A headphone that is "good for gaming" is commonly misunderstood. Skull-shattering bass might be fun for cinematic experiences, but for competitive gaming and gaining a true edge, you want a headphone that is tuned to allow you to better pick up on direction and environmental cues, to hear your opponent coming long before they hear you, here are some of my favourites.
Welcome
A headphone that is "good for gaming" is commonly misunderstood. Skull-shattering bass might be fun for cinematic experiences, but for competitive gaming and gaining a true edge, you want a headphone that is tuned to allow you to better pick up on direction and environmental cues, to hear your opponent coming long before they hear you, here are some of my favourites.
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Products on this list
Sennheiser
HD 800 S
1999
/
14
Reviews
Combining the care devoted to a handcrafted instrument and the precision of modern manufacturing, the HD 800 S lets you explore your entire music collection from the inside out.
Sennheiser pioneered the world's first open-back headphones with the HD 414 in 1968, which became the bestselling full-size headphone of all time, and later developed the HD 25, evolving from 1980s broadcast use to become the industry standard in DJ booths worldwide. The brand is known for unique engineering approaches, such as integrating high-voltage amplifiers directly into earcups with Carrara marble chassis in the HE 1, developing proprietary ring-radiator transducers and absorber technology to eliminate resonances, and creating the long-running MD 421 microphone that has remained in production since 1960.
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What reviewers think
Product Strengths
- Exceptional soundstage, providing a wide, spacious, and immersive listening experience.
- Excellent detail retrieval and clarity, making it suitable for critical listening and analyzing musical nuances.
- Generally considered a very comfortable headphone due to its lightweight design and spacious earcups.
- Well-tuned midrange, providing a natural and transparent sound.
- Treble response is improved compared to the original HD800, with the implementation of an absorber to reduce harshness.
Product Considerations
- Bass response is often described as lacking in quantity and impact, with a roll-off in the sub-bass region.
- The plastic construction, while contributing to the lightweight design, may not feel as premium as some other high-end headphones.
- The connector sockets for the detachable cable can be fragile and prone to breakage if not handled carefully.
- Treble, while improved, can still be perceived as bright or fatiguing by some listeners, especially at around 6kHz.
- Soundstage depth may be lacking, some reviewers find that vocals can sound like they are coming from inside the listener's head.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Focal Clear Mg: The HD800S is better at resolving details and has a wider soundstage, while the Clear Mg has stronger dynamics and a thicker timbre.
- Vs HIFIMAN HE1000se: Both have a sparkly top end and clear midrange, but the HE1000se is more colored in the bass and mids, the HD800S has a more robust build.
- Vs Audeze MM-500: The MM-500 is more musical, while the HD800S is more analytical, the MM-500 has more slam, and the HD800S is more relaxed.
- Vs Focal Utopia: The Utopia has more treble and midrange presence, punchier bass, and more precise imaging, the HD800S has a wider soundstage and feels more ethereal.
- Vs HIFIMAN HE1000v2: The HE1000v2 has a warmer tonality and more bass presence, while the HD800S has a more detailed treble and sometimes just as spacious soundstage.
Takeaway: The HD 800 S is a top-tier headphone known for its expansive soundstage and exceptional detail, making it great for analyzing music. It is a comfortable choice that can bring out the best in well-recorded tracks.
Video review
About the brand
Sennheiser pioneered the world's first open-back headphones with the HD 414 in 1968, which became the bestselling full-size headphone of all time, and later developed the HD 25, evolving from 1980s broadcast use to become the industry standard in DJ booths worldwide. The brand is known for unique engineering approaches, such as integrating high-voltage amplifiers directly into earcups with Carrara marble chassis in the HE 1, developing proprietary ring-radiator transducers and absorber technology to eliminate resonances, and creating the long-running MD 421 microphone that has remained in production since 1960.
HD 800 S
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Sennheiser
HD 650
579
/
10
Reviews
The HD 650 reproduces the subtle details in your music with the same confidence as the highlights.
Sennheiser pioneered the world's first open-back headphones with the HD 414 in 1968, which became the bestselling full-size headphone of all time, and later developed the HD 25, evolving from 1980s broadcast use to become the industry standard in DJ booths worldwide. The brand is known for unique engineering approaches, such as integrating high-voltage amplifiers directly into earcups with Carrara marble chassis in the HE 1, developing proprietary ring-radiator transducers and absorber technology to eliminate resonances, and creating the long-running MD 421 microphone that has remained in production since 1960.
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What reviewers think
Product Strengths
- Exceptional sound quality with clear, detailed midrange and treble frequencies
- Balanced and natural overall sound signature suitable for various music genres
- Comfortable design with large, padded earcups covered in soft velour material
- Durable build quality with a sturdy plastic frame and replaceable cable and cushions for longevity
- Known for exceptional clarity and great comfort, making them a good value for audiophiles on a budget
Product Considerations
- Proper amplification is required to reach full potential due to its 300-ohm impedance
- It lacks low-bass presence and sub-bass extension, rolling off early at around 80Hz
- Open-back design provides poor noise isolation and leaks sound
- Soundstage is intimate, more closed-in than expected for an open-back headphone
- May sound a little dull due to under representation of sibilance
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. Moondrop Void: Similar bass qualities, but the HD 650 sounds more natural, the Void has better clarity in the mids
- Vs. beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: The DT 990 Pro is more V-shaped, with more bass impact and treble energy, while the HD 650 offers a more accurate sound
- Vs. Sennheiser HD 600: The HD 650 has more bass presence while the HD 600 has a flatter bass response, the HD650 is also more comfortable
- Vs. Sennheiser HD 6XX: The HD 6XX have a more consistent audio delivery with better bass accuracy
- Vs. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: The HD 650 has a more spacious soundstage, but less bass
Takeaway: The HD 650 is a classic headphone with a balanced and natural sound, excellent for enjoying music and suitable for critical listening. Its comfortable design and durable build make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality audio experience.
Video review
About the brand
Sennheiser pioneered the world's first open-back headphones with the HD 414 in 1968, which became the bestselling full-size headphone of all time, and later developed the HD 25, evolving from 1980s broadcast use to become the industry standard in DJ booths worldwide. The brand is known for unique engineering approaches, such as integrating high-voltage amplifiers directly into earcups with Carrara marble chassis in the HE 1, developing proprietary ring-radiator transducers and absorber technology to eliminate resonances, and creating the long-running MD 421 microphone that has remained in production since 1960.
HD 650
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FIIO
FT1
164
/
14
Reviews
The FiiO FT1 offers North American walnut / beech wood ear shells with natural solid wood construction, effectively reducing cavity resonance and minimizing standing waves. Each wooden ear shell features unique grain patterns.
FiiO stands out for integrating unique features into portable audio devices, such as their BTR7 DAC/amplifier with its screen and wireless charging, and their KB3 mechanical keyboard with a built-in DAC/amp. The brand caters to audiophiles seeking personalization through products like their pioneering X7 music player with interchangeable amp modules and their compact R7 desktop system that combines streaming, DAC, and headphone amplification capabilities.
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What reviewers think
Product Strengths
- Shockingly good for the money, a very well-tuned headphone for the price category
- Good bass response that is fun, with lots of thumpiness and impact in the lower sub-bass regions, while maintaining a clean mid-bass region
- Trouble response is fairly target-adherent with a chill character and not overly fatiguing
- Comes with a banger accessories package providing two cables, a carry case, more than a lot of companies are coming out with
- Delivers impressive sound quality across the board, backed by excellent build quality and a generous set of accessories
Product Considerations
- The actual earpad area for the ear is not super great, and it will be felt a little bit on the ear, might be more on-ear than fully over-ear if you have really large ears
- Sound staging is one area that could improve the most, because there is almost none, can sound almost claustrophobic, because everything is happening right here all the time
- Mid-range is not all that exciting to listen to, vocals can be shouty or honk-type sound to certain vocalists
- Build quality feels good for $150, but it would not pass the sniff test for $500, definitely feels like it's a budget device
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The AKG K361 has advantages over the FiiO FT1, like sound staging
- The FT1’s level of midrange fidelity is impressive, rivaling the best mid-fi headphones such as the Sennheiser HD6XX and the Sundara
- It outshines most closed-back classics, including the Sony MDR-7506, AKG K361, and beyerdynamic DT700 Pro X
- The smaller FiiO FT1 was enjoyed even more than the FiiO FT5, since it strikes the right balance between fun, warmth, and technicality, handling tough tracks with much more ease than anticipated
Takeaway: The FiiO FT1 is a surprisingly good closed-back headphone for the money and offers a well-tuned sound signature with good bass response. This headphone is priced at $150 and is surprisingly nice with some great terminations.
Video review
About the brand
FiiO stands out for integrating unique features into portable audio devices, such as their BTR7 DAC/amplifier with its screen and wireless charging, and their KB3 mechanical keyboard with a built-in DAC/amp. The brand caters to audiophiles seeking personalization through products like their pioneering X7 music player with interchangeable amp modules and their compact R7 desktop system that combines streaming, DAC, and headphone amplification capabilities.
FT1
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Truthear
Crinacle Zero: Red
64
/
1
Reviews
ZERO:RED houses double dynamic driver configuration, with a diameter of 10mm and the other diameter of 7.8mm, the mature internal magnetic circuit structure co-worked with flexible polyurethane suspension composite LCP liquid crystal dome diaphragm, but it has total different inner configuration between standard ZERO, which makes RED offer a better objective indicators while meeting the needs of R&D.
Truthear is a brand that has continued to design products not just in response to but in collaboration with the audio community and influential figures such as Headphones.com's 'Listener' and The Hangout's 'Crinacle'. Delivering products that achieve excellent adherence to preferred targets at extremely accessible prices.
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What reviewers think
Video review
About the brand
Truthear is a brand that has continued to design products not just in response to but in collaboration with the audio community and influential figures such as Headphones.com's 'Listener' and The Hangout's 'Crinacle'. Delivering products that achieve excellent adherence to preferred targets at extremely accessible prices.
Crinacle Zero: Red
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