Introduction
We’ve talked about gaming as a hobby and why we love it so much, however, it’s been a while since we did a gadget review.
In this article, we’re going to be looking at the best closed-back audiophile headphones that are commonly used for music production that can be used for gaming too.
You may be asking why would you want to use audiophile headphones for gaming, and to be honest, the answer is quite obvious.
Audiophile headphones offer better sound reproduction, offer greater frequency ranges, and can even improve your results in gaming because they make it easier to know where enemies are.
The only drawback is that most audiophile headphones don’t come with mics attached, however, we have a solution for that below which we’ll iterate on.
Want to Own the Competition? Here are 8 of the Best Closed-Back Headphones for Gaming
We recommend grabbing an Antlion Mod Mic as most of the headsets won’t have dedicated microphones. It’s an attachable studio-quality microphone for communicating with your teammates and friends.
1. Status Audio CB-1 – Most Budget-Friendly
Notable Features
- Cheap and powerful
- Comfortable design
If you’re wanting something cheap and cheerful then the CB-1 headset is the best option for you.
Don’t let the cost fool you though as you’ll still get large 50mm drivers to power your audio needs and they’re actually well-reviewed by the people who’ve bought them including audio professionals.
In fact, getting any kind of studio-grade headphones will usually net you a better audio experience than you would get on a gaming headset.
Better yet, these headphones come with a 3.5mm jack meaning you can easily plug them into your PC, however, they do have a converter in case you need to use them for music production needs too.
Lastly, they’re built with comfort in mind and you should be able to game on these all day without experiencing soreness as they have some nice thick padding on both the ear cups and the headbands.
2. AKG Pro Audio K72/K92 – Cheapest “Big Brand” Studio Headset
Notable Features
- Very cheap for a well-known brand
- Acceptable performance for the price
- Great design for long gaming sessions
If you need something cheap but still reliable then the K92’s from AKG is a great shout if you need closed-back studio quality for your gaming sessions.
In fact, they’re the cheapest closed-back headset on this list, not necessarily because they’re bad, but they do have slightly smaller sound drivers (40mm) which may or may not be enough for you.
Overall, they’ll still provide high-fidelity sound and they’re probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing headsets on this list.
You can easily attach a mod mic too if you need to communicate with your teammates making this a solid choice for any enthusiast.
Similar to some of the other headsets on this list, the expandable band on the headset with the soft cushions on the ear cups make for a great experience for long gaming sessions without discomfort.
3. Meze 99 Classics – Most Unique-Looking
Notable Features
- Made with mature folk in mind
- Unique wooden design
- A little expensive
If you’re going for a certain look or need a headset that looks absolutely exquisite then the Meze 99 Classics will set you apart from everything else.
In fact, this headset has been reviewed by some of the biggest publications on the planet and never seems to fail to impress.
Although the drivers are 40mm which isn’t as large as some of the drivers in the headphones on this list, Meze assures us that the way they design the headphones means there’s no sound leakage and they produce powerful audio.
As an added point, we would recommend against using a mod mic attachment on this headset as we think it would spoil the overall look (which seems to be the purpose for getting this headset).
4. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO – Best Overall
Notable Features
- Supreme comfort
- Solid build
- Best overall for the money
What can we say about the DT 770 Pro’s?
They’re absolutely faultless, reasonably priced, and are extremely comfortable with the soft cushion earcup design.
In fact, if you’re not sure what to pick on this list then these are the ones to go for.
Beyerdynamic has done a great job of giving you everything you need to have a perfect experience during your gaming sessions, especially when you need accurate sound.
In fact, because of the soft material, you’ll get an acoustically pleasant soundscape and one that can accurately pinpoint the enemy footsteps with ease.
You’ll also find it easy to attach a Mod Mic because of the straight-forward rounded design of the ear cups meaning you can turn these into an effective gaming headset for chatting on Discord or other communication mediums.
5. Sennheiser HD 569 – Good Alternative to the DT 770 PRO
Notable Features
- Slightly cheaper than the DT 770
- Closely matched performance to the DT 770
- Nice deep bass
Another behemoth in the audio world is Sennheiser who has been making audio products for years.
They’re well-respected as a company and even back their headphones up with a generous 2 year warranty in case of defects.
The Sennheiser HD 569 offers a similarly exquisite experience to the DT 770’s and offers deep bass levels with a spacious soundscape.
Our only gripe with this headset compared to the DT 770 is that they don’t feel as robust or as premium, however, they still have an enticing design that looks great when worn.
6. Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro – Most High-End
Notable Features
- High-end professional solution
- Crisp sound
- Extremely comfortable
- Very Expensive
If you need the absolute best of the best then the DT 1990 Pro’s are the only headset you’ll ever need and they even come with a generous 2-year warranty to protect you against defects.
For gaming, we think they’re a little overkill hence why we still think the lower model (DT 770) is a better choice for the money.
However, if you want no compromise and want absolute precision when it comes to sound in your games then there can be no other choice.
The DT 1990 Pro’s offer supreme accuracy, expansive soundscapes, and crystal-clear crispy bass which is an absolute joy to listen to and really helps bring your games to life.
7. AKG Pro Audio K553 MKII – Great For Storage and Portability (Folding)
Notable Features
- Stores easily
- Foldable
- Very portable (good for laptop gaming)
- Lightweight
If you need a studio headset that offers excellent sound quality with portability then the K553 MKII from AKG is the perfect headset.
In fact, for laptop gaming, we think these might just be the best choice as they’re also very lightweight making them easy to carry around.
They feature the same signature AKG design that we see on the majority of their headsets with the rounded headband attachment on the ear cups with the bold AKG logo.
8. Sennheiser HMD 300 PRO-XQ-2 – Pre-Installed Microphone Option
Notable Features
- One of the only studio headsets with a microphone attached
- Unique design and coiled cabling
- Foldable
If you want a studio headset that already comes installed with a microphone then the HMD 300 Pro-XQ-2 is the best option.
Personally, we think mod mics do a great job when attached to a studio headset, however, we know some people can’t be bothered for the extra fuss.
For the number of features you’re getting on this headset we think they’re quite reasonably priced and offer a similarly great sound experience as some of the other offerings on this list.
You’ll also be happy to know, similar to a mod mic, the microphone can be removed if required meaning you can also use it for the purposes of listening to audio only such as when you’re on a commute or working on music productions rather than gaming.
With that said, we’ve heard mixed reviews about the microphone so we still think you might be better with one of the other options on this list with a dedicated mod mic.
Our Favorite Closed-Back Studio Headset for Gaming
Our favorite offering on this list has to be the DT770 Pro’s from Beyerdynamic and that’s because they offer exquisite sound quality, comfort, and are reasonably priced for what you’re getting.
Combine that with an attachable modmic and you’ve got one of the best gaming headsets on the planet.
They’re also manufactured in Germany meaning you’re getting parts that are manufactured to a high standard.
Is Beyerdynamic a good brand?
Yes, Beyerdynamic offers high-level audio equipment for studios and for monitoring purposes that are manufactured to a very high standard.
Typically, you’ll also receive a generous warranty in case of defects which should further reassure you about buying products from Beyerdynamic.
Is Beyerdynamic good for gaming?
Yes, because of the studio sound quality, Beyerdynamic headsets are a great solution for your gaming needs and will be able to offer excellent audio reproduction and precision to make your games come to life.
As we mentioned, you can also attach a Mod Mic from Antlion meaning you can transform your Beyerdynamic headset into a fully-fledged gaming headset that trumps the competition.
Relevant Articles
- Are Headphones Necessary for Gaming? (A Snapshot Overview)
- Best Gaming Headset for FPS – Top 11 (Locate Your Enemy With Pinpoint Precision)
Conclusion
Studio headsets that are closed-back are excellent for gaming.
They isolate the audio meaning you won’t annoy others around you and they’re typically more accurate in terms of sound compared to their gaming counterparts.
They’re also priced quite well and aren’t much more expensive than gaming headsets meaning it’s a better choice overall in our opinion.
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