Sony MDR-V6 for gaming?

S

smodtactical

Limp Gawd
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Dec 26, 2010
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I'm looking for nice headphones with a little more bass and better sound overall then my current gamecom 367 headset. I looked through a lot of headphones and the Sony MDR-V6 appeals to me because its consistent positive reviews and durable build quality. What I wanted to know was if they were viable for gaming or not. Anyone have any experience with them?

I'm looking to spend less the $100 and I would put myself in the category of gamer that wants accurate directional sound but also wants some bass for music and action in the game (not basshead headphones though).

The list I was considering thus far:

Superlux 668B
Superlux 681
Samson SR850
Audio-Technica ATH-M30
Creative Aurvana Live
Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Pro
Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
AKG Acoustics K-240 Semi Open Studio Headphones

Sony MDR-V6

Thanks for your help!
 
I'd be weary of them, I've had two pairs of them and they broke in the exact same place.
Also their sound quality really degraded over time.
 
Wow really. Surprising considering so many people have said it lasted them decades.

What did you end up getting then to replace them?
 
There's a reason the MDR-V6's have been a mainstay of the recording industry for nearly three decades. Recommended.
Audio-Technica's are generally quite good for their price bracket; recommended.
Those Monoprice headphones sound like crap. Avoid them.
The Panasonics are reputedly decent, but overpriced.

Above all, check out the reviews and forums at head-fi.org. That's where you're going to find the best information in this field.
 
XenIneX said:
There's a reason the MDR-V6's have been a mainstay of the recording industry for nearly three decades. Recommended.
Audio-Technica's are generally quite good for their price bracket; recommended.
Those Monoprice headphones sound like crap. Avoid them.
The Panasonics are reputedly decent, but overpriced.

Above all, check out the reviews and forums at head-fi.org. That's where you're going to find the best information in this field.
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Ya Xen that what I figured. But my question is do you think the MDR-V6's will be good for gaming? Like their sound stage and ability to give you directional audio. I wish there was someone on here with them thats used them for gaming.

Globox said:
bought a pair of phillips TR 55LX's, they've lasted far far longer
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHO95...B003VNKKUS/ref=pd_sim_e_1/191-1053867-0817448
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Ah I see. Seems like theres a bunch of headphones in the 30-50 range that are enjoyed by many and have high amazon start ratings.
 
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Good sound stage; good detail; flat frequency response. Slightly sibilant, but not ridiculously so.

Only real negative is that the earpads aren't the most comfortable. Order a pair of Beyerdynamic DT250 replacement velour earpads for a significant comfort upgrade. (Sweetwater.com has them for ~$20).
 
one that I haven't seen mentioned here are the Fostex T50RP. Might be worth a look.
 
Go for the AudioTechnica ATH-M50, you won't regret it. They are really good!
 
XenIneX said:
Good sound stage; good detail; flat frequency response. Slightly sibilant, but not ridiculously so.

Only real negative is that the earpads aren't the most comfortable. Order a pair of Beyerdynamic DT250 replacement velour earpads for a significant comfort upgrade. (Sweetwater.com has them for ~$20).
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What do you think of the bass on them?

reaper12 said:
one that I haven't seen mentioned here are the Fostex T50RP. Might be worth a look.
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Thanks man I'll look into these.
 
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=ATHAD300

Coupon code DJREC30 to bring down the price to $30. These are the budget version of the AD700. According to a review on Head-fi it has more bass and less treble than the AD700, but also less soundstage.

Still, I'd say they are better than a lot of the cheaper headphones you've listed- like the Monoprice DJ or the ATH M30.
 
spaceman said:
Senn 558 used on amazon from Dahmart around $108. Do the foam removal mod and my pad mod and you have a MUCH better gaming headphone than anything except the akg 701 in terms of directional sound. Plus the mods give them added bass and a larger sound stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8i_ZGHHhuQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-knI5XuZ3KE&feature=plcp

You will not get better for the money and yes they run fine off of a soundcard.
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Only problem is I don't want to buy used.

viralcow said:
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=ATHAD300

Coupon code DJREC30 to bring down the price to $30. These are the budget version of the AD700. According to a review on Head-fi it has more bass and less treble than the AD700, but also less soundstage.

Still, I'd say they are better than a lot of the cheaper headphones you've listed- like the Monoprice DJ or the ATH M30.
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But what about against the sonys or the creative aurvana or even samson SR850? I'd love to save money but if I'm just going to buy 1 headphone for a long time I want to get the most out of my budget.
 
smodtactical said:
Only problem is I don't want to buy used.



But what about against the sonys or the creative aurvana or even samson SR850? I'd love to save money but if I'm just going to buy 1 headphone for a long time I want to get the most out of my budget.
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i got a used pair of cheap Senns on impluse buy from those guys ..mine came in very nice shape with new ear pads for what it is worth ..considering mine where like $12~ HD419s I was impressed with how nice condition mine are in.


but i understand your reluctance to be sure.


I have the ATH AD700 headphones... non budget version apparently and i hardly ever use mine.. partly because i can't use them when my wife is in the room (open design..leaks sound both ways and my wife gets mad...and partly because I kinda love my JVC HA-RX700 headphones...$35 well spent.

personally the velour pads on the ad700s make me itch..and i haaaate it.

the AD700s are good for gaming too their credit ..if others in room won't complain..and if you can stand velour?...i can't apparently...i need to see if i can find some replacement earpads..meh

Personally i'd pass on the AD300s for sure....



i didn't listen to suggestions for the AudioTechnica ATH-M50 and i've got to admit now that i did go check them out...they are kinda F***ing awesome... personally i think i'm getting those on my xmas gift list and will be thusly getting a pair for xmas.

i've heard teh v6s but haven't gamed with them...so i don't know how they'd be for that..they sound good w/ music i think.

I also like teh KRK 8400 for music ..but haven't gamed with them ..but i've listened to them

http://www.amazon.com/KRK-KNS8400-S...=UTF8&qid=1352687425&sr=1-1&keywords=krk+8400

but they are more than the ATH-M50s....i would have to say i prefer the ATH-M50s anyways... Damn I wish i'd got the ATH-M50s instead of these stupid AD700s 6mos ago...oh well...live and learn i guess.

I'm trying to listen to music with them now..and the AD700s are making my ears itch...so they have to go...putting my HA-RX700s on instead...

for anyone w/ a sub $40 budget then RX700s are super budget headphones great for gaming and music and pretty comfy...
 
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Hey Atarione, do you think the ATH-M50's will have a good amount of bass? I've heard they sound rather boring because they are so studio focused.
 
Used from that seller means essentially new. The ones I got I think someone just plain returned them without opening the box. They were mint. Whatever, get the Samson SR850s. They are the best all around. Kind of like a smaller sound stage AD700 but with bass.
 
If you're looking for closed cans, go with the CAL. One of the best sounding closed cans for $100, and offers pretty good soundstage too.

As for the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, they sure sound good, but they don't have much soundstage, and as such they suck for gaming. I'd think the same would go for the M30.

The Sony V6 is probably better than the M50 for gaming, but for music I've heard it's more neutral and not as fun as the M50. The V6 will be lacking in the bass department as well.


None of these are as good as open headphones at gaming, though. Check out this review @ head-fi by MadLustEnvy:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...ed-10-30-12-dt990-listings-merged-and-updated

spaceman said:
Whatever, get the Samson SR850s. They are the best all around. Kind of like a smaller sound stage AD700 but with bass.
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+1 for the SR850s.
 
spaceman said:
Senn 558 used on amazon from Dahmart around $108.
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atarione said:
i got a used pair of cheap Senns on impluse buy from those guys ..mine came in very nice shape with new ear pads for what it is worth ..considering mine where like $12~ HD419s I was impressed with how nice condition mine are in.
Click to expand...

spaceman said:
Used from that seller means essentially new. The ones I got I think someone just plain returned them without opening the box. They were mint.
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not particularly on-topic, but i have a pair of "Like-New" HD650's coming from DAHMART. very reassuring! :)
 
Yeah Dahmart is actually a official sennheiser dealer too. So warranty applies. Mine is voided but like I care. Modded sounds way better than stock.
 
viralcow said:
If you're looking for closed cans, go with the CAL. One of the best sounding closed cans for $100, and offers pretty good soundstage too.

As for the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, they sure sound good, but they don't have much soundstage, and as such they suck for gaming. I'd think the same would go for the M30.

The Sony V6 is probably better than the M50 for gaming, but for music I've heard it's more neutral and not as fun as the M50. The V6 will be lacking in the bass department as well.


None of these are as good as open headphones at gaming, though. Check out this review @ head-fi by MadLustEnvy:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...ed-10-30-12-dt990-listings-merged-and-updated


+1 for the SR850s.
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The only thing I don't like about the CAL is the thin headband and seemingly weak build quality. I would love to have a build quality like the ATH-M50's or the SHURE's or MDR-V6 but that also has great soundstage and is great for music too and all <100. It seems theres no headphone that really suits all my purposes.

I was strongly considering the SR850 but am worried about the music quality with respect to the high's which have said to be overdone and bright overall.
 
The SR850s are bright but you can use the eq to tame it easily enough. The Sennheiser line in general should also be considered. Even if not used, there are other models which will do better than the SR850s for a bit more. Models like 429 and 518. You want open models. Not closed.
 
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spaceman said:
The SR850s are bright but you can use the eq to tame it easily enough. The Sennheiser line in general should also be considered. Even if not used, there are other models which will do better than the SR850s for a bit more. Models like 429 and 518. You want open models. Not closed.
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Ok I know its out of my budget but the Ultrasone 550 pro look very good and seem to have great soundstage and bass and be great overall. They are about $150 so if I wait until black friday maybe I will get them closer to $100.

What do you guys think?
 
They are closed back head phones. For gaming, open or semi open have the largest sound stage.The Ultrasone 550 is fine and has good bass response but if it is anything like the 750 pro or 780 modded that I had, then the sound stage is good but smaller than other headphones. The Ultrasone 2500 is semi open and pretty good as an overall headphone. Good luck finding it for around $100 though.

It goes like this in terms of gaming, SR850, AD700, Sennheiser 429, 518, 558, AKG 601, 701. This is the list for directional sound gaming headphones. The Senn line up is probably the sound you want as they are the best overall in terms of a balanced sound signature.
 
spaceman said:
They are closed back head phones. For gaming, open or semi open have the largest sound stage.The Ultrasone 550 is fine and has good bass response but if it is anything like the 750 pro or 780 modded that I had, then the sound stage is good but smaller than other headphones. The Ultrasone 2500 is semi open and pretty good as an overall headphone. Good luck finding it for around $100 though.

It goes like this in terms of gaming, SR850, AD700, Sennheiser 429, 518, 558, AKG 601, 701. This is the list for directional sound gaming headphones. The Senn line up is probably the sound you want as they are the best overall in terms of a balanced sound signature.
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I appreciate closed is not the best for gaming. My only issue is im trying to get some headphones that are also very good for music and movies while also having good build quality so they are long lasting.

How do you think the SR850 or superlux 668B will do in non-gaming situations ?
 
Open doesn't mean it'll suck for music, by any stretch, when you start looking at higher end headphones open actually tend to outnumber closed somewhat... It really depends on the type of music and your personal preference over the sound signature tho.

The only thing closed headphones generally do better are bass (particularly with a smaller budget) and isolation (obviously). I could be mistaken but I don't think you evers stated any music preference...
 
At your budget level, I can assure you that the SR850 is a good all around headphone and tough to hurt even though it can feel light and cheap-ish. Mine has gone through hell and back and still works fine.

Really though, if you want one headphone that does everything well, it is sennheiser. My 558 does amazing with everything I throw at it. Especially after modding it a bit. As a person who has tried as many as I have, you can trust me when I say something just plain works the way it is supposed to. The 518 would be a pretty close cousin to the 558 with just slightly rougher earpads. The 429 will be a bit more muddy but still really nice sounding if you want a less expensive, safe bet.
 
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V6's are heavy, I don't think I'd want to wear them at the computer for long periods. V6 were the first real phones I bought back in the early 90s, I was working in radio then and most everyone else used them. It wasn't until 10 years later that I decided to get my first Sennheisers and was amazed how light they were in comparison. :)

I love my 598s because they're so comfortable.

If you're looking for something cheap, I picked up a pair of JVC HA-RX700 a few months ago, I think around $40 on Amazon. Not as comfortable, but pretty decent if you want something cheap and closed-ish.
 
Ok guys I picked up the Superlux 668B and so far I'm really liking them. But I'm still thinking of my next upgrade from these.

Thanks for your suggestions. I will look into the sennheiser 558 and 518, I guess 555 as well. I'm also interested in the ATH-m50 since its so highly recommended as a standard audiophile headphone but people say the soundstage is not very good on it so might not be as good for gaming.

I'm also looking at the beyerdynamic dt990 pro 250 ohm version. Seems people say its quite good in terms of sound, bass and soundstage.

Any thoughts on these?
 
I've had every headphone on your list and will say the best of the lot is the 558 by far. The only other headphone that is better at positional audio is the AKG 701. The 558 has bass though. Slamming bass too if you mod them a bit. So overall, you want one headphone for everything? I like my 558s for that.

I have to say they are a bit weird at first but once you get your brain tuned to them, they astound you with detail. I can hear people in bf3 walking down halls and can tell if they are around the corner or behind something. This is standing outside, in the street on Grand Bazaar, listening to people in the middle flag area. Yeah. I have an audio wall hack using these.
 
smodtactical said:
Ok guys I picked up the Superlux 668B and so far I'm really liking them. But I'm still thinking of my next upgrade from these.

Thanks for your suggestions. I will look into the sennheiser 558 and 518, I guess 555 as well. I'm also interested in the ATH-m50 since its so highly recommended as a standard audiophile headphone but people say the soundstage is not very good on it so might not be as good for gaming.

I'm also looking at the beyerdynamic dt990 pro 250 ohm version. Seems people say its quite good in terms of sound, bass and soundstage.

Any thoughts on these?
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Guess spaceman has already covered what I would reply back with.

+1 on the Superlux. Fairly neutral but imo good value for the sound performance.

+1 on the Sennheiser HD558, get this, get a $10-15 Zalman or equivalent mic's mod it on the headphone, be sure to remove the foam disc from the 558, for an expansion in the soundstage and increased clarity.

-1 on the ATH-M50, they are overhyped and slightly bright with recessed treble, soundstaging and imaging is poor.

-0 if you want the DT990's, I recommend the 600ohm premium edition, but you need an amp. That's all I can say as your not ready to take that upgrade path yet.
 
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