Headphones

[Cloudburst]

With regards to stopping the off-topic trail of vic's thread, I started this after realizing there was, in fact, something terribly wrong with my sound.

Now, don't get me wrong. It sounded perfect. It was the best damn sound I knew, and I went and ruined it. Or did I? Can't tell yet, but I do want to know what the hell was going on before.

I have this motherboard. I have no idea why I bought a micro ATX motherboard for my case, which can fit a full ATX motherboard.
Long story long, from what I know, it has a Realtek sound card in it. A friendly Mitchpate said that the drivers that come with a motherboard for Realtek cards can be sketchy, and I agree! My last computer had a Realtek card in the MB, and I had a ton of issues with games before I finally went to Realtek's website and just downloaded the driver there. I hadn't done that with my current computer, though, because I didn't have any issues until it became aware to me that I had set-up my headphones as "Dolby Headphones" through Windows. This is the setting that made them sound amazing, right next to the bass-boost feature. I have these headphones. I had thought that "Dolby Headphone" setting meant "LOL SURROUND SOUND BRO". That might have not been the case, but it certainly sounded like it was. After uninstalling the previous drivers and installing the new ones (and restarting my computer), I can't quite find the exact "Dolby Headphone" tick nor can I identify any sound as restoring the original sound.

What I want to know is... what setting had I turned on before? I have no idea what it did. Right now, with these new drivers, the setting in their previous place is "Dolby Prologic IIx" since I am attempting to mark these headphones as Surround using the Realtek configuration utility provided by GIGABYTE (which did not uninstall, strangely). Without the 5.1-mark, the setting is different, but when applied, no matter what, it just makes the sound quieter with no other obvious effects. I would like to avoid reinstalling Gigabyte's drivers.

It certainly doesn't sound the same as before. Less vibrant; maybe less noise but, might sound like I'm tripping, but the sound now is like Sepia film compared to full-color video. Probably not that drastic, but I can definitely say it's not what I'm used to! What should I be looking for when it comes to "good-sound"? I *am* looking into buying new headphones, suggestions are welcome but they must be OVER-EAR!

/e: URGENT NOTE: I am now getting an idle tone (static). Before I did not get an idle tone from these headphones, but did get an idle tone from other headphones. Not what the average ear would call "static", but I believe that's what it is. Hey! Excellent question: what the hell is that?

/e: I know enough about a computer to build one from parts, install an OS, run games, and perform some intricate activities (code). I know very little about sound systems.

Solved problem by, OH MY, unplugging and plugging back in the headphones in the jack which gave a prompt as to what device was plugged in. Select "Headphones", get results.
Yeah howabout some over-ear headphone recommendations instead. Price? Eh, below 200$.

[F22-sama]

Audio Technica AD700, Sony ZX700, Beyer DT770/80Ohms. M50s are good too, but I found their midrange too recessed. They are good step up from the XB500, but don't expect any of them to have such overblown bass response like the XB500, the AD700 is noticeable bass light.

[Mitchpate]

I'm using a $30 Plantronics right now and to be quite honest I'm quite content with the quality.  Not everything nice is expensive and not everything expensive is nice.  Sometimes those $100+ headphones just aren't the best.

[F22-sama]

Funny that you said that. Have you even heard the headphones I recommended? Not everything expensive is nice, Bose and Monster Beats are prime example of that. These headphones are better than my old Plantronics for sure, not even close.

Gonna add Denon D2000 to the list too, as bassy as the XB500 but better soundstage and detail. Good if you like how the XB500 sound.

Sennheiser HD598 when you want a AD700 with better bass response, but pushing budget a bit.

Before anything else, I have heard all these in person with many different setups. I am not blindly copying other online reviews, unlike some other on Head-Fi.

[Mitchpate]

I didn't look at the ones you suggested because I don't even attempt to keep up with headphones until I need to buy them.  They change so often and in so many ways that it's simply too difficult to keep up with

[F22-sama]

Most the headphones are in production for quite a long time, some over 20 years. Headphones do not change much with time, other than the terrible celebrity endorsed ones. But they are terrible, so don't have to worry about it anyway.

[Mekabuser=12thVR=]

sony mdr v150  are more than adequate



.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=sony%20mdr%20v150&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CE8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSony-MDR-V150-Monitor-Series-Headphones%2Fdp%2FB000092YPR&ei=SzQLT5upIoTu0gHG8PWqAg&usg=AFQjCNEX2VHGdDlFiGeK_5igfepXiEG7lQ

they are cheap as hell, under 30usd, durable and as I said more than good enough for playing your online games.
Put the money you save in savings or buy your mom something or whatever.
Theres no need to spend any more on headphones unless your a serious audiophile as in listening or monitoring music in a studio setup.
I used them for a few years and recently got an almost top of the line sony monitoring headphone as a gift for xmass and the difference is slight for mwll<which I think isnt exactly cutting edge for sound anyways due to engine limitations>

[F22-sama]

If you do read his post, that he have already got a pair of XB500. It sounds miles better than the V150 and far more comfortable. If anything at $30, get a Koss PortaPro instead, one of the headphone that really shock me with the price tag. Differences being slight or massive is not always due to your headphones. The source file is the major offender but also the source, amp and how trained you are makes a huge difference. Junk in, junk out.

[Cloudburst]

Look, you can debate the sound quality of headphones all you want, but I have gotten superb sound quality out of headphones time and time again. It is definitely worth the money, especially if they don't have a static tone that even many top-of-the-line SPEAKER systems have. Actually, that's much the same argument. I had terribad speakers for a couple years, then upgraded to a pair of, admittedly awful, Skullcandies as my "intro" to the over-ear headphone world. Even on such a bad product, I'd never go back. I got these XB500's three years ago for 80$, and it's only now that, since I have nothing else to upgrade, that I'm looking into a statistical improvement over these so I can carry them around with my laptop.

- I really, really like the recommended Beyer DT770's. Did some digging up on them, but I couldn't find the specific driver size on them (the XB500's is 40mm, if I remember right). If I understand correctly, the driver size has an effect on the bass play. !The fact that they don't have the ear cushion stitch on the inside of the ear cushion is a gigantic plus. I have no idea why these stupid headphone designers keep putting the stitch on the inside of the cushion (another reason why I enjoy these XB500's). Defeats the whole purpose if your ear doesn't match the headphone exactly! Another plus over these current is cable size, even if this current cable is probably the best I've actually had the honor of seeing (flat analog cable).

-I can afford the Sennheiser HD 598's. They look darn stylish...

[F22-sama]

The DT770 is simply a better headphone. Drive size "does" matter, but in this case the DT770 simply have much higher quailty drivers. I own a DT150, due to its amping requirement, I am not recommending it to you. But the DT150 have very small driver "25mm" and still deliver great sound close to my full size home open backs many times its price. The ribbon like cable on the XB500 is simply for looks, only use is on the headphones like my STAX SR-404LE, which operate at very high voltage to minimize crosstalk on cable.

I will not be surprised if the DT770 have small drivers like the DT150, but it certainly sounds great and its one of the best entry level bass oriented headphone.

HD598 is simply more detailed and have better soundstage than the DT770, solely because of the open back design, also because of that, the bass on the DT770 is more impactful. But open back design does not isolate noise, making it useless outdoor if you have that in mind. Note the AD700 is open back as well. Note that the HD598 only looks great from afar, compare to the build quailty on the Beyer, Audio Techinica and in lesser extend the Sony, it is simply inferior.

[Cloudburst]

Looks like I have a decision ahead. I do live in a dungeon, though. No outdoors here. Thanks a lot for the recommendations, no way I'd find these without.

[Mekabuser=12thVR=]

miles better from an "xtra bass" headphone? ok... I think not.
like I said , go run into a store that has the headphones i recomended in stock . Plug in ur laptop whatever and enjoy.
They are a very decent and inexpensive. Which is very nice because you dont have to be like ... Oh... my headphones, must be so carefull.
The sound quality of the headphones is damn good. Ive got two other pairs of fancy pants monitoring HP too so I know about the "difference"
FOr mp3 and mwll and most crap your gonna do on a laptop they are MORE than fine.

[Cloudburst]

Sony MDR150's are not over-ear. They are on-ear. An acquaintance of mine had them, and I had used them for a couple weeks some half-score back. They'd slide on/off my head at their discretion. I was so disgusted with that quality, I left it sitting on the desk and rammed the volume up to the max.

Should note I am buying new headphones for my desktop, and using my old ones for my laptop.

[Mekabuser=12thVR=]

okay, thats your experience which is fine. Also , point taken on the "over ear " set up.  Dont know why on earth they would slide off your head. Never had anything remotely like that happen.. M sure most anything you'll get will sound fine, though I dont really know about the over the ear design.
I do have the sony mdr v700 which is the design ur talking about Ithink. Sounds fine for ipod, good even, though I havent compared with my senns open back for monitoring. Was massively dissapointed with mwll though. Havent fully investigated, but I suspect its mwll itself. I know Leer has very little to work with concerning sound files.

[CGB [CoffiNail]]

For over a year now I have used Steel Series Serbia V2 headphones. I have not regretted it once.
http://www.cnet.com.au/steelseries-siberia-v2-339306114.htm

The version I have come with a usb soundcard that seems to improve quality. I know in MWLL when I do not use my headphones's usb soundcard I use to get intense crackles from some sound effects, and when I use the usb soundcard I do not get that.

They have excellent sound in my opinion, though i admit i am no expert. But the MW2 soundtrack sounded simply blissful when compared to my old headphones