have some questions about some headphones

[jkiejr]

so i am looking to buy a set of headphones for my computer to use for gaming mostly, some listening to pandora, and an occasional youtube video. i have already purchased the blue snowball for my mic, since reading on a lot of forums that headsets often sacrifice quality to either include the mic or to keep cost low.

i am looking for something that sounds great, but i think anything will sound better than my logitech g430. i am also unsure if i want something that is neutral or v shaped or whatever. if possible i would like something that has a little bit of style. i also would like to know if i should get a better sound card or an external dac/amp, since reading some of these forums i have seen that some headphones can benefit from them. lots of people say the schitt M&M combo is nice. my current sound card is onboard on a asus p8z68-v lx. my budget for the headphones is 150 to 200 dollars. the budget for the dac/amp/soundcard if you think i need it is below 300.

i was looking at a few different headphones and see that people really like the akg q 701 (would want the black one not the garish green one). lots of reviews were saying that there is a lot of sound leakage. i was wondering how much and how loud the leakage would be and if it would cause an echo feadback loop when using the blue snowball mic.

 

[dalethorn]

so i am looking to buy a set of headphones for my computer to use for gaming mostly, some listening to pandora, and an occasional youtube video. i have already purchased the blue snowball for my mic, since reading on a lot of forums that headsets often sacrifice quality to either include the mic or to keep cost low. i am looking for something that sounds great, but i think anything will sound better than my logitech g430. i am also unsure if i want something that is neutral or v shaped or whatever. if possible i would like something that has a little bit of style. i also would like to know if i should get a better sound card or an external dac/amp, since reading some of these forums i have seen that some headphones can benefit from them. lots of people say the schitt M&M combo is nice. my current sound card is onboard on a asus p8z68-v lx. my budget for the headphones is 150 to 200 dollars. the budget for the dac/amp/soundcard if you think i need it is below 300. i was looking at a few different headphones and see that people really like the akg q 701 (would want the black one not the garish green one). lots of reviews were saying that there is a lot of sound leakage. i was wondering how much and how loud the leakage would be and if it would cause an echo feadback loop when using the blue snowball mic.

I would add 100 $$ to the headphone and take that much away from the amp. Since you already have a computer and decent soundcard, and your headphone budget plus 100$$ will buy an efficient headphone, your DAC/amp can be a Dragonfly v1.2 or something similar, and that's way more than good enough. Until you're ready for a 1000 $$ planar etc.

 

[drummerman]

I have not heard AKG's 701 but I don't think it is 'v shaped' looking at its frequency response. Neutral and not much bass. -

I didn't really get the AKG 550 when I very briefly listened to it but many rate it very highly. I read some reviews which say it is probably the better balanced phone compared to the 701 mainly due to actually having some bass.

It is now also substantially cheaper than when launched.

I chose a Grado but understand some may not like the sound signature or looks.

 

[dalethorn]

I have not heard AKG's 701 but I don't think it is 'v shaped' looking at its frequency response. Neutral and not much bass. -

I didn't really get the AKG 550 when I very briefly listened to it but many rate it very highly. I read some reviews which say it is probably the better balanced phone compared to the 701 mainly due to actually having some bass.

It is now also substantially cheaper than when launched.

I chose a Grado but understand some may not like the sound signature or looks.

I second this nomination of the K550 (or K553). They seem like a safe bet.