[HybLeaf]

I've been recently looking into better sound quality.
From what I've seen around here, Sennheiser and Audio technica are highly recommended on here. I believe Sennheiser are the higher quality of the two?

A few question I have are;
-What is the difference between Open and Closed Headphones?
-What kind of sound card should I look for with the "better quality" headphones?

I see some sound card with the red/white audio out. How would I use that with those headphones with a 3.5/2.5 jack?

But I have a small budget roughly ~$200 USD in total for the sound card and headphones, can go over by ~$50ish if needed, but would like to keep it close to $200

I might be able to get a X-FI Titanium HD for $70, if the deal goes through. If not I was thinking the Asus Xonar DX instead? Would those be good cards? And what headphones would go well with that?

EDIT: I forgot to add, its mainly gonna be for gaming and the headphone will be for music outside, but will use on the sound card

Music-wise, I listen to Rock, Acoustic, R&B, sometimes Dub/Trance. Overall in general the standard music listener

but I would also like the positional step sound for the FPS games if possible?

 

[rockosmodlife]

Open headphones refer to the cups around the ears having open porting, so you can more clearly hear sounds around you.

Closed headphones are the opposite. The cups around the ears are solid closed. These, in my opinion, are better for audiophiles.

+ you get more bass with a closed set.

Anyway, this is how I interpreted it. I am going off of how open/closed style headphones are similar to open/closed headsets.

 

[HybLeaf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockosmodlife Open headphones refer to the cups around the ears having open porting, so you can more clearly hear sounds around you. Closed headphones are the opposite. The cups around the ears are solid closed. These, in my opinion, are better for audiophiles. + you get more bass with a closed set. Anyway, this is how I interpreted it. I am going off of how open/closed style headphones are similar to open/closed headsets.

Is there any performance difference? I tend to like bass a lot, but I do still like the highs as well.

Thanks for your reply also

 

[CravinR1]

The highs should be the same on both, but the Bass is better cause you have a larger surface for the vibration

 

[chinesekiwi]

tbh, Rockos has everything wrong.

Open backs are open because it allows the soudnstage to not be influence by the earcups and allows the soundwaves generated out as opposed to the soundwaves being reflected back in with closed headphones. The allows the soundstage to be greater than closed headphones. However as the earcups are open, this results in less isolation from outside noise.

Bass is dependant on the tweaking of the frequency reponse of the headphone driver and has little to do with the earcup design. However with increased outside noise, bass perception suffers.

 

[rockosmodlife]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinesekiwi tbh, Rockos has everything wrong. Open backs are open because it allows the soudnstage to not be influence by the earcups and allows the soundwaves generated out as opposed to the soundwaves being reflected back in with closed headphones. The allows the soundstage to be greater than closed headphones. However as the earcups are open, this results in less isolation from outside noise. Bass is dependant on the tweaking of the frequency reponse of the headphone driver and has little to do with the earcup design. However with increased outside noise, bass perception suffers.

Well, there you go, now I've learned something too! That makes lots of sense. I was right about less isolation though, but it wasn't the true meaning for open headphones.