Surround Sound Headphones / Dolby Headphones

[EvilBoris]

I've got some creative lab ones, they are the ones that convert 5.1 to dolby headphone surround it is only the decoder that does anything special, the actual headphones are just normal bog standard things.

I use the decode box with a pair of huge senheisser 'phones.
it works really well and is a definate improvement over normal stereo with surround effects really standing out well.

I don't don't how those ones that actually have multiple speakers in them work though.

there are some demos of the dolby headphone system here

http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2006/11/18/Dolby_Headphone_demos/1.html

and here

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html

You can give it a test run with an existing set of headphones, just plug them into your Pc and off you go.

[RBelmont]

i had creative ones, and tbh it isnt surround sound at all, its just digital stereo sound(mine even had a decoder box), with a few tricky effects.

in my experience a 50 quid set of decent stereo headphones will beat a 50 "surround" headphones anyday.

[Space Monkey]

I've got a set of Thrustmaster 5.1 headphones, I quite like them. The spatial effect is quite noticable and you can tell if sounds are behind you etc but it's not nearly as obvious as a proper 5.1 setup. If you have to be restricted to headphones for whatever reason though the improvement over stereo is worth the money.
Apparently with stereo headphones sounds are percieved by your brain as originating from inside your head (between the earphones )which leads to fatigue, the effects added to the sounds by the 5.1 decoder in the headphones fools the brain into precieving them as external eliminating or reducing the fatigue.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone_faq.html

e- The decoder on the Thrustmaster ones crashes every so often with the xbox and possibly other sources so they are best avoided

[EvilBoris]

Agreed, it doesn come close to a proper surround setup, but is far better than normal stereo.

I'd use it all the time on my 360 if it wasn't for the problem of hearing people on live properly.

[Space Monkey]

Yeah, with Live it's a real problem. I use the old original xbox headset underneath the headphones but it's horrible, wish I could find a better solution.

[themanwithapc]

The one's concept has linked to actually have special support for Live. Quite a few of people on avforums picked them up and are very happy with them, especially for the purpose of Live. I'd post links, but the mods would have my balls on a stick......

[EvilBoris]

I used to use either my small Halo 2 headset underneath or put my 360 headset around my nect and have the mouthpiece near my mouth.

You could set the sound to come out of your speakers and thus your entire headset, but it kinda gets drowned out people don't sound as clear.

[Concept]

Thanks guys.

[Paulos G]

Not sure if it's any use to you Concept but there's a wireless Sennheiser headphone set on Amazon for £58.74.

I have a wired pair of Sennheiser's and they are excellent. I use the wireless headset with them and it works a treat.

[Concept]

The wireless aspect of those is excellent but I don't think they're 5.1. I'm basically thinking of picking up a new pair for future proofing, as I'd imagine all major (and even smaller) releases will probably be 5.1 the more we get further into this generation.

[RBelmont]

Actually if anyone is buying a set of "surround" headphones..........i have a better idea.

my brother tea leafed my headset from the creative labsset i have(and broke them), so i have a spare decoder unit which is actually what makes the bog standard headset "surround". it takes either optical(via adapter) or coaxial connection and out puts a dolby headset track.

if anyone is seriously wanting to invest in some of these, then spend your entire cash allocation on a ace set of stereo headphones, and i will be willing to give the decoder to anyone who wants it.......i dont use it anymore since buying a amp/receiver that can do it all.

it will make the experience better with quality headphones.

you can see the decoder i am talking about here:

http://www.gameseek.co.uk/pd/PCk7eqxu822gs67hkk/Creative-HQ2300D-Dolby-Digital-Headphones#prodimg

first come first serve.

[gunrock]

http://www.gameseek.co.uk/pd/PCk7eqxu822gs67hkk/Creative-HQ2300D-Dolby-Digital-Headphones#prodimg

first come first serve.

PM'd!

[RBelmont]

regarding the decoder unit, andrewfree asked first so he gets it.

andrew give me a few days to get it out, as i have a heavy shedule next couple of days.

[Ian(not Ian)]

I use Razer Barracudas on my PC, they have separate speakers inside for left right, front and rear. They are jolly good indeed. Get a rocket up yo ass and you will hear it coming. They are large, but extremely comfy.
Not sure if the 4x 3.5MM plugs which they use for PC can be adapted for use on consoles, worth having a look on the WWW.

http://www.razerzone.com/Products/Gaming-Audio/Razer-Barracuda-HP1-Gaming-Headphones/

nah. razer's FAQ states the rascals will NOT work on a 360.

[fallenangle]

I don't know about the high end 5.1 surround-sound headphones but I'd avoid anything cheap or with a Dolby Headphone decoder. I bought a Thrustmaster 'gamers' surround-sound headphone set which had a true Dolby Headphone dedcoder.

Although cheap feeling and badly designed it was the decoder's sound I was interested and could have put up with its failings if that had been any good. It wasn't. It does produce a wider field than stereo, simulating rear speakers, but I think the effect is unnatural. I don't know how to decribe it but it sounds as if everything is coming from a just off vertical arc positioned outside your head. It certainly didn't help me identify directional sounds any better than stereo.

A couple of years ago, just after I made that purchase mistake. I asked about 5.1 headphones on various specialist forums and the almost universal recommendation was not to bother and instead get a decent AV amp with as good a set of ordinary stereo headphones as you can afford.