There are lots of considerations that audiophiles take to ensure that the music they’re listening to has exceptional quality, but you also have to carefully consider what type of music or audio you’re seeking out. The technology that you would use to listen to classical and jazz music is extremely different from what you would use to listen to heavy metal or electronic music. Certain types of headphones and earbuds are better designed for bass-heavy music than the clarity of the high-end frequencies. That’s because the balance between highs and lows range depending on what genre you prefer, as well as what you’re using to listen to music, whether that’s your phone, computer, or other audio-visual devices.
While everyone is looking for a pure listening experience with great headphones, we can more easily group together gaming, electronic dance music (EDM), and rock music due to the modulated bass lines, sound effects, snare pattern, and quicker beats per minute (BPM). It is possible to find the perfect pair of headphones to deliver a quality listening experience across all three genres, but there are a lot of factors that you have to think about when you’re on the hunt for new headphones, including audio quality, connectivity, durability, and comfort. This can be a lot to think about, so we went ahead and put together a buyer’s guide for all the gamer audiophiles out there. If you’re looking for a set of headphones that can fulfill all your listening needs for gaming, take a look at our list for the best audiophile headphones in 2020 for gaming.
 Our Favorite Audiophile Headphones For Gaming
Audio-Technica is one of the most popular and trustworthy brands of headphone manufacturers, and a go-to for audiophiles that range from casual listeners to professionals in the music industry. Because their headphones are usually built with professionals in mind, they focus on delivering high-performance audio quality at still reasonable prices. The ATH-M50x definitely delivers on these objectives of quality and price. It is designed with proprietary 45mm large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils. You’ll get a great mix of crystal-clear highs, rich and warm mids, and a solid bass. It comes in a carrying pouch and has a detachable cable and ear cups that you can rotate 90 degrees and pack up so that you can easily bring these headphones with you wherever you go. Because the ATH-50x focuses primarily on sound quality, the ear cups are not as premium or plush as what you might find from other headphones. Nonetheless, as one buyer recommends, “If you are looking at these headphones for gaming, stop thinking and hit the buy button.”
- Critically acclaimed sonic performance praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers
- Proprietary 45 millimeter large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
- Exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep accurate bass response
- Circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments
- 90 degree swiveling earcups for easy one ear monitoring and professional grade earpad and headband material delivers more durability and comfort
For in-ears these are probably the best option out there on the market right now, especially for this price. You get a totally immersive sound with solid midrange performance for a set of headphones that you can easily wrap up and put into your pocket. The frequency range is 20Hz – 19kHz to deliver an accurate and balanced sound, while you have dual high-definition microdrivers (with dedicated tweeter and woofer) for the speaker type. The sound isolating sleeve design of the SE425-CL ensures that you’re focusing on the music at hand while blocking out a bit of background noise that can be distracting–up to 37dB of ambient noise. While some of the other headphones are able to play up the bass a little bit more, the portability and audio quality of these really just can’t be beat. One reviewer who plays drums and rock music noted that “I find that they have a full sound across the spectrum, so that my kick sounds full and deep, but my toms are easy to distinguish from my kick. The cymbals and high-hat are crisp and brightly warm, but not tinny.”
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Bose is known for both their speakers and headphones, and was one of the first on the market to manufacture high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones for mass consumption. The QuietComfort 35 II features active noise cancellation, and you can even switch between three settings to match the environment that you’re in. It delivers great audio while also featuring bluetooth connectivity, sustained battery life, and an app that allows you to customize the audio equalizer to better match whatever music genre you’re listening to. From your gaming, EDM, and rock music needs to your pop or classical music needs, you’ll be able to alter the highs, mids, and bass to exactly how you want. The app can also be used to manage your bluetooth connection and battery life so you’re never low on power. There’s also a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system so that you can always have clear sound whether you’re receiving or placing a call. This is a great option all around if you’re looking for headphones that can easily be used for a number of different purposes. One reviewer adds that these deliver “perfect sound, clear beautiful high and low,” and as a bonus, are “light and comfortable.”
- Three levels of world-class noise cancellation for better listening experience in any environment
- Alexa-enabled for voice access to music, information, and more
- Noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear sound and voice pick-up
- Balanced audio performance at any volume
- Hassle-free Bluetooth pairing, personalized settings, access to future updates, and more through the Bose connect app. USB cable: 12 inch
True audiophiles have known and raved about Grado for years, and the SR325e definitely live up to the hype. These are well-designed to deliver excellent sound quality with a unique retro look that goes with all personal aesthetics. The open-backed design creates a clear, warm sound with amazing tonal balance and expressive dynamics. You’ll find that the audio is layered and has transparency across frequencies, making it worth every penny. These are specifically designed to improve your audio enjoyment and you will get sound leakage, but it’s a standard feature for being able to deliver the kind of clarity that you will get. One reviewer comments that “I just picked up the SR325e’s a couple of weeks ago; audio bliss is the new standard. These headphones sound perfect! Every detail of music, no matter what style, is presented with clarity and accuracy.”
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