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(More customer reviews)If you are like me you are reading just about every online forum, watching most YouTube videos, and reading every review for the latest gaming/audiophile headsets. I think I've spent close to 4-5 hours on forums alone. Many of the forum debates go between people who know what they are talking about and stupid teenagers either ranting about brand names or repeating what their chubby best friend told them, so to help you make a decision and save you time, I'll summarize most of what is out there.
The most popular and most endorsed audio system is the Astro Mixamp, people disagree on what headset is best for the Mixamp however. It is usually between the Astro A40's and any "audiophile" headphone in the 100-200 price range (Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, etc.).
The Tritton's AX720 are the best budget headset. They do the job but do not match the Astro's sound and versatility (I have not personally tried them, but this is what most say). Opinions about the Turtle Beach's are mixed - some like them but most agree that they are not as good the Tritton's/Astro's and thus are not worth the price (X41).
Be careful when reading forums and pay attention to the posting date. Some are comparing an older version of the Astro system, pre-2009 (they have since updated the Mixamp and I think re-wired the headphones). Also, take note on what system they are using a headset. The Xbox 360 has an inferior sound output compared to high-end PC sound cards. PS3 also has better sound than the Xbox. Some are even using headphone amps. Obviously the source of sound affects the headset. So when people claim "this sucks" or "sounds hollow," while others say "music sounds great," they are using different sources more than likely.
If you are looking for a quality, versatile headset with the best sound, I recommend buying the Astro system and another pair of headphones you think would be better and compare the two, then just return the ones you don't like. It all depends on your setup: Xbox, PS3, PC, etc. They are a bit pricey, but I'd rather spend $200+ on something good than $100 on something sub-par.
The Mixamp is pretty sweet. It's powered through USB or batteries, it is small/light, and it mixes voice/sound like a champ. You can hook it up to pretty much anything and use any headset/headphone you want. I like it especially because it doesn't take up much room and doesn't clog another outlet on my power strip. Right now, there is nothing like it.
The most popular audiophile headphones people are raving about are the Sennheiser 555/595 and the Audio-Technica AD700. I purchased the AD700's, along with the Astro system to see how they matched up. From most of the reviews the $90, AD700's seemed to be the best, either way I just wanted to see how audiophile headphones compared to the A40's. Some have claimed the Sennheiser PC 350's are pretty good too, but again I figured most of the audiophile headphones in this price range are roughly the same, so if the A40's beat one, then I didn't see much use comparing it to another. I used both headphones with and without the Mixamp: Xbox 360, iPod, home JBL Stereo w/digital out, and my DVR w/digital out. I care mainly about sound, so if you want to know about comfort and aesthetics then you'll want to read the countless reviews online. The AD700's are a bit different. They have a larger "soundstage" and the highs are really, really high - almost too high. For games it hurts my ears (MW2), but for music they are pretty nice. The bass is clear and clean but not deep. The A40's sound much better for gaming (better lows, clear highs yet not ear-piercing). And don't forget that the A40's have a built-in mic and accessories. For music the AD700's stand out, but they aren't all that much better than the A40's, especially not enough to give up the mic, mute switch, and accessories. If you go with something like the AD700 you'll have to find a suitable mic for the 360 (another $10-$30) and purchase the Y-adapter from Astro (another $10). Some have rigged a mic to the headset, while others have used a neck mic - I'm too lazy for all that. For me to give up the convenience of the Astro system and create my own headset the sound had better be freakin' spectacular and blow the A40's away...the AD700's did not do this. Sure they sound a bit brighter and have a slightly larger soundstage (they should with 53mm drivers), but it isn't enough to boot-kick the A40's as if they're crap. Again, it all depends on the source. So if you have some sick 5.1 Dolby receiver or a record player (does anyone listen to records anymore?) then you'll probably come to a different conclusion. In order for audiophile headphones to shine you really need a quality source. For the Xbox, iPod, and the everyday CD player the differences between the A40's and AD700's are minimal.
The Astro system is a total package deal. You can connect it to multiple systems and it sounds great with each one. While the AD700's sound a little better with music, I don't think the difference is enough to forgo the convenience and compatibility of the A40's. Personal preference determines which headphone is best, so no one will agree completely. You have to try them out yourself.
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