tldr; AD900x: FPS "footstep meta" with great imaging/soundstage. Lacks bass, more of a sidegrade than upgrade for some. Pairs well with ModMic.
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Best praise vs top criticism for Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X
“Ready the pinned pc38x review. You'd also want something like a fulla 3 with it. **Competitive fps headsets:** Comp FPS category just means a focus on positioning and footsteps. All recommendations still have a focus on audio quality but will make some sacrifices for better comp fps performance. The sound signatures will mostly be Bright, often with a forward midrange and recessed low end. If bright is highlighted it means it is very bright and if v-shaped is listed it means there is normally too much bass but no better available alternative. **Auto message, please respond for more info.** 1. Pure FPS (Best for comp fps) 2. Warm FPS (Has added warm hump) 3. Music FPS (Sacrifices performance for more music performance but can still perform very well in fps) 4. Bassy FPS (Needs the bass turned down for fps) 5. Do note, for closed-back I don't have all labeled as I'm still working through that all. 6. Prices do not include the mic. 7. VMBP = Vmoda Boom Pro 8. HS = Headset, noting it has a built-in mic. 9. All of the non-VMBP compatible mics should be paired with an Antlion Mod-Mic. **Competitive fps recommendations:** **Open-Back** |*Name*|*Recommended Price*|*Sound Signature*|*Notes:*| |:-|:-|:-|:-| |Koss KSC75/[Ksc75X](https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-koss-ksc75x-on-ear-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=2VXGQC)|$25USD||About the only thing, I'd use for comp fps under $50. **Attached Cable :(**| |Phillips SHP9500 + VMBP|$80USD|Pure FPS|Good if you need a low powered all in one, other than that just ok.| |Sennheiser Game One/[PC37x](https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-pc37x-gaming-headset?utm_source=linkshare&referer=2VXGQC) **HS**|$130USD|Warm FPS|Best overall all in one, a slightly less detailed but less warm HD599.| |Audio Technica AD500x/AD700x|$120USD|Pure FPS|Some of the best FPS headphones at any price. **Attached Cable :(**| |Audio Technica ADG1x **HS**|$200USD|Pure FPS|An AD700x(ish) with a built-in mic, worse cable. **Attached Cable :(**| |Audio Technica AD900x|$150USD|Music FPS|An AD700x with more bass, ore upper mid-range, and less treble. **Attached Cable :(Discontinued**| |Sennheiser HD599|$160USD|Warm FPS|When on sale some of the best value headphones on the market, with a bit EQ lowering its warmth, it can be a killer Pure FPS headphone for those who are a bit treble sensitive.| |[Sennheiser HD58x](https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-hd-58x-jubilee-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=2VXGQC)|$160USD|Music FPS|A cross between an HD599 and an HD650. From an HD599 you get more sub-bass and less warmth, and a more even mid-range. But loses its soundstage and images like an HD650.| |[Hifiman HE4xx](https://drop.com/buy/drop-hifiman-he4xx-planar-magnetic-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=2VXGQC)|$180USD|Warm/Music FPS (Pure Music Potential)|With EQ you get next-level bass at this price thanks to the planar drivers. Something about the staging can throw many off in games. It can be a great in-between opt”
“Avoid Beyer and corsair. # Competitive FPS Sound Style Guide (Auto Message) This is a sneak peek at the 2022 version of the guide. The 2022 version will include the auto message here, along with a version of this on my personal Sub, and a very in-depth version on my website. For now, this is a slight alteration of the 2021 auto message but with 2022 Q1 updated spreadsheet included. The goal for December is to update all the auto messages first, repost all the guideposts on my sub (this will happen anytime the guide changes as I can't change reddit post titles). Once the Website guide is up please use that as I'm so limited on reddit that the reddit versions have to be so cut down. So your find the website guide so much more helpful. I couldn't even include notes here. Full External Website Link (Coming Late 2021-Q1 2022) **Index (READ FIRST)** 1. **Comp FPS:** This Category is slightly different than it was before as now it does sacrifice a bit more sound quality in favour of positioning performance. Some headphones listed will fall below my standards like the AD series. But if all you care about is "Pure FPS" performance this is where you look. They will still all be better than a lot of the gaming crap that isn't even tuned well for games that you see on the market. So while yes, some won't hit my standards for Music they are better than a lot of the consumer crap you see. 2. **Open Back Only:** Yes, I have changed it to Open-Back only and that is because there really aren't any Closed-Back headphones that truly offer Pure FPS performance. If you can't do open-back for your own reasons but still want something that can be great for FPS check the Warm FPS category. As most closed-backs that are good for FPS tend to have a warmer tilt to them. 3. **Alpha Value:** This is the Alpha Version of my grade ranking for headphones. This will change over time. 4. **Alpha Positioning:** This is the Alpha Version of my positioning ranking for headphones. This will change over time. This is far from perfect. 5. **Grades:** You will see every headphone/headset has two grades. The **1st Grade** being its **Tonal Grade**, this is the grade for how well its sound signature is tonally balanced. The **2nd Grade** is its **Tech Grade**, so all things outside of the frequency response, staging, imaging, separation, detail, dynamics, etc. 6. **PLEASE DO NOT COMPARE CLOSED-BACK RANKS WITH OPEN-BACK ONES AT THIS TIME!** 7. **Rankings are not everything:** Which is why Notes and Sound Signatures are important, but you must view the full guide to see those. 8. **Sound Signature VS Sound Style:** Sound Signature is the tuning of the frequency response. Sound Style is my term for the different categories I put headphones in for gaming. 9. **EQ/VSS:** If you need to use some light eq to help, go for it just be careful. Maybe even Virtual Surround Sound(VSS) if you can't position with stereo. I don't recommend VSS but some need it. 10. **Mod Mic:** A Mod mic isn't a c”
805 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 2/24/2026