Just an FYI... the Sennheiser PC37X is like an HD 599, with a boom mic, for a crazy good price. These models have a touch more sub-bass than the HD 598, and while they aren’t trunk-rattling-bass-cannons, the PC37X is surprisingly fun for music as well as being great with spacial imaging (especially with surround processing). The $120 Massdrop price is frankly amazing, about half the price of the MSRP on the PC373D they are based on (main difference is the cable and colors).
The Astro A40 are... ok, but they’re half the headphone of the Sennheiser's. Both have soft pads, but the A40’s feel rougher, and the headset is heavier. The bass on the A40 is also much looser, and everything is less detailed and blurred in comparison. The matte plastic on the PC37X feels more premium, and the looks are more understated and mature. The only reason I might like the Astro bundle is for their decent Mixamp Pro, which uses an optical input (if your console still has that) to change Dolby Surround into Dolby Headphone, and make a surround sound that works with any stereo headphone... but you can also do that processing with a few other devices.
My first full-sized headphones were the Audio Technica AD700 (Purple Slayer!!), and they’re pretty much the opposite of the Astro A40. Great value for the dollar when I got them for $80 (good luck doing that now), amazing detail, crispness, soundstage and imaging, with a light touch on the tight bass. Yes, these headphones have bass, but it’s like an underfed bone-y bass, which does take away emphasis from non-tactical sounds but I’ve found it is entirely possible for a headphone to have good imaging and a balanced amount of bass. The AD700 was also easy to power and not require strong amps to present good positional depth. Ultimately, to use a gaming term, this is a min-max Headphone, which sacrificed a couple things to meet a very specific, colored result.
The Fostex T50RP mk III is a nice sounding headphone... but it also is the least efficient, hardest to drive Headphone I have ever used in my personal collection. the iPhone 6S has/had decent audio above most laptop and android phones (the recent LG phones could be the exception) and a stronger amp, but at max volume it was only just reaching my normal listening volumes... and some recordings were still too quiet. Meanwhile, the PC37X sounds great at 50% or one notch below.
consider that fact if you don’t have an amp yet and intend to connect straight to a motherboard or controller. The looks and comfort still apply here... if you’re going to enjoy any gaming marathons, that’s really important.
I also have an HD 800, HD 599, AKG K712 and K612, and honestly so many more headphones. The other option from that group that I could consider recommending is the K612, which was my main gaming and musicheadphone for years... but I am of the opinion that the PC37X is more comfortable, and a more complete package with the mic and detachable cable. I still have the K612, but I haven’t listened to it since, like... March this year? It still remains a great headphone, I just don’t reach for it.
My main headphone right now is the HD 800 (if you’ve got something like that, it’s hard not to keep coming back to it!), but the PC37X is still so easy and optimal for gaming that I usually game with that.
The Astro A40 are... ok, but they’re half the headphone of the Sennheiser's. Both have soft pads, but the A40’s feel rougher, and the headset is heavier. The bass on the A40 is also much looser, and everything is less detailed and blurred in comparison. The matte plastic on the PC37X feels more premium, and the looks are more understated and mature. The only reason I might like the Astro bundle is for their decent Mixamp Pro, which uses an optical input (if your console still has that) to change Dolby Surround into Dolby Headphone, and make a surround sound that works with any stereo headphone... but you can also do that processing with a few other devices.
My first full-sized headphones were the Audio Technica AD700 (Purple Slayer!!), and they’re pretty much the opposite of the Astro A40. Great value for the dollar when I got them for $80 (good luck doing that now), amazing detail, crispness, soundstage and imaging, with a light touch on the tight bass. Yes, these headphones have bass, but it’s like an underfed bone-y bass, which does take away emphasis from non-tactical sounds but I’ve found it is entirely possible for a headphone to have good imaging and a balanced amount of bass. The AD700 was also easy to power and not require strong amps to present good positional depth. Ultimately, to use a gaming term, this is a min-max Headphone, which sacrificed a couple things to meet a very specific, colored result.
The Fostex T50RP mk III is a nice sounding headphone... but it also is the least efficient, hardest to drive Headphone I have ever used in my personal collection. the iPhone 6S has/had decent audio above most laptop and android phones (the recent LG phones could be the exception) and a stronger amp, but at max volume it was only just reaching my normal listening volumes... and some recordings were still too quiet. Meanwhile, the PC37X sounds great at 50% or one notch below. consider that fact if you don’t have an amp yet and intend to connect straight to a motherboard or controller. The looks and comfort still apply here... if you’re going to enjoy any gaming marathons, that’s really important.
I also have an HD 800, HD 599, AKG K712 and K612, and honestly so many more headphones. The other option from that group that I could consider recommending is the K612, which was my main gaming and musicheadphone for years... but I am of the opinion that the PC37X is more comfortable, and a more complete package with the mic and detachable cable. I still have the K612, but I haven’t listened to it since, like... March this year? It still remains a great headphone, I just don’t reach for it.
My main headphone right now is the HD 800 (if you’ve got something like that, it’s hard not to keep coming back to it!), but the PC37X is still so easy and optimal for gaming that I usually game with that.