5.1 headphones?

kmufc77

kmufc77

kmufc77

Soldato
Joined
15 Jul 2007
Posts
4,953
Location
South West
Hi i currently own a pair of Goldring NS1000 but im interested in getting a pair of 5.1 headphones like these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-000-RC&groupid=702&catid=1058&subcat=1718

I have a few questions please as im clueless when it comes to soundcards/headphones etc


Is 5.1 a gimmick with headphones,does it sound any good compared to normal headphones?

Do you have to select 5.1 on your sound card settings,the same as if you wanted 5.1 sound with speakers?

Will music sound any better/worse compared to using Goldrings NS1000?

Will Games sound any better?,im assuming it will be a lot better compared to normal headphones?

To have 5.1 working with games,does the game need to support it,or can the soundcard settings and 5.1 earphones sort this?

Will the 5.1 work ok with just plugin into my FP headphone socket? or does it need to plug directly into my Asus Xonar DX?

Can the Microphone be taken off these headphones (Roccat Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Headset)



This review says there are superb: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/audio/roccat_kave_5_1_headset_review/1

Sorry for all the questions,just im sure there are people here that know there stuff with sound related questions.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
orderoftheflame said:
They're a gimmick imo.

You're better off with something emulating surround sound properly using Dolby Headphone or CMSS-3D or something, and a quality set of stereo headphones.
Click to expand...

I use Dolby headphones now with the Xonar DX soundcard and Goldring NS1000,when you use 5.1 headphones can you still use the Dolby headphones setting?
 
You can, but, Dolby Headphone only applies to the left and right channels. There is no value in using DH with the Kave's.

Seems to me you are not totally convinced by the surround sound provided by the NS1000's + DH you have now, if you are looking at multi driver phones, such as the Kave's.

One thing is for sure, no multi driver headphones will touch the NS1000's for sound quality.
 
My Kaves just broke, I thought they was good headphones until i purchased a set of Sennheiser PC 360. There is just so much more sound to them including the sound stage & position detection. I am still running them and by all accounts it takes a few weeks at least.

I bought the Kaves on a idea that 5.1 is better in a headset i was wrong, just get a good quality stereo headset.
 
kmufc77 said:
I use Dolby headphones now with the Xonar DX soundcard and Goldring NS1000,when you use 5.1 headphones can you still use the Dolby headphones setting?
Click to expand...

You could. But it would completely defy the point.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/understand/enhancement/dolby-headphone-details.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_localization

It works by altering the phase and volume of two channels to emulate what your ears would hear normally.

All that most 5.1 sets do is stick extra smaller speakers forward and backward for each ear.
 
Hi, i have a set of ns 1000's and a set of roccat Kaves, the Kaves are an amazing set of phones for the money, they sound great for music and gaming, probably the best phones i have ever had, i have a set of logitec z680's for true 5.1 but the Kaves are great headphones for gaming best in class for the money, don't hesitate in buying. Btw using creative x-fi for sound card.
 
You cannot be serious. You are the first person I've seen that owns a pair of Kave's, and a pair of decent headphones as well, then goes and says the Kave's sound great with music.

It really baffles me how some people can think a pair of headphones stuffed full of cheap drivers can sound better than a pair of decent stereo headphones, which were still a pretty good buy when they were £100.

I do worry about what some people consider to be great sound quality. Before too long, no one will have any idea what half decent speakers and headphones sound like, and cheap rubbish will be claimed to have audiophile quality. :o
 
I don't deny the NS 1000's are a great sounding set of cans for music, especially when i use my hi-fi as the source, for surround gaming though the Kaves are the best set of cans i have ever heard.
Yeah the positional audio is no where near as effective as a true 5.1 speaker setup, but it's good enough to locate an opponent in game. With x-fi CMSS enabled i think they sound excellent for music too, great all rounders.

Btw i don't consider myself an expert but i am no stranger to great sounding hi-fi, being the proud owner of a set of pro acoustic response 1.5's currently paired with a cambridge audio Amp.

Just my opinion, and i stand by it.
 
Marsman said:
You cannot be serious. You are the first person I've seen that owns a pair of Kave's, and a pair of decent headphones as well, then goes and says the Kave's sound great with music.

It really baffles me how some people can think a pair of headphones stuffed full of cheap drivers can sound better than a pair of decent stereo headphones, which were still a pretty good buy when they were £100.

I do worry about what some people consider to be great sound quality. Before too long, no one will have any idea what half decent speakers and headphones sound like, and cheap rubbish will be claimed to have audiophile quality. :o
Click to expand...

After reading/watching several reviews everybody has said they are superb for movies and games,so i have ordered them.

Not one review i have watched/read has said they are rubbish for surround sound 5.1 movies and games,i have not bought these for music

I will use the NS1000 for music as i realise that the NS1000 will be better for music compared to the Kaves.

I will post back here tomorrow with my findings
 
Last edited:
I went from a 5.1 headset to quality stereo Sennheisers (HD650s) and a DD/DTS amp connected over optical. Would never go back. Far superior to the gimmick that is 5.1 in a can.
 
Last edited:
I've had a pair of Roccat Kaves for several months now. I don't see why people say it's a "gimmick" :confused:

They most certainly work. Playing Left 4 Dead 2 is amazing with the headset. Although the 3D effect isn't as pronounced as a properly positioned 5.1 speaker setup, it definitely works and you can easily distinguish sound from different directions.

It sounds decent with music too, with a custom tuned 5.1 upmix and bass redirection, of course. People complaining of poor sound quality must be playing a standard 2 channel source without any channel mixing, which does sound ****.
 
Last edited:
asim18 said:
I've had a pair of Roccat Kaves for several months now. I don't see why people say it's a "gimmick" :confused:

They most certainly work. Playing Left 4 Dead 2 is amazing with the headset. Although the 3D effect isn't as pronounced as a properly positioned 5.1 speaker setup, it definitely works and you can easily distinguish sound from different directions.

It sounds decent with music too, with a custom tuned 5.1 upmix and bass redirection. People complaining of poor sound quality must be playing a standard 2 channel source without any conversion, which does sound ****.
Click to expand...

As i thought,since creating this thread ive spent all weekend watching countless reviews and reading reviews,they all say for gaming and movies the surround sound are very good which is why i have bought them.
From what ive read if you have a decent dedicated soundcard the surround sound is very good

Im not expecting them to be better than my Goldrings NS1000 for music,there bought purely for games and movies.


while i appreciate everyones comments the people saying that 5.1 headphones are a gimmick,have you actually owned a pair of 5.1 headsets or had at least a decent session with them using a dedicated decent soundcard?

From what ive read using 5.1 headphones with onboard sound will not give very good results,while a dedicated soundcard will,as i said i will post back tomorrow with a honest conclusion.

Im not comparing/bought the Kaves to the NS1000 for music, purely for games and movies only.

I do appreciate everyone's comments, and this post is not meant to disagree with all your doubters:),i just find it hard to disbelieve so many reviewers that ive watched all weekend saying that they are very good for true surround sound.
 
Last edited:
The Kaves have arrived today,ive had a little test but will test properly tomorrow.

Games and Movies sound fantastic in 5.1 and im very happy with these and thats a honest opinion.

As for music not very good compared to my Goldrings NS1000,but as i bought these primarily for movies and gaming im very happy with the 5.1 surround sound im getting from these:).

Superb.
 
Just to back the Kave owners...

I have a set on a Xonar D2X and they sound ******* awesome.

Only complaint at first is they arent very bassy... but thats soon fixed by the Xonar software equalizer!

I play a lot of MW2 and L4D2 and i can most definately work out when someone is behind me - and lets face it thats what most people want from 5.1s

Just sitting listening to the channel test from the Xonar software proves the surround sound is excellent and does work!
 
Personally, I've never liked 5.1 headsets. I used one for over a year but the surround effect isn't great considering the quality loss. I'm surprised a quality reduction is acceptable for movies as they are usually one of the most demanding sources, dynamically.
 
I have owned 5.1 headphones, plugged into a proper 5.1 soundcard over proper cabling. No better than stereo headphones with Dolby headphone and probably not worth it over good stereo without Dolby anyway.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom