DAC Are they any good?

Psycho Sonny said:
I have a razer barracuda which is the same thing (google it).

trust me it's crap compared to my HD595's.
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Sorry but 8 drivers? Any idea what size they was can't find anything my guess is 10mm vs Kave 40mm
The Kave use 3x 40mm with a 30mm sub in each cup. This design is to get away from the small drivers.


So just because you had bad quality with yours don't mean the Kaves are also bad lol
Do you have a link to the full spec sheet? Even razer seem to not support them anymore there not even shown on there site. Shows how much they think of them.
 
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shankly1985 said:
You sure there not true 5.1? Because they do have each set of speakers for front, center and rear and each set of jacks for them
I can control each set of speakers. So if I just want to hear rear channel only I can do so.
http://www.roccat.org/Products/Gaming-Sound/ROCCAT-Kave-5-1/
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It is surround sound in that you have several drivers located to the rear, and front, but it is not true 5.1. They simply have 2 drivers located in each ear cup, one at the 'rear' (basically just slightly further toward the rear of the cup and angled at 12') and one at the 'front' (again, slightly further toward the front of the cup, and again angled at 12'), along with a 'sub'. They then use the same software you can get for stereo headphones (think of Razer's Synapse 2.0 as an example) to further emulate 5.1. If anything they are 4:2.

I'm sure you will agree that this is not true 5.1 :) On top of that, the two drivers per earcup are of a reasonably low quality and smaller size than those normally obtained in some of the better headphones, sacrificing audio reproduction with the aim of introducing that surround sound feeling. It is somewhat successful in that respect, but as aforementioned, a headphone with a wide soundstage, good clarity (something lacking in the Kave, due to it being a closed can and possessing 'cheaper' drivers) and a neutral response (think HD598 and to a greater respect AD700s) will have better positional accuracy as a result, but feel less 'immersive' due to being stereo. It depends what you want in the headphone, surround sound is obviously more immersive but it will sacrifice audio quality and positional accuracy to some degree.

As far as headsets go at this budget (>£50-60) the Kave is good, but headphones will still be better from positional accuracy and a pure audio pov.
 
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http://www.head-fi.org/products/roccat-kave-5-1-gaming-real-5-1-surround-sound-headset-roc-14-500-as

"Pros: Comfort, build quality
Cons: Sound
I had to use these at work for a while (which meant putting away my DT990 in a drawer).

Immediately I was impressed by the build quality, the weight of them instilled a high level of confidence.
On the head, they felt comfortable considering the heavy weight, but the clamping pressure was slightly too high. Not deal-breakingly so however.

Then I plugged them in and proceeded with various listening (music, video (youtube) and gaming).
At music they were just awful. Almost no redeeming qualities.
Video has a strange spacial quality to the sound that was rather distracting. Even after playing around with the 5.1/stereo settings it always sounded strange.

Treble was like mushy tin foil: Especially the 'rear' drivers sounded like the headphones you get on a plane.
Mid range was recessed, thin and lower resolution than a Koss PortaPro.
Bass was somewhat acceptable. There was no 'boom' or significant bleed into the mids and the extension was pleasing. Perhaps this was the only redeeming feature.

5.1 directionality for gaming was marginally better than my DT990, but with the reduced sound quality I absolutely couldn't stand gaming with these, as the sound quality/timbre changed drastically as sound moved from the front to rear speakers which was annoying to say the least.

This is an older headest, but I hope to prevent someone from thinking they're getting a good deal if they see these cheap for 2nd hand, thereby making the world a slightly better place for someone somewhere."

http://www.head-fi.org/t/642666/roccat-kave-5-1-anyone-here-have-experience-with-it

http://www.head-fi.org/t/500475/roccat-kave

http://www.head-fi.org/t/500924/ad700-vs-roccat-kave

http://www.head-fi.org/t/604552/should-i-get-the-roccat-kave

http://www.head-fi.org/t/715922/review-roccat-kave-gaming-headset

http://www.head-fi.org/t/639184/roccat-kave-solid-5-1-surround-sound-gaming-headset


most reviews say they are awful even for gaming and comparable with DT990 for position accuracy which is actually very good it's the fact that they sound like crap which is really bad. as the sounds your hearing are terrible.

also they are uncomfortable for long periods of time, and awful for music/movies.

you could get a better headphones for similar money which do the same job but better and be used for music/movies.
 
Well everyone has there own options and what they like. I find them stunning like so many others alike.
I have no problem with the weight but I can understand how to some people they will be heavy. Again not everyone is effected by this.
They sound bloody stunning no matter what game I have played so far. BF4 so far is properly the best, the very high amount of bass when jets fly over and tanks blow up is unreal.

And that site you have posted is all audiophiles who only think spending 200 pounds is the best thing and everything else is rubbish. Lol

Go and read user reviews like I posted from ocuk, go and read the countless reviews again from users on another well known site.

So all these users are wrong? Don't think so, it's just because people like yourself think spending 150+ for a headset is the best thing and everything else is crap.

Well you completely wrong.
 
I'm defending you and trying to end this entirely pointless conversation, in case you hadn't noticed. No need to throw your toys out of the pram. You also completely missed my earlier point and the point Sonny is trying to make, but nevermind.
 
Cookeh said:
I'm defending you and trying to end this entirely pointless conversation, in case you hadn't noticed. No need to throw your toys out of the pram. You also completely missed my earlier point and the point Sonny is trying to make, but nevermind.
Click to expand...

Sorry didn't see your past post on phone in work and speed typing.
It's not a pointless conversation but a very interesting one for me personally.
I just find it funny because I not spent over 100 pounds I have a crap headset. Lol
They is 141 reviews on UK rainforest and 48 on USA rainforest. I take user reviews over anything from site these days.
That counts for anything, for example a game review I will listen to users before a single review.
 
I had the kave way back, the sound stage was not that good and the bass and mids muddy, sent them back and jumped on some 595s, way better for music and gaming. OP you will never know how bad your current cans are until you try something better.
 
fyi my current "headset" cost <£67 and is better than my £120 razer barracuda "gimmicky" gamers headset.

anyway you can lead a camel to water.....

basically nobody is saying you need to spend £150+ to get better than your current headset it can be done for less than half that price.

anyway i'll stop posting you have made your mind up that your headset is the best ever.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Razer/Barracuda-HP1/

if your interested in buying that razer headset let me know i'll post it up in the members market for £40 delivered ( i think i have the original box and all as well, etc), i've been meaning to get rid of it for years now.

Specifications

8 Discrete Drivers: 6 for Mid-High Frequency, 2 for Bass.
Individual Channel Volume Control / 1 Master Volume Control.
Detachable Microphone.
6 Channel Analog Inputs.
Eight Amplifiers contained within its volume control units.
Razer HD-DAI™ (High Definition-Dedicated Audio Interface).
99% Oxygen-Free Cable.
Frequency Response: 1.50 Hz ~ 20 000Hz
Impedance
1.a. Front Speaker : 64ohm b. Rear Speaker : 32ohm c. Centre Speaker: 64ohm d. Sub-Woofer : 8ohm
Total RMS Power Rating: 330mWatts
Cable Length: 2 meter
Connector plug: Razer HD-DAI™
 
Why would I change to something that isn't as good? 8x 10mm drivers vs 3x 40mm drivers no thanks

I think your headset is rated 7.1? Reason why it has 8 drivers.

What makes you think, that would be a worth while upgrade? Edit wrong person
 
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Psycho Sonny said:
Mine is legit surround sound, which is what you prefer is it not?
Click to expand...

And so is mine with much better drivers. So why would I change from something I think is better?
Not a upgrade is it, more like a down grade.

Kaves rock, just because you didn't like your razer barracuda don't mean all headset that are real 5.1 or 7.1 are also rubbish does it?
Lol that like me saying a stereo headset I had was rubbish so all stereo headsets are.

Simply put don't judge something till you have tried them.
 
I don't need to judge them plenty of people on head fi already have for me.

Listening to Amazon reviewers over head fiers when it comes to headphones is like listening to a car salesman instead of a mechanic when buying a car.

Your deluded if you think the reviewers on Amazon know better than head fi
 
Ladies. Please. You have differing opinions, get over it. Although, Shankly, as you said, "dont judge something until you have tried them". With this in mind, if you can get yourself to RicherSounds or SuperFi at some point in time or if your curiosity peaks, give something like the Beyerdynamic DT990/770, Grado SR60i, Creative Aurvana Live! a go, you would perhaps change your mind with regards to headset/headphones.
 
first of all what do you want to use the headphones for?

gaming only? gaming mainly with occasional music/movies use?

what pieces of equipment do you want to use with the headphones? we need to know everything so the headphones can be suited to what you have and what you will be using them for.

for the PS4 you will need an amp/dac (mixamp is the best for gaming and the other options which work with pc/smartphones/tablets, etc are better for music/movies)

i'll let you know about my setup so you get more of an idea:

PS4 = Wireless 5.8 Astro MIXAMP (£65 second hand), HD 595 (second hand around £60-£75), DX Clip on Mic (£1.56)

so my console setup cost me around £130 in total (mainly because of the fact you need a mixamp)

PC - Asus Xonar DG (£15 ish when on offer), Fidelio X1's (£140) for music/movies/youtube/spotify, etc.

Portable - Ipod Touch 3rd gen, Fiio L9 LOD (£7 ish), topping NX1 amp (£20 ish), Sennheiser HD25-1 II's (£140-£180 new)

I pretty much have bought different headphones for completely different uses because they are the best for me for that use.

If I wanted to game on my PC I wouldn't use the fidelio X1's (£140) I would use my dx clip on mic (£1.56) and my HD 595's (£60-£75). Why wouldn't I use my headphones that cost twice as much? Because the HD 595's IMO are better for gaming.

So my gaming headphones are HD 595's, my music and movies headphones are fidelio x1's, my portable are HD25-1 II's.


For your budget I would be looking at CAL's (around £50 on OCUK and come with a free £7 clip on mic), or HD 595's or DT770's (£120-£130).

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-179-CL

that's pretty much a good starting point for headphones and are "all rounders" can be used for gaming, music and movies.


I also suggest you look at these threads

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...e-4-17-2014-akg-k612-and-k712-pro-added-edits

http://www.head-fi.org/t/593050/the...-audio-with-binaural-headphone-surround-sound

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18595084

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18587134
 
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