I typically don't recommend gaming brand headphones in general for the same reason I don't recommend Beats (overpriced, but at least some gaming headphones have credibility). The $300 Astro A40, for example, is a pretty respectable headphone with above average SQ, but the same sound can be achieved by a $120 Sennheiser/Ultrasone/Beyer/AT. The setup I used to have for gaming on the 360 went as such: Audio Technica ATH-AD700 ($100) + Astro MixAmp ($100) + Detachable Mic ($5). It's a $200~ setup, but it's definitely the best setup under $300, and I'd go as far as to say its much more versatile than the A40 or whatever SteelSeries headphone is at the range. Even the guys in the HackForums Xbox 360 forums agreed. It sports the typical Audio Technica V-shaped frequency response which is ideal for gaming and movies, but its a bit more focused on the bassier side, and its very revealing with a soundstage that is the best in class due to its open-air design that won't disappoint.

Budget: $10-$100
Music Preference: Rock/Trance/Piano/Acoustic.
Form Factor (Type): In-Ear.
Open-backed or close-backed (not for IEMs): N/A
Source (MP3 player/desktop/etc): iPhone/Laptop
What's above everything else? - Sound quality.

Budget: 100$-250$
Music Preference: Rap and Country
Form Factor: Full-Size
Open backed or closed back (not really a preference)
Source: MP3 player
Sound quality and and a cool looking design/look

Thanks so much for your help man. I've been trying to decide over a nice pair of headsets for awhile now and I'm glad I saw this thread! Thanks!

So is Astro the best brand for gaming headsets? All I ever see is Turtle Beach or Tritton.
What about a budget headset for under $100? The Astros look nice but pricey.
I just want something I can wear at night without waking everyone up with the tv volume.

The Audio Technica ATH-AD700 is $100 and you can just plug it into the TV the way you'd plug in any regular headset, the mic+Mixamp itself is $130. But if you're just looking for regular headphones for gaming minus the mic, AD700 is highly recommended. I usually just put the stock mic on top of my headphones.

If you want a headset with a mic under $100, I suppose Turtle Beach X12s or some other gaming headphone brand like Tritton or Steelseries will do you justice, but I can't personally recommend them for their sound quality. Astro doesn't have any options under $100 except their in-ears (which I actually thought were good).

So I guess in short, AD700 for pure sound quality; Turtle Beach X12/Trittons for the inline mic.

Thanks :)

I suppose I'll do all three while I wait for Katawa Shoujo to download, so here goes (also I won't be typing essays anymore, just generalities; I'm not a salesman):

Honestly, I cannot think of a sub-$120 on-ear open-backed headphone that will excel in your tastes. If it was mainly punk, I'd definitely hit you up with some Grados, but... I can either recommend an open-backed full-size for your needs, or I can recommend a closed-back on-ear. Which would you rather prefer? I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

I'm going to hit you with something a bit higher up in your range but not too high. I will recommend the Etymotic MC5 - an IEM that's a fantastic all-rounder. It sports a very tight, clean (but not too boomy) bass that doesn't leak into the midrange as much as most bass-oriented headphones tend to do. The star, redeeming quality on this set, however, is the midrange. Although the highs are not that sparkly, the midrange is so clean, lifelike and forward. They'll bring a warm feeling to your music, perfect for acoustic and trance, that I'm sure won't disappoint.

Oh, did I mention the sound isolation? It's ridiculously good. Etymotic Research is most famous for their incredible noise cancellation/isolation that they set the golden standard that still has not been passed for noise isolation. With the regular silicon eartips, the MC5 isolates up to 42 dB of surrounding noise. If you want to go even further, you can buy $100 custom ACS eartips (lol don't, I feel like a salesman again just buy the ****ing headphone) that will isolate up to ~60 dB. The noise isolation is so powerful that Etymotic had to create an app that reduces sound isolation for outdoor safety. Ridiculous.

I just wrote a paragraph on noise isolation. wow.

Oh you mother ****er.

Leave all the headphones, and buy grado iggys! (They're in-ear buds) Best I've ever heard, even over all headphones.

The Grado iGi is pretty damn good, but I wouldn't call it the best.

Just randomness, but if you are on a 20$ budget you can get Skull Candy FMJ for 20$ on Ebay. A 70$ Value but can't be resold in stores due to packaging blemishes. This does not effect the earbuds in anyway and sound just as good as beats imo.

I actually took advantage of that deal a while back, but I can't say I enjoyed them. There are other really nice headphones below $20, esp. the $10 Monoprice 8320. I guess the FMJ is alright, since I managed to tolerate it for a month or two.

I have a feeling that the Audio Tech ATH-M50 would be good for you, but I never really enjoyed it with rap... I'm going to point you towards the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32 OHMS, and make sure you get the 32 ohms version and not the 250 ohms model. If you end up with the 250 ohms, your computer/iPod/whatever won't be able to power it and it'll sound like **** and you'll be like OMG TALON RECOMMEND BAD HEADPHONE REPORTED. Anyway, I think these headphones are good for rap and country for the signature Beyerdynamic forward V-shape sound. The lows bleed a little into the midrange and blend in for a nice, boomy sound with the trebles remaining prominent - a sound that isn't typical in sub-$100 headphones.


Also, they look great. Wouldn't mind being caught outside with them by a Beats supremacist as opposed to something like a Grado SR-80i. Sexiest headphone ever still goes to the Sennheiser HD700.

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/media/p...IntroImage.png

Buy it for me. Someone. Everyone.

What would be better then? In that price range, for in-ear buds?

HiFiMan RE-0 immediately comes to mind in terms of quality.