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Surround Headphones.

B

BoomAM

Diamond Member
Hi.
Im currently in the market for some decent Headphones. I have a 5.1 Creative 5300 system, but apart from when my parents are away, i cant actually use them propely. So that sorta negates the idea of plumping for a 7.1 system!

So im in the market for some decent Headphones. Preferably some 5.1 headphones.
So, what are the Zalmans like? I heard that they arnt very bassy? What are some of your opinions (ppl that have used them). Any chance of an opinion of someone whos used them in CoD & other games with good surround effects.
I`ve read 5 reviews of the Zalmans, one there great, 3 say lack of bass, 1 says ok.

And the Medusa`s, ive heard that they`re cheaper, have some bass in them, but don`t do low or high frequences very well (sorta know what that means, can someone re-eliterate it to make is 100% clear for me?)

I currently have a set of stereo Philips Wireless Headphones that i brought from a computer market for £30, but the continuing hiss in the background is very annoying.

Links to info on either Headphones.
Medusa 5.1 Headphones
Zalman 5.1 Headphones

Thanks in advance.
 
Ok I know this is a pointed request towards people who have used 5.1 headphones but I could not resist a reply. 5.1 headphones is a gimmick and nothing more anybody who has a good pair of headphones with a decent soundcard can get perfectly good surround and positioning with normal headphones. In cs with my Grado RS-80s I can tell right where somebody is give or take a meter just by hearing thier footsteps. Matter of fact I get better scores with My headphones on FPS games than with my 5.1 Home audio Polk Tower system turned up to a decent roomshaking volume.

Food For thought
 
Ive gotta admit, i, at first thought that the 5.1 headphones are a gimmick, but after alot of ppl on the ocuk forums saying that they arnt, im sorta on the fence.
Maddscientist, have you used some 5.1 headphones. Cos while your reply was relevent, i would be suprised if you`d actually used them, which would negate some of the comments that you brought forwards.
 
The sound that comes with 5.1 headphones will not be as good as the sound from a good pair of headphones that doesn't have to bother with multiple drivers in each ear. Invest in a good pair of Sennheisers or something.
 
5.1 phones = ggggggggiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiccccccccccckkkkkkkk dont waste your time/money with that crap
 
splitting the cost 4 multiple drivers compared to spending all the money on two good ones😛 if you want to play dvds, many dvd software have dolby headphone mode which works quite well with big headphones.
 
Originally posted by: rnp614
5.1 phones = ggggggggiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiccccccccccckkkkkkkk dont waste your time/money with that crap
Click to expand...
Have you used at set of 5.1 Headphones?
If not, then dont comment please.
I know fully well that the sound quality wont be as good as a dedicated 5.1 speaker system, but from various forums, alot of people have said that the Zalmans and Medusas surround effect is very accurate.
Several people have commented that the Zalmans are quite good, but offer no inline volume support or microphone, where as im waiting on a second opionion from a guy at ocuk forums on the Medusas.

 
I don't know to much about surround sound headphones, but my Sennheiser HD-280 really sound nice. Maybe you could check out the reviews on those.
 
I would like to hear back from what you find out about surround headphones, BoomAM. I've also been interested in buying a pair as I live in an apartment where i can't really play my Z640s loud.

I personally think that the Zalman headphones are too cheap in price and therefore too good to be true, but I've read overall positive reviews on them. I haven't heard of the Medusas before, but would also like to more about them.
 
I was curious, so I picked up a pair of the Zalman surround headphones at Christmas when I was ordering a bunch of other stuff.

The stereo field is *much* better than any simulated 5.1 I've heard, and is probably better than *real* 5.1 unless your speakers are positioned exceptionally well. If you want to get gaming/movie surround sound late at night without waking up the neighbors, this is the way to do it.

That said, the sound quality is merely average. They're far better than cheap $10 headphones, but the midrange and treble frequency response leaves something to be desired. The bass is also not as punchy as in a high-quality set of headphones (but, again, you're looking at 6 drivers for $50 rather than 2 for $100+). With some thorough tweaking, they sound about as good as my $30 Koss open-ear headphones, but not anywhere near most high-quality ones (like the Sennheisers mentioned above).

Verdict: great for games and movies, lackluster for music (although they'd probably be better at DVD-Audio or other 5.1 music). Worth the purchase if you like 5.1 sound and need to keep it quiet.
 
Sounds good Matthias99!

I will pick one up next time they go on special at NCIX. I'll primarily use it for Counter-Strike anyways.

I heard that using on-board audio, even MCP-T and the Zalman headphones are not a good combo? What soundcard were you using?
 
Good post Matthias99.
After several different forum posts/reviews, heres what ive concluded for the Zalmans;
Almost all reviews say that for games, they are amazing. Especially fps with surround support (like CoD).
Its 50/25/25 for music. Most say that its lacking for music, some say its ok, some say its very good.
For DVDs, its 50/50. Some say its lacking, some say its good.
Is that a reasonable "review" of them?

I will probably go for the Zalmans over the Medusas.
I can buy a seperate mic when i actually need one. I wont need the amp, and i will either get used to altering the volume in games/windows, or will buy a keyboard with volume control on it. Probably the latter!.
 
Originally posted by: WobbleWobble

I heard that using on-board audio, even MCP-T and the Zalman headphones are not a good combo? What soundcard were you using?
Click to expand...

I currently have them hooked up to an Audigy 2. I also had them hooked up for a bit to onboard audio (regular MCP on a Shuttle AN-35 Ultra), and I didn't have a problem. I mean, they're headphones. There's not exactly a whole lot that can go wrong in there. 😛

 
Wouldn't that be a problem with any headphones or speakers, then? The impedance on these isn't any higher than regular headphones...
 
Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with 5.1 headphones. However, I do have have a decent musical ear. As well, my father used to own a high-end audio store that was praised in audiophile magazine as having the best sound room of any high-end stereo retailer in North America.

I have recently reverted to using higher quality stereo setups with a smaller number of channels. I used to have a Creative FPS 1800 4.1 setup. I have since moved on to Klipsch Promedia 2.1s and Sony MDR-V700 headphones to supplement them. The 2.1s aren't the best for positional audio, but my headphones do an excellent job. I can't forsee the improvement in positional audio by using 5.1 headphones being dramatic enough to sacrifice the playback quality. When I played Counter-Strike, these headphones did an excellent job letting me know when enemies were running towards me from behind or around a corner. The positional audio is better than with my 4.1 setup, and I had my speakers in near ideal positions.

My suggestion is that you buy some higher quality standard headphones. You may regret you purchase of cheaper 5.1 when you are listening to music with your headphones and the midrange is fuzzy, the bass is lackluster, and the highs are exhibiting and obnoxious timbre that is more painful to the ears as opposed to pleasant. However, I doubt you will regret the purchase some decent stereo headphones when you are still able to locate enemies by the sounds of their footsteps in your favorite FPS games while maintaining high quality musical playback.

My suggestion is definitely to go with some Seinhaussers. Although I like my headphones, they do not compare to my friend's equivalently priced Seinhaussers (~$100). I have yet to come across a nicer sounding pair of headphones in the same price range.
 
Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I would like to hear back from what you find out about surround headphones, BoomAM. I've also been interested in buying a pair as I live in an apartment where i can't really play my Z640s loud.

I personally think that the Zalman headphones are too cheap in price and therefore too good to be true, but I've read overall positive reviews on them. I haven't heard of the Medusas before, but would also like to more about them.
Click to expand...
I brought some SpeedLink Medusas a week ago.
Awsome sound quality. Very accurate surround effect as well, very immersive.
Comes with a amp box, so that you can have your main speakers plugged in as well.

Highly reccommended.

 
Originally posted by: BoomAM
Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I would like to hear back from what you find out about surround headphones, BoomAM. I've also been interested in buying a pair as I live in an apartment where i can't really play my Z640s loud.

I personally think that the Zalman headphones are too cheap in price and therefore too good to be true, but I've read overall positive reviews on them. I haven't heard of the Medusas before, but would also like to more about them.
Click to expand...
I brought some SpeedLink Medusas a week ago.
Awsome sound quality. Very accurate surround effect as well, very immersive.
Comes with a amp box, so that you can have your main speakers plugged in as well.

Highly reccommended.
Click to expand...

I remember reading about the Zalman 5.1 headphone a while ago. I was going to buy it, but I just stuck with my current headset (Plantronics .Audio 90) becuase I wanted to have in-line volume control, and a mic. However, since the Medusa has those options I think I may get it. Of course, I will have to get a 5.1 soundcard first, since I'm using Intel on-board sound. What soundcard are you using? Does the mic and volume control on the Medusa work ok?
 
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