AKG - K701

K701 for me did the trick since they first came out. It was like a whole different experience. That soundstage!! Never tried Q701 but I've tried a lot of AKGs later on and I really like them. Sadly all of them with this headband style are slowly going bad (elastic bands wearing off and plastic sliders cracking making noises etc) and after years they're a bit uncomfortable.

I’d be interested to hear how they stack up to the HD630VB headphones that were released about 10 years ago. I have the HD630VB and I LOVE them but reviewers and audiophiles at the time completely ripped them apart. I think the “variable bass” aspect angered some purists but it’s actually really useful to be able to fine tune the bass response sometimes. The fixed cable was also a complaint, which obviously won’t be an issue with the HDB630. To me, the HD630VB sound better than AKG K701 and Airpods Max for what it’s worth. I still use them all the time because you can just chuck them about or fold them up and put them in your bag. They do look pretty tacky though, which might have contributed to the poor reviews.

I will say AKG K701 great sounding cans, the cons: open ones (no much Isolation, in and out) and they need power... not necessarily bestial tube audiophile amps but not cheap DAP direct out.

My setup for tarkov is the same one I use for music production. B650 -> DX1 DAC -> Pioneer SA510 -> AKG K701

These are the common good options for gaming: AKG K 240, 612, (Q) 701, 702 and 712 (all need EQ, but excellent for gaming. Some also need an amp or powerful dongle) Sennheiser HD560s Beyerdynamic DT 770, 990 (need EQ as well) All are more than good enough gaming. 770 is the only closed back on the list. EQ matters more than any sound differences between these. Paying ten times more doesn't offer much. I have over $10k worth of headphones and use AKG Q 701 for gaming.

AKG 701s, Sennheiser HD 599s, Apple AirPods Max, Apple AirPods Pro 2s, Sony MDR-M1s, BeyerDynamic 990s, Audio-Technica AUD ATHR70X, nothing terribly special, but decent. The A50s sound exceptional to me.

Headsets are often very overrated. Separate headphone and mic are far superior and often cheaper as a combo too. And you can swap out either, whenever. Beyer is great as people said, but personally I use AKGs (K701 and K545) for headphones, and some cheapo Trust (Netherlands) mic but it's still much better than non-standalone mics. *AKG is Austrian and used to be made in Austria, but now made in China. Idk what to think of their new headphones tho (mine are 12+ years old), but I hear they have excellent mics.

IMO, the Sundara is the better all-rounder, but the AKG K701 has a larger soundstage. That said, if you had room in your budget, I would just spend a little more to get an Edition XS over the AKG K701. It does the spacious detailed type of sound in a more refined way.

Well, personally I have the akg k701 and hd599, both are audiophile but the hd599 sound very good for games even in btf6, even on a console and without configuring anything. I hope it helps you

This is a good answer. Quality headphones can be repaired if something breaks. Perhaps equally important, they're worth repairing because the cost of buying a new pair is greater than the cost of the repairs. My AKG K701 have lasted me since 2009, and been professionally repaired twice, and I'm only now replacing them for want of something better. I can still use the amplifier and DAC I have, no problem. A good microphone on an adjustable boom or arm, or a tabletop stand, gives better sound quality, comfort and flexibility, and if you buy from a company that makes microphones there's a chance you can get it repaired if it breaks. To give OP an answer, whatever good quality headphones you like (do the research) and a Røde Podcaster microphone, with a stand of your choosing.