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Try it. No measurement in the world is going to tell you what sounds better to you.
Agreed. I have the Aorus Gaming 5 board with the ALC1220 120dB SNR HD Audio. It sounds really good to me, but that doesn't mean someone else would agree.
As headphones and prices have evolved, it's hard to argue for any Sennheiser other than the Massdrop pair. They do have a unique presentation but they're not for everyone; still, my HD600 are staying right here mainly out of the balance / detail / comfort combination they represent.
Have a similar solution on an Asus Z170 board. Powered my 250Ω DT880s and 300Ω HD600 cans more than well enough!
.Saved this for last -- I can't really recommend against this setup objectively for gaming. Only consideration is that they're both open, and that may be something the OP should think about.
alphaqforever247,
Consider letting the SHP9500 break in for a night playing on whatever music you deem normal at normal volumes before you give them a critical listening session. I generally think headphone drivers may need a little time to break in and loosen up the driver surround material. I know some say this is you getting used to it, vs. breaking in the 'speaker' - but I'm not listening during that time, so I throw that antidote out. I just put them on my desk and let them do their thing at a moderately loud, safe volume. When I come back the next day I usually like the sound incrementally better than when I listened to them out of the box.
Maybe placebo, who knows. It's really hard to measure headphone FR or sound quality for a layperson. I'll fully admit it may be nothing but superstition, but I do it, for the various headsets I've owned, and I think its of valuable enough advice to casually mention it here.
When I first heard the SHP9500 out of the box new, I thought what's all the rave about? These don't sound quite as good as my Sennheisers (just as I expected prior to hearing them, being a huge sennheiser fan for like 15 years), but I put it on my desk and let it play overnight, and then gave it a listening session the next day and came away quite impressed from that second session -- these $75 headphones, are at least equal to my $300 retail sennheisers, I then felt, and have felt ever since.
(Placebo? Couldn't tell you, but that's my take).
Which zalman mic did you pick up? If it doesn't attach to the headphones, I'd probably still encourage you to pick up the modmic at some point. It goes together with the SHP9500 like bread and butter. Just a fantastic setup for ~$100.