Speedlink Medusa 5.1 hissing

groch-one

groch-one

groch-one

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13 Jan 2009
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30
Not bad a headset. After some tweaking the settings on my Xfi i've managed to get some hefty bass and good all around surround experience from them.
The only gripe is constant hiss in the background. When my HDs are operating a can hear them in the headset, the same with a mouse.
I've read it's because the cable is not EM screened and its picking up interference from the wires, fans, router, etc.

Is there any way to get rid of that bloody hiss? If it goes down to buying a new 5.1/7.1 (real surround though no virtual) headset which one would be the best and have shielded cable?
 
Do your version of the medusas have an in-line volume control or controls on the cable? If so I would recommend reducing the volume on these and turning up the volume on your amp or soundcard. This should maximise the signal to noise ratio and reduce the hiss and buzzing.

In my old Medusa home edition the worst of the interference was picked up by the amp. You could try moving it or putting something metal between it and your PC.
 
no amp box, just in line volume controls then cable connected straight to the SC.

tried moving cables away from the PC but it still transfers interference... might have to get better surround cans, any suggestions?
 
try turning up the pc volume & reducing the volume on the in line. Might work a bit like Uriel said.

I had the ones with the amp & I used to jump out my seat whenever the phone rang (mobile mostly) because I got this horrible skipping noise.

Forget about surround sound phones, most of them are pretty low quality for the price, try something like Sennheiser or Goldring etc, with the X-fi you will get surround every bit as good as or even better than the Medusas can manage.....plus they are better for music too ;)
 
Well, which X-Fi do you have? Most of them will simulate surround sound over stereo headphones pretty well.

You need to have make sure the X-Fi control panel is set to 'desyncronise' or 'optimise for headphones' and enable CMSS-3D. In gaming mode set MacroFX and Elevation Filter to 'auto'. Speakers in Windows control panel should still be set to 5.1 or 7.1.

The Xtreme Audio isn't as good as higher end X-Fi cards for this. Most of the rest of them are pretty good for headphone surround with stereo phones. IMO this isn't as realistic as Dolby Headphone on some other soundcards but it's a lot more natural sounding than the medusas, while still giving good directional cues.

There is a small possibility that the interference is coming from inside your PC rather than on the cable. Test with other headphones to confirm.
 
it does work a little, but the noise of my HDs still comes through...

i like them for the real 5.1 sound, CMSS-3D system emulating surround on Xfi sux ass...
 
groch-one said:
i like them for the real 5.1 sound, CMSS-3D system emulating surround on Xfi sux ass...
Click to expand...

I thought this once. Then I realised that I hadn't ever set it up correctly. Setting it up is not particularly intuitive in the Creative drivers.

I suggest at least trying it. Having said that - if you have an Xtreme Audio I really wouldn't bother because CMSS-3D headphone actually is rubbish there.

I much prefer Dolby Headphone, which gives much more of a sense of space as well as direction.

I couldn't go back to a multiple-driver in the earcups headset like the Medusas now. It just sounds wrong to me.
 
Uriel said:
I thought this once. Then I realised that I hadn't ever set it up correctly. Setting it up is not particularly intuitive in the Creative drivers.

I suggest at least trying it. Having said that - if you have an Xtreme Audio I really wouldn't bother because CMSS-3D headphone actually is rubbish there.

I much prefer Dolby Headphone, which gives much more of a sense of space as well as direction.

I couldn't go back to a multiple-driver in the earcups headset like the Medusas now. It just sounds wrong to me.
Click to expand...

Does that apply to both Xtreme Audio's Uriel, or just the newer low profile one?

I ask because someone is considering buying the old blue pcb one, which still can be had here at OCUK, so I am contributing to that thread atm. Have yet to find out if he uses headset or headphones, so depends if he does or not, and if the older Xtreme Audio's CMSS 3D is also crap.
 
groch-one said:
Not bad a headset. After some tweaking the settings on my Xfi i've managed to get some hefty bass and good all around surround experience from them.
The only gripe is constant hiss in the background. When my HDs are operating a can hear them in the headset, the same with a mouse.
I've read it's because the cable is not EM screened and its picking up interference from the wires, fans, router, etc.

Is there any way to get rid of that bloody hiss? If it goes down to buying a new 5.1/7.1 (real surround though no virtual) headset which one would be the best and have shielded cable?
Click to expand...


I give it six months before either the constant interfearence that the amp picks up drives you to commit suicide, or one of the arms of the headset breaks.


After my fourth pair snapped in exactly the same spot as the others I gave up. £200 on headphones in two years is for want of a better word... ********.
 
Marsman said:
Does that apply to both Xtreme Audio's Uriel, or just the newer low profile one?

I ask because someone is considering buying the old blue pcb one, which still can be had here at OCUK, so I am contributing to that thread atm. Have yet to find out if he uses headset or headphones, so depends if he does or not, and if the older Xtreme Audio's CMSS 3D is also crap.
Click to expand...

Think I contributed to that thread too but Xtreme Audio and all USB / motherboard / software X-Fi solutions are pretty dismal for CMSS-3D headphone. Plus there's no EAX5, no MacroFX, no Elevation filter...
 
I purchased a set of these today and got exactly the same problem. I solved it by unplugging them from the comp usb and using the plug power usb supply.
It solved the problem. No more hissing or interference. Good job as I was going to return them.
 
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