Upgrading from a gaming headset? Three entry level ‘audiophile’ headphones reviewed

1. Introduction2. The Headphones: Unboxing and First Look3. Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

Here at KitGuru we review a lot of gaming headsets. Over the last year alone, I've seen offerings from Corsair, HyperX, Razer, Fnatic Gear and ASUS ROG to name just five manufacturers. Most of the headsets we review cost between £50-100, making them good options if you don't want to spend a fortune. However, what if you're ready to take the next step and upgrade your headset to something better – a dedicated pair of audio-grade headphones, for instance?

With the explicit purpose of seeing what's out there for anyone looking to move beyond a typical gaming headset, in this article we look at three pairs of headphones that now cost between £129-157, despite launching at much higher prices in years gone by. These lower prices make them perfect for anyone looking to take the next step and move beyond a ‘high-end' gaming headset.

Without further ado, the three headphones we are looking at today are:

• AKG K702 – £129 on Amazon UK
• Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition 32 Ohm – £155 on Amazon UK
• Sennheiser HD 598 Cs – £148.98 on Amazon UK

AKG K702 Specification:

• Headphone type: open
• Max. Input Power: 200 mW
• Audio frequency bandwidth: 10 – 39800 Hz
• Sensitivity headphones: 105 dB SPL/V
• Rated Impedance: 62 Ohms
• Detachable cable: yes
• Cable Length: 3 m
• Earpads replaceable: yes

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition Specification:

• EAN: 4010118483950
• Transmission type: Wired
• Headphone design (operating principle): Open
• Headphone impedance: 32 Ohms
• Headphone frequency response: 5 – 35.000 Hz
• Nominal sound pressure level: 96 dB
• Construction: Circumaural (around the ear)
• Cable & plug: Straight connecting cable with mini-jack plug (3.5 mm) & ¼“ adapter (6.35 mm)
• Net weight without packaging: 290 g

Sennheiser HD 598 Cs Specification

• Impedance: 23 Ohms
• Connector: 3.5 mm straight plug & 6.3 mm straight plug
• Frequency response: 10 – 28,000 Hz
• Sound pressure level (SPL): 115dB SPL (1kHz/1Vrms)
• THD, total harmonic distortion: <0.2% (1kHz, 100dBSPL)
• Ear coupling: Circumaural
• Cable length: 1.2 m & 3 m
• Transducer principle: Dynamic

AKG K702

The AKG K702 headphones ship in a smart white box, with just a small booklet containing the necessary user information. A single, 3m cable is included that connects via a 3.5mm jack, though a 6.3mm screw-on adapter is included. Both cables connect to the left ear cup via a mini-XLR jack.

These headphones are open-back in design, while some silver accents add interest on the back of the ear cups. The ear cushions themselves are filled with a very stiff foam and are covered by a velour layer.

In terms of headband design, the K702's wire frame may split opinion but I think it looks good. The headband itself is genuine leather and is self-adjusting.

Overall build quality is not the best, though, as the frame and hinges are made of plastic, despite the metallic paint job. I also noticed some creaking from the headset when in use, though this was exacerbated by my glasses so it may not be as big of an issue for others.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition

Moving onto the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition headphones, these cans arrive in a clean-looking cream box with a side-on photo of the headphones visible on the front. Inside the box, the DT 990s actually come in a padded carry bag which is a good inclusion, while a guarantee card is also included.

Unlike the other two headphones on test today, the DT 990s do not have a detachable cable which is a bit disappointing – I am sure the cable would be the first thing to break so giving users the ability to easily swap-out the cables would've been appreciated. The cable itself is 3m long and connects via a 3.5mm jack, though a 6.3mm screw-on adapter is also included.

The styling of the DT 990s is certainly unique – the gold venting on the back of the ear cups (which are open back), couple with the light grey, almost purple cushions, creates a very interesting aesthetic. Those ear cushions are much softer than the K702's, while they are also covered with velour.

Elsewhere, the headband is not of the ‘floating' style, instead users must adjust the sizing before wearing the headphones. The headband itself is padded, though, and covered with a leatherette material.

Overall build quality is very good for the money. The metal frame feels nice and rigid, while the ear cups are also very solid and could withstand a bit of abuse – not that I'd want to test that! The only slight concern is the exposed wiring going from either cup to the headband – I'd be careful not to snag it on anything.

Sennheiser HD 598 Cs

If you have owned a pair of Sennheiser headphones before, you will recognise the black-and-blue box the HD 598 Cs arrive in. Inside, there are actually two cables – 1x 3m cable that connects via 6.3mm jack, and 1x 1.2m cable which connects via 3.5mm jack. Personally I would have preferred a long cable with a 3.5mm jack connection, as 1.2m is not long enough for my desktop use, but that is personal preference.

In my opinion, the HD 598 Cs are the best looking of the three headphones we're looking at today – I love the stealthy aesthetic, while the silver accents add just a touch of class. There is even some lovely velvet/velour material on the rear of the ear cups which is very soft to the touch.

Speaking of ear cups, the HD 598 Cs are the only headphones on test with a closed back design. The ear cushions are oval-shaped and again covered with smooth velour. The two detachable cables connect via a 2.5mm jack positioned on the left ear cup.

The headband is similar to the DT 990s as you have to get the size right before putting the headphones on. The padded headband and leatherette covering are nice and soft, though.

Build quality is overall pretty decent, definitely superior to the plasticky construction of the AKG K702s, but the HD 598 Cs do still lack the all-round rigidity of the DT 990s.Testing headphones can be tricky as we all hear things differently. All I can do is present my thoughts and opinions based on what I hear.

Given we are presenting these headphones as potential gaming headset replacements, I did the majority of my listening at my desktop. To take the issue of amplification and on-board audio out of the equation, I invested in a small DAC/amp – the Fiio E10K. This costs just over £60 on Amazon and is a physically tiny device. It is also very basic – all you can do is plug in your headphones, set the gain, adjust the volume, and leave bass enhancement ‘on' or ‘off'. Compared with my motherboard's own DAC, though, the E10K is much clearer. It can also drive headphones with impedance up to 150 Ohms (the recommended level) and was more than enough for all three headphones on test today.

Music

Getting right into it, I'll start with my experiences listening to music with the three different pairs of headphones.

I began my journey into audiophile territory by using the AKG K702s. These are designed to be reference headphones, so the overall sound signature should be quite flat, perfect for mixing music in a studio. In practise I found this to be pretty much the case, which certainly has its pros and cons.

However, there is slightly more emphasis on the mid-range than anywhere else, so the K702s aren't perfectly flat. The accentuated mid-range does lend itself a bit better to enjoyment of acoustic tracks and vocals, though I still wouldn't class them as warm or ‘fun' headphones, more ‘analytical' than anything. Bass-heads should also be warned that while there is some bass in the mix, the K702s are far from mind-blowing in that department.

In terms of detail in the high-end, I would say the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Editions are definitely the brightest of the three headphones. There is a lot more emphasis placed on the high-end and I would not be surprised if many found the overall sound to be quite fatiguing. Personally speaking, though, I really enjoyed the crispness of hi-hats and high-pitched guitar solos, the overall bright tone is just very refreshing and the overall clarity of sound outstrips the other two headphones.

The DT 990s also have a reasonably tight bass response that is slightly more prominent than with the K702s, but neither pair of headphones are bass heavy.

The Sennheiser HD 598 Cs offer an interesting comparison, as while the DT 990s and K702s are open back headphones, the HD 598 Cs are closed back. There are noticeable differences between these two styles, and overall my preference is definitely open back despite have had very little experience with other open back cans in the past.

In my opinion, the sound (from either the K702s or the DT 990s) is just a lot more natural, while the soundstage feels much wider and more inviting. The HD 598 Cs feel too ‘close' for my liking, while I also found these mid-range heavy cans to sound almost crunchy – there is definitely not the same level of clarity to be had when listening to these instead of the DT 990s.

The HD 598 Cs do have the ‘phattest' bass of the three headphones – which is probably one thing in favour of closed back cans – though it is still not overly prominent. I was aware of it but certainly didn't feel as if my ear drums were being assaulted by the low-end frequencies.

Overall summary: The AKG K702s are overall quite flat and analytical, the DT 990s are much brighter but with a pleasing overall sound (to my ears at least), while the HD 598 Cs weren't for me due to the comparative lack of clarity and detail.

Gaming

To test out the headphones to see how they get on while playing games, I fired up Alien: Isolation – in my opinion, one of the best games in terms of its use of music and atmospheric audio.

Here, I have to say both open back headphones – the AKG K702s and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Editions – simply excel, but the K702s particularly impressed me. This is because both headphones' soundstages are so much bigger than the closed back Sennheiser HD 598 Cs, it creates a much more open atmosphere which is incredibly immersive. Compared to the 99% of gaming headsets which are closed back, you will really appreciate the difference – I know I have!

I would say that I do actually prefer the K702s for gaming, as the flatter sound is a bit easier on the ears than the brighter DT 990s. For instance, in a frenetic game of Star Wars Battlefront, I found the almost piercing DT 990s to be a distraction. The K702s, however, still have the beautifully open sound which can transform a gaming session, but present it in a more neutral way which I think works best in-game.

Touching on the HD 598 Cs, I was a bit disappointed with them for gaming. They lack the immersive soundstage of the open back cans while the overall sound isn't much of a step-up from a gaming headset like the HyperX Cloud Revolver S. The overall audio quality of the HD 598 Cs is much better when listening to music – even though I prefer the DT 990s – but for gaming, I wouldn't say there is much separating the two.

As I mentioned in the video, using a dedicated pair of audio headphones for gaming does present a slight complication – there is no mic attached. There are a couple ways around this – you can attach something like the ModMic 5 to one of the ear cups, or you can use a condenser mic on your desk. Neither solution is as practical as just buying a gaming headset, and you will have to factor in the added cost on-top, but the overall experience is much improved with a pair of open back cans.

Overall summary: The AKG K702s do best here thanks to their large soundstage, the DT 990s are a bit harsh in-game and can be distracting, while the HD 598 Cs don't offer much over a typical high-end gaming headset.

Comfort

While this is another highly subjective area, I will give my thoughts on the comfort of the three headphones, too.

Starting with the AKG K702s, I must say I found them tolerable rather than comfortable. This is for two reasons: the foam ear cushions and the less-than-stellar build quality.

Getting into detail, I found the foam ear cushions to be far too stiff for my liking, with not enough give in them. I found the cushions would sit on-top of my ears, standing off from my head due to the firm foam, rather than fitting around my ears and head. Some people might like this, but I found it created a bit too much pressure around the sides of my head. It wasn't awful, and I could still use them for long periods of time, but it wasn't the best experience.

Secondly, I found the K702's plastic frame would occasionally creak in use, which was just an annoyance. I did find taking off my glasses helped a bit but it didn't solve the problem completely.

Moving on to the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Editions, I found these to be the most comfortable. The velour covering on the foam cushions is incredibly soft, and the cushions themselves fit around my ears very well. The padded headband caused me no problems, either.

Lastly, the Sennheiser HD 598 Cs, and I found these to be pretty comfy overall. The cushions aren't quite as soft as the DT 990's, and I found the headband clamped down on my skull slightly more – but the oval cushions fit around my ears very well and I didn't get any creaking which is a plus.

Overall summary: I found the AKG K702s creak and the cushions are too firm for my liking, but the DT 990s have beautifully soft ear cushions and a good padded headband, while the HD 598 Cs are also pretty comfortable.Getting into the audiophile market is an expensive business, no doubt about it – a setup including an amp, DAC, high-end cable and flagship headphones could easily set you back tens of thousands of pounds.

This article has been about entry-level gear, though, specifically for those who have been using gaming headsets for a while and want to take the next step into higher-quality gear.

We have looked at three difference headphones, currently priced from £129-157. Given all three launched with much higher prices, these headphones represent excellent value and are, to be frank, bargains. This is only furthered when you consider many high-end gaming headsets can cost similar, if not more, amounts of cash – the HyperX Cloud Revolver S is £129, for example.

The AKG K702s is an open back pair of headphones which cost £129 from Amazon UK. Overall, I found the sound quality to be good, though the K702s are definitely more analytical than ‘fun' sounding, as these are designed to be reference headphones. While gaming, though, the large soundstage creates a really immersive atmosphere which absolutely trumps any gaming headset I've used. Recommended.

However, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Editions (£157.50 on Amazon UK) proved to be my favourite pair of cans overall. They are also open back but have a much brighter sound signature than the K702s. This won't be for everyone but I really enjoyed listening to music with them – the sound is clear and detailed, while there is still a decent bass response to keep things balanced. I did find the high-end to get a bit distracting while playing games, though, but I'll continue to listen to my music with these.

I must say that, compared to the other two open back headphones on test, I did not enjoy using the Sennheiser HD 598 Cs (£148.98 on Amazon UK) as much. These closed back cans do leak considerably less noise than the other two headphones, so if you want to use something out and about these will still offer much better sound quality than your average headset. However, the soundstage is limited in comparison with the K702s and DT 990s, while I found the overall sound to be a bit muffled.

If you are looking for some of our other headphone reviews, make sure to check out our Sennhesier HD 800S review HERE, our Sony MDR-Z1R review HERE and our round-up of the best flagship amplifiers over HERE.

KitGuru says: Overall, I can absolutely say those who have been using gaming headsets for their audio needs will notice a huge difference by switching to a dedicated pair of headphones. In particular, gaming with the open back AKG K702s has massively improved the overall experience for me, to the point where it would feel hard for me to go back. I guess I'll have to, though, as we have plenty of headset reviews coming this month!

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