I’d suggest some open backed headphones for home use. They really change how things sound making them sound a bit more natural especially in games. You can get sub-$100 ones as well. Biggest downside is your can’t really get wireless ones.
Also has anyone else found that BT headsets on Windows don’t work? Windows forces a different driver when you use the mic and everything sounds like crap.
There’s tons of better ones but they go up in price. Also they intentionally bleed a LOT of sound so you can’t wear them places where you need either to isolate your sound or get isolated from other sound. That’s a benefit: if you’re wearing them and the music is low enough or silent, you can hear things normally in the room.
For the BT headsets audio quality, you should be able to change the audio mode as it might be selecting Headset (HSP/HFP) by default which is used when you need to use the microphone. Instead select High Fidelity A2DP mode which will stop the microphone working but give you the proper audio quality.
which will stop the microphone working but give you the proper audio quality.
Yeah, I got the Grado BT headset they had and this was my choice: good audio quality and no mic. Or it actually functions as a headset but the audio quality is so bad it sounds like everything is underwater. I ended up just returning it and if I going back to my wired open-backed headset+mic.
Nice. I got a cheap tube amp recently. I can’t really tell a difference but the fact that it was a headphone amp that also had speaker wire outs was exactly what I needed. So hard to find that.
They had to order it, they actually ordered both 20 and 30, so I could try both of them with my headphones at the shop.
That part was great.
What wasn’t great that the shop did not have a room for such tests, so I was at the counter, with music blasting from every corner, my open headphones, and two different amps made absolutely no difference, specially when one had to be fully disconnected so the other could be plugged in. So a switch took about three minutes, and if there was any difference, I would not be able to hear it. The clerk said something about the big lamp adding some warmth or something, so I took that one.
And the 30 looked so much better. I wish I could try the 20 at home, but I doubt they would let me. Anyway, I have no regrets regarding my purchase, I only regret I have so little time to sit down and listen to music :(
There’s a wireless Ananda. Probably the best sounding wireless headphones, but I’ve been out of the scene for at least a year so there may have been advancements since. Focal Bathys is decent too but not open back iirc
Oof, $800. That’s waaay into audiophile territory. Not worth paying 10x the price to lose the wires. I agree with the op post in that I don’t need that kind of quality. Budget wireless open back headphones are all im looking for.
I tried those but somehow they were the most uncomfortable headphones ever. I’d also have to give up using it’s mic which was half the reason I got them.
Almost forgot about the hifiman deva, it’s been a while since I went looking for wireless open-backs. The cups on those should be much more comfortable than the grados.
If you’re willing to deal with a bit of bulk there are adapters. They look silly but I hear they work fine. Or even better, you could get a portable amp like the Qudelix 5k and just mount it to the headband. This is max silliness and adds a significant amount of bulk, but the 5k also allows for EQ.
Anyway I agree, stick with budget. I fucked up and got way into it and I don’t think it’s improved my life. It’s way less convenient as well. Like with most things in life, better to not stray from accessible options, especially for taste-based things that you might accidentally like too much.
I’d suggest some open backed headphones for home use. They really change how things sound making them sound a bit more natural especially in games. You can get sub-$100 ones as well. Biggest downside is your can’t really get wireless ones.
Also has anyone else found that BT headsets on Windows don’t work? Windows forces a different driver when you use the mic and everything sounds like crap.
stop giving me ideas lmao
Pssss look what I have for you
https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/ananda-stealth-magnet-version.html
stop noooo 😭
(ignores pleas and shares more tech you don’t need :p )
This is what I got in like 2017 and they still are going strong.
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500S-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW?th=1
There’s tons of better ones but they go up in price. Also they intentionally bleed a LOT of sound so you can’t wear them places where you need either to isolate your sound or get isolated from other sound. That’s a benefit: if you’re wearing them and the music is low enough or silent, you can hear things normally in the room.
For the BT headsets audio quality, you should be able to change the audio mode as it might be selecting Headset (HSP/HFP) by default which is used when you need to use the microphone. Instead select High Fidelity A2DP mode which will stop the microphone working but give you the proper audio quality.
Yeah, I got the Grado BT headset they had and this was my choice: good audio quality and no mic. Or it actually functions as a headset but the audio quality is so bad it sounds like everything is underwater. I ended up just returning it and if I going back to my wired open-backed headset+mic.
I can only have open headphones, closed ones make my ears very uncomfortable.
BD DT 1990T Pros are amazing, maybe a bit cleaner than I’m used to.
Just for the kicks I got xDuoo TA-30, and oh my god that looks absolutely amazing, and sounds even better.
I have no idea what I’m doing btw, just buying random things that sounded good at the shop.
Nice. I got a cheap tube amp recently. I can’t really tell a difference but the fact that it was a headphone amp that also had speaker wire outs was exactly what I needed. So hard to find that.
What shop has that kind of gear to try?
They had to order it, they actually ordered both 20 and 30, so I could try both of them with my headphones at the shop.
That part was great.
What wasn’t great that the shop did not have a room for such tests, so I was at the counter, with music blasting from every corner, my open headphones, and two different amps made absolutely no difference, specially when one had to be fully disconnected so the other could be plugged in. So a switch took about three minutes, and if there was any difference, I would not be able to hear it. The clerk said something about the big lamp adding some warmth or something, so I took that one.
And the 30 looked so much better. I wish I could try the 20 at home, but I doubt they would let me. Anyway, I have no regrets regarding my purchase, I only regret I have so little time to sit down and listen to music :(
There’s a wireless Ananda. Probably the best sounding wireless headphones, but I’ve been out of the scene for at least a year so there may have been advancements since. Focal Bathys is decent too but not open back iirc
Oof, $800. That’s waaay into audiophile territory. Not worth paying 10x the price to lose the wires. I agree with the op post in that I don’t need that kind of quality. Budget wireless open back headphones are all im looking for.
Grado makes a wireless set but idk if you’d consider $275 budget pricing.
GRADO GW100x https://a.co/d/esw95s7
I tried those but somehow they were the most uncomfortable headphones ever. I’d also have to give up using it’s mic which was half the reason I got them.
Almost forgot about the hifiman deva, it’s been a while since I went looking for wireless open-backs. The cups on those should be much more comfortable than the grados.
https://a.co/d/2ClAtYI
Oooh neat. I haven’t seen those before. Good price and reviews suggest it doesn’t weigh it towards the BT adapter side. I might grab those. Thanks!
If you’re willing to deal with a bit of bulk there are adapters. They look silly but I hear they work fine. Or even better, you could get a portable amp like the Qudelix 5k and just mount it to the headband. This is max silliness and adds a significant amount of bulk, but the 5k also allows for EQ.
Anyway I agree, stick with budget. I fucked up and got way into it and I don’t think it’s improved my life. It’s way less convenient as well. Like with most things in life, better to not stray from accessible options, especially for taste-based things that you might accidentally like too much.