5.1 Surround Sound Headphones

[imported_thomase]

There are a lot options. I would like to be able to use this with a 5.1 PC soundcard, game console, and
home theater. USB audio device is not an option as it bypasses the soundcard and may have trouble with
EAX, etc. Does anyone have any comments on the following products?

1) Gainward Sound Xplosion 5.1: $26
Front, Rear, Center mini-jacks for 5.1 soundcard connection. Does not appear to have inline amp.

2) Zalman 5.1 Surround Ultimate Gaming Headphones: $45
Similar to above. I saw a review compairing these to the Gainward which said Zalman is better for bass
and Gainward is better for high freq.

3) LTB-AC97-M (Sunnytech/Mentor): $59
Looks interesting. 3 mini-jacks for soundcard connection. Also comes with adapter-like device - not sure
if its an amp or something else. Comes with a detachable mic which is nice for gaming and Skype. Only
reviews I could find were for the USB audio device version and the reviewer mostly just complained
about not being able to use his Audigy 2. Any reviews for the AC97 version out there? There is also an
AC3 version but I'm not sure if they can be used for PC audio. Check out www.listentobelieve.com. Also
claims to have special SafeBass feature that protects the ears from bass.

4) I/O Magic Sound Assault 5.1: $73
Says its 8 speakers, but still only 5.1 (the other products here a 6 speakers). Perhaps the extra
speakers are dedicated sub? Comes with a nice amp setup and a whole array of cables and adapters.
Basically, it looks like you can hook it up to PC, console, home theater, etc. Includes separate volume
control on the amp. I like the look of this one, but I can't find too many reviews, esp. comparing to
Zalman, Gainward, etc.

5) Kinyo KY-100 5.1 $39
Looks VERY simlar to I/O Magic in terms of feature set. Comes with an amp and adapters and cables
for hooking up to PC, console, home theater, etc. Only difference seems to be that I/O magic has aux
audio connectors for a second headset. I'm a little confused as to how this package is the second
cheapest when it has the second largest collection of features and extras. Can't find any reviews
comparing to other products. Maybe the quality is lower than the I/O Magic product?

I am leaning towards I/O Magic or Kinyo because I like the idea of hooking it up to my console as well as
PC. Not entirely sure if this can't be done with other products though, esp. the Sunnytech/Mentor set. They
have a bunch of different versions at www.listentobelieve.com and I'm not sure if any one of them can do
PC AND console AND home theater.

Anyone own any of these?

Opinions?

 

[imported_thomase]

Did a little more research....

The IOMagic product does seem to have a few more featuers than the Kinyo, explaining the higher price.
1) There are 8 instead of 6 speakers, 2 sub, 2 center, 2 side, 2 back.
2) There is an inline volume control indepedent of the amp with 4 separate controls (one
for each speaker pair).
3) There is the auxilliary (stereo only) input to the amp, and you can switch between the two.
4) You can connect a 2nd pair of headphones (not sure how you buy a separate pair).
5) You can use USB connection for power to the amp. I think this is an alternative to using an AC adapter which is also included. However, there do seem to be 2 USB connetors. I'm not sure what the other one is for - maybe the second headset?
6) Comes with WinDVD and WinRIP software.

The only review I can find is a video review at:
www.3dgameman.com/vr/pcpowerzone/ iomagic_headphones/video_review.html
He describes the product and points out that they do not rival the sound quality of audiophile headphones (primarily for music listening) that cost several hundered dollars (I would not expect them to; nor do any of the other products). Although his review is very positive, he unfortunatley does not provide any comparisons to comparable products. For example, I would be curious to know if they suffer from the same static noise problem (when NOT playing sound) as the Kinyo product.

 

[imported_thomase]

Found another review for IOMagic!

http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rlid=73833

Review looks good but he does not compare them to any other products. The only complaints he has is that they are a bit uncomfortable on his "perhaps slightly larger than average ears". He also wished it had digital sound input (optical or coax). Now I don't know to much about home theater, but don't you need a digital decoder (a whole different class of product) to accept digital sound input, decode it, and distribute the channels to surround speakers?

 

[imported_thomase]

More research....

Aparently, the set to get is the Medusa 5.1 set made by Speed Link. The people at 3dgameman forums claim that the IOMagic product is a cheap ripoff of these, but I have not yet seen a direct comparison.
http://www.3dgameman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25043
However, I did see an Ausie post a reference (on a different board) to a supposed review comparing most of the products I have mentioned: "A load of pc mags have now done comparison features comparing the six better known surround h/phones (Zalman, Medusa, I/O Magic, Gainward, Kinyo and Mentor) and have the Medusa's winning hands down."
http://www.gamearena.com.au/me.../dc/thread.php/2626648
The amp looks a lot like the Kinyo amp (maybe same OEM), including the lack of an AUX input. The inline volume control does not include an adjustment for sub volume. The Medusa's are made by a German company and they seem to only be generally available in Europe. There is a US distributor at http://www.medusa-usa.com but it is a bit costly ($128 retial, $96 OEM). You also need to pick up a power adapter as the one included is for UK only.

Google rocks!

 

['BARtMAN']

anyone buy these yet? I'm looking for either some new headphones or new speakers... I have zalman 5.1s right now, and the surround effect is just not there. My 5.1 klipsch speakers died so it's either buy better headphones (which I'm sure my neighbors would rather me just do that) or get s750s or z5500(more likely then the creatives, way cheaper)

I see them here for $60...

I paid 40 something for my zalmans, but they are pretty much useless imo. I can't tell if things are from behind, the side, or right in my face. I end up usually just using my old sony mdrv6s as they sound 10 times better but still can't wear them for long as they really muffle my ears.

Please someone tell me they have both these and the zalman 5.1s...

edit: those kinyos don't look too bad, only $40 at newegg I just don't know what to do here...

 

[OnEMoReTrY]

Yea, I got the zalmans, they are nice, sounds good, but its a little hard to tell on the surround sound. The back speakers and center speakers are VERY weak. I have them all the way up and the front almost off to equalize it.

 

[One Nutt]

The Kinyo's are at Ecost for cheaper.
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=427193
I'm debating what to try. I have been hoping some real user input could be found besides Newegg reviews. Most "headphone" forums seem to bash ALL 5.1 headphones. I looked at the Kinyo's, the AC97-M's and the Gainward's. Not sure which company I want to steal my money as of yet. I also plan to get a pair of Sennheiser PC150's to have something decent to compare them to.

 

['BARtMAN']

Same here one nutt...
all the reviews I can find that have reviewed the medusas and zalman say the medusas are much better, but they never tried a pair of kinyos.
But then the same goes for kinyo vs zalman reviews. Zalmans don't seem to be the all that great at surround sound... or bass for that matter.

I'm also seeing a lot of people saying that you really need the zalman amp or an audigy 2 to really get good use out of the zalman 6s

I still can't pick.. It's either the kinyos, medusas, or a new soundcard...

 

[One Nutt]

I just picked up the Kinyo setup. Found it at Microcenter. Gonna try it out tonight in CS:S and see how it sounds. They also had the IOMagic setup too. I might take these back and try them out as well. Find out what I like and buy it online for far cheaper

 

['BARtMAN']

I placed an order for the medusas, but they won't ship to my "unverified"(as paypal puts it) work address... this isn't worth my time I think I'll just get the kinyos too... tons cheaper anyway...

 

[One Nutt]

The Kinyos suck. The surround is there, the amp is nice, but they sound like you're wearing tin cans. They sounded ok in CS:S, they were untolerable in SOF2. Gonna grab the IOMagics tomorrow and if that fails I am getting some Sennheisers.

 

['BARtMAN']

so things really sound like they are coming behind you? I personally don't care much about the quality, I know it's gonna suck... I've got some sony mdrv6s that aren't bad...

onenutt have you ever used the zalman 6s?

btw if you're looking for nice head phones here's the ones I've been eyeing if I don't get 5.1s

a500s
hd555

 

[One Nutt]

I could tell where the sound was coming from compared to the Wallyworld Koss headphones I have been using. The IOMagics were the same way. I preferred the IO's over the Kinyos for the features, like USB powered amp and inlin adjustment for the channels. The quality just wasn't there enough for me. I am looking at 497's now, or depending on Speed-links return policy I may try the Medusa's. The IO's appear to be a cheap knockoff of them.

 

[housecat]

I have had the Kinyos for about 7 months now.. I still "dont know".. if you know what I mean.

They do sound like shit, but thats a given on nearly all of these 5.1 sets. If you mess with your EQ it can sound pretty good though.
I use the kxproject drivers on my Audigy1 and you can tell where ppl are coming from.. its nice in a 1v1 match in CS.. but in fast firefights its not too great.

Its still way off of the quality of surround detection your ears are capable of in a real life environment.


In general, I would recommend most ppl go with a decent quality headphone set like Koss or Sennheiser and forget it..

sorry thats my basic recommendation and I use the Kinyos daily.. if I were to buy again it'd be one of the Sennheiser headsets (PC140 or 150).

BTW, the amplifier is poorly shielded, so you have to put a piece of aluminum foil around it to prevent interference that seems to happen unless its far away from EVERY electrical device.

Its laughable.

Buy a good Koss or Sennheiser headset for gaming.. please.
I owned the Gainward 5.1s too... just as pathetic and I suspect all 5.1 headphoens suck besides the Sony ($1000+), and it doesnt use 6 speakers or anything.. it uses 2 speakers and simulates 5.1..

just trying to help you guys out.