Real Surround headphones in games?

[Gargantou]

Lo guys, talking about hte XB360 made me think about the fact that I could really use a real surround headset, seeing as I don't have the room for a speaker surround setup in my room.
Does anyone know of any surround headphones that you can buy and connect directly to your consoles/PCs to get surround sound?
Only ones I've seen requires you to use a headphone amplifier to connect it to XB, PS2, GC, DVD players etc.

Anyway, I'd love to get any recommendations.

I know this can be percieved as being in the wrong forum, so mods, move it at will.

 

[Agent.M]

Honestly I tryed the zalmans and one other pair I cant remember what brand but either way I returned them both I havnt been impressed with any surround sound headphones yet.

 

[Gargantou]

http://www.mmgear.com/eng/e_pro/e_pro01.html

Ones I've been recommended, apparently the best on the market and great for games and movies but sucky for music, having trouble finding a place that sells'em, even on the net.

 

[VirusType2]

http://www.mmgear.com/eng/e_pro/e_pro01.html

Ones I've been recommended, apparently the best on the market and great for games and movies but sucky for music, having trouble finding a place that sells'em, even on the net.

contact them. click on the email link and/or call them at the phone they provided.

how much are they? I want one!

 

[Gargantou]

The headphones I linked too are about 100 bucks, but you also need an 5.1ch amplifier which connects to an AV amplifier which connects to your console to get REAL surround in the headset.
So it basically goes like this.
Headphones > 5.1ch. Amplifier > AV Amplifier > Game Console.

I have no idea what the amplifiers costs, looking to find some good ones.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/product/audio/theatre6_01.html

There.

 

[Agent.M]

http://www.mmgear.com/eng/e_pro/e_pro01.html

Ones I've been recommended, apparently the best on the market and great for games and movies but sucky for music, having trouble finding a place that sells'em, even on the net.

Wow those are almost identical to the zalmans that I had they're even designed the same. However if they are anything like the zalmans I would highly recommend not getting these. Maybe I just got a bad pair but I doubt I just dont think that "Headphone Surround Sound" tech is advanced enough yet, otherwise it would seem to me that we would be seeing headphones like this alot more in mainstream manufacturing.

 

[Gargantou]

Agent.M, did you try it on your computer or on a console?
If on the computer, are you 100% sure your soundcard decoded it properly etc?
I've seen in several reviews that they're good, but not alot people know how to make sure they're actually RECIEVING "surround".

 

[xcellerate]

edit: nevermind not surround sound.

 

[Fliko]

Lo guys, talking about hte XB360 made me think about the fact that I could really use a real surround headset, seeing as I don't have the room for a speaker surround setup in my room.
Does anyone know of any surround headphones that you can buy and connect directly to your consoles/PCs to get surround sound?
Only ones I've seen requires you to use a headphone amplifier to connect it to XB, PS2, GC, DVD players etc.

Anyway, I'd love to get any recommendations.

I know this can be percieved as being in the wrong forum, so mods, move it at will.

Soundshark True USB 5.1 Sound... They are great, have a microphone on them too.

 

[Agent.M]

Agent.M, did you try it on your computer or on a console?
If on the computer, are you 100% sure your soundcard decoded it properly etc?
I've seen in several reviews that they're good, but not alot people know how to make sure they're actually RECIEVING "surround".

Hmmm well I had it hooked up to my computer which has an audigy 2 zs, Im pretty sure my soundcard decoded it properly and I went through several tedious calibrations to make sure it wasnt just me not setting something up properly. Im not saying that they sounded bad at all Im just saying that the actual surround sound just didnt cut it for me not to mention the zalmans lack greatly in the bass department. As far as "recieving surround" properly Im 98% sure I was.

 

[Venmoch]

Its been said many times before that the Surround Sound you get from headphones isn't true surround sound.

That said however it may be worth checking out the new Creative X-Fi cards. Apparently they cna emulate Surround Sound on a normal pair of stereo headphones.

Please note the apparently.

 

[Gray Fox]

Hoe about the medusa 5.1 surroundsound headset.
Here is a review on toms hardware http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20050714/headset-01.html
Do note that under that review there is a review of the usb version. Oh and the non usb version comes with it's own amplifier.

 

[SAJ]

I have the medusa`s and theyre pretty good imo.
The only thing is they dont give you the same front-rear separation as you would get from a 5.1 speaker set-up.
They have four speakers in each cup, their own amp and volume controls for each channel on the lead.
The spatial separation isnt amazing but when listening to a 5.1 source, the sound is much richer in detail than standard stereo headphones.
30-40 quid in the uk.

edit; I was under the impression that you can plug them directly into a 360, but that you need a 5.1 amp for the old xbox, but I could be wrong.

edit2; All reports Ive seen say stay away from the usb version.

 

[JNightshade]

I have the Zalmans, and I love 'em. They do quite good surround. Not sure what others would think though.

 

[AfternoonLemon]

I have the Medusa's aswell, and would highly recommend them.

Before I bought them, I couldn't imagine how they could replicate surround sound in your ears, with the speakers being essentially right next to each other (inside the cups). They actually work really well though, obviously not as well as a full speaker set-up, but impressive for headphones.

I also love the in-line headphone amp supplied with it, eliminating the hassle of unplugging your surround sound speakers. And it has 2 headphone outputs on the amp, if you happen to have another pair which uses the 9-pin connection.

All this for £35! Bargain. :thumbs:

 

[Gray Fox]

Hey but I have an onboard avance 97 soundcard, can that thing produce 5.1 surroundsound. As far as I know it cannot and thus unfortunatly for me it would be futile to buy the medusa.

 

[SAJ]

Hey but I have an onboard avance 97 soundcard, can that thing produce 5.1 surroundsound. As far as I know it cannot and thus unfortunatly for me it would be futile to buy the medusa.

You will have to check the number and type of speaker-out connections on your mb. You also have to check your manual, the ac 97 standard goes up to 6.1 sound, but it will vary according to make and model.

If you dont have 5.1 onboard you can get a basic 5.1 soundblaster pretty cheap. I would recommend that option over a usb medusa.

 

[Murray_H]

I have the Medusa's aswell, and would highly recommend them.

Before I bought them, I couldn't imagine how they could replicate surround sound in your ears, with the speakers being essentially right next to each other (inside the cups). They actually work really well though, obviously not as well as a full speaker set-up, but impressive for headphones.

I also love the in-line headphone amp supplied with it, eliminating the hassle of unplugging your surround sound speakers. And it has 2 headphone outputs on the amp, if you happen to have another pair which uses the 9-pin connection.

All this for £35! Bargain. :thumbs:

I just bought them a couple of days ago off play.com for the same price (thanks to a £5 voucher!), the amp definately sold them for me!

Can't wait till they get here, got a dream theater dvd I want to try out with them