Surround Sound Headphones / Dolby Headphones

[RBelmont]

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.

yeah i agree tbh.

[themanwithapc]

Headphone setup with consoles

As I play my consoles rather late at night, I've been thinking about getting a decent headphone setup to use. My rooms pretty small, and awkwardly setup for 5.1, so I currently use my TV speakers.

Currently, I have a 360, PS2, and Wii. I'd like for all of them to be hooked up to the headphones, so I can conveniently switch between them. From the very little research I've done, it seems like I need:
- Headphones (Need to be super comfy)
- Amplifier of some sort (There's dedicated headphone amps, and all round ones)
- Cables (Self explanatory)

So, would someone be kind enough to recommend something for each component? My budget would be about £150 all in.

[andrewfee]

It'd be easiest to help if we know what you're currently doing in terms of sound. Have you got a 5.1 kit? Just using the TV speakers? Got a stereo setup etc?

There's a few options available though. I'm not sure if it'd be in your budget, but you could go for a cheap headphone amp, some kind of external switch and a pair of reasonable headphones, or you could just get a stereo amp with headphone socket which would be a one-box solution.

I'd probably go for something like this, which has four inputs: http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...pid=ELTA-AMP70 (can't vouch for it at all, but I saw someone else recommend it here recently)

and pair it up with some Grado SR-80s, which are easy to drive: http://www.hificables.co.uk/productd...ferrer/froogle

The SR-80s I can recommend though - I've had a pair of them for a number of years now. They're nice and light, comfortable (in my opinion) and sound great, especially once they've had a few hundred hours on them. I've since upgraded to some better headphones for music/game/movie listening, but they still see plenty of use with my laptop / portable devices, as they've got a 3.5mm jack.

You may also want to consider Alessandro MS-1s: http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html

These are tweaked SR-80s and apparently sound even better. You'll have to import them though.


My current setup is a Cyrus 7 stereo amplifier (6 inputs) which has my Squeezebox/PVR/PS3/Wii/360 running through it. That's then used for speakers (and a sub) during the day, and I can just hit one button to switch it to running everything through the headphones at night.

[capcom_suicide]

For the cheap as chips approach, I went for a creative decoder which has these inputs:

- 3 optical
- 3 coax
- loads of RCA

I then connect the 360/PS3 over optical to the decoder.

For sound, if playing "Xbox Live" I tend to use 2 small speakers and switch to setero, as I need the mic.

But for SP gaming I used "Medusa 5.1 NON Usb" headphones which are nice.

From Fleabay the decoder is:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Creative-DDTS-100-Decoder-Perfect-condition-no-reserv_W0QQitemZ230150082973QQihZ013QQcategoryZ14996QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The headphones are:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Medusa-5-1-Home-Edition-Surround-Sound-Headphones_W0QQitemZ170127882063QQihZ007QQcategoryZ11682QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I guess you will be looking at about ?100 for that setup.

I think it's fun with 5.1 headphones, as loads of the games now give a great surround experience.

I appreciate this is the "Budget" approach and audiophiles will be unimpressed, but you pays your money, you takes your choice!

[Soi]

For sound, if playing "Xbox Live" I tend to use 2 small speakers and switch to setero, as I need the mic.

I do a similar thing to you when I need to be quiet. Except I have used the headphones for Live.

Route the voice chat through the headphones (an option in the guide) and place the 360 wired controller's headset around your neck with the mic pointing upwards. Works fine, though you may need to turn the game's sound and music down as by default voice chat is too quiet on my set up.

[capcom_suicide]

I do a similar thing to you when I need to be quiet. Except I have used the headphones for Live.

Route the voice chat through the headphones (an option in the guide) and place the 360 wired controller's headset around your neck with the mic pointing upwards. Works fine, though you may need to turn the game's sound and music down as by default voice chat is too quiet on my set up.

Nice one SOI.

I also found this thread.

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=57580

For a fiver I'll give that a punt! (then I can use the inbuilt medusa headset)

[CMcK]

I bought a surround sound headphone setup from Philips for late night gaming and films.

http://www.technikdirekt.de/main/en/audio/kopfhoerer/655912/-/Article.html?

The phones are self adjusting and very comfortable. The cups do a great job of isolating background noise and the surround sound effect is surprisingly convincing. Comes with 2 batteries so you have one in use and the other charged ready to go. Good battery life as well.
OK you look a bit like a Cyberman wearing them but who's going to see you.

[Zatoichi_Samurai]

Has anybody tried these? They seem pretty good for the price:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3275398/Sony-MDR-DS3000K-Wireless-Infra-Red-Headphones/Product.html

[Soi]

I have a pair of those Zatoichi. I think they are great, but I can't claim to be a headphone expert.

They are light, sound good to my ears and the surround effect works well (not as good as my speakers, but not bad at all). They take optical in, which is handy for the 360. Only negative is that that have a slight hiss when there is no sound coming through them, but I don't notice that when playing so it doesn't bother me.

[capcom_suicide]

I have a pair of those Zatoichi. I think they are great, but I can't claim to be a headphone expert.

They are light, sound good to my ears and the surround effect works well (not as good as my speakers, but not bad at all). They take optical in, which is handy for the 360. Only negative is that that have a slight hiss when there is no sound coming through them, but I don't notice that when playing so it doesn't bother me.

They look great!

Decoder + 5.1 headphones in one.

If I was buying again, I'd look hard and that one.

How is the battery life?

[Zatoichi_Samurai]

I have a pair of those Zatoichi. I think they are great, but I can't claim to be a headphone expert.

They are light, sound good to my ears and the surround effect works well (not as good as my speakers, but not bad at all). They take optical in, which is handy for the 360. Only negative is that that have a slight hiss when there is no sound coming through them, but I don't notice that when playing so it doesn't bother me.

Cool, cheers, gonna to be moving into a house share soon so my speaker set up probably wont be an option . Also looking you can get these from ebay, buy it now $182 delivered. So whats that about £90, bargain!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MDR-DS3000-Infared-Wireless-Headphones-5-1-DTS-NEW_W0QQitemZ280132020649QQihZ018QQcategoryZ140938QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem

[Soi]

The battery is rechargable and recharges when left on the decoder. Instructions say 16 hours, but I've not idea whether that is accurate. I just leave them charging every now and again.

[EvilBoris]

That looks nice as an all in one solution, if you don't mind an extra couple of wires and want to save 50 or so quid you could buy wireless headphones of your choice and a seperate dolby headphone decoder.

[Zatoichi_Samurai]

That looks nice as an all in one solution, if you don't mind an extra couple of wires and want to save 50 or so quid you could buy wireless headphones of your choice and a seperate dolby headphone decoder.

would they still need to be 5.1 headphones though? Or are the headphones just the same as ordinary stereo ones?

[kernow]

I was experiencing this dilemna at the start of the year, I wanted 'true' 5.1 headphones with optical input, but all the decent ones were IR instead of RF wireless, shorter range, and the prices eep. I ended up ignoring the SRS simulated headphones too and just went for some 2ch stereo ones in the end. I bought Sony's RF wireless model for £39.99 in their store, and apart from needing a little more padding they are fine, never cut out and the quality is great.

I can walk upstairs or go for a pee / make a cuppa while my game is paused, with my glasses/phones/and sixaxis in hand I look like a true warrior of the internet.