Need some advice on buying new headphones

I'm looking to spend around $200 for some new headphones, but I'm not sure which route I should take. I do not mind if whether or not they are on ear or over ear, but I would prefer them to be open back. My uses for them are for gaming and music (mainly hard rock, metal, and electronic) so I would like if they had a solid bass since the music I listen to is often bass heavy.

Another question I had was whether I should buy an external sound card (I don't have any more expansion slot left on my PC), a dedicated headphone amplifier, or plug them into my Receiver (Onkyo ST-3400).

One's that I have already looked at include:

Sennheiser 598 (Or the 558s)

Ultrasone HFI-780

Audio Technica AD700

I'm open to any other suggestons though since I am not that knowledgeable about headphones.

Open and bass-heavy don't really go together.

I have a pair of Klipsch S4s and they're awesome. They're in-ear and have a frequency response of 10Hz-19KHz. The bass is great. I recommend plugging them into the receiver.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826779006

http://www.klipsch.com/image-s4-black-in-ear-headphones

I have a pair of Klipsch S4s and they're awesome. They're in-ear and have a frequency response of 10Hz-19KHz. The bass is great. I recommend plugging them into the receiver.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826779006

http://www.klipsch.com/image-s4-black-in-ear-headphones

Barujin

I actually have those but they are for my ipod. The wire on them is not long enough to reach me from my receiver and I would prefer having headphones rather than ear buds.

Thanks though, they are excellent earbuds though :)

I didn't know open back and bass don't go together, I had read that open back tends to have superior sound quality. I suppose closed back is fine then.BPoole96

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrasone-DJ1-Surround-Professional-Headphones/dp/B000GU77SC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360204477&sr=8-2&keywords=dj1

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrasone-PRO-900-Professional-Headphones/dp/B001F00F0E/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1360204824&sr=1-1&keywords=pro900

Either of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrasone-DJ1-Surround-Professional-Headphones/dp/B000GU77SC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360204477&sr=8-2&keywords=dj1

Bikouchu35

OH, I forgot man! Sorry. Grab some Beyerdynamic DT990's.Wolfetan

I'll check out some reviews for each of these.

Any suggestions as far as how I should set these up? I have an Astro Mixamp that I could plug them into (which I am iffy on the actual quality of since I can barely tell the difference in sound clarity compared to plugging headphones into my motherboard)), or I could buy an FiiO E9 Desktop amp (which I would have to connect to my PC using a 3.5mm jack since my optical-in is being used by my receiver), or I could plug them into my receiver using the 1/4 jack on the front of it.

[QUOTE="Bikouchu35"]

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrasone-DJ1-Surround-Professional-Headphones/dp/B000GU77SC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360204477&sr=8-2&keywords=dj1

BPoole96

OH, I forgot man! Sorry. Grab some Beyerdynamic DT990's.Wolfetan

I'll check out some reviews for each of these.

Any suggestions as far as how I should set these up? I have an Astro Mixamp that I could plug them into (which I am iffy on the actual quality of since I can barely tell the difference in sound clarity compared to plugging headphones into my motherboard)), or I could buy an FiiO E9 Desktop amp (which I would have to connect to my PC using a 3.5mm jack since my optical-in is being used by my receiver), or I could plug them into my receiver using the 1/4 jack on the front of it.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="Bikouchu35"] [QUOTE="Wolfetan"]OH, I forgot man! Sorry. Grab some Beyerdynamic DT990's.Wolfetan

I'll check out some reviews for each of these.

Any suggestions as far as how I should set these up? I have an Astro Mixamp that I could plug them into (which I am iffy on the actual quality of since I can barely tell the difference in sound clarity compared to plugging headphones into my motherboard)), or I could buy an FiiO E9 Desktop amp (which I would have to connect to my PC using a 3.5mm jack since my optical-in is being used by my receiver), or I could plug them into my receiver using the 1/4 jack on the front of it.

Thanks for your input :)

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"][QUOTE="BPoole96"]

I'll check out some reviews for each of these.

Any suggestions as far as how I should set these up? I have an Astro Mixamp that I could plug them into (which I am iffy on the actual quality of since I can barely tell the difference in sound clarity compared to plugging headphones into my motherboard)), or I could buy an FiiO E9 Desktop amp (which I would have to connect to my PC using a 3.5mm jack since my optical-in is being used by my receiver), or I could plug them into my receiver using the 1/4 jack on the front of it.

BPoole96

Thanks for oyur inout :)

So I'm looking at those DT990s and there have different Ohms. From what I understand, the 32ohm version will sound better without an amp or anything, while the 250ohm version would sound better with an amp. Would buying the 250ohm DT990 Pros be a wiser choice. On Amazon, the Pro 250ohm version is $180 cheaper than the 32ohm version. What do you think?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NK344/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=headpreviehea-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0024NK344

http://www.head-fi.org/t/527451/ultrasone-pro-900-appreciation-thread

I will start by saying the bass the Pro 900s provide is phenomenal.  It reaches deep, has great texture and definition, and always maintains solid impact.  The D2000s and DT990s, while both bass oriented cans, cannot touch the bass the Pro 900s produce.  The bass lines in Trance and Drum & Bass have never sounded so amazing.  The best part about the bass in these cans is that, despite its exaggeration, Ive never found it to encroach upon the mids or affect the rest of the spectrum.  It always remains well separated and defined, a trait that is hard to find in headphones.

I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who listens to Electronica, Hip Hop, or Metal, and wants some amazing bass without sacrificing the rest of the spectrum.  A warning though:  Ive read on these forums that many people think the Pro 900s have a strange tonality and really dislike their sound signature. For certain genres, I agree.  I DO NOT recommend these if you listen to jazz, classical, or anything were a very natural presentation is needed.

This is why I am dying to upgrade to these.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/527451/ultrasone-pro-900-appreciation-thread

I will start by saying the bass the Pro 900s provide is phenomenal.  It reaches deep, has great texture and definition, and always maintains solid impact.  The D2000s and DT990s, while both bass oriented cans, cannot touch the bass the Pro 900s produce.  The bass lines in Trance and Drum & Bass have never sounded so amazing.  The best part about the bass in these cans is that, despite its exaggeration, Ive never found it to encroach upon the mids or affect the rest of the spectrum.  It always remains well separated and defined, a trait that is hard to find in headphones.

I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who listens to Electronica, Hip Hop, or Metal, and wants some amazing bass without sacrificing the rest of the spectrum.  A warning though:  Ive read on these forums that many people think the Pro 900s have a strange tonality and really dislike their sound signature. For certain genres, I agree.  I DO NOT recommend these if you listen to jazz, classical, or anything were a very natural presentation is needed.

This is why I am dying to upgrade to these.

Bikouchu35

Damn those seem like they would fit my needs as well, but they are a bit out of my price range :(

[QUOTE="Bikouchu35"]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/527451/ultrasone-pro-900-appreciation-thread

I will start by saying the bass the Pro 900s provide is phenomenal.  It reaches deep, has great texture and definition, and always maintains solid impact.  The D2000s and DT990s, while both bass oriented cans, cannot touch the bass the Pro 900s produce.  The bass lines in Trance and Drum & Bass have never sounded so amazing.  The best part about the bass in these cans is that, despite its exaggeration, Ive never found it to encroach upon the mids or affect the rest of the spectrum.  It always remains well separated and defined, a trait that is hard to find in headphones.

I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who listens to Electronica, Hip Hop, or Metal, and wants some amazing bass without sacrificing the rest of the spectrum.  A warning though:  Ive read on these forums that many people think the Pro 900s have a strange tonality and really dislike their sound signature. For certain genres, I agree.  I DO NOT recommend these if you listen to jazz, classical, or anything were a very natural presentation is needed.

This is why I am dying to upgrade to these.

BPoole96

Damn those seem like they would fit my needs as well, but they are a bit out of my price range :(

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="Bikouchu35"]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/527451/ultrasone-pro-900-appreciation-thread

I will start by saying the bass the Pro 900s provide is phenomenal.  It reaches deep, has great texture and definition, and always maintains solid impact.  The D2000s and DT990s, while both bass oriented cans, cannot touch the bass the Pro 900s produce.  The bass lines in Trance and Drum & Bass have never sounded so amazing.  The best part about the bass in these cans is that, despite its exaggeration, Ive never found it to encroach upon the mids or affect the rest of the spectrum.  It always remains well separated and defined, a trait that is hard to find in headphones.

I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who listens to Electronica, Hip Hop, or Metal, and wants some amazing bass without sacrificing the rest of the spectrum.  A warning though:  Ive read on these forums that many people think the Pro 900s have a strange tonality and really dislike their sound signature. For certain genres, I agree.  I DO NOT recommend these if you listen to jazz, classical, or anything were a very natural presentation is needed.

This is why I am dying to upgrade to these.

Wolfetan

Damn those seem like they would fit my needs as well, but they are a bit out of my price range :(

Just sent him a PM. He does have an insane amount of headphones :P

I wish I could go to his place and test them all lol

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"][QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Damn those seem like they would fit my needs as well, but they are a bit out of my price range :(

BPoole96

Just sent him a PM. He does have an insane amount of headphones :P

I wish I could go to his place and test them all lol

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"] 250 ohm is fine with the reciever. Honestly, make a Head-Fi account real quick, and PM Malveaux, he has never dissapoined me with his headphone recommendations. He recommended me the Beyer DT880, and guess what? I love 'em. http://www.head-fi.org/u/179563/malveaux look at how many headphones he has, thats just insane. Also amps. There was even a thread about Malveaux lovers a while ago on Head-Fi:PWolfetan

Just sent him a PM. He does have an insane amount of headphones :P

I wish I could go to his place and test them all lol

I'll make sure to repost in this thread once I have made a choice and have the headphones in my possession. Thank you for your help!

Just ordered the DT990s :D

B&H Photo had them for $180

Just ordered the DT990s :D

B&H Photo had them for $180

BPoole96

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Just ordered the DT990s :D

B&H Photo had them for $180

Wolfetan

[QUOTE="Wolfetan"][QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Just ordered the DT990s :D

B&H Photo had them for $180

BPoole96

[QUOTE="BPoole96"][QUOTE="Wolfetan"] Did he recommend that?Wolfetan

[QUOTE="BPoole96"][QUOTE="Wolfetan"] Nice man, how many ohms is your DT990? Wolfetan

[QUOTE="BPoole96"][QUOTE="Wolfetan"] Gotcha. Hope you like them man! Glad Mal could help you:D He always helps me anyways.Wolfetan

[QUOTE="BPoole96"][QUOTE="Wolfetan"] Haha, so indepth. Well, report back here to see how your DT990's are!:DWolfetan

[QUOTE="BPoole96"][QUOTE="Wolfetan"] :P What headphone/speakers do you have right now?Wolfetan

Ending up not having to work tonight so I was home when the package came in

They sound AMAZING! Even better that they are incredibly comfortable and I feel like I could forget that I am even wearing headphones lol

Thanks for your help Wolftan!

I'm glad you like them! Yes, tehy are incredibly comfortable, I own the DT880's. If you think the clamp is too much on the Pro's(Theres a Pro and Premium version) you can stretch them out over a couple of books:D