Question:
5.1 Surround headphones?
I'm looking into getting a pair of these for late night gaming so that my dorm room neighbors won't want to kill me. Anyone tried some of these and care to tell any experiences they've had with them? It's important for them to have a mic as well, so I'm looking for more like a headset than headphones. Would alter thread title if i could...
Here are my top 2 contenders right now
Tritton AX360
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-h...tag=prod.txt.1
Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-h...tag=prod.txt.1
I really cannot decide which to get. For the love of god someone help me make up my mind.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
I can tell you from experience and the opinions of many other audiophiles to just get a good pair of 2 speaker headphones.
I know it wont sound logical but you get better localization with a good pair of 2 speaker headphones than you will from 5.1 ones. Especially with advanced 3d audio settings with a sound card that supports it.
5.1s in short are horrible quality, and heavier than usual, and not many people can really desern the different channels because they are not placed in a normal matter with space and distance, they are all right by your ear sounding nearly the same.
If you got a pair for 100$, you must now think its 6 speakers instead of 2, so the cost of making the product just went to 100/6 aka less than 20$ per speaker aka cheapo..... vs 100$ / 2 for some basic quality 2 speaker headphones where 50$ went into each speaker.
Trust me thats exactly how it works, the manufacture isn't going to give you more for free.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
Would a pair of 2 speaker headphones really do as well as a 5.1 pair in helping you tell what direction someone is shooting at you from in games like BF2/2142 ('localization')? Cause I'd really only be using the headset for gaming. I can sacrifice some sound quality for better functionality in that respect.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
Much better... with my x-fi card and my audio technias I can tell if somebody is around me in a 360 degree angle and even how far, and if they are above or below me!!
The higher the quality of the headphones the more faithful they can reproduce the sound and thus more accurate it is.
What your seeking is a two part question weather you realize it or not, the actual hardware to create the sound (headphones) and the just as important part the sound card... which is responsible for sending the sounds to be produced in the first place.
Also given time I think you would prefer the SQ over the localization, so you get into the game alot more if it was truly a trade off like that.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
Thats interesting, I hadn't really considered a 2 speaker set because I didn't realize the would actually support localization. What kind of headset (w/ mic) would you recommend (sub $100, but I can go to eBay too)?
I'd probbably be using the external audigy nx card (or x-fi notebook card if the ever come out with the speaker docking module).
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
Hmm I dunno. I liked my old plantronics DSP500's for when I needed a headset, they have there own sound card and everything. They used to be like 80$ but since they were discontinued they were on clearance for like 14$ directly from plantroncs, not sure if that sale is still on.
See thing is headsets generally dont get anywhere near the quality of headphones, most just recomend a desktop mic, however I like the headset type setup myself where the mic is near your mouth.... So I did my own fix for it.
I put my headphones on like normal, and just slip one of those one ear headpiece type microphones used for cell phones under the cushion abit and use the mic part but not the speaker.
Works perfectly and gave me the best of both worlds.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
How would these work? I guess it has 'simulated surround'?
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-h...tag=prod.txt.3
This one looks better, but I'm hoping the integrated sound card on it is part of the USB attachment (which I wouldn't be using.).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...d_i=B000O50V7I
Actually I think theyre both exactly the same cept for the USB adapter that I dont need...
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
I own a pair of Sennheiser HD485 with a Zalman mic hooked up to the cord. I believe the sound quality is fantastic (at least for a 70-80$ headphone pair). As for positioning, I have a Sound Blaster Live, so that might be the reason why I get bad positioning sometimes. The zalman mic is about 10$ and works like a charm! Its made to be hooked to your headphone cord so its close to your mouth.
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
I bought those and i'm very happy with them, excellent sound quality and pretty good in game too
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...s&promoid=1065
Answer:
Re: 5.1 Surround headphones?
I'm now considering Audio Technica ATH-A500/700/900 headphones. Think I'll get the A500s cause theyre cheaper.