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SquatsAreAwesom

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#1 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

I need surround sound headphones since I feel like I am missing out big. At the moment I have Seinhessier HDs that cost me like $100 3 years ago, however want 5.1 or 7.1 for PC gaming.

However, I would ALSO like they to work on my 360 / PS3.

Do any of you have a strong experience with these items?

1. What is the best one for PC gaming?

2. What is the best one for console gaming?

3. What is the best for BOTH? ( It seems like there is no such thing Trittron 720 does this )

14 years ago

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Member since 2010 • 5839 Posts

I own the tritton AX pros, and they are great. Expensive though at around $150.

14 years ago

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Member since 2003 • 2675 Posts

logitech G35s not sure if they will work on ur PS3 or Xbox tho

14 years ago

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#4 NamelessPlayer

Member since 2004 • 7729 Posts

X-Fi with APU -> CMSS-3D Headphone -> Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 for PC gaming. That's what I use, and the surround sound effect is very convincing. Just need some stereo cans with only two good drivers that provide excellent imaging and some HRTF filters. Heck, why not try out those Sennheisers of yours before buying anything else? If they're HD-555s, they should perform pretty well with CMSS-3D, which would save you around $80-85 on the AD700s. For console gaming, it looks like you'll have to get one of those Astro Mixamps for Dolby Headphone use, plug a S/PDIF cable into it, and then plug your preferred cans and mic in. As for the microphone, that could be an issue, seeing as many of the popular cans for CMSS-3D and/or Dolby Headphone use aren't headsets with boom mics. There's a Zalman clip-on mic floating around that many like to use with good headphones, but that tends to pick up more ambient noise by design compared to a boom mic. Others just mod a detachable mic into their favorite cans.

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#5 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

I own the tritton AX pros, and they are great. Expensive though at around $150.i5750at4Ghz

Do those actually produce surround sound?

logitech G35s not sure if they will work on ur PS3 or Xbox tho
DJ8WORK

Unfortunately they don't :( [QUOTE="NamelessPlayer"]X-Fi with APU -> CMSS-3D Headphone -> Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 for PC gaming. That's what I use, and the surround sound effect is very convincing. Just need some stereo cans with only two good drivers that provide excellent imaging and some HRTF filters. Heck, why not try out those Sennheisers of yours before buying anything else? If they're HD-555s, they should perform pretty well with CMSS-3D, which would save you around $80-85 on the AD700s. For console gaming, it looks like you'll have to get one of those Astro Mixamps for Dolby Headphone use, plug a S/PDIF cable into it, and then plug your preferred cans and mic in. As for the microphone, that could be an issue, seeing as many of the popular cans for CMSS-3D and/or Dolby Headphone use aren't headsets with boom mics. There's a Zalman clip-on mic floating around that many like to use with good headphones, but that tends to pick up more ambient noise by design compared to a boom mic. Others just mod a detachable mic into their favorite cans.

I'm confused, is CMSS-3D software that mimics 3D?

14 years ago

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#6 deathseeker41

Member since 2004 • 819 Posts

[QUOTE="i5750at4Ghz"]I own the tritton AX pros, and they are great. Expensive though at around $150.SquatsAreAwesom

Do those actually produce surround sound?

Yea they do, each channel has its own speaker in each ear. My rear left speaker went out but Tritton issued me an RMA (still havn't sent it in)

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#7 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"][QUOTE="i5750at4Ghz"]I own the tritton AX pros, and they are great. Expensive though at around $150.deathseeker41

Do those actually produce surround sound?

Yea they do, each channel has its own speaker in each ear. My rear left speaker went out but Tritton issued me an RMA (still havn't sent it in)

Nice! I am definitely interested in picking one of these bad boys up, however the reviews for it don't look the best.

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#8 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

Looks like the Turtle Beach X41s may be the best of them all! HRMMMmmmmmm

14 years ago

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#9 NamelessPlayer

Member since 2004 • 7729 Posts

I'm confused, is CMSS-3D software that mimics 3D?SquatsAreAwesom

CMSS-3D Headphone, Dolby Headphone, and other such things are designed to alter a surround sound signal so that you get the proper surround sound effect out of plain stereo headphones. This works on how we all only have two ears, but still perceive the location of sounds in a full 3D space-basically, they model how sound travels to each ear and throughout the head. I've found that it works great for me, but your mileage may vary. (Note that the Razer Megalodon and Logitech G35 are stereo headsets that perform similar HRTF tricks for their surround sound effects. I just don't have either because being USB, they have their own sound "cards". They probably won't work for you when it comes to console gaming, either.) Some other cans work by having discrete drivers for each channel, but the overall sound quality tends to suffer compared to just having two great stereo drivers and applying CMSS-3D, Dolby Headphone, or similar surround sound simulation technologies..

14 years ago

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Member since 2009 • 25778 Posts

psyko labs 5.1 latency free headset

http://hothardware.com/News/Psyko-Announces-Immediate-Availability-of-Latency-Free-51-Headphones/

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#11 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]I'm confused, is CMSS-3D software that mimics 3D?NamelessPlayer

CMSS-3D Headphone, Dolby Headphone, and other such things are designed to alter a surround sound signal so that you get the proper surround sound effect out of plain stereo headphones. This works on how we all only have two ears, but still perceive the location of sounds in a full 3D space-basically, they model how sound travels to each ear and throughout the head. I've found that it works great for me, but your mileage may vary. (Note that the Razer Megalodon and Logitech G35 are stereo headsets that perform similar HRTF tricks for their surround sound effects. I just don't have either because being USB, they have their own sound "cards". They probably won't work for you when it comes to console gaming, either.) Some other cans work by having discrete drivers for each channel, but the overall sound quality tends to suffer compared to just having two great stereo drivers and applying CMSS-3D, Dolby Headphone, or similar surround sound simulation technologies..

Nice, do I need ot buy something to get CMSS-3D to work?

14 years ago

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Member since 2007 • 1103 Posts

logitech G35s not sure if they will work on ur PS3 or Xbox tho
DJ8WORK

I second this. People calling "hax" because you can hear a spy uncloaking behind you while scoped is priceless.

14 years ago

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#13 NamelessPlayer

Member since 2004 • 7729 Posts

Nice, do I need ot buy something to get CMSS-3D to work?SquatsAreAwesom

You'll need a proper X-Fi card like the XtremeGamer or XtremeMusic or better for CMSS-3D Headphone in games. Avoid the XtremeAudio ones and anything that's an external USB device rather than an internal PCI or PCIe card, since they lack the X-Fi DSP. Other cards like Asus' Xonar lineup and the HT Omega cards use Dolby Headphone instead, much like the Astro Mixamp. You'll find a lot of mixed opinions between various products regarding raw sound quality and drivers-best to read up and make a decision from there.

14 years ago

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Member since 2005 • 29917 Posts

1. Proberbly the Audio Technica AD900s, i have the A900s and they're great but the open back versions should be even better. 2. Just get a proper DAC or receiver, the digital ones that run off toslink just include a very cheap mini DAC. 3. As i said just get a DAC, you can use this with both your PC and console if you want the very best you could get a soundcard too to utilise the surround sound emulator over toslink. You could also use a reciever that supports dolby headphone and HDMI pass through which will give you full surround sound emulation.

14 years ago

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Member since 2005 • 788 Posts

I own the tritton AX pros, and they are great. Expensive though at around $150.i5750at4Ghz

i got the ax 720 just got them today, They are amazing

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#16 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

[QUOTE="markop2003"]1. Proberbly the Audio Technica AD900s, i have the A900s and they're great but the open back versions should be even better. 2. Just get a proper DAC or receiver, the digital ones that run off toslink just include a very cheap mini DAC. 3. As i said just get a DAC, you can use this with both your PC and console if you want the very best you could get a soundcard too to utilise the surround sound emulator over toslink. You could also use a reciever that supports dolby headphone and HDMI pass through which will give you full surround sound emulation.

Is the Astro Mixamp a DAC? Can you please elaborate a little more or perhaps points me to a resource? What is a high quality DAC? From what I understand, I would use a DAC in order to connect an optical cable to as input. The DAC does the surround sound simulation. Then outputs through 3.5mm ( i think ) headphone jack to provide the surround soundness?

14 years ago

SquatsAreAwesom

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#17 SquatsAreAwesom

Member since 2009 • 1678 Posts

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]Nice, do I need ot buy something to get CMSS-3D to work?NamelessPlayer

You'll need a proper X-Fi card like the XtremeGamer or XtremeMusic or better for CMSS-3D Headphone in games. Avoid the XtremeAudio ones and anything that's an external USB device rather than an internal PCI or PCIe card, since they lack the X-Fi DSP. Other cards like Asus' Xonar lineup and the HT Omega cards use Dolby Headphone instead, much like the Astro Mixamp. You'll find a lot of mixed opinions between various products regarding raw sound quality and drivers-best to read up and make a decision from there.

Where do you get your info from? I'd love to do research from a good source.

So, Xi-Fi DSP is different from the kind Dolby Headphone uses... interesting. Do you know if 360, PS3 and normal movies can be processed well by Xi-Fi DSP? If I do get a X-Fi card like XtremeGamer... can't I connect my 360 or PS3 to my PC, via optical in, then output surround sound to the headphones using the Xi-Fi decoding? I guess... X-Fi would have to support Dolby Digital decoding as well, no?

It looks like the PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium might be able to handle this. However... it costs $150 by itsef. This makes me question whether I should invest in a Home Theatre (receiver only) with Dolby Headphone support.

I think right now, I have to research what DSP is the best...

EDIT: DAMMIT! So... it turns out even the X-Fi Titaniums DO NOT allow you to decode 360's 5.1 surround sound :(

14 years ago

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Member since 2005 • 29917 Posts

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"] Is the Astro Mixamp a DAC? Can you please elaborate a little more or perhaps points me to a resource? What is a high quality DAC? From what I understand, I would use a DAC in order to connect an optical cable to as input. The DAC does the surround sound simulation. Then outputs through 3.5mm ( i think ) headphone jack to provide the surround soundness?

1. Yes, a DAC is just a digitalto analogue converter, anything that handles digital audio will have a DAC chip in it. The term has been co-opted by audiophiulles for a piece of hardware that converts a standard stereo digital signal from a CD player or computer into a analogue signal which can then be fed into an amp. 2. Depends on your idea of high quality, i saw one on head-fi a while back that was literally nuclear powered (atomic clock). 3. That depends on the specific DAC, the majority only handle stero sound. If you want surround sound a receiver would be best as that's what they're designed to do.

14 years ago

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#19 gameguy6700

Member since 2004 • 12197 Posts

So how well does surround sound emulation hold up to the real deal? Granted for those of us in dorms/who move a lot this doesn't really matter since a real surround sound setup just isn't practical enough to warrant having, but it'd be nice to know if it's even worth bothering with or if it's just "yeah, it kiiiind of sounds like the sound is coming behind you, but then you also get a deadzone for sound that's happening right next to your left or right side".

14 years ago

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#20 NamelessPlayer

Member since 2004 • 7729 Posts

Where do you get your info from? I'd love to do research from a good source.
So, Xi-Fi DSP is different from the kind Dolby Headphone uses... interesting. Do you know if 360, PS3 and normal movies can be processed well by Xi-Fi DSP? If I do get a X-Fi card like XtremeGamer... can't I connect my 360 or PS3 to my PC, via optical in, then output surround sound to the headphones using the Xi-Fi decoding? I guess... X-Fi would have to support Dolby Digital decoding as well, no?
It looks like the PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium might be able to handle this. However... it costs $150 by itsef. This makes me question whether I should invest in a Home Theatre (receiver only) with Dolby Headphone support.
I think right now, I have to research what DSP is the best...
EDIT: DAMMIT! So... it turns out even the X-Fi Titaniums DO NOT allow you to decode 360's 5.1 surround sound :(
SquatsAreAwesom

I mostly lurk on forums like Head-Fi and some of the audio sub-forums on PC enthusiast sites. Aggregate different opinions, sum up the pros and cons, and decide. As for connecting one of your consoles through a PC with an X-Fi card to apply the HRTF filters, that sounds like too much hassle to me, plus I've never tried it. That's why the Astro Mixamp and other such devices that take a 5.1 Toslink/optical S/PDIF (digital audio) cable for input and output Dolby Headphone-processed sound to stereo headphones exist. (I also know JVC makes a similar device, but I forgot the model name...) I wouldn't pay US$150 for a Creative-built X-Fi, either. That's Auzentech X-Fi Prelude or Forte money right there. If you don't want to plunk down that much, a used XtremeGamer or XtremeMusic from eBay could probably be had for US$50 or less. Just make sure you have a PCI slot free for one of those. Also, another good way to tell if a given card is a true X-Fi (not a fake one like the XtremeAudio) is that the APU will likely have a heatsink on the PCI versions. (PCIe versions with the APU don't have it for whatever reason.)

So how well does surround sound emulation hold up to the real deal? Granted for those of us in dorms/who move a lot this doesn't really matter since a real surround sound setup just isn't practical enough to warrant having, but it'd be nice to know if it's even worth bothering with or if it's just "yeah, it kiiiind of sounds like the sound is coming behind you, but then you also get a deadzone for sound that's happening right next to your left or right side".
gameguy6700

For me, it works well enough that I can differentiate between something at 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock as well as 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock to a slightly lesser extent (just to give some rough positions), as well as above and below. When the game is coded for it well (BF: Vietnam and BF2 are my two main examples), you could just about pinpoint something by sound alone, even knowing how they move around and past you. For most newer games, it's not quite as accurate because it simulates a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker setup around you and derives the positional data from that (whereas older games generally made it a point in 3D space relative from your position and lets the card do the processing from there), but still a whole lot better than plain stereo sound.

14 years ago

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