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Showing 1 of 1924 conversations about:
JustANobody
49
Dec 5, 2016
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Should I get these or the AKG K553 Pro Studio Headphones or gaming/music listening?
Mynny
81
Dec 5, 2016
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JustANobodyThese for gaming, AKG for music listening. AKGs are better overall, but I recommend getting some amplifier with bassboost for them.
JustANobody
49
Dec 5, 2016
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MynnyThanks mate, I'm getting a mod mic for my headphones to turn it into a headset. I'm leaning to stay with HiFi because I've got no experience with an amplifier and proboaly won't notice much change.
Willypower
0
Dec 5, 2016
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JustANobodyBetter for gaming in terms of immersion and sound space, or in just raw clarity in the highs and mids? I'm not necessarily looking for competitive gaming audio, just audio that is immersive, well spaced, and that gives that right balance of bass and clarity in music as well. It would seem like the AKG are better for me though at the end of the day.
Mynny
81
Dec 5, 2016
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WillypowerHE350 have great soundstage + above average imaging (you hear where exactly is the source of a particular sound), and stronger bass than AKG553. They feel faster as well (sound does not tend to blend together so much). This makes them a great choice for gaming, but I never got to like them for music. One track sound superb, another just awful.
AKGs feel "intimate" - great clarity and high details for melancholic music, folk, dreampop. You can listen for hours without feeling fatigued. On the other hand, they are too slow and do not have enough bass for metal/rock. I don´t think that they need expensive amplifier, but they benefit from decent hardware bassboost (Fiio A3 is enough), as they have high quality bass, but with limited quantity. It can likely be EQ´d by software, but HW is always better than SW :)
AKGs feel "intimate" - great clarity and high details for melancholic music, folk, dreampop. You can listen for hours without feeling fatigued. On the other hand, they are too slow and do not have enough bass for metal/rock. I don´t think that they need expensive amplifier, but they benefit from decent hardware bassboost (Fiio A3 is enough), as they have high quality bass, but with limited quantity. It can likely be EQ´d by software, but HW is always better than SW :)
Willypower
0
Dec 5, 2016
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MynnyWell, shit, I find myself at quite the crossroad here then! See, I'm all for that warm and intimate sound, like I really really am and as such it would seem the AKGs would do me well. A nice bass boost would do me really well too though I honestly can't afford an amp on top of that so I don't think that will happen until some time unfortunately. But at the same time having some level of space around me is something I do enjoy too, not more than that warm and intimate sound though so as long as those qualities are well balanced I'm all in (and apparently the AKG does sort of have both though certainly more of the intimate which I'm fine with). But since I game a fair amount and have spent a good amount into my gaming rig too it would be nice to make the most of that so, it would then make sense to get the 350s instead. But if I'm sacrificing music I'm not in for it and since I have a very varied music taste a lot is gonna sound good and a lot is gonna sound terrible. But if you have the time, could you elaborate on just how they sound inconsistently awful? Like what does it randomly lack on and at what kind of tracks?
Either way since I'm upgrading from a pair of Marshall Major 1s I think both options might be an upgrade on both gaming and music ends, though the AKG would probably be the safer and better all around upgrade perhaps.
Either way since I'm upgrading from a pair of Marshall Major 1s I think both options might be an upgrade on both gaming and music ends, though the AKG would probably be the safer and better all around upgrade perhaps.
Mynny
81
Dec 5, 2016
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WillypowerIntimate - yes. Warm - not so much. Hard to describe :) The overall sound of AKGs is very neutral with slight lack of bass.
HE350s remind me of a South Park Character - Tweek. So much treble energy and "nervosity". Sometimes it helps and provides extra sparkle (Marylin Manson, The Raconteurs), but more often the song feels unballanced or even weird (with tiny female vocals or slow tracks, where AKG excels). Maybe if you are used to having music as background with low volume, they are not so bad even for music. But higher volumes and concentrated listening will often feel unpleasant.
I think that if you do not need huge amount of bass, AKGs will do a fine job when gaming, their soudstage is very good among closed headphones.
HE350s remind me of a South Park Character - Tweek. So much treble energy and "nervosity". Sometimes it helps and provides extra sparkle (Marylin Manson, The Raconteurs), but more often the song feels unballanced or even weird (with tiny female vocals or slow tracks, where AKG excels). Maybe if you are used to having music as background with low volume, they are not so bad even for music. But higher volumes and concentrated listening will often feel unpleasant.
I think that if you do not need huge amount of bass, AKGs will do a fine job when gaming, their soudstage is very good among closed headphones.
Willypower
0
Dec 5, 2016
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MynnyWell since the AKG does seem like the overall best fit for me, where I won't lose gaming nor music with them as my upgrade, and will get a fair upgrade on all departments in sound quality - PLUS having them be comfortable for long concentrated listens which I do typically have rather often, I'm only a little worried about one thing and that is the lack of bass since I would probably want that just to sort of round out that good quality: So, is an amp then the only way to compensate, and what would be the absolutely most cheap option available out there for that bass boost?
mattris
1266
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 5, 2016
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WillypowerMy advice is to pass on the HE-350s. Their incorrectly-tuned treble is fatiguing with all types of music, and they're uncomfortable (ear-pads not plush, openings that are not big enough or ear-shaped, tight head-camp, etc.).
On the other hand, the AKG K7XX headphones are versatile with music and very pleasant to listen to. As for comfort, some would say their velour/memory-foam pads are too big... and that their clamp to not strong enough. For most people, these attributes will be most appreciated, especially with long gaming (or music listening) sessions.
Though, you will need a DAC/amp to get much better sound quality (and volume) than your computer's headphone jack can offer. If your PC's motherboard (or sound card) has an optical (red laser) out, I recommend you have a look at the SMSL SD-793II: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-sd-793ii-dac-amp
With it you simply connect the SMSL unit to your computer with a standard optical cable for instant, much-improved sound - without the hassle of installing drivers or software.
On the other hand, the AKG K7XX headphones are versatile with music and very pleasant to listen to. As for comfort, some would say their velour/memory-foam pads are too big... and that their clamp to not strong enough. For most people, these attributes will be most appreciated, especially with long gaming (or music listening) sessions.
Though, you will need a DAC/amp to get much better sound quality (and volume) than your computer's headphone jack can offer. If your PC's motherboard (or sound card) has an optical (red laser) out, I recommend you have a look at the SMSL SD-793II: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-sd-793ii-dac-amp
With it you simply connect the SMSL unit to your computer with a standard optical cable for instant, much-improved sound - without the hassle of installing drivers or software.
Willypower
0
Dec 5, 2016
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mattrisBut the problem is price at that point. Since I can't find this pair in Sweden, like, at all, and since the Massdrop is over, I literally have no idea how much they cost and if I can #1 afford them and #2 can even find them available at a good price (like Massdrop, if it shows up again).
Selfish_Android
215
Dec 6, 2016
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WillypowerIf you like detail and soundstage i think the HE350 are better, this are bright headphones, a majority of people dont like bright headphones, thats why theres so many negative reviews even though you can tame the treble with some very easy to do mods, like buying better earpads.
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