Given the three criteria you listed, I'm going to change my recommendation from the ATH-M50 to the AD-700 (both Audio Technica). It is not that I particularly like Audio Technica, they just happen to have products that meet your specification and price range.

There are two types of over-ear headphones: Open-back and Closed-back. Open back works better with Dolby Headphone and other simulated surround effects because it has a "wider soundstage." Think of it like going to an outdoor concert. Closed-back headphones, by contrast, feel more like listening to a band in the studio, which does not play as well with positional audio effects. The benefit of open-back is that they tend to breath better and be more comfortable, and generally offer an experience closer to being live. Closed-back headphones offer better low-end extension, meaning better bass. Kick drums are thumpier and roaring engines have more presence.

So I would recommend the AD-700 or a pair of Grado on-ear headphones like the SR-125i, which is also available through your retailer. I would personally choose the Grado, but this is very much a personal decision. You will need to read some reviews and decide for yourself. The AD-700 is widely considered an excellent gaming headphone.

As for a sound card, I would wait. That particular motherboard has an excellent audio chipset (for a mobo), even if it lacks Dolby Headphone or CMSS-3D (your motherboard has excellent surround support, but this is for home theater, not headphones). There is no reason you need to install a sound card right away, regardless. You may get your headphones and say, "This is awesome, I don't need anything more!" Or you might decide you want the surround processing, in which case you can go down that road, too. The point is that - from a consumer standpoint - there is no reason to buy bothright now. The sound card requires headphones to do anything, so start with the headphones, and buy the card if you feel you need it later.

As for how Dolby Headphone and CMSS-3D (the latter of which is Creative's version of Dolby Headphone, which is fine) work, they basically take two-channel audio and create a "surround" effect. Most headsets that claim to be 5.1 or 7.1 are, in fact, just regular headphones with the aforementioned processing.

One final suggestion is that you consider the Astro Mixamp. You can run an optical cable from your motherboard to the Mixamp, and get the benefit of a headphone amp, external volume control, and Dolby Headphone processing in one shot. You'll pay for it, though.

Good luck,

Boz

Most computers will have a headphone jack (3.5mm) on the front of the case. When you plug your headphones in it will automatically turn off the rear output.

If you do not have a front 3.5mm headphone jack alternatively you can use a male to female 3.5mm stereo splitter, though this is less ideal because your speakers will still output sound. If you can power-down your speakers, this is not an issue and you can go ahead with the splitter, turning off the speakers when you want to use your headphones. You may require a male to female stereo 3.5mm cable extension depending on the distance to the rear of your case to listen to your headphones comfortably.

Ignore multi-speaker gaming headphones. Just as a bigger television does not necessarily mean a better picture, having more speakers does not necessarily improve audio quality. Those Audio Technica ATH-M50s headphones are a good value, and an excellent introduction to higher-end headphones.

Good luck!

Boz

I think openback headphones are the answer to your solution if all else fails so you dont sweat as easily. They typically have bigger earcups to spread out the clamp leading to lower pressure to your head and are also very light. As long as you dont blast the headphones very loud than no one can really hear you unless they are close by.Bikouchu35

Any over-ear headphone will insulate your ears and - over time - can make you sweat. Some headphones do this more than others depending on their clamping pressure. Sennheisers, in particular, have a higher clamping pressure. It can also depend on the material used in and around the foam padding. The velour material Beyerdynamic uses is quite breathable.

If you find you get sweaty regardless of what you're wearing, I would strongly consider either a pair of on-ear headphones or in-ear monitors (IEMs):

• On-ears sit against your ear, rather than around it, and provide better breathability without sacrificing quality or requiring you to stick something in your actual ear canal. Grado is well-known for making very nice on-ear headphones. I was quite pleased with the 125i, but all of the headphones are great, honestly.
• IEMs like the Klipsch S4 can sound great and let your head breath. You do need to put them inside your ear canal, though.

The downside is that over-ears typically provide better noise-isolation than on-ears, and better sound quality than most IEMs for the price.

You can check out the FAQ at the top of the forum for suggestions of each type of Headphone in a range of prices.

I hope this is helpful,

Boz

At that price there's a lot of junk with titanium or mylar tweeters and low-grade filters, but there are some gems.

However, before I can recommend anything I need to know if you are using an amplifier or running these off of a head unit. If it's the latter, which head unit will you be using? If you are not using an external amplifier, are you planning to upgrade at some point in the future? Are you using a subwoofer? How handy are you, meaning how comfortable would you be removing the door panels, installing the speakers, and possible doing some cutting to install something like an external tweeter?

I'm a former MECP-certified mobile electronics installer and USAC and iASCA competitor, and can answer most any mobile audio questions you have.

Happy gaming,

Boz

is there any good $50 Noise Canceling Headphones

thelordofpies