A couple questions about headphone surround sound.

[blurredvision]

I'm setting up a smaller home theater in a spare bedroom for gaming and blu-ray movies, and since the walls in my house are somewhat thin, I'll be doing most watching with headphones. Because of this, I'm willing to spend (what is to me) a considerable amount for a nicer set. A few questions if you guys do not mind:

1. Do I need to look for a receiver that will pass through 5.1 to the headphone jack specifically, or do they all do this natively?
2. Should I look for anything specifically when shopping for surround headphones? I'm thinking some headphones have drivers for each speaker in the 5.1 setup, others have virtualization techniques, is that right?
3. What options are there to get a pair that work with the PS3? The PS3 only does bluetooth or USB as far as I know, but I want a pair of headphones with a regular jack. Do any headphones have bluetooth built in?

As far as a recommendation, here are some things I care and don't care about:

- My budget is liquid, but I'm thinking something in the $100-$200 range.
- I'd like to have a set with a microphone that can be used with the XBOX 360 and possibly the PS3. I also wouldn't mind if the microphone is removable, but that's not a must, just a plus.
- I don't need noise-canceling, so it's not neccessary.
- I obviously want great surround, it has to be considered damned good.
- I don't have to have to the best bass in the business, but I don't want the worst either.

I appreciate answers and suggestions, thanks!

 

[WraithETC]

http://reviews.cnet.com/headse...-13831_7-33387515.html

Does everything you want. Has built in support for PC audio outs, optical out, removable microphone and works with 360 and ps3 as a headset

A great multipurpose headphone/headset.

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks for the link. In my situation, being what I want to do with it, will it be smarter to completely avoid a receiver and use something like the one linked above? I really don't like the idea of all of those damned wires, and I also don't like the idea of switching optical cables and plugs everywhere. But if it's an all-in-one solution, then I can manage. I had envisioned getting a receiver and having a small-speaker 5.1 setup, but I actually like the idea of not having that at all (it's a rather small space) and just using the TV speakers when I don't want to use the headphones (which won't be often).

 

[WraithETC]

If you want discrete surround headphones with a receiver its going to be more difficult because the headphones will usually have to connect directly to the source for it to work right so you wouldn't be plugging into the receiver anyways.

If you wanted to go with virtualization you could get a receiver with dolby headphone and just rig everything to the receiver and jack in the headphones when necessary. Still a lot of cables but they won't be running everywhere. There are possible complications in getting surround from a PC in this case. Your computer would need to be able to do dolby digital live if dolby headphone were to work correctly. I'm also not sure how common dolby headphone receivers are and how much they cost. Alternatively you could just buy a dolby headphone adapter thing but that solution basically has the same disadvanatges as the Tritton headset and lacks PC 3.5mm inputs.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: WraithETC
If you want discrete surround headphones with a receiver its going to be more difficult because the headphones will usually have to connect directly to the source for it to work right so you wouldn't be plugging into the receiver anyways.

If you wanted to go with virtualization you could get a receiver with dolby headphone and just rig everything to the receiver and jack in the headphones when necessary. Still a lot of cables but they won't be running everywhere. There are possible complications in getting surround from a PC in this case. Your computer would need to be able to do dolby digital live if dolby headphone were to work correctly. I'm also not sure how common dolby headphone receivers are and how much they cost. Alternatively you could just buy a dolby headphone adapter thing but that solution basically has the same disadvanatges as the Tritton headset and lacks PC 3.5mm inputs.

Thanks for the good info Wraith. I'm not concerned about getting surround on my PC, I don't do any gaming on it. However, I do like the Tritton all-in-one solution for everything I'm wanting, regardless of all the wires. If I do have a need for surround on the PC in the future, I have one of those higher-end SB X-Fi setups with the multiple input/output boxes (that I never, ever use), so surely it will have something I can use.

Are there any other products out there similar to what the Tritton offers, but maybe does it in a cleaner fashion? Maybe a wireless headphone option, or maybe a module like the Tritton has, but with multiple optical inputs besides just the one? It would be sweet to have one of those boxes with 2 or 3 optical inputs and a remote to switch between them.

From looking at the Tritton, I'm definitely leaning towards it or something like it and skipping the receiver altogether (would save me a lot of money).

 

[qbfx]

Here's a nice set though it's more of a gamers headphones: http://www.logitech.com/index..../devices/5095&cl=us,en

 

[moonboy403]

There's only one system that I know of that's capable of true surround experience through a headphone and that's called Smyth SVS Realiser which comes with the Stax SR303 headphone. When I auditioned it, I had an extremely difficult time distinguishing whether I was actually listening through a headphone or a 5.1 setup. It's that realistic.

However, the system cost $3000.