Medusa Headphones

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I bought a pair of medusa headphones (the original non-usb ones) about 2-3 years ago, and after I had used them for a few months the USB (power cable) started to melt- resulting in me unplugging them and going back to my old headphones.

I recently decided I'd quite like to use them again. Would anyone know what this problem is? It has to be something to do with the headphones as it doesn't happen with any other peripheral in the same slot.

Sam.
 
Didnt the original ones have like a 5 year warranty?

Been thru 3 sets of medus'a 2 of their differnt 5.1s and a pair of the standard stereo ones.

Never again, build quality... may as well ask a 3year old to build them with duplo :p
Plastic they used was very low quality.

Support was terrible too, but Im not 100% sure wether that was the retailer of the manufacturer dragging things on.
 
The main problem with the USB version is the small amplifier.

I had a pair of USB powered Gaming Medusas and I had two faults.

1) Power issue. The power converter in the main cable near the USB plug (a circlular plastic lump on the cable) melted the cable and needed stripping of plastic and soldering.

Then 6 months or so later..

2) Amp issue. Front channel Right kept cutting out. The fault was in the amplifier chip in the volume control. It was burnt out, probably from me using the Medusas as Speaker too much :) I couldn't find out what the chip was and Speedlink couldn't send me one so they replaced the headset FOC, after some debate I might add.

They replaced me with another set of Gaming ones.

I also have an old pair of non USB powered, the ones with external amp which had better sound, more power and much better positional sound. The subwoofer speaker rattles though.

Probably should have a decent pair of cans but the Medusas work for now.
 
I would add to Bledd's comment. Just buy a good set and a good soundcard or receiver with surround virtualisation for headphones.

Apart from a few games that have audio designed for headphones, I would have been disappointed with just stereo headphones for gaming after using Medusas. The 5.1 effect worked for me. I know people say it's a gimmick but

Owned and used Medusas for years and thought they were great at the time. Now using Dolby Headphone (via external reciever) with HD600s, NS1000s or DR150s and would not use 5.1 headphone any more if you paid me.

Even Medusas in stereo with Dolby Headphone is better than Medusas in 5.1 mode.

If I couldn't use Dolby Headphone, I'd use CMSS-3D headphone. If I couldn't have that, I suppose I'd take 5.1 headphones over stereo for gaming and movies - but I'd look for something with much better sound quality than Medusas - maybe something by Turtle Beach or Roccat. In reality the technologies in my list above 5.1 hedphones exist and are affordable. Ergo 5.1 headphones are utterly redundant.

If money was no object, I'd get an SVS realiser, get it properly calibrated and (if its reputation is anything to go by - I've not had the pleasure of trying it) never upgrade again.
 
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The 5.1 headphones I have sound awesome in comparison to the medusas, awaiting my dr50's to compare with dolby headphone :D

Sadly you cant buy my particular brand of headphones anymore, when they are gone they are gone :(
 
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I had the original 5.1 Medusa set from around 2005, i.e. the one with the good old wired analogue connections and amplifier. At the time I felt they were pretty good, very comfortable because of the nice soft thick padding, a lot of bass depending on the settings and the gimmicky vibrating feature was actually quite useful. Nice ear massage!

The thing that really lets this product down is the absolutely crap and shoddy build quality. I had to go through two of these, the first lasted me three years whilst the replacement only just one and the stupid thing was it was the same problem with both of them.

The extendable headband on the left earcup side kept on starting to break because the plastic is so thin and weak, which in turn let to the wires inside tearing apart so the sound on the left cup either became dodgy or cut off altogether. Same goes for the microphone as that stopped working since that is on the left side as well.

I now have the Goldring DR150 and I will never go back. Not as comfortable as the Medusa's and is quite tight on the head, but the sound is so much clearer.
 
Uriel, do you really recommend DR's over Senn's ... quite a few people on here recommended to me 555's at the time as they were the best option out of the range I was looking at of DR's and even the 650 Senns?
 
Recommend Goldrings over Senns? Depends on which model.

If I had to come up with an order I'd go something like this (worst to best):

Senn HD515
Goldring DR50 = Goldring DR100 (different flavours)
Senn HD595 = Senn HD555 (apart from a little bit of internal plastic they're the same - google it)
Goldring DR150
Sennheiser HD600 (listening to mine just now :))

I've not heard the HD650. My recommendations on what to buy is based on best bang for buck at the time - and that changes regularly.

Pleanty of Senns ignored there (Sennheiser recently released lots of headphones I've not heard or only had a few minutes with) and I've left out the NS1000s as they aren't part of the DR range.

If you were recommended HD555s a few years ago, they were cheaper and not many people had heard of Goldring. They only recently got into the headphone game, having been a successful maker of components for vinyl record players. I think we have to thank C64 for plugging them on here - and OCUK for stocking them for a while.

I guess Goldring are to the UK what Grado is to the US - a lot of headphone bang for your buck.

Edit: The DR150s aren't as good value as a year or so ago. I got mine for £30. That did make some of the Senn range look embarrassingly overpriced. Soundcard is another factor. Goldring DRs and HD600s are better for Dolby Headphone with Xonar. HD5x5s do better with X-Fi and CMSS-3D.
 
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Uriel said:
Recommend Goldrings over Senns? Depends on which model.

If I had to come up with an order I'd go something like this (worst to best):

Senn HD515
Goldring DR50 = Goldring DR100 (different flavours)
Senn HD595 = Senn HD555 (apart from a little bit of internal plastic they're the same - google it)
Goldring DR150
Sennheiser HD600 (listening to mine just now :))

I've not heard the HD650. My recommendations on what to buy is based on best bang for buck at the time - and that changes regularly.

Pleanty of Senns ignored there (Sennheiser recently released lots of headphones I've not heard or only had a few minutes with) and I've left out the NS1000s as they aren't part of the DR range.

If you were recommended HD555s a few years ago, they were cheaper and not many people had heard of Goldring. They only recently got into the headphone game, having been a successful maker of components for vinyl record players. I think we have to thank C64 for plugging them on here - and OCUK for stocking them for a while.

I guess Goldring are to the UK what Grado is to the US - a lot of headphone bang for your buck.

Edit: The DR150s aren't as good value as a year or so ago. I got mine for £30. That did make some of the Senn range look embarrassingly overpriced. Soundcard is another factor. Goldring DRs and HD600s are better for Dolby Headphone with Xonar. HD5x5s do better with X-Fi and CMSS-3D.
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Well they are a year old now my 555's but they still offer great sound quality compared to any other headset I've ever had, and they double up great for when I'm mixing on my decks! I would be interested in trying out the Senn HD600's though, how much do they retail for these days?
 
Infam0us said:
Well they are a year old now my 555's but they still offer great sound quality compared to any other headset I've ever had, and they double up great for when I'm mixing on my decks! I would be interested in trying out the Senn HD600's though, how much do they retail for these days?
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Generally over £200 from reputable retailers. A few of us got lucky a few weeks ago when a channel islands based etailer did a 1 day sale with them for £99.99.
 
Yes - but it's a slippery slope. The HD600s are kind of like an invitation to spend more money on audio equipment. They improve dramatically with a good headphone amp. Without one you might not notice the difference so much.

The HD555s are already competent headphones so it becomes a case of training yourself to hear differences. For some people they'll be good enough. For pure stereo music some might actually prefer the HD555 headstage.

Headstage / soundstage presentation is very different. The HD555 is designed to sound rather speaker-like (headstage enhanced with reflectors and angled drivers) the HD600 is better at resolving soundstage info in the actual recording (no reflectors etc - just a great set of drivers pointing right at your ears). The HD600 is capable of resolving more detail than the HD555 and have a wider frequency range.

I've never done a direct side-by-side listening comparison between the two though - only heard them separately - and I've spent a lot more time with HD600s.

Generally - I'd say if you already have a competent set of headphones like the HD555 it's better to trial headphones rather than work out an upgrade path from reviews and forum users. You might find the HD555s are as good as you need them to be. If you're happy with them - stick with them.
 
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Uriel said:
Yes - but it's a slippery slope. The HD600s are kind of like an invitation to spend more money on audio equipment. They improve dramatically with a good headphone amp. Without one you might not notice the difference so much.

The HD555s are already competent headphones so it becomes a case of training yourself to hear differences. For some people they'll be good enough. For pure stereo music some might actually prefer the HD555 headstage.

Headstage / soundstage presentation is very different. The HD555 is designed to sound rather speaker-like (headstage enhanced with reflectors and angled drivers) the HD600 is better at resolving soundstage info in the actual recording. The HD600 is capable of resolving more detail.

I've never done a direct side-by-side listening comparison between the two though - only heard them separately - and I've spent a lot more time with HD600s.

Generally - I'd say if you already have a competent set of headphones like the HD555 it's better to trial headphones rather than work out an upgrade path from reviews and forum users. You might find the HD555s are as good as you need them to be.
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Well I do consider myself quite an audiophile, although that mostly comes from my DJing side and the need and want to hear all these tracks in their full glory before I start to mix them! These 555's do a good job of that at the moment, I remember when I first got them and I was amazed at the quality but I'm always interested in whats out there! Any idea were I could test out some 600s?
 
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