EPOS H3 Pro Hybrid They can run Bluetooth, High Freak Dongle , USB cable, or 3.5mm Jack with an analog Signal. Plus, they are a partnership with Sennheiser a true Audiophile company.
The a40s aren't wireless. Even still, your correct about wireless to a degree. In so much as any wired connection is superior to a wireless one, but that doesn't compensate for a poor headset, or I guess a better way of saying is that it's no excuse. The Maxwell's are wireless but blow every main stream "gaming" headset out of the water. Razer, Logitech, steel series, turtle Beach, etc all of their headsets, wired OR wireless don't hold a candle to the Maxwell's that are wireless. So yes, wireless is a conscience that has to make a sacrifice but that does not make up for a poorly designed set being bad. Wireless can still sound excellent if the entirety of the set is designed well. If that makes sense.
As someone with a big head (For helmets I need a 2xl), most headsets don't fit me. I used to literally break headsets all the time because of my big head. It's annoying lmao the only ones I haven't had this problem with have been the Sennheiser GAME ONE and GSP 600s.
When I built my rig about 10 years ago (have upgraded since) I got a set of Razer Krakens which I liked but were unfortunately did not last very long and just got a mike and used cheap iem's then I started watching Drop for some nice but not crazy expensive and got a pair of Meze Noir 99's (think they were about $200 the regular ones are 300ish on the Meze site) which also came with both cables and before that I upgraded my mike but it is not a crazy expensive one either think it was around 20 bucks. Highly recommend getting a desk mic and if you really want better sound for music as well then splurge on the headphones, do some research find ones that meet your requirements. Good info, nice vid.
I use Fostex T50RP Mk 3 (bought for $160) and an Antlion Modmic 5 (bought for $70) connected to an Astro MixAmp 5.8 (bought for $80). The MixAmp is hands down the best product Astro ever made letting you use any headset or headphones and mic combination you want wirelessly. It works with every console I've ever used with optical out and USB in, or with the Xbox controller cable, and the Aux to USB cable let's me use it with Windows, as well.
Thanks for your knowledge mate, quick question - I enjoy my steelseries arctis 7 a lot in comfortability, however I noticed it only has 16bit audio while using wirelessly, should I go ahead ant switch to something wired and get 24bit quality? Is 16bit and 24bit noticable change for playing COD? Thanks!
Have the PC38x for a couple of years already and yeah there great for gaming and everything else! Very comfortable to wear. And they are open ear so you can still hear your surroundings when someone talks to you.
Still have my Arctis 7 back from 2019, got it from amazon as refurbished just for $89, still works without issues to this day. Got tired of the black so I just bought white replacement parts and was able to change the color and straps and the outer shell for less than $40, now it looks brand new. One thing i've learned is it's better to buy refurbished and just replace the cups/mic's, makes it more personalized as well as give it a higher quality without breaking the bank :bd
Yes but wires I dont like having to use wires or buy separate stuff. For $200 I can get a headset with a mic and its wireless ,plus most wireless headsets can be used while charging even if I am wired for the moment if I just monitor the battery I can just charge it when Im not using it.
When I needed a new set a year or so ago I picked up beyerdynamic MMX300. First time I used them I thought something was wrong, but it turned out I was hearing sounds from my game I hadn’t noticed before. I also recommend upgrading desktop speakers to non-gaming speakers as well.
I’ve been with Razer headsets for years. I’m a Xbox and pc gamer and sometimes the Bluetooth can be iffy but the sound quality is still there just connectivity. And replacement parts are hard to buy from Razer.
My Astro A40s and A50s are incredible. I have had them for a very long time and they were life changing. I use the mix amps with the optical cable and Astro’s built in surround sound feature and it sounds absolutely perfect on every level both for gaming and watching shows and movies all on my consoles. They’re also extremely comfortable so I’ve never once been felt bothered or fatigued at all between my ears or head even after playing all day.
I love using in ear monitors. Mine wrap around my ear so even if they come out they still don’t and they don’t mess up my hair or give me a headache like the band of a headset does.
Soundstage is actually the depth of sound. Whether the sound is closer or farther away. Imaging is actually where the sound is coming from... such as left, right, up, down.. Just saying.
The A40s definitely sound best when you have the amp in tournament mode (the star on the mixamp) and when you take the backplate off of the earcuffs, so you have open-back. I also bought a set of faux leather ear cuffs for them, and that provided a much better audio seal than the standard cloth ones.
@@divacroft1034 When did I say that the amp made it sound better? I just said it sounded better in tournament mode compared to the Dolby spatial audio mode.
@@divacroft1034 So do you just make your living off of misreading comments on youtube or what? Once again, I didn’t say that the Astro amp makes anything sound better. I’m simply saying one setting on said amp sounds better than the other one.
I have a 560S, 6XX, and trying the 900 Pro X now. (Previously owned X2s, PC38X, and some other trashier stuff I can't remember). The 900 Pro X is good, but I don't like them being semi open I prefer open but them being semi open makes sense how they got the bass to be as good as it is. I find them slightly fatiguing to listen to especially compared to the 6XX. I think if the 900 Pro X was my first entry into HiFi audio I'd be very happy with them, but 6XX/560S are a perfect pair for me. I can't even begin to explain how much I love the 6XX for music.
@ArtIsWar I use FOCAL elex for my gaming headset, imaging is obscene i can tell when someone is over or below me. The source is an SMSL M300SE Second choice is Beyerdynamic DT880 250 or 600 ohm this will save money over the astros even with buying a source. And ohms doesnt really mean what you said. If you get high ohm + sensitivity you can power off a phone, the dt880 600ohm can be powered by almost anything. What the ohms is is a shorthand for how much the driver weighs higher ohm is thinner wire which is a lighter driver meaning faster drivers.
I got an arctis7 and its my favourite headset. Wireless is a must for me. Can't be tethered to the desk. Get drink while in the queue, do stuff around the house while on team calls WFH, its BiS. The hot swappable battery is also a life saver. I'd buy any non gamer headset if it had wireless/mic/hot swappable batteries. Im not tied to any brand.
The IEM roundup is LIVE
ua-cam.com/video/FQH_QOrPZOM/v-deo.html
do you prefer earphones than headphones for Warzone??? thanks
Dude I bought a set of Sades 810s they was awesome and you pay between 20 and 75 pounds £ sterling but then I tried the 926t Sades and I was hooked no one person sneaks me in CoD. You should do a sades head set test for poor people ha ha or erm (Best Buget headsets below 50 bucks
How do the senheizer compare to the hyper x cloud alpha s?
Albino I luv ur shirt 🤎
My
Guy try the audeze Penrose or the Maxwell OR for a budget planar magnetic gamer headset buy the new pulse elite form Sony they bought audeze and made that pulse elite I bought the pulse elite to replace my penrose and dam it’s extremely good and a fair price at 150.
All I know is I had my Astro a40s for 10 yrs and they still work fine lol
Same here and I bought a brand new one so I can use and give to my gf aaaaaand it’s gone…..her mum and sister sold it for drugs….
Mine Astro's died after a couple of years. Ever since I've been using studio headphones and a proper mic and the quality difference is quite huge.
Same here bro, I own 3 pair of them and love the brand.
Same here bro! Astros are still easily one of the best headsets for COD.
Exactly
I use a $100 HyperX headset that works for both console and pc. Clear audio, mic doesn't pick up ambient noise like my AC, adjustable straps have metal bands for durability, no sweaty fake leather, nice comfortable fit. Only real downside is it's not 100% noise canceling.
I guarantee a 65£$ fiio jt1 will be.ow them clear away and a 300£$ fiio ft3 will destroy them 100x over and so will a epos h6pro openback and ALWAYS USE A DAC AMP
@@audie-cashstack-uk4881mf I don't even know half of what you said 😂
@@audie-cashstack-uk4881elaborate on AMP. Why is it necessary?
Cloud?
Still its best in its category and best value for money headset bro.
David Vonderhaar went from COD to sampling & testing best headsets. I can dig it.
lmfao 😭
@@archikaronerock8580 😅
Listen, I have no affinity for Astros or anything, but some of the things you say is wild. The CLOTH makes your ears and head sweat? You mean MORE than standard leather eaecup covers? Cmon dude, that's literally just not how physics works. Most of the better headsets have one of a variety of types of cloth on the earcups to reduce the sweating people suffer from. Are they all getting it wrong? Also, with the mic pickup pattern plus the noise cancelling on the vast majority of higher end headsets, there is NO WAY you were getting mic pick up from the earcups.
And finally, you talk a lot about being able to adjust things better through your pc software better than the mix the headsets give you, using a separate mic, etc etc, but the vast majority of ppl that use headsets as opposed to headphones or iem's are console players. So your literally missing the vast majority of the audience who would even consider these with this video. And let's not forget the issue of crosstalk when using a wired 4 pole 3.5mm audio jack. The reason wireless headsets like the steel series arctis nova 7 or astro apps, the hyper x cloud alpha wireless etc, are all so popular is because there is no cross talk issues which are nearly a universal problem when using wired headsets. Which also rules out the majority of iem's. And the bass production capabilities of iem's are inherently way lower than most headsets, given that they use 8-10mm drivers as opposed to 40-50mm drivers (generally). The soundstage, the bass response, the comfort level for most people is far outstripped by using a headset as opposed to iems. And I've bought and tried lots of them. I do generally like them, but as you point out yourself, when gaming, footsteps, gun shots, explosions etc all are in the bass range which iem's struggle to produce clearly when theres a lot of other things going on, or if they're far away. Now don't get me wrong, I do agree Astros and steel series are not worth the premium they charge either, but there's countless better value headsets out there as well. The processed audio is unfortunately a case of pick your poison when it comes to console gaming. The lesser of 2 evils. But the good thing is you can disable most of it and get 90+% clean unfiltered or boosted audio with the eq presets available - just turn it off. Me myself, I've had a half dozen equal or better headsets in the £50-100 range as well, but this kinda comes off as a review that is only seeing the picture from your use case scenario, instead of how a large part of gaming player base looks at it.
Care to recommend a few? =)
@bardockecool For real. Dude sounds like they know what they're talking about.
@@GageTheCannon umm he isnt wrong. this dude who made the video just spewed a bunch of senseless nonsense
@@BossAJS? They just want recommendations 😂 you gon help em or just say pointless stuff?
@@taeBandz209 did you not listen? Bahahahahahaha he literally complains about astros. Not sure what you are even trying to cry about
IEMs are too uncomfortable for me, can't wear them for more than an hour before my ears hurt.
Need stronger head game…
@@horndoggie2992 love me some strong head
@@horndoggie2992 no diddy ?
Need smaller tips
Me to bro ignore ignorance in comments
This is a conversation I have with people on a fairly regular basis. _So_ many people fall for marketing it's crazy, and most of the time they've convinced they got the best for their money. It's an uphill battle trying to teach them that they were basically ripped off. "But it sounds good to me." Well, you haven't actually experienced good audio yet, your only frame of reference is bad to mediocre, that you've paid a premium for.
Looking forward to the IEM suggestion video. I’ve been ready to switch over & could use some knowledge of the landscape
I bought ks pro x on Amazon for 55, and their way better than my turtle beach stealth 700, can hear footsteps clear as day.
@@ytCharismaI literally just bought these 10 minutes ago and should be arriving today. Switching from the Astro a10 which I have owned two sets for 4/5 years now. Recently started playing warzone and needed something clear. Will comment again if they are better than a10s
I have 7hz salnotes zero they cost around 15-20$ and they sound good... better than razer kraken...
@@iamwatchingthisvid.7682 yeah iems definitely the way to go for gaming
What does the mic set up look like tho?
Of course IEMs are gonna be better sound. They are made for musicians. Problem with IEM headsets like these for console players is there isn’t a mic attached. So as good as an effort of a video this was… u just created another problem. And cheap stand up mic is gonna pick up too much background noise. So when you talk about better options… make sure you are inclusive of the whole gamer community and fully think thru ur advice
Mod mic, problem solved.
There's several iem's with built in mics on the wires
@@AbominationalFailure Oh wow. By all means, look up what an IEM is before you spout off about modmic. Especially when someone is talking about it needing to be console capable as well.
@@jtnachos16 In ear monitors. I prefer quality studio style headphones myself, they're more comfortable for me and not as damaging to ear drums, which a mod mic is perfectly suited for.
You're right modmic is a bad option if his complaint about IEMs is having no mic for console gaming. I was almost asleep when I replied lol
there are cables that have boom mics for iems specifically with the intent of fixing that one issue you present. Feel free to look into the Kinera Celeste Ruyi, the Kinera Gramr, and the Antlion Kimura.
Just to note on headphone resistance numbers: higher impedance allows the driver to have a tighter response so its good to try to strike a balance between needing low enough power to run and having the sound you want. I use a set of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250ohm for PC gaming that sound absolutely amazing, but of course need an amp to really get the most out of them. For console I have a set of Sennheiser Game One's that are the predecessor to the Pc38x and have the same awesome mic, but they only cost $100 on Amazon.
Def been thinking of buying the beyerdynamic but I don’t want a mic on my desktop so I’m still looking but I really want that brand and model
@@thrax_843 I wasn’t a fan of a dedicated mic for awhile, but after giving it time and tinkering it’s grown on me. Currently using an Audio Technica AT2040 and Elgato’s low profile mic arm.
Ive had A20s for 2 years and can still hear a frog fart across the map
Imagine being able to hear an ant fart from across the map.
I’m a musician and been using IEMs & studio headsets since 2020. I noticed right away how much clearer audio was when I stopped using awful products like Astros. A pair of KZs on Amazon are a great option and very affordable!
I refuse to use a gaming headset they damage your ears massively
@@PIRATE9oh4afaik any headphones with combined mic and audio in the same jack works in any series Xbox controller. My KZ work with my Xbox one no problem
@@metalchungus6241 is it just plug and play? I just trued them and cant hear others talk let alone me being able to reply. I looked throu setting and nothing seemed to help
My 50 quid steel series do the job, don't notice any difference from the a40. I still use the mix amp since I can't plug headset into controller
@@Carpenter0102 damage your ears? Really? I never heard of anything such as that happening. To my knowledge the only way that'd happen is if volume is too high, using them for a super long time (ear fatigue), poor fit, poor hygiene. What else is there about them that hurts your ears?
You just confirmed everything I ever suspected in regards to headphone audio. I always buy the cheapest corded headset that has decent reviews. I think my current one cost around $30 and has a mute mic button and volume adjuster on the left ear muff and has a Mic that can be disconnected. I don't think you can get much better without spending almost five times as much.
Ever since I bought set of iems I've never looked back. I'm looking forward to the next video in search for an upgrade! GGs bro
IEMs are great.
I bought the Kiwi Orchestra Lite's off of Art's recommendation and I also had the DT 900 Pro X's delivered today. One game on them and I think I might prefer the DT 900's. Seems to be more clarity than the the Kiwi's but not sure. Might just have to change in between each game and see what I prefer.
Same, I went from Hexa to Performer 5. And now currently rocking Xenns Mangird Top. Hair on the neck tingling sound quality
I'm looking to buy KZ's D-Fi which I'll be using for audiophile listening, music production and casual gaming on my phone
@@lewijono These are the two choices I'm sitting in-between, care to specify which one you ended up preferring? I mostly play Counter-Strike so I would prefer the one that has the most clarity of the soundstage so I can hear footsteps and where they're coming from while shooting and nades going off at the same time
I own nova pros and have 0 issues. The lack of reviews on amazon on these that ur recommending just proves that u are just getting paid to do this wether you admit it or not lmao.
I've had a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros for about 5 years, use them for gaming and music listening, and they've never disappointed me, love them to death. Last year, I bought my first set of IEM's, the Linsoul Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lites, and boy, do they sound really good. I now use the 1990s for more single-player games to get that wide soundstage/immersive feeling and use the orchestra lites for stuff like competitive shooters. I run them both through a Fiio K5 Pro dac/amp and actually use the steelseries software to route all of my audio and customize the EQ. If you have any other suggestions on ways to improve my sound setup, fire away!
You sir, know your stuff. Beyerdamics and fiio, a combination of pure bliss ❤
old post but are you on PC? I've been trying to figure out how to get anything more than stereo on my Beryerdynamic 770s ;-;
So what do you recommend for someone playing on ps5 bear in mind we will need a mic also
Sennheiser pc38x
You may laugh but I love my ps4 Gold headset
sell your playstation and get a pc
The play station buds are really good
Great video and sums up my experience with expensive gaming headsets. They always seemed to just not be worth the money and was always overhyped. Subbed.
So basically he is trying to sell something he is sponsored by 😂
If I switch to IEM with an external mic will I be able to hear my own voice still? Im already loud when I game, the wife will hate me if im shouting because I cant regulate my voice properly
This is 100% my problem. I really need a solution with excellent mic monitoring/sidetone.
@@oakenmausget an audio interface with mic monitoring. I use a Universal Audio Volt 1, but Schiit makes some, Fiio, focusrite, and so on.
Just make sure that whatever interface you purchase, that you download the drivers otherwise you’ll have crazy delay on your monitoring. I’m using a UA Volt1, Rode Pod mic with a cloudlifter, Sennheiser HD560s and it’s great.
been an audiophile and gamer for 13 years, thank you for putting information like this out to masses
Uh oh 13 years we got a real veteran out here.
@@ahoyforsenchou7288 who even are you Karen, your pfp says it all, silly goose… love one another
@@SmileEmptySoul793 Simp harder.
IMAGINE IEM'S INSIDE OF YOUR EARS IN A 5, 6 HOURS GAMING SESSION.. OUCH.. THOSE THINGS HURTS AFTER 20 MINUTES!
Exactly!
Those people are insane, they have to be paid for shilling IEMs, i got earbuds like any other guy, and they ARE NOT an alternative to headphones.
how you feel about Audeze Maxwells?
They are awesome!
love mine. Ive got a pair for home and work.
They are great. Just dont treat them like other headsets. Be gentle.
Maxwell is amazing all around
I have the A40 TR with mix Amp had it for the last 6 years, still going strong GGs!
I've had it for 4 or 5 years now, they're going strong but it doesn't change the fact that they suck.
@@Khaldroh What's bad about em? What do you use them for? I find mine pretty good for identifying footstep sounds.
@UhKimboze I use them for everything, gaming, music, TV shows. They're terrible for identifying footsteps, when they were brand new I could tell they weren't good but I wasn't going to waste the money I spent.
@@Khaldroh I 2nd this, I could never hear footsteps in CSGO with the A40 TR but can perfectly fine with the PC38x lol
Out of the box I think the Astros sound isn't the greatest but they responded very well to EQ. I recommend Omnivox from That Guy Zalias
Would also recommend Sennheiser HD560S if you dont need a attached mic, great sounding open back headset.
Had a pc38x and upgraded to these. Pc38x are still very good but these are definitely better. Just need a mod mic
+1 on the Sennheiser open backs, just get a modmic and you are good to go. Way better and more comfortable than any gaming sets out there.
What’s a mod mic?
@@Datakrashcollective basically it’s a mic you can attach to any headphones. So it has a magnet that attaches to your headphones and then you plug the cable straight into your computer. Friends say it sounds clear
@@millionaaar23 thx bro
Turtle Beach used to sell a wirekess headset with separate game and chat volume physical wheels on the same earpiece for $60. Sound quality was decent, but having separate wheels for game and chat volume was awesome.
Have the 38x and Nova’s and I mostly agree with you. Straight out the box without tuning the 38’s win and the mic is great. I have the Maxwells and love them. What are your thoughts on them?
Love my maxwells aswell
Maxwells
38x
H6pro
Audio technica ATH-AG1X
All fantastic
Can't speak on the 38x, but apart from the ANC nub digging into my ears I didn't have any issue with the Nova's. The Maxwells are fantastic.
@OutLanderUSN is that what that is!? I was wondering what it's purpose was. "Upgraded" from arctis pro wireless (due to mobile notifications disconnecting my pc) to the nova pro wireless and that nub was highly annoying and painful after a while. Now I miss my pro wireless and looking for something else to replace these novas as even with thicker ear pads, they are extremely uncomfortable. Looking at the maxwell now.
How do you review headsets, when you're deaf? I don't see using a spectrum analyzer. I'm sorry, but it does not make sense to damage your hearing, while listening to a loud volume. Your take on technology is good. Do agree, that XLR in- and output is the best for sound quality.
Spectrum analysis mean nothing to subjective human hearing. There are channels that do that, go watch them.
I barely can understand your word soup.
thank you i will deff go with one of ur suggeted headsets since i am looking for a new one. great video
same. never buying razer again everything breaks.
Are you sponsered by moondrop or something? I just got the moondrop chu 2's today and they are far worse than my $40 3 year old headphones lmao
Were you using a proper DAC?
Define worse? Too much base? Or too low base?
@@RAXITH_playz Too little bass I suspect
harmonicdyne Zeus elite are a top tier headphone for gaming
I got the blackshark v2x like 2 years ago for maybe $50. Affordable and solid quality. I love listening to music on them.
I tried everything. From some cheap $50 headphones to $2500 sennheiser hd800s. I have had Tritons, steelseries and Astros. I would say you’re wrong in your assessment. Astro a50x sounds just as good for what they do. As many head phones. But the convenience of having them be wireless, have a mic and tuned for gaming. Yes sennheiser, hifimans, beyerdynamics sound better for music. That’s why you buy headphones for music and gaming headsets for gaming.
This comment right here >>>
Aint nothing manipulative when the category of these devices is literally “gaming headset”
I kind of get where he’s coming from but he’s coming on too strong with the whole idea that the companies are out to trick customers into spending too much money
headsets in general are too much money
Anything under $100 is likely NEVER going to sound close to a $200+ device…and if it does??? Boy is that company under selling probably
@@Lurkai facts. The funny thing is. After him saying all of that, he recommends a, “Gaming,” headset. Which to me, sound alright. Not better than a50x. Now I know sound is selective. But no one is going to say some dollar tree headphones sound better than sennheisers. But keeping it honest, I love the convenience of being wireless. That’s why I gave up my schitt audio dac and amp and sold my dt990’s. I like to just get up and go use the bathroom in between warzone rounds with having to take the headphones off. I hate the feel of a wire and it makes my pc desk, look cluttered. I’ll pay for the convenience of that alone. Even if someone says they don’t sound the best.
I had the a50s for a long time during the ps3 and ps4 gen. When I switched to 900 pro x or 560s, I never went back.
@@TreSwayy well it’s understandable. But I pay for wireless. I enjoy these Astros. No head phones are leaps and bounds better than it. Yes there’s some the deliver a better sound. But at the cost of a wire. No thank you. I like the freedom to get up and go use the bathroom without touching my headset.
@@1youngkash there’s definitely headphones leaps and bounds better than the Astro. Maybe not wireless, but sound quality wise astros are shit in comparison to the upper echelon of headphones. If you play on a gaming monitor like most people, wires shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
I have been through a lot of "gaming headsets" over the years..I ended up settling on a set of AKG K612 Pro Open Reference headphones.. great positional audio and enough bass but not too "boomy".
After using DT 900 pro x and kiwi orchestra lite, I kept the OL. OL may sound flat and low bass, the clarity, sound stage and imaging in COD is next level. I can pin point where people are in Rebirth Island etc. because its low bass the footsteps are not as loud. Where as Dt900 pro x has more bass so foot steps much louder but to me it also sound crowded and more difficult to pinpoint enemies, however sound immersion is awesome. Thanks Art for the IEM recommendation.
I'm in the same boat as you. Had the Kiwi's for a couple weeks and just had the 900's arrive today. Footsteps defo better on the 900's but only had one game so far. Going to have to chop and change between games I think and see what I prefer. Kiwi's seem a bit washed out in comparison.
@@lewijonoHow are the 900 pro X’s for footsteps in WZ?
@@VTGALLDAY amazing. It is a tad clustered if you have loads of people in your building but not sure anything could isolate that better. I at least know someone is there so have my whits about me. Couple of times I'd definitely have reported me (if I were the other player) for what looks like blatant wall hacks, just good audio.
The kiwi's for a me feel a bit washed out but only tried them in Rebirth which has garbage audio. They're brilliant in MP though but couldn't say any better than the DT900's. In that regard for me it's preference as to IEM of headphone.
@@lewijono Do you have the Artiswar EQ on it? Or just the out-the-box stock EQ on it?
@@VTGALLDAY I have Art's EQ on.
I have a pair of bose qc35's that I've used since 2017. I use them for work as well as music and gaming. I get perfect game audio. Not to mention I can wear them for 12 hours easy without any discomfort. I can't recommend them enough
Just take the Audeze Maxwell. Superior Sound and no cables.
gives me a headache unfortunatly with how heavy they are
Use mine for everything, gaming, music, movies, and they make my steelseries seem like an antique.
And the most horrific sidetone ever.
Tried a pair and some $50 IEM's from amazon sound way more clear, Audeze has better bass but its so congested sounding.
How is the latency though?
I have the MixAmp, but Ive paired them with Philips SHP9000.
The Mix amp is the Bread and Butter of my set up. It has many options like connecting my phone to make calls and listening to music. NEVER use Astros on your Mixamp. That's an unwritten rule since the Xbox 360 days.
beyerdynamics is amazing
I own the 900 pro x and couldn't agree more. So damn comfortable. Great sound too.
Fully agree ☝️
the 700 Pro X are really good too!
I've had a pair of DT990 Pro's for easily 5 years. Honestly, they're as good as the day i got them.
They are professional headphones made for music production that’s why
Amazing advice!! I have been using the PC38x for about 2 years now and they are way better than any gaming headset I used before!
I thought the same until I learned that many professional/Audiophile headphones (and headsets) can have dead spots in the 360° field. They might be amazing for stereo music but fail when it comes to positional audio. Imaging and staging are the important factors when It comes to depth perception and localizing enemy footsteps.
I love my PC38X headset! I would recommend buying them direct from Drop as they regularly have them on sale. I picked mine up for only $139! I’d also highly recommend the PC37X headset! Only $120 but also regularly on sale under $100 direct through Drop which is a steal! I’ve gifted a pair of those to 2 of my best friends and converted them to higher quality audio for gaming! Also open back headphones just add so much to soundscape when gaming! 🙌🏼
totally overhyped headset not worth it
Such a timely video for me trying to decide on a new headset, thank you sir!
I've used gaming headsets, wireless and wired, but as I've gotten older I've gotten tired of the heat and the headphone hair. Tried IEM's and they were okay, but having them in my ear canal wasn't the most comfortable. What worked for me and what I've been using for the past two years is the Koss KSC75X which are not only cheap at $20, but are the most comfortable headset I have ever used. The mic is only sufficient for meetings so I did pick up a cheap desk mic which has been good enough since discord has really good noise cancelling built into the software which is where I need the mic most of the time.
Just bought the Moondrops, Ill let you know when they get here and what I think. Thanks for the tips!
How are these now?
@@abdullah_nasirr I can confirm - with arts tune its amazing
I think you're underselling the value of Wireless. Maybe it's not useful for YOU, but I use it multiple times on a daily basis. Most often, I will put on a podcast or random UA-cam video, and continue listening to it while I go downstairs and cook food in the kitchen, or doing my laundry, or even quickly using the bathroom. My wife is also a therapist who often works from home doing virtual sessions on the computer. The noise cancelling headset ensures I can walk around freely and don't have to worry about inadvertently listening in on her sessions. The audio quality probably isn't the best, but never once have I been playing a game or watching a movie and said to myself "Wow this audio is so distractingly bad!" Seems like your being especially nitpicky when the average user of these products is going to be playing a console, without a mic stand or GoXLR.
Bro said he’s “deaf” but is doing a headset review lol
With his recommendations I'd believe he's deaf
@@theeginga525 are these recommendations bad? what would you recommend? (i currently have hyperx cloud alpha s but i might need to get new headphones someday)
@@theeginga525care to elaborate?
I just ordered a set of pc38X, so glad I seen this video before I bought some hyper x or steel series. Thanks 🙏
Steel Series are actually really good. But....never ever pay full price. You always find them on 50%+ discount somewhere online. Got mine for $54 after tax. They were supposed to be $150!
brother.. the hyperx clouds are really good for the price. Theres a reason this guy didnt show them in the video - theres not much to complain about
i have the hyperx cloud alphas for 4 years and now that they detoriated, im looking for an upgrade, but they are definitely really good still
Hyperx is my go to for affordability and durability. You won't find a better console headset for cheaper that will also last.
Bro fell to the marketing :D
I've been using my Corsair Virtuoso Pros since release. They have been the best headsets I've used and they sound surprisingly good too.
I think many of us gamers are gaming from the livingroom couch or gamer chair but no desk. Which makes it difficult and uncomfortable to use a seperate mic right?
Hey @ArtIsWar, do you have any tips/advice you can give for console gamers? Specifically for Xbox, my Dad plays on one and always complains about sound in warzone. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Change to PC
Better headset, mess with both the in-game sound settings and Xbox sound settings, and also, it’s COD, they’ve always had sound issues.
Could you recommend wireless headsets alternative to wireless gaming headsets please
Amazing enlightening video! First time watching your video. I had no idea that my Steel Series were just a gimmick in shocked and disappointed in those companies. I subscribed ASAP. I have a PS5 could you make a video with a step by step in which ones you recommend for Consoles specifically and how to set it up please. I'm a newbie in this audio world.
He's full of sht. He suggested a headset you plug into your controller! Lol.
@@Mr_Ruhl He's def trying to sell those $18 ear buds because they are affiliate links. He gets a cut of it and people are more likely to take the chance on $20 (tax and all) vs $300 headphones after he said they sounded better than ALL the headsets.
question is did you try IEM? or even a studio headphones? @@JustAGuy85
@@JustAGuy85was curious on what the $20 IEMs were and to my surprise it's the mf Moondrop Chu 2 which a lot of audiophiles can agree is one of the best value IEMs for $20
Yes, any gaming company the sells audio and keyboards are literally all gimmicks and a waste of money which is why you hear a lot of people say if it has "gaming" on it, it's most likely shit.
A lot of Chinese brands small and large, provide better value for peripherals for gaming lmao
After 3 years of not wearing overhead headsets and only in ear headphones, my head dent starts slowly to disappear. It's not only about the brand. Everyone's hearing isn't the same, and each ear responds differently to each frequency. What sounds good for one can sound bad for another. It takes some time to find the right headsets for you.
I am very exited for your IEM Recommendations as someone who loves IEMs!
I’ve bought hyper x headsets simply for comfort feel, I can wear them for hours without noticing them. I stopped here to learn about quality comparisons, haven’t delved down this rabbit hole yet, what are your thoughts on the audeeze gaming headset? Is it marketing fluff, or are planar drivers worth the cost?
Art i need that IEM video like warzone needs a good anticheat! Im holding off on buying some...when you do it could you also recommend some we can find in the UK as some of those on amazon aren't available here. keep up the great work ❤
KZ ZX 10 PRO are better than my jbl quantum 800 and steel series cans that cost way more. They are very very loud i honestly think they can blow my eardrums. I use them at 16-18% in warzone
@marius929 thanks mate, are they pretty comfy or did you need to get some alternative tips?
They are pretty comfortable for my taste i have no complaints about them. They do come with 3 different sizes spares.
Kiwi ears orchestra lite is what he recommends
@@timmypowers5926sorry but i don't see the newest video he has mentioned. Can you please post the link.
Yeah for me it is a must that the headset is wireless and have support for Bluetooth. I do more than just sit in front of the computer with my headset. I listen to music from the PC while I do cooking, cleaning and other stuff that is not sitting in front of the computer. I have a Steelseries Arctis Pro. They are amazing. I will eventually buy the Nova Pro as well. They look nice and will not stick out when I commute to work. All these extra feature is the reason I went for Steelseries and not other brands.
I am a musician as well but for that I have a pair of wired studio headphones. One doesn't exclude the other. I have both the Steelseries DAC and my Studio DAC connected to my computer.
If I'm on console and want to use IEMs, what do I use for a microphone to talk to my teammates?
I'm very intrigued with IEM's as well. Would love to see options for mics and being able to adjust game volume and chat volume easily on the fly when using IEM's.
Same here... I don't have a separate mic on my setup :(
I'll add a mention of mic options to the next IEM video! Thanks!
@artiswar When is that iem video coming? Can’t wait
Pc38x user here. I've been using mine for over 5 years and I love them. Best built in mic I've ever used and the audio is super clear (especially coming from razer headphones). Only problem was that the mic switch died around the 4 year mark and about 6 months ago I started hearing a strange pop at one frequency
I have been using the HyperX Cloud 2 for about two years and have loved the comfort of it. It may not sound the same or best as others, I really enjoy it and recommend it.
Completely disagree. I've gone through over a dozen pairs of $150+ headphones. Everything felt same-y (or worse) but the Astro A50s blew me away. Extremely noticeable difference immediately. I will never go back.
Where is the wireless alternative? if we are talking about wired headset there's a bunch to recommend, but none of those are for competitive gaming.
Definitely looking into some IEMs but how does everyone do it when it comes to chatting? Do you all just play solo everyday and not say a single word or?
This is an audio file!! They think everything they push on UA-cam is better...bc they are getting paid to push these products!! My a40s have worked great for years, and no problems at all. We are talking about hearing footsteps and wind, not little ticks in a song no one can hear. Let me just say buy what you want bc at the end of the day, every UA-camr will push whatever brand pays them.
Audiophile* and Astros are trash. I'm not paid by Sennheiser and I guarantee you if you listened to my 6XX headphones you wouldn't have the opinion you have. I've owned Astro a40s and I thought they were good until I heard some actual good headphones.
No man, he's not lying. Astros are perfectly fine if you just don't give a shit about sand that badly, but even still your over paying for everything he states in the video. The packaging and marketing verbs are what your buying. That's not to say they are garbage on their own, just in comparison to higher quality products. If you love your Astros then that's awesome man, keep using them. The fact that there are objectively better sets out there doesn't diminish your enjoyment of what you have and it's not as though he's calling you stupid for enjoying them either. I've owned so many gaming branded sets over the years and I'm only recently seeing it for what it is. Just like gaming chairs. They are marketed to gamers even though they are inferior to ergonomic chairs but they look cool like a racing seat from a sports car.
I am really surprised the Audeze Maxwell was not mentioned on here anywhere especially with the
DT900 Pro X being present.
yeah who hurt you? i've tried 15 headsets. nothing under 60$. ill take astro a40 all day!
What headsets though? Just because it says gaming on the box doesn’t mean it’s good for gaming.
this is because you’re ignorant to the world of real headphones.
@@Jack-oc2fc NO. I do not buy studio headphones for gaming. its not needed. and how does this make me ignorant? i have a preference. i have astros and beyer dynamic headphones. i use astros to game. and beyers for music or creating videos. they are not any better for gaming. espeicailly if on console. there is no eq while gaming on console. so no need for studio headphones. cry more karen. idgaf. you soft.
I think with the moon drop being such a good budget option you should recommend a budget mic as well to go with it, the wave 3 being $150 was not what I expected to pair with $18 IEM’s
You could of made a 1 min video just telling us what to try 17:54
I don't know how to check for an answer to a question. I have been buying gaming headsets that have 7.1 channel sound support, which I use when watching movies with surround sound when not gaming. I am assuming that they are using only two drivers with the 7.1 channels virtualized in software (some faking of binaural sound phasing?). Am I correct, or are there more drivers in these headsets that I don't see listed on the box?
Wish I had seen this before I spent 300$ on the SteelSeries. Damn it! lol
They’re still good
The Nova Pro's aren't anywhere near as bad as he's making them out to be. I get the feeling that he went into this with a massive bias built up and didn't really give either the A40's or the Nova Pro's a real chance.
The Astros packaging feels manipulative? I feel like I'm unboxing a premium product. I've had 2 pairs and BOTH still work fine after over 10 years.
Sounds like you didn't even attempt to use the astro command center or the dolby atmos app to really fine tune your sound. Quite amatuer
I switched to the Orchestra Lite IEMs after using Astro A40 with Command Center for years, and no amount of software settings compares to the improvement in audio quality I've experienced over the last few months.
As a musician I use IEMs all the time. But it wasn’t until recently that I was playing a game and didn’t want to wear my astros “they can be uncomfortable after a while to me” I decided to plug in my IEMs. Holy cow. IEMs will give you a better sound than ANY headset I’ve worn. Also great for listening to music. The KZ ZS10 IEMs will blow you away for 40$. They beat out any Bluetooth earbuds, gaming headphones, or music headphones I’ve ever used.
I very much dislike the fact that You picked Wireless headsets to compare to a bunch of corded headsets. The fact that Digital sound Compression over Bluetooth or the HF kills the audio Characteristics of all spatial sound makes them a fail compared to everything you are trying to sell to people. You need to explain this to people so they understand better what is the real problem in those systems. I have EPOS H3 Pro Hybrid They can run Bluetooth, High Freak Dongle , USB cable, or 3.5mm Jack with an analog Signal. Plus, they are a partnership with Sennheiser a true Audiophile company.
The a40s aren't wireless. Even still, your correct about wireless to a degree. In so much as any wired connection is superior to a wireless one, but that doesn't compensate for a poor headset, or I guess a better way of saying is that it's no excuse. The Maxwell's are wireless but blow every main stream "gaming" headset out of the water. Razer, Logitech, steel series, turtle Beach, etc all of their headsets, wired OR wireless don't hold a candle to the Maxwell's that are wireless. So yes, wireless is a conscience that has to make a sacrifice but that does not make up for a poorly designed set being bad. Wireless can still sound excellent if the entirety of the set is designed well. If that makes sense.
As someone with a big head (For helmets I need a 2xl), most headsets don't fit me. I used to literally break headsets all the time because of my big head. It's annoying lmao the only ones I haven't had this problem with have been the Sennheiser GAME ONE and GSP 600s.
Bout to find out who’s paying this guy lol
When I built my rig about 10 years ago (have upgraded since) I got a set of Razer Krakens which I liked but were unfortunately did not last very long and just got a mike and used cheap iem's then I started watching Drop for some nice but not crazy expensive and got a pair of Meze Noir 99's (think they were about $200 the regular ones are 300ish on the Meze site) which also came with both cables and before that I upgraded my mike but it is not a crazy expensive one either think it was around 20 bucks. Highly recommend getting a desk mic and if you really want better sound for music as well then splurge on the headphones, do some research find ones that meet your requirements. Good info, nice vid.
Yeah great idea, a video recommending a long discontinued headset from a company that stopped making gaming headsets in 2020! ☹
How do you feel about the Dt 700 pro x compared to the dt900 pro x?
Boom baby! 😍
MY GOAT
Hello Fresh!
@@Phantom1000 yooooo!!
I use Fostex T50RP Mk 3 (bought for $160) and an Antlion Modmic 5 (bought for $70) connected to an Astro MixAmp 5.8 (bought for $80). The MixAmp is hands down the best product Astro ever made letting you use any headset or headphones and mic combination you want wirelessly. It works with every console I've ever used with optical out and USB in, or with the Xbox controller cable, and the Aux to USB cable let's me use it with Windows, as well.
Us console gamers don’t care about this video.
Peasants
He even lists 2 console-capable headsets in this vid too LOL
Keep buying those dumb headsets then!
So I can just connect an iem to my ps5 controller and have it sound better than the astro a50s?
@@thedevilsmentor1482 Depends, id get a 32ohm Dt990 for that
Thanks for your knowledge mate, quick question - I enjoy my steelseries arctis 7 a lot in comfortability, however I noticed it only has 16bit audio while using wirelessly, should I go ahead ant switch to something wired and get 24bit quality? Is 16bit and 24bit noticable change for playing COD? Thanks!
The steel series comes with a wire
Have the PC38x for a couple of years already and yeah there great for gaming and everything else! Very comfortable to wear. And they are open ear so you can still hear your surroundings when someone talks to you.
Still have my Arctis 7 back from 2019, got it from amazon as refurbished just for $89, still works without issues to this day. Got tired of the black so I just bought white replacement parts and was able to change the color and straps and the outer shell for less than $40, now it looks brand new. One thing i've learned is it's better to buy refurbished and just replace the cups/mic's, makes it more personalized as well as give it a higher quality without breaking the bank :bd
you cant see the point in wireless? kinda disqualified the rest...
Yes but wires I dont like having to use wires or buy separate stuff. For $200 I can get a headset with a mic and its wireless ,plus most wireless headsets can be used while charging even if I am wired for the moment if I just monitor the battery I can just charge it when Im not using it.
I have the Beyerdynamic 900s and I freaking love them. So crisp and clean. Certainly a great first step into the audiophile world.
dont forget expert just said footsteps is bass LMAO
I just got 770s and I dont think i actually have a way to get anything more than stereo sound on series x.
When I needed a new set a year or so ago I picked up beyerdynamic MMX300. First time I used them I thought something was wrong, but it turned out I was hearing sounds from my game I hadn’t noticed before.
I also recommend upgrading desktop speakers to non-gaming speakers as well.
I’ve been with Razer headsets for years. I’m a Xbox and pc gamer and sometimes the Bluetooth can be iffy but the sound quality is still there just connectivity. And replacement parts are hard to buy from Razer.
My Astro A40s and A50s are incredible. I have had them for a very long time and they were life changing. I use the mix amps with the optical cable and Astro’s built in surround sound feature and it sounds absolutely perfect on every level both for gaming and watching shows and movies all on my consoles. They’re also extremely comfortable so I’ve never once been felt bothered or fatigued at all between my ears or head even after playing all day.
I had too many wired headphones that stopped working because the wire in the cable broke. Wireless for me is a must.
Both of the headsets you recommended are open back. For my use case that’s a no go. Are there a comparable closed back headset?
Audeze Maxwell
I love using in ear monitors. Mine wrap around my ear so even if they come out they still don’t and they don’t mess up my hair or give me a headache like the band of a headset does.
Soundstage is actually the depth of sound. Whether the sound is closer or farther away. Imaging is actually where the sound is coming from... such as left, right, up, down.. Just saying.
The A40s definitely sound best when you have the amp in tournament mode (the star on the mixamp) and when you take the backplate off of the earcuffs, so you have open-back. I also bought a set of faux leather ear cuffs for them, and that provided a much better audio seal than the standard cloth ones.
amp does not make anything sound 'netter' come on guys stop these gaming marketing gimmicks
@@divacroft1034 When did I say that the amp made it sound better? I just said it sounded better in tournament mode compared to the Dolby spatial audio mode.
@@firedell1031 you said nonsense again...amp CANNOT make anything sound better THATS NOT WHAT IT DOES...
@@divacroft1034 So do you just make your living off of misreading comments on youtube or what?
Once again, I didn’t say that the Astro amp makes anything sound better.
I’m simply saying one setting on said amp sounds better than the other one.
@@firedell1031 stop making stuff up...amps DO NOT CHANGE SOUND!!!
I have a 560S, 6XX, and trying the 900 Pro X now. (Previously owned X2s, PC38X, and some other trashier stuff I can't remember). The 900 Pro X is good, but I don't like them being semi open I prefer open but them being semi open makes sense how they got the bass to be as good as it is. I find them slightly fatiguing to listen to especially compared to the 6XX. I think if the 900 Pro X was my first entry into HiFi audio I'd be very happy with them, but 6XX/560S are a perfect pair for me. I can't even begin to explain how much I love the 6XX for music.
@ArtIsWar I use FOCAL elex for my gaming headset, imaging is obscene i can tell when someone is over or below me.
The source is an SMSL M300SE
Second choice is Beyerdynamic DT880 250 or 600 ohm this will save money over the astros even with buying a source.
And ohms doesnt really mean what you said. If you get high ohm + sensitivity you can power off a phone, the dt880 600ohm can be powered by almost anything. What the ohms is is a shorthand for how much the driver weighs higher ohm is thinner wire which is a lighter driver meaning faster drivers.
I got an arctis7 and its my favourite headset. Wireless is a must for me. Can't be tethered to the desk. Get drink while in the queue, do stuff around the house while on team calls WFH, its BiS. The hot swappable battery is also a life saver. I'd buy any non gamer headset if it had wireless/mic/hot swappable batteries. Im not tied to any brand.