5.1 headsets

[Sureshot324]

I'm considering getting some 5.1 headphones and would like to hear people's experience with them. I would hook them up to my integrated sound and use them strictly for gaming, and use my Sennheiser 280 pro's for music/movies, which are hooked up to my sound card.

What I want to know is, do they sound natural? Do you get good sound positioning?

EDIT:
Listen the sound files in this link with headphones and with your eyes closed (particularly the first two):
Link
They are created by placing two microphones where your ears would be. Amazingly you can tell if the sounds are in front, behind, above or below you even with stereo headphones.

 

[yhelothar]

nah they're a gimmick and they're junk... your HD280's would sound better.

 

[Sureshot324]

anyone else?

 

[0roo0roo]

you want quality headphones. not 5.1 gimmick. 2 higher quality earphone speakers are all you need. the software/game/soundcard will do the rest. software dvd players also have dolby headphone etc.
sound quality>cheesy surround effects.
go to head-fi forum for more

 

[PianoMan]

I went thru the same search about a year ago. I used Tritton's AX360 5.1 headphones with their own DD decoder and Turtle Beach's X51 with my 5.1 surround card.

As already stated previously, the AX360's were WAY too tinny. TB's were a bit better, but always a compromise. When you try to jam pack more then one driver in each ear, ur gonna run into problems.

Dolby Headphone probably is the best solution out there. As you may know, it processes surround info to give the illusion of rear effects while leaving front/center info mostly intact - all using two drivers - so you can use a good headset with 'em. TB has a set that uses Dolby Headphone, but I don't like wireless sound transmission (as opposed to streaming digital).

I ended up springing for Astro's Audio System, which is $$$. However, their MixAmp (goes for $130) WILL give you Dolby effects with your 280's. I use the MixAmp when I'm watching movies after hours in bed (I've got Senn HD650's I also use with SACD's).

Astro's headset doesn't match the 650's sound quality, but the mic integration with BOTH XBOX and PC is unmatched. I use those exclusively for gaming.

Check them out - I think a MixAmp should be in everyone's arsenal whether you LANParty or game with headphones a lot.

 

[Ghouler]

Originally posted by: PianoMan
Dolby Headphone probably is the best solution out there. As you may know, it processes surround info to give the illusion of rear effects while leaving front/center info mostly intact - all using two drivers - so you can use a good headset with 'em. TB has a set that uses Dolby Headphone, but I don't like wireless sound transmission (as opposed to streaming digital).

CMSS-3D that is on X-Fi cards creates much better surround over headphones compared to Dolby Headphone. Unlike Dolby Headphone it uses something called "elevation filters" which create not just the surround sound from your left to your right but also from "below" to "above" you. I would even say that for gaming this beats any surround speaker set.
It is a standard feature on any X-Fi card I think and will work with any decent stereo headset or pair of headphones such as your 280 Pros.

 

[brblx]

i used an xfi and didn't see any difference between 'CMSS-3D' and and normal EAX or even old A3D.

all that crap is gimmicks. personally, i threw my x-fi in the garbage because it was a) worthless and b) had drivers made by monkeys.

also, the OP would probably be advised to not run two sound cards. i foresee conflicts. if you put in an add-in card, disable the onboard sound in the bios.

 

[PianoMan]

I liked the CMSS-3D effects on BF2 when I used to play it. But I don't anymore.

I do AGREE the drivers now leave something to be desired. Another reason to go to both onboard sound and an external decoder.

 

[yhelothar]

I think the main thing you're looking for is soundstage. It's the ability for headphones to reproduce the environment in which the audio was recorded. A good soundstage will remove the in the head sound feeling you get with crappy headphones and will greatly enhance the positional effect of your sound.
Check out this thread from head-fi for some recommendations
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/...dphones-gaming-300289/

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: astroidea
nah they're a gimmick and they're junk... your HD280's would sound better.

This.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: astroidea
nah they're a gimmick and they're junk... your HD280's would sound better.

 

[Sureshot324]

bump for edit