Speedlink Medusa 5.1 Headset Owners' Thread

mosfet · 15 Sep 2005 at 17:55

Seems like a lot of people out there own these and are as impressed as I am.

Anything in particular you like/dislike?

I'm impressed by the sound quality and packaging for the price, but the lack of a UK transformer is a bit annoying, I got a Euro transformer with a Euro to UK plug adaptor, making it stick out of the 4-way extension lead I use.

I think the rear speakers on mine are slightly right-biased, anyone else find this?

Apart from that, I'd recommend these to anyone heavily into films or games, but doesn't have the space or money for a good 5.1 speaker setup. I'm taking these to Uni with me - they're perfect for situations like halls of residence where you want a decent entertainment system without disturbing anyone else.

If anyone has any questions I'm happy to (try my best at) answering them.

Efour · 16 Sep 2005 at 01:39

Im thinking of getting a pair of these, they do have a built in headset mic dont they?

Whats the build quality like? I have been using Plantronics headsets for the past few years and i seem to snap one every few months, either that or one of the headphones gets loose and dangles off.

Am i correct in thinking they use a huge bundle of cables ? how many actualy connections do you need to run them in 5.1 surround? +1 for the mic?

They need an external power supply? blimey i thought it was battery operated?

thanks in advance

Martok · 16 Sep 2005 at 02:56

Did not like DVD play back on them. I went throgh several modes and i did not like what i heard. I suppose it was alright but i prefer my 5.1 ss speaker system for dvds.

Jokester · 16 Sep 2005 at 07:45

One thing I've noticed is that with the amp box thing switched off using a pair of 5.1 speakers connected through the box that the volume can vary in that it can suddenly go quiet before returning to normal (I'll need to see if it makes any difference having it switched on).

Jokester

no_1_dave · 16 Sep 2005 at 22:37

I've had no problems at all & I have speakers going through the amp...

I've found them an excellent buy

Gimpymoo · 16 Sep 2005 at 23:48

Whats the problem with the USB ones.. people seem to against these.. whats the difference?

adam17 · 17 Sep 2005 at 13:54

I can hear a decent amount more compared to my friends headsets on CS which is nice.

They are like " How did you know he was coming?" - "medusa 5.1s

"

Unfortunately my left speaker(s) is/are a lot quieter than the right, if I tap the volume control that comes attached then it starts to change but its never constant.

chief barker · 17 Sep 2005 at 15:19

I bought a pair of these headphones on the strength of posts on this forum and others as well.

I am sorely disappointed, the volume is too low and when I turn the volume up a bit I get terrible distortion (probably the bass).

Now they are just sitting on the top of my wardrobe gathering dust, I have now bought a nice pair of sennheisers.

Maybe it's just me, but I expected a lot more from these headphones.

Ezyryder · 17 Sep 2005 at 15:32

Well, in concept 5.1 headphones are a joke. You loose all the soundstage and without that a headphone looses all it´s reason to be. Also it´s usually quite difficult to get the quality right for 2 single drivers so imagine what it can be for 6! ... And for that price. I can imagine being a good videogame headphone set with mic but for music I´m nearly sure they are a piece of junk.

chief barker · 17 Sep 2005 at 15:55

Ezyryder said:
Well, in concept 5.1 headphones are a joke. You loose all the soundstage and without that a headphone looses all it´s reason to be. Also it´s usually quite difficult to get the quality right for 2 single drivers so imagine what it can be for 6! ... And for that price. I can imagine being a good videogame headphone set with mic but for music I´m nearly sure they are a piece of junk.

Exactly......I wasted 40 quid, which the money could have gone towards something more worthwhile.

aftershxck · 17 Sep 2005 at 17:25

so are you using now chief barker (model?)..

BTW, I absolutely HATE the velvet ear pads, or whatever fabric they are! It's the same kind of fabric that makes you as cold as when a witch scratches a blackboard with her nails

secondly, even on tightest fitting the pad's don't even fit....

chief barker · 17 Sep 2005 at 18:56

Hi aftershxck,

I have just bought a set of sennheiser hd555's, they are very loud (considering I am getting old now,nearly 34. And need the volume turned up)

I went to the local HI FI shop and tested a load of headphones and they came out the best for the price, I think I paid about £75 for them.

I have also just ordered the new x-fi extreme music sound card, as I am using my on-board at the moment.

fish99 · 18 Sep 2005 at 11:43

This is a depressing thread

I'm still waiting for mine to turn up (******** are incompetent cowboys so don't ever use them!) but I'm half expecting them to sound pretty awful now. I owned the Zalman 5.1 headphones which were a similar price and they were the worst things I've ever heard. If the Medusa's sound like that I know I'll never use them. Oh well, I'll find out if/when they turn up.

Ezyryder · 18 Sep 2005 at 11:55

Well mate, I´m sure they are a pretty decent gaming headset. I´m planing to buy them for that. For music I´ve got some Sennheiser´s HD595

Runbalk · 18 Sep 2005 at 14:08

Things I like about the Medusas:

* very robust
* cool rumbling effect in movies
* compared to my old plantronics Audio 90, there's a lot of sound I didn't hear before
* has an amp
* lots of different extension cables

Things I didn't like:

* hard to distinguish between front, center and rear speakers (**before I bought the Medusas, I assumed that they'd mainly be used as stereo headphones, and compared them to other stereo headsets accordingly - the Medusas still seemed to be better value for money**)

Can't think of anything else really

TheGreatGrrrr · 19 Sep 2005 at 19:09

fish99 said:
This is a depressing thread

I'm still waiting for mine to turn up (******** are incompetent cowboys so don't ever use them!) but I'm half expecting them to sound pretty awful now. I owned the Zalman 5.1 headphones which were a similar price and they were the worst things I've ever heard. If the Medusa's sound like that I know I'll never use them. Oh well, I'll find out if/when they turn up.

I wouldn't blame play for this, medusa's seem out of stock everywhere, the right ear of my pair has just died and I need to buy a new set, as a gaming headset you can't really go wrong with them, I had mine for around a year and they took a fair amount of punishment, and having had a proper look at them last night it seems I've managed to tug the connections loose at the headset and the plug through accidental pulling. I thought the music quality was great in them, but then again this is the only headset I've used, and I think I'd feel cheated paying £80 or so for a pair of stereo headphones when this £40 does the job and is great for gaming.

cyclops12 · 19 Sep 2005 at 23:14

fish99 said:
This is a depressing thread

I'm still waiting for mine to turn up (******** are incompetent cowboys so don't ever use them!) but I'm half expecting them to sound pretty awful now. I owned the Zalman 5.1 headphones which were a similar price and they were the worst things I've ever heard. If the Medusa's sound like that I know I'll never use them. Oh well, I'll find out if/when they turn up.

id cancell them as they are £15 cheaper elseware and for gameing they are great not tried with films

george · 20 Sep 2005 at 00:59

Had 2 pairs both times left ear went and all i do i game with them.

fish99 · 20 Sep 2005 at 11:07

TheGreatGrrrr said:
I wouldn't blame play for this, medusa's seem out of stock everywhere

Nah, they weren't out of stock, they had them in when I ordered and they shipped me some, I've got an e-mail from them (on the 8th) saying they actually dispatched them, on 3-5 days shipping, and it's now nearly 2 weeks.

TheGreatGrrrr · 22 Sep 2005 at 17:55

I found a site that sold the headset without the amp for about £23 delivered, arrived today, the design has improved since I bought mine around a year ago. The volume controller is less flimsy and the headset seems sturdier.