Audio-Technica - ATH-M30x

Maybe the low end Audio Technicas? The M50s are kind of the standards, but the M40s and M30s are good too. It's $150 for M50, $100 for the M40, and $70 for the M30. I think you'll get most of the way there with the 30s, they're comfy and lightweight, good familiar response.

I see the audio Technicas being worn by everyone across the music industry. Last night watching that new Taylor Swift docu-series with my wife, she had them on along with Max Martin while recording her newest album. They are not just a great value. They're workhorse headphones. But after a while the vinyl on the headband and earcups will start to flake. I bought new earcups for mine a few years ago for like 20 bucks. Brought em back to life. And I actually had the first version of them before the cable was removable and gave them to my brother after there was a fire at his place. I bought them in college (around 2008 or 2009) and they are still going strong.

No one here said Hexa is endgame or flagship-tier. What I did say and still stand by is that it delivers audiophile-level sound quality (i.e., high-fidelity, neutral tuning, detailed mids) for under $100, especially when compared to the bloated, muddy tuning of most gaming headsets. And that’s objectively true unless you’re redefining “audiophile” as “$300+ only,” which is just gatekeeping and uninformed like i stated earlier. Also, mocking gear as “Chinese” as if that disqualifies performance is just lazy. You realize brands like Hifiman, SMSL, Topping, and Moondrop are all Chinese and respected across audiophile communities? Price-to-performance from Chi-Fi is why the landscape has shifted so hard the past five years. OP has a Rode mic great, so that already frees him from needing a headset mic. The question was headphones or headset under $100 with audiophile sound for gaming, and yeah, Truthear Hexa or Moondrop Aria absolutely check that box. Just because something isn’t your preferred form factor or price tier doesn’t mean it’s “trash.” If you’ve actually listened to Hexa or Zero Red with a proper DAC and still feel that way, fair enough. But if you’re just dismissing it from the spec sheet and origin country, that says more about you than the gear.

Here’s my list of recommendations Headphones Audio technica ATH M30 or M40x AKG K240 Phillips SPH9500 Sennheiser HD 599 on sale you can get these around 100$ If your open to IEMs there is a ton for under 100$ that are leagues ahead of most gaming headsets.

This is exactly the setup I use, Spark Go to ATH-M30X. Was planning on getting the Spark Neo this week, but there’s no stock here in Hong Kong and I have to order.

It was locked to off, so I assume it's a support thing, though what it supports is beyond me. My buddy said that his PS5 Pulse headset supported it, or at least he was able to toggle the setting on. Either way, not an option on my M30x. Maybe it needs a USB connection?

I like closed backs, but with a kid and wife I need to be able to hear if someone shouts to avoid the wife being too angry with me for playing games so much, haha. I end up playing with one cup off if I am playing during the day with my M30x. At night the full immersion is fine, but I'd like something I can play with full stereo sound during the day too, lol.

Budget is variable. For reference I was looking at HD6xx, ModMic (either wired or wireless dependant on DAC/AMP having a mic-in), and a budget DAC/AMP. I used to use HD558s, a Blue Yeti, and a Micca Origin. The 558s can be refurbed easily, but I need something else for the Blue Yeti as I don't want to deal with a mic arm nowadays, and the Micca Origin was dead when I plugged it in. Open backs are vastly preferred. PC gaming, though PS5 compatibility is a plus, as if I get a new console anytime in the future it will be a PS5. Discrete mic is fine, but it needs to be able to sit on my desk, or be attached to the headphones in some way. My Blue Yeti works, but sounds like crap unless it's within a few inches of my face, and it's not something I want to deal with during my shorter gaming sessions, compared to my old marathon sessions with friends when I was younger.

I have m30x and also not much comfortable at the begining whe lie in the bed, but with some days I'am quite used to it. But fter 1 hour of listening, my ears and face will be stamped

ATH m30x is the only good choice here imo

Ath m(30,40,50)x Wouldn't recommend since yoh have senns and beyers, honestly. Build quality is cheap and sound isnt worth the price (at least these 3 models)

Lemme guess.. oval pads instead of rectangular because it's the same thing on the ATH-M*0X, MDR-7506, and many more, which is probably good for serviceability, but it's so off with the rest of the design.