5.(1) Headphones.

Frapple

Frapple

Frapple

Soldato
Joined
4 Nov 2007
Posts
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Medusa 5.1s have finally given in after 3 year of being dropped, mic has gone quiet and rear left ear piece is temperamental.

£60 budget, can stretch. Preferably with a microphone, if not...spec me a good quality stand alone mic as well.

Not after opinions on whether 5.1 in headphones is good or not, like the last time I asked, I like it.
 
Aren't Medusa's the favoured 5.1 headsets?

I read some reviews when I was looking to buy them, against multiple other 5.1 headsets they came out top, I dread to think what the others sounded like as the Medusa's are bad enough themselves.
 
I'll be the first of the many people to say ditch the 5.1 headsets and get some decent stereo headsets. Namely the HD555s at the budget :)

If you want decent 5.1 effects, buy a set of 5.1 speakers.
 
grab these. they are better than the HD 555 imo

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if you want something good for music I would get an external DAC and amplifier combo. Something like the Zero DAC is very good and pretty affordable. I am going to attempt to build my own dac/amp next week :/

and yes that's a lot for a mic, but it's the only one I could find on the site and I assumed he wanted a mic thing for gaming.
 
Nah for a microphone Google "Elara clip-on microphone" it's £2.99 and great quality TBH, I have mine around the back of my monitor and I'm picked up loud and clear.
 
I tried some medusa 5.1s and thought they were a bit badly made and crappy. I sent them back and got some sennheiser HD555s instead and never regreted it. I thought the atmospheric sound was FAR better on them than on the medusa 5.1s :P

If you want desent headphones sennheisers are the ones to get, their very expensive but you won't get much better. They are pretty good with a Xonar and the dolby box ticked :)
 
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I don't think there's a better 5.1 set than the old Medusas in that price range.

I quite like the old Medusas - I have a set myself but I'm concerned that they're getting expensive. When I bought my 3 or 4 years ago they came with an amp and cost about £40. Now the version with an amp will set you back £60.

A word of warning though. I'd been baffled by the number of people complaining about them recently. I've just found this review of the ProGamer edition by someone that used the originals: http://hwzone.co.il/english-reviews/progamer-eng/5/

In short - they're not as good as they used to be. It sounds like Speedlink have skimped on the quality of the drivers for the centre and rear channels. (I expect a few people will have a chuckle at this info coming from me ;) ).

Shame really. A lot of people like Dolby Headphone on Xonar or CMSS-3D headphone on X-Fi via stereo sets. Presonally I don't find them convincing enough.

When a soundcard is available that uses an algorithm as convincing as this Youtube clip (using Cetera algrithm from Starky hearing aids), I'll be happy to get rid of my medusas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCwyJ8bKp9o&fmt=18 (listen on stereo headphones)

Edit: The current medusas are overpriced. Avoid. Sorry I don't have another 5.1 set to recommend.

Further edit: Reading some reviews, I gather that the home edition with the amp may be better. But still - £60?

Even Further Edit: OH THE CHUFFING IRONY. I've just bust my Medusas. The pin for the sub channel has come off the proprietary connector to the headphone amp. I have no bass. Time to test out my n00b soldering skillz.
 
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That virtual barber clip is amazing. Sounds fantastic through my HD555s :D
The bag over the head part is especially convincing :eek:
 
PinkFloyd said:
That virtual barber clip is amazing. Sounds fantastic through my HD555s :D
The bag over the head part is especially convincing :eek:
Click to expand...

It sounds pretty convincing even on cheap earbuds or the Medusas in stereo mode. I tried it on a set of HD600s though and could easily have been sitting there.

That was a binaural recording with added digital processing and probaly the most convincing representation of a surround field via stereo headphones I've heard. If they ever get virtual surround sound using headphones that good in games, I'll be using headphones in preference to 5.1 or 7.1 speakers.

Further Edit: My feeble soldering attempts weren't good enough. Looks like my Medusas are retiring unless I can get them fixed. I won't be buying a set at the current price though. You used to be able to buy the headset on its own for under £20 but Speedlink have discontinued it. Have ordered some Goldring DR50s to tide me over until I'm feeling a bit more flush.
 
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