Best Competitive Gaming Headset?

[Victimizer]

Hi!
Im looking for the best gaming headset for competitive play. I'm currently playing CS:GO. I don't really have a cap of how much to spend I just want the best

I will be using this on-board motherboard soundcard:

Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H Socket 1155 VGA DVI HDMI 8 Channel.. | Ebuyer.com

I also have this soundcard:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-SoundBlaster-X-Fi-Elite-Pro/dp/B000BF168E
Is it good? Should I use it?
Is it good enough or will I need something else?
Im also aware I might need a clip on Mic for some headsets.

I've been looking at these what do you think of them:
Audio Technica ATHAD700 Open-air Dynamic Headphones ATH-AD700 42005141654 | eBay

Can you guys give me some advice and suggestions please?

EDIT: Just found out I have this soundcard:
I also have this soundcard:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-SoundBlaster-X-Fi-Elite-Pro/dp/B000BF168E
Is it good? Should I use it?

 

[shockre]

this headset: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC...=1347277568&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+pc+360

with this soundcard: http://www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-X...=UTF8&qid=1347277607&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+stx

you asked for the best headset and this is it. it needs headphone amp so it needs better sound card than you have.
if that sound card is too expensive for you (or at the moment), get this one: http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DGX-PCI...=UTF8&qid=1347277737&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+dgx

regarding those headphones that you linked, they are good for gaming - about the same as that headset that i linked, but they are headPHONES, not a headSET which means you need a separate microphone. and that headphones you linked also need a sound card, either of those i linked.

 

[nakedhand]

The Xonar DGX PCI is terrible for headphones... noise issues.

Otherwise good recommendations. Especially if the OP enjoys the Sennheiser sound.

 

[guitarslingerchris]

The PC360 doesn't need a headphone amp at all and moreover the STX has too high an output impedance to really properly match up with it anyways. The AD700 linked in the OP are one of the best choices period for FPS gaming because of their massive soundstage and recessed bass that lets the mids be heard perfectly, footsteps/etc.

A Xonar DX, or D2X if you can find one, is probably one of the best choices for a soundcard that you could make with those headphones. The only combo I would personally put above them, that isn't ridiculously priced, is the AKG K701/K702/Q701 and STX but that would raise the price significantly.

 

[shadyqwerty]

$80 Asus DX (STX only allows Dolby Headphone through amp)
$60 Cheap CMOY Altoid amp
$270 AKG Q701
$35 Antlion ModMic

Total: $445 and you'll have a better setup than 99.9% of those you're playing against.

PS. Pick up a 120hz monitor and you'll be living in ownage city.

 

[spaceman]

Headfi has good used and even new for good prices. The 701 goes for around $200 there.

 

[shadyqwerty]

^^ Very good info bro.

 

[Matthew Kane]

The AD700's have literally no bass but its wide soundstage and treble makes up for it. Avoid if your using it for movies, surround sound gaming, use it for fps games where footsteps is an important factor.

Also if you have a small head, I'm afraid they will not stay on your head properly due to the very large headband frame with the wings.

 

[shadyqwerty]

Big heads FTW!!

Do the AD900's also suffer from a lack of low end quantity? That's just a must for me as I'm trying to balance a phone w/ music and LAN gaming. The A900X seems to be perfect for me.

 

[Matthew Kane]

Big heads FTW!!

Do the AD900's also suffer from a lack of low end quantity?

No, the AD900's are a nice balance between the AD700 soundstage and treble with the AD900's low end response and bass impact of the W1000X. The AD900's sound like the smaller brother of the more expensive AD2000's.

 

[shadyqwerty]

So $ be damned, what would you say is the most balanced/best/comfy closed headphone for gaming 1st?

 

[Matthew Kane]

That is a very hard one. I may be wrong (and I've request for a self ban on my Head-fi account), I don't think their exists such a headphone that is most balanced, comfy and closed headphone for gaming. Best can be eliminated as it can be a objective vs subjective topic and depends on which way you look at it, everyone has different taste and preferences.

There is a thread on Headfi that has a lists of some of the top headphones for gaming but one that is best for gaming that is balanced sounding and comfy is hard to say. There are alot for open but closed....haven't come across one before. But if I were take a gamble, I'd say my vintage Sony MDR CD3000's are pretty damn good for gaming, I've heard a partially modded Fostex T50RP and Smeggy's Thunderpants, they are unique in their own design but the soundstaging and imaging is cramped, cannot comment for the Paradox or the BMF.

 

[shadyqwerty]

Wow, I bet those CD3K's would mate perfectly w/ my old D-25S.

 

[Matthew Kane]

Possibly, the sound of the CD3k's are absolutely lush,crisp and involving especially when paired with the right amp, they are hard to drive but finicky with the signature. They go for around 300-400 on ebay depending on the condition seldomly.

 

[spaceman]

900x or maybe hm5 which is $100 and huge but tough as nails and very balanced.

 

[SonDa5]

I play CS:GO also and use the ATH-AD700 with a Topping TP D2 connected with optical cable from main board. I have the main board realtek HD audio chip disabled in the BIOS and took out all the realtek audio chip drivers so my HD7950 is feeding audio directly to Topping D2 DAC. The sound is wide and clear. I also use the Topping TP D2 to feed a 2.1 speaker set up.

Only complaint about ATH AD700 is that they are open headphones and don't isolate ambient sound at all so you will have to play in a quiet room to get the full benefit. If you are going to be competing in a lan setting with lots of ambient noise I wouldn't get the ATH AD700s because i think the ambient noise will hurt audio quality.