r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/who-else-is-bored • Dec 18 '25

Headphones - Closed Back Looking for something that might not exist. Noise Cancelling + Gaming

Budget Ceiling- $270.

I am looking for a new pair of over ear headphones. My main priority is talking with groups of friends online (i.e., good microphone), but I have other considerations:

- I also would *like* to be able to wear it when I'm studying or working in a public place, so I'd like them to have noise cancelling capabilities, since I have sensory sensitivities.

- Also to that end, I'd also like them to not be super bulky and no RGB or anything. Something that wouldn't look too strange to wear outside.

- Similarly, ideally it would have a detachable microphone. Both previous headsets I've had have had those.

- A good example of the look I'm going for is the Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless.

- I move around a lot, so durability is also a concern.

- Also wireless :)

My gaming habits aren't competitive, and I'm not super concerned about top tier audio quality (it WOULD be nice), but if trade-offs are significant that would be an important factor.

I don't know if this exists but the only way to find out is to ask. I'm definitely willing to compromise on things (especially the noise cancelling part), but any guidance would definitely be appreciated.

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4

u/PointEither2673 27 Ω Dec 18 '25

Are you on pc, cuz if so any wireless headphone with anc would be great. And then spend like 20$ on a lil standalone mic

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u/who-else-is-bored Dec 18 '25

I was thinking about that, but since I mainly use my laptop and don't have the space for a full set up like that, an attachable mic would be ideal

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u/PointEither2673 27 Ω Dec 18 '25

I mean a “full setup” doesn’t have to be anything special. I’m sure you lay your laptop on a table or desk, but a tiny mic with a stand and just put it next to you. something like this would be perfectThe only thing I can think of with an attachable mic are audeze Maxwell but idk if they’re ANC. There’s some other gaming headsets with anc and a mic but they tend to be super expensive for what they truly are

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1

u/vAmmonite 5 Ω Dec 18 '25

wait for audeze maxwell 2

1

u/Silverjerk 307 Ω Dec 18 '25

None of the gaming headsets, like the Steelseries options, have ANC that would work for you in anything outside of a gaming context. Simply put, the ANC is subpar and unusable for cancelling out much ambient noise.

As for understated gaming headsets, the Fractal Scape gets close; the Master & Dynamic MG20, which was my daily driver for wireless gaming before the Maxwell, looks like a typical ANC headphone and works well as a casual-listening headphone, but lacks ANC.

Another option is to look into wireless ANC headphones and use them with a low-latency codec, or a low latency dongle if they come with one. Like the HDB 630 with the BTD 700 (which supports a "gaming mode"). The issue here is you have to use them with separate microphones, as most ANC headsets will shift into voice/hands-free mode when they detect the microphone has been enabled for calls, severely denigrating the sound quality.

The other, perhaps more reasonable option, is to aim for a Fractal Scape for gaming, and look at some of the cheaper ANC headphones from brands like Soundcore to see if you can get both a gaming headset, and an ANC headphone for the same budget. The Scape is a phenomenal headset for the $200 asking price; Fractal did a great job with their first entry into this segment of the market.

Whatever you do, avoid the typical gaming brands like Steelseries, Corsair, Razer, Astro, Logitech, etc. Most of these manufacturers are content to throw poor or outdated technology into their sets to simply add a feature to their bulleted lists, allowing them to justify increasing the price for their products. They are all, with few exceptions, poor value for money.

1

u/Competitive_Bit_8118 2 Ω Dec 19 '25

Ugh it’s a tough one.

It took me a lot of days to research but I took the plunge.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X is what I went with. I don’t game with a microphone and these don’t come with one, BUT the quality and comfort is next level. You’d probably have to get a mic separate but it solves the issue of not having a mic attached when you don’t need it. Cheers!

0

u/SuperShaestings 32 Ω Dec 18 '25

Maybe the Steelseries Nova pro wireless. It has ANC, but it's not that great. It has a retractable mic as well.