Most, if not all, headphones should work with any operating system. The Senheisser HD 559 offers some great sound quality for £87. However, please note that these are open eared headphones, meaning they sacrifice sound isolation for better sound quality. For close ear headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-40X for around £78 are also great set of headphones.
Though if I may ask, why do you have ahigh budget for those headphones? Unless you're an audiophile, some budget headphones can suffice.

Any pair of analog headphones will work with Linux. The only thing that might not work would be something like USB headphones that require a proprietary driver. I own a pair of Sony MDR-7506 which sell for around $90US and are designed for professional audio mixing but are fantastic all-around headphones.

If you are specifically looking for USB headphones, then the ones from Roccat work in Linux without issue. I have the Kave XTD 5.1 set from them and don't recall ever having any problems with them.
Note that I no longer use these as my daily drivers as my standard phono ones from beyerdynamic sound better for music.

Sony MDR V6 if you can find them (they go out of production but return periodically). I combine them with this DAC and amplifier, connecting to the motherboard through optical S/PDIF:

https://jdslabs.com/product/ol-dac/
https://jdslabs.com/product/objective2/

The resulting sound is very clear.

Last edited by Shmerl on 12 Oct 2020 at 3:26 am UTC

[JVC HA-RX 900](https://www.amazon.fr/JVC-HA-RX900-N%C3%A9odyme-performances-Adaptateur/dp/B0019H5Z76/ref=mp_s_a_1_97?dchild=1&keywords=jvc+casque&qid=1602508158&sr=8-97)

It's my second one, clear sound, outside noise canceling, robust. I love it and it's relatively cheap for this quality.

The cons : the ear cushion are made with fake leather that chipped away with an intensive usage in about 5 years and finding leather replacement is not easy.

A bit on the heavy side and hot during summer.

I invested in USB headset when my cheap USB sound card broke. Criteria was something available and somebody had tested it on Linux as I don't trust either that non standard stuff works with Linux. Luckily the headset I got is actually pretty standard USB headset from driver point of view.

This is what I got: [HyperX Cloud II](https://www.hyperxgaming.com/finland/us/headsets/cloud-gaming-headset)

Everything essential works on Linux. I'm not sure about 7.1 surround as I haven't tested it.

Cable is split in two. First part has TRRS connector, so microphone won't necessarily work with computer if you want to go analog, but it's common with phones. Second part is USB soundcard that has mute, volume and other usual stuff.

Microphone is noise cancelling and detachable. I haven't gotten any complaints about background noise during meetings, though I haven't tested it with the usual stuff like kids screaming or dogs barking (I would have to loan one for testing as I have neither). Side effect is that I get complaints if microphone is not pointed directly to my mouth.

Two sets of ear cushion is included in the package in case you don't like the faux leather.

Cable is pretty long, especially if you have the USB sound card attached. There's some risk of tangling because of that. But if you're worried about that, wireless headset might be better.

Audio quality with music seems to be fine, though wouldn't expect the headset to fare well in true hi-fi territory.

yeah thanks, guys! I have a set of ageing (and disintegrating) Hyper X Cloud II's here atm. They sound awesome but the mic stopped working a while back. I will be checking out the suggestions and will let you know what I got with!

Thx again for the input :)

Quoting: JaredMost, if not all, headphones should work with any operating system. The Senheisser HD 559 offers some great sound quality for £87. However, please note that these are open eared headphones, meaning they sacrifice sound isolation for better sound quality. For close ear headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-40X for around £78 are also great set of headphones.
Though if I may ask, why do you have ahigh budget for those headphones? Unless you're an audiophile, some budget headphones can suffice.

Hi Jared,

Had my Hyper X Cloud II's for a while and I use them pretty much all the time. My speakers were bought for my 486DX-100 ;) Logitech sure know how to make speakers!

Seeing as how I use them for pretty much everything gonna go overkill and get a really good set!

Quoting: Slackdogyeah thanks, guys! I have a set of ageing (and disintegrating) Hyper X Cloud II's here atm. They sound awesome but the mic stopped working a while back. I will be checking out the suggestions and will let you know what I got with!

Thx again for the input :)

I had some problems with the microphone too at first. Though it was because I hadn't connected it properly.

Also with electrical equipment, sometimes all that's needed is cleaning up the contacts. Also as the microphone is detachable, it would be nice to be able to order replacement parts.

Quoting: AnzaAlso with electrical equipment, sometimes all that's needed is cleaning up the contacts. Also as the microphone is detachable, it would be nice to be able to order replacement parts.

Actually, they do sell [spare parts](https://www.hyperxgaming.com/finland/en/headsets/accessories) for the HyperX products. Makes lot of sense as quite many parts are detachable. Of course if the headset is under warranty, it's better to make use that option first, but once that runs out having option to buy spare parts is very nice.

Quoting: ShmerlSony MDR V6 if you can find them (they go out of production but return periodically). I combine them with this DAC and amplifier, connecting to the motherboard through optical S/PDIF:

https://jdslabs.com/product/ol-dac/
https://jdslabs.com/product/objective2/

The resulting sound is very clear.

The MDR V6 was discontinued and replaced by the MDR-7506 some time ago. Specification wise, there is almost no difference between them. If you can find the V6 for sale these days, it's going to be rather expensive since it has become somewhat of a collector's item.

Quoting: Mountain ManThe MDR V6 was discontinued and replaced by the MDR-7506 some time ago. Specification wise, there is almost no difference between them. If you can find the V6 for sale these days, it's going to be rather expensive since it has become somewhat of a collector's item.

I think it was discontinued and continued back and forth for a while. So Sony can bring it back again. It's slightly different from what I've heard.

Last edited by Shmerl on 18 Oct 2020 at 7:10 pm UTC

Quoting: Shmerl

Quoting: Mountain ManThe MDR V6 was discontinued and replaced by the MDR-7506 some time ago. Specification wise, there is almost no difference between them. If you can find the V6 for sale these days, it's going to be rather expensive since it has become somewhat of a collector's item.

I think it was discontinued and continued back and forth for a while. So Sony can bring it back again. It's slightly different from what I've heard.

The specs I've seen suggest that the V6 theoretically had a slightly broader frequency range than the 7506, but since both headphones are technically capable of producing sounds well outside of the capabilities of normal human hearing, I doubt there's any real discernible difference. Really, you can't go wrong with either headset. They sound great and are extremely durable.

I've checked and the HyperX Cloud II's only have 7.1 on windoze as it needs extra drivers. Great cans tho'. I do need the mic or I'd get one of the many good suggestions, Shmerl etc :)

Quoting: Mountain ManThe specs I've seen suggest that the V6 theoretically had a slightly broader frequency range than the 7506, but since both headphones are technically capable of producing sounds well outside of the capabilities of normal human hearing, I doubt there's any real discernible difference. Really, you can't go wrong with either headset. They sound great and are extremely durable.

How do Sony MDR-CD900ST compare to V6 and 7506? I see some are saying they are better quality than both.

By the way, about the benefit of using external DAC and optical connection.

In the past I was simply attaching my headphones to the analog audio output on the motherboard. Under heavy GPU load it was creating some annoying interference that was audible. After switching to DAC + amplifier setup connected over optical S/PDIF, all that was gone.

That's besides OL DAC and Objective2 amplifier producing very clear sound which is probably better than any DAC built into motherboard or found in USB based headphones that have DAC in them.

Last edited by Shmerl on 20 Oct 2020 at 10:00 pm UTC

Quoting: Shmerl

Quoting: Mountain ManThe specs I've seen suggest that the V6 theoretically had a slightly broader frequency range than the 7506, but since both headphones are technically capable of producing sounds well outside of the capabilities of normal human hearing, I doubt there's any real discernible difference. Really, you can't go wrong with either headset. They sound great and are extremely durable.

How do Sony MDR-CD900ST compare to V6 and 7506? I see some are saying they are better quality than both.

I don't know anything about the MDR-CD900ST, and I suppose it depends what one means by "better". I chose the 7506 because they are "flat" by design, meaning that all frequencies are produced at the same relative volume. Nothing is artificially boosted which is why they are prized by audio professionals. In theory, they allow you to hear your music exactly the way it sounded to the mixing engineer in the studio.

MDR-CD900ST is supposedly flat as well. Though I just noticed that they have 6.35 mm connector. My amplifier has 3.5 mm one and using a convertor from bigger to smaller one is quite annoying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1vNSXojMn0

Interestingly, that video also references Yaxi stpad2-LR pads, that fit most Sony MDR headphones.

Last edited by Shmerl on 22 Oct 2020 at 4:10 am UTC

Here is also a review of the updated version of MDR-CD900ST - Sony MDR-M1ST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GPMYyMqFsY

The conclusion he makes is that MDR-CD900ST is better. If the sound is indeed so good, I don't mind getting an amplifier for 6.35 mm jack. Objective 2 allows customizing it when buying.

Last edited by Shmerl on 22 Oct 2020 at 4:51 am UTC

I'm not particularly picky about sound, so I just use the Playstation Gold headset I got to play on the PS4. I can't judge its sound quality, it may just as well be very good. Or not.

It comes with a USB dongle and appears as a generic audio and mic device in Linux. On PS it has a swanky surround mode, just plain stereo on Linux.

It also has a 3.5mm jack input with mic so can be used wired without turning it on.

Now that the PS5 is around the corner Sony put out a new version called Pulse 3D that matches its aesthetic. It has the same basic features and will probably work the same with Linux.