Surround sound headphones for PS3?

Inazuma · 13 Nov 2008 at 00:37

Just a quick post:
Could someone recommend me a good pair of surround sound headphones to use with the Playstation 3 and if I need to do anything particular to actually get real 5.1/surround sound working.

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 07:23

http://www.astrogaming.com/products/detail/3/A40_Audio_System/

The daddies.

They had a trial period of international shipping recently when I ordered mine. Don't know if it's still running though.

Inazuma · 13 Nov 2008 at 08:05

I want 5.1 headphones so I can hear things coming from different directions. Stereo headsets won't give me this will they?

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 09:15

Some people will say you can hear it just as much with stearo headphones as surround headphones.

I've always felt the directionality of a proper 5.1 set is far better.

I'm buying the Astro A40 under very good recommendation (check some online reviews) to replace my set of Zalman 5.1 headphones. (which I always found great for gaming).

The astro also plugs straight into the Toslink on the PS3 and wont require setting up (apart from setting in the sound output on the XMB). You will however need a USB adapter to connect the mic to the PS3 (for $10, dead cheap).

To be fair however they are quite expensive.

What budget were you looking at?

Abooie · 13 Nov 2008 at 09:38

I was also looking at the Astro A40's but was struggling to find anywhere to get them in the UK. Do they ship?

Demon · 13 Nov 2008 at 09:42

My brother uses his Sharkoon X-Tatic 5.1 headphones with his 360/PS3..

As people say, the sound quality of surround sound headphones is not remotely hi-fi, but the surround effect is pretty plausible for gaming.

I bought a set of sharkoon 5.1 'analogue' headphones, and use them for COD4 etc on the PC, and am very happy with the surround sound effect, but do switch to my sennheisers' for music of course..

There are also the
Tritton AX360's (these work ok on the PS3 too)
Turtle Beach X4's (Expensive but wireless)

If you have the money, then as people mention, an Axton A40 mixamp + good headphones is the way to go, but the total cost is pretty high, even if it sounds good!

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 09:47

Abooie said:
I was also looking at the Astro A40's but was struggling to find anywhere to get them in the UK. Do they ship?

They don't use any 3rd party distributors, and only ship themselves.

Unless you can find a pair on some random auction site you'll have to get them direct from astro.

They had a trial period of international shipping when I ordered mine not long ago. Might still be open, but I couldn't tell you.

msmalls74 · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:10

Im pretty sure Inoshishi got one of these http://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027291&pathId=2&page=2 Either imported or from the UK cant remember which. From the blurb,

The SU-DH1 is a portable surround sound headphone adaptor. It features Dolby headphone technology to provide 5.1ch surround sound through any set of headphones. It comes with an analog input cord that can be stored into the unit, and also has an optical digital mini jack. Ideal to use with laptop computer, portable DVD player, handheld video viewer, and portable game systems or other portable music/video product. Also it can be used to enjoy the in-flight movie with surround sound. Carrying pouch, airplane plug adaptor, and two AA battery provided.

There may be a mains one about as well, i ve heard it very good but not heard the quality myself.

Streeteh · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:23

orderoftheflame said:
They had a trial period of international shipping when I ordered mine not long ago. Might still be open, but I couldn't tell you.

They are indeed still shipping to the UK, only problem is it costs a whopping $53, bringing the total to $263 and thats not including import tax... too rich for my blood

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:32

Streeteh said:
They are indeed still shipping to the UK, only problem is it costs a whopping $53, bringing the total to $263 and thats not including import tax... too rich for my blood

Seems cheap when you haven't added on battery packs and adapters.

Not looking forward to the tax one bit. Looking forward to the headset tremendously though.

Frapple · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:48

My £40 Medusa "5.1" headset slaughter my £100 Sennheiser in sound quality & comfort. Couldn't care less if it fake/emulated 5.1, it was awesome.

Till they broke, can't get the old one's any more and the new one are even worse apparently.

LukeT · 13 Nov 2008 at 11:34

I have the SU-DH1 on order from japan to go with some 555's. I read on another forum that using the SU-DH1's Dolby Headphone with some decent heaphones is better than a pair of 5.1 headphones....

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 11:48

LukeT said:
I read on another forum that using the SU-DH1's Dolby Headphone with some decent heaphones is better than a pair of 5.1 headphones....

I've read on this forum that aliens exhist, didn't believe it though.

In my personal opinion, real 5.1 > emulated 5.1 for accuracy in games.

If you want exceptional sounding audio, maybe a high end stereo headset is better for that. Not for accuracy though.

Demon · 13 Nov 2008 at 11:59

orderoftheflame said:
I've read on this forum that aliens exhist, didn't believe it though.

In my personal opinion, real 5.1 > emulated 5.1 for accuracy in games.

If you want exceptional sounding audio, maybe a high end stereo headset is better for that. Not for accuracy though.

Dolby Headphone apparantly is very highly regarded as providing exceptional surround sound, which is exactly the setup LukeT has.

Do remember that your ears only have a single 'opening' per ear, and that your brain positions audio according to nuances in timing etc.. so it's perfectly feasible that just 2 speaker normal headphones with the right 'processing' should be able to recreate positional audio very very well.

If I had the money, I'd 100% go for something like LukeT has, but if I only have £50, then I'd be happy enough with Medusa 5.1/Sharkoon 5.1 etc

orderoftheflame · 13 Nov 2008 at 12:05

Demon said:
Dolby Headphone apparantly is very highly regarded as providing exceptional surround sound, which is exactly the setup LukeT has.

Do remember that your ears only have a single 'opening' per ear, and that your brain positions audio according to nuances in timing etc.. so it's perfectly feasible that just 2 speaker normal headphones with the right 'processing' should be able to recreate positional audio very very well.

If I had the money, I'd 100% go for something like LukeT has, but if I only have £50, then I'd be happy enough with Medusa 5.1/Sharkoon 5.1 etc

I have seen that Dolby Headphone/Pro Logic II can produce very good emulated results. However, I still believe from my experiences that a proper 5.1 headset is better. You can't beat the real deal.

It's just my opinion though. I'm sure other people will have other opinions and setups that work better for them personally.

I just don't think it's fair on the OP to poo poo what he's looking at going on the opinions of someone random person on another forum, as he has stated he wants a proper 5.1 headset.

LabR@t · 13 Nov 2008 at 12:27

you need this look

LabR@t · 13 Nov 2008 at 12:27

Frapple said:
My £40 Medusa "5.1" headset slaughter my £100 Sennheiser in sound quality & comfort. .

hard to believe that

Inazuma · 13 Nov 2008 at 18:12

Gah these things are all too expensive.

I already have 5.1 speakers and have so far failed to find a sound card that will decode the digital audio into analogue for my speakers. Does anyone know of a sound card that can do that?

Frapple · 13 Nov 2008 at 18:17

LabR@t said:
hard to believe that

They squash my head and give me a headache, and cancel far too much noise, don't even hear if anyone comes in my room.