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Purchase Advice for Headphone (< $400) for Music Listening, Watching Movies & Shows, and Gaming

bubblegum2000

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Jan 8, 2025
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Hello, I am looking for a new set of headphones. My last headset was the PC37X. Unfortunately, the left channel on the PC37X no longer has sound (even bought a new cable and the issue persists). I am looking for a replacement headphone with good vocal clarity and a nice bass that is $400 or under.

I was using PCPartPicker to find headphones in my price range. I am also willing of buying headphones not listed on PCPartPicker as well.

I watch a lot of movies and tv shows predominately dramas so vocal clarity is a must. Furthermore, I also want to use my headphones for gaming. I do not need a microphone on the headphone. I just need headphone that will produce good sound for Soulsborne games, RPGs, and horror games (maybe something with an open sound stage with good stereo imaging).

I don't have a specific genre of music I listen too. Although, I have a couple of songs I can share:
 
Hello

Go to "Rtings + Table + neutral sound"


You will have the choice with advanced analyses
 
Hello

Go to "Rtings + Table + neutral sound"


You will have the choice with advanced analyses
Thank you for the reply. My guess is the neutral sound is best for multi-purpose?
 
How about:


They're right up there on the RTings table and currently under £100.00 in the UK: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table
 
Amir liked these no need to spend $400. Agree Sennheiser makes many good ones. Review Index is above left -> Headphones in banner, use search box and column head to sort.
 
Thanks for the replies/suggestions. I am planning on reading Amir's forum post "Understanding Digital Audio Measurements" to better understand the graphs in Amir's reviews. I am newbie to the audiophile hobby just watched Crinacle's Ultimate Guide to Headphones, haha.
 
Thanks for the replies/suggestions. I am planning on reading Amir's forum post "Understanding Digital Audio Measurements" to better understand the graphs in Amir's reviews. I am newbie to the audiophile hobby just watched Crinacle's Ultimate Guide to Headphones, haha.

Crinacle also has a list, although I think he stopped updating it a while back, so its missing some more recent models:


I've tried several headphones and IEMs that Crinacle rates highly and I've really liked them; to the extent that if he likes something, it's highly likely I will too. :)
 
Sure here are more places to overload your brain
 
I'll put in a plug for my favorite inexpensive headphone, the AKG K361. Very netual, Harman curve.
 
Sure here are more places to overload your brain
Oh sweet, that is a lot of resources and my brain is overloaded, indeed.

I was wondering from the daily.audio do you have any recommended news outlets, forums, or youtubers you follow? I was interested in PS Audio YouTube channel as it seems to do educational/explainer content. So I may try to follow that one.

Also found this resource from one of the forum members solderdude:
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/about/subjectivist-objectivist-or-intermediativist/
I will take the quiz and find out which resources I should follow as well, haha.
 
I have narrowed down my decision to the JBL 710BT or the 1Mono Sonoflow for the time being. Maybe later on, I will look into another headset.

Also finished reading Amir's "Understanding Digital Audio Measurements" and checked out the "Graphs 101: How to Read Headphone Measurements" article from crinacle.

I briefly checked out Widescreen Review Magazine which Amir's article was published in which looked pretty interesting so I may subscribe to that magazine...
 
I have narrowed down my decision to the JBL 710BT or the 1Mono Sonoflow for the time being. Maybe later on, I will look into another headset.

Also finished reading Amir's "Understanding Digital Audio Measurements" and checked out the "Graphs 101: How to Read Headphone Measurements" article from crinacle.

I briefly checked out Widescreen Review Magazine which Amir's article was published in which looked pretty interesting so I may subscribe to that magazine...
*1More Sonoflow, whoops
 
Oh sweet, that is a lot of resources and my brain is overloaded, indeed.

I was wondering from the daily.audio do you have any recommended news outlets, forums, or youtubers you follow? I was interested in PS Audio YouTube channel as it seems to do educational/explainer content. So I may try to follow that one.

Also found this resource from one of the forum members solderdude:
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/about/subjectivist-objectivist-or-intermediativist/
I will take the quiz and find out which resources I should follow as well, haha.
PS Audio is one the biggest sellers of snake oil and highly ridiculed by ASR members. My advice avoid. Next to ASR the sites I like most are Erin's Audio Corner and SoundStage Network sites as well as Rtings.com for more consumer oriented stuff, all do through testing. Lots newbies like Darko but he gets mixed feedback here, as he is subjective and does no testing.
Not much of a headphone guy but do have a of the Sonoflow as my travelers for air travel (noise canceling) and cheap price if loss or stolen, and 4-5 IEMs of various brands, many good ones are less than $50. Let others will tell you about best headphone sites, DSP and other related topics for HPs.
 
Head-Fi.org is pretty good, lots of useful information and discussion there about all audio topics, but especially headphones and headphone amps.
 
PS Audio is one the biggest sellers of snake oil and highly ridiculed by ASR members. My advice avoid. Next to ASR the sites I like most are Erin's Audio Corner and SoundStage Network sites as well as Rtings.com for more consumer oriented stuff, all do through testing. Lots newbies like Darko but he gets mixed feedback here, as he is subjective and does no testing.
Not much of a headphone guy but do have a of the Sonoflow as my travelers for air travel (noise canceling) and cheap price if loss or stolen, and 4-5 IEMs of various brands, many good ones are less than $50. Let others will tell you about best headphone sites, DSP and other related topics for HPs.
Okay, good to know about PS Audio. I bookmarked SoundStageNetwork since I like that they have of a database of measurements that I can reference for later purchases. If I go down the rabbit hole of speakers I will get into Erin's Audio Corner.
 
Head-Fi.org is pretty good, lots of useful information and discussion there about all audio topics, but especially headphones and headphone amps.
Thank you, I glimpsed at some of the headphones reviews at Head-Fi (checked out a review of the 1More Sonoflow). I also need to read some of the articles forum users have written.
 
Thank you everybody for your help and helping me navigate the vast world of audio.

I got myself the 1More Sonoflow. 1More also has a Sonoflow Pro, which seems to be an upgrade? However, I went with the standard 1More Sonoflow since it was 15% off versus the Pro model.

I may also continue looking for headphones but I really needed a headset, haha. My PC37X only has one channel that works... The 1More Sonoflow will also be my go-to travel headphones.
 
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