Headphones or earphones?

arc@css · 6 Aug 2010 at 17:20

Hi,

I am looking for one of the above but whatever I choose will have to have a microphone so I can communicate during online play.

I have seen this and was wondering if anyone has used something like it before..
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-002-AR&groupid=702&catid=1058&subcat=1716

Or would I be better off with something like a 7.1 Headset?

I must admit that years ago I did use the Medusa 5.1 headphones which were very good but I did start to get a ringing in my ears which is something I'd rather avoid for obvious reasons. Someone I know mentioned that in theory the ears would be worse affected by the earphones rather than the headphones, which surprised me, seeing as I would expect the 'trapped' noise to be more contained within the confines of headphones.

Any feedback appreciated. Thanks.

arc@css · 6 Aug 2010 at 22:36

Anyone?

Marsman · 6 Aug 2010 at 23:34

I'm slightly puzzled as to what you are looking for, as you mention in-earphones and also 7.1 headphones. Are you considering earphones solely because, in theory, you wont get any ringing in your ears?

When you say, you had ringing in your ears, was it due to the volume being too high, or does it occur at lower volume levels? I don't know what would cause that other than too much volume.

NAM_killer · 6 Aug 2010 at 23:36

Ear buds are bad for you, they can seriously damage your hearing as they channel the sound directly to your ear drum without allowing the pressure to equalise outside of your ear.

To be honest, the G35 is one of the best surround sound headsets but if you want pure quality, go for the Sennheiser stereo headsets, price inceases with quality!

fozzybear · 6 Aug 2010 at 23:53

edit//

Wrong thread, sorry.

arc@css · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:16

Ok thanks guys for the feedback chaps.

I was wondering if the product I linked to would be a good choice but from the information you have given suggests that it wouldn't be and I can see why for a number of reasons? One being the lack of quality, another (as suspected) being the worse for my ears, kind of backs up what my mate was saying. Also since I have a nice sound card I may as well take advantage of it and get a 7.1 anyway. Thanks for the help. Decision reached.

So I may well get something like :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-050-SN&groupid=702&catid=1058&subcat=692

Just wondering also about the Razer one :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-006-RA&groupid=702&catid=1058&subcat=692

Marsman · 7 Aug 2010 at 20:21

The problem with the 2 7.1 headsets you have linked, they are USB, which means your nice sound card is made redundant. The Sennheiser 333D's are stereo, and use a sound card/device to provide Dolby Headphone. Your Auzentech Forte, which uses Creative's X-Fi sound chip, has CMSS 3D, which is very similar to Dolby Headphone, and will provide what the Sennheiser 333D does, albeit with better sound quality. Arguably, CMSS 3D is better than Dolby Headphone for gaming, as it can do elevation, ie, above and below, which Dolby Headphone cannot.

5.1/7.1 headphones/headsets are fine if the user has plain onboard stereo, and can't get CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone without buying a sound card, but I think they are pointless when the user has a good sound card, which has CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone.

Some people talk of 5.1/7.1 headphones that have multiple drivers within each ear cup, which according to them is 'true' 5.1/7.1 surround sound, and not a surround sound virtualisation that Dolby Headphone/CMSS 3D provides using stereo headphones. Myself and quite a few others consider them to be a gimmick. I have noticed there are more 5.1/7.1 headphones now, like the Sennheiser 333D's, that are stereo headphones, which use their own sound device which has Dolby Headphone. The fact that more manufacturers of 5.1/7.1 headphones are using Dolby Headphone or similar, instead of making headphones that incorporate multiple drivers, IMO proves that a sound card with Dolby Headphone + stereo headphones, has always been the better choice than headphones that use multiple drivers to provide so called 5.1/7.1 surround sound. Sennheiser for one, have obviously realised this.

I think the Razer Carcharias' are worth considering. They provide great sound quality, equal to Sennheiser's HD555 headphones, according to quite a few people, and they have a decent microphone.

What you choose to get, is entirely up to you, I just hope I have given you something to think about.

TheCenturion · 7 Aug 2010 at 20:39

NAM_killer said:
Ear buds are bad for you, they can seriously damage your hearing as they channel the sound directly to your ear drum without allowing the pressure to equalise outside of your ear.

To be honest, the G35 is one of the best surround sound headsets but if you want pure quality, go for the Sennheiser stereo headsets, price inceases with quality!

So does that mean in ear phones are even worse :eek:

I've been living a lie all these years!

arc@css · 7 Aug 2010 at 23:29

Marsman said:
The problem with the 2 7.1 headsets you have linked, they are USB, which means your nice sound card is made redundant. The Sennheiser 333D's are stereo, and use a sound card/device to provide Dolby Headphone. Your Auzentech Forte, which uses Creative's X-Fi sound chip, has CMSS 3D, which is very similar to Dolby Headphone, and will provide what the Sennheiser 333D does, albeit with better sound quality. Arguably, CMSS 3D is better than Dolby Headphone for gaming, as it can do elevation, ie, above and below, which Dolby Headphone cannot.

5.1/7.1 headphones/headsets are fine if the user has plain onboard stereo, and can't get CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone without buying a sound card, but I think they are pointless when the user has a good sound card, which has CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone.

Some people talk of 5.1/7.1 headphones that have multiple drivers within each ear cup, which according to them is 'true' 5.1/7.1 surround sound, and not a surround sound virtualisation that Dolby Headphone/CMSS 3D provides using stereo headphones. Myself and quite a few others consider them to be a gimmick. I have noticed there are more 5.1/7.1 headphones now, like the Sennheiser 333D's, that are stereo headphones, which use their own sound device which has Dolby Headphone. The fact that more manufacturers of 5.1/7.1 headphones are using Dolby Headphone or similar, instead of making headphones that incorporate multiple drivers, IMO proves that a sound card with Dolby Headphone + stereo headphones, has always been the better choice than headphones that use multiple drivers to provide so called 5.1/7.1 surround sound. Sennheiser for one, have obviously realised this.

I think the Razer Carcharias' are worth considering. They provide great sound quality, equal to Sennheiser's HD555 headphones, according to quite a few people, and they have a decent microphone.

What you choose to get, is entirely up to you, I just hope I have given you something to think about.

You certainly have given me something to think about. Thanks for the info btw.

Quite a lot to take in and tbh I don't know much about this at all. So what would you suggest that would work in harmony with my sound card? Sorry if I have missed something. If I keep re-reading it over it might sink in.

Jayster · 7 Aug 2010 at 23:41

Marsman said:
The problem with the 2 7.1 headsets you have linked, they are USB, which means your nice sound card is made redundant. The Sennheiser 333D's are stereo, and use a sound card/device to provide Dolby Headphone. Your Auzentech Forte, which uses Creative's X-Fi sound chip, has CMSS 3D, which is very similar to Dolby Headphone, and will provide what the Sennheiser 333D does, albeit with better sound quality. Arguably, CMSS 3D is better than Dolby Headphone for gaming, as it can do elevation, ie, above and below, which Dolby Headphone cannot.

5.1/7.1 headphones/headsets are fine if the user has plain onboard stereo, and can't get CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone without buying a sound card, but I think they are pointless when the user has a good sound card, which has CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphone.

Some people talk of 5.1/7.1 headphones that have multiple drivers within each ear cup, which according to them is 'true' 5.1/7.1 surround sound, and not a surround sound virtualisation that Dolby Headphone/CMSS 3D provides using stereo headphones. Myself and quite a few others consider them to be a gimmick. I have noticed there are more 5.1/7.1 headphones now, like the Sennheiser 333D's, that are stereo headphones, which use their own sound device which has Dolby Headphone. The fact that more manufacturers of 5.1/7.1 headphones are using Dolby Headphone or similar, instead of making headphones that incorporate multiple drivers, IMO proves that a sound card with Dolby Headphone + stereo headphones, has always been the better choice than headphones that use multiple drivers to provide so called 5.1/7.1 surround sound. Sennheiser for one, have obviously realised this.

I think the Razer Carcharias' are worth considering. They provide great sound quality, equal to Sennheiser's HD555 headphones, according to quite a few people, and they have a decent microphone.

What you choose to get, is entirely up to you, I just hope I have given you something to think about.

I now own medusa nx 5.1's and have used turtle beach x41's. I have seen little difference between the surround sound quality but have to say the single drivers of the x41's provided a better music experience as with music on the medusa's you are only using your front channel speakers and your sub.