5.1 Headset and speakers

Blackstar_solar

Blackstar_solar

Blackstar_solar

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Joined
7 Nov 2005
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728
Location
Southampton, UK
Hi,

I currently have a soundblaster live value and 4.1 creative speaker set up with a microsoft game voice so that I can switch to headphones sometimes and not wake up my housemates.

I'm now wanting up upgrade a little but here is what i'm after, 5.1 speakers (I'll just buy a new sub/amp and a single speaker - best idea yes/no?) AND have 5.1 headphones as well, and, most importantly, be able to switch between the two without having to change cables around...a single switch would be preferable.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[edit]just realised that my mobo has 8.1 onboard so i might not have to buy a new soundcard :D[/edit]
 
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I would look into speakers which have a digital connection, and connect the headphones via analogue. If you're just gaming with the headphones this will provide a good option. Using the digital conneciton with your onboard sound card will lose some of the surround information from games to the speakers.
 
The Medusa 5.1 headphones connect in-line with the normal analogue cables that go to your amp, so to use the headphones, you just switch your amp off and put the headphones on. Simple as that.
 
Defiled said:
The Medusa 5.1 headphones connect in-line with the normal analogue cables that go to your amp, so to use the headphones, you just switch your amp off and put the headphones on. Simple as that.
Click to expand...
That sounds like it could be the answer I've been looking for. I've also noticed that there is a USB version...could that be an easier set up...speakers into speaker outs and headphones into USB?

If I did go for the non-usb version would I be able to use my current 4.1 speakers and the 5.1 headset?
 
I've heard bad things about the USB version so I'd personally stay away from that. Besides, the analogue ones "just work".

If I did go for the non-usb version would I be able to use my current 4.1 speakers and the 5.1 headset?
Click to expand...

Basically the headphone amp box that comes with the headphones has analogue 5.1 INPUTS (3 x 3.5mm stereo jacks) and analogue 5.1 OUTPUTS (3 x 3.5mm stereo jacks), which should be the same as your sound card (as long as it's 5.1). So, if your speakers connect to your sound card okay, they'll correctly connect to the back of the headphones amp too. This is all assuming that you don't connect your speakers to your sound card via a digital cable.

So the wiring should go:

Sound card -> Medusa headphone amp box -> speaker amplifier.

The headphones comes with all the patch wiring you'll need to make this happen.
 
Ha, true - but the're still cheap as chips for what you get. They even come in a velvet lined box with a ribbon tied around them!
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the best part about the headphones is that they have a seperate transducer connected to the sub channel which causes the thing to vibrate your head around with the bass - it's quite cool. This feature can also be turned off ;)
 
what are they like for suround ?
can you pinpoint people coming round corners etc ?
also what is this digital conection you speak of ? do you mean optical ?
Rick
 
Popular opinion seems to be that the surround descrimination is the best of all the 5.1 headsets (the only real alternative is the Zalman), and personally I have to agree that it is pretty good. It's not as good as having dedicated rear speakers directly behind you, but pretty close. Certainly you can hear people sneaking up behind you in BF2, for example!

R B CUSTOMS said:
also what is this digital conection you speak of ? do you mean optical ?
Click to expand...

Do you mean when I said this?

Defiled said:
This is all assuming that you don't connect your speakers to your sound card via a digital cable.
Click to expand...

Because if you do all I was referring to was the headphones connect to your soundcard in the same way as your speakers do - (as long as you're not using a digital connection for your speakers). There is no digital connection for the Medusa Headphones.
 
Just wondering, with this medusa if you have this set up
Sound card -> Medusa headphone amp box -> speaker amplifier & headphones
Is the functionality that if the amp box is off the speakers are used, and if on the headphones? Or is which output to use determined some other way?
 
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No, the headphones and speakers can be used at the same time, if desired. It just comes down to which unit you have switched on. If the headphones amp box is on then the headphones work, if the speaker amp is on then the speakers work. They operate independently.
 
Plus the wiring diagram is this:

Code: 
Sound card -> Medusa headphone amp box -> speaker amplifier
                       |                           |
                       |                           |
                    headphones                  speakers
 
Ah perfect, that sounds excellent, my current set up means that I have to switch between one or the other.

Am I also correct in assuming that you can have 2 sets of head phones plugged into the medusa amp at the same time? or do the headphones need both for the left and right?
 
Yes you are correct in assuming that. You will have one free socket for another set of headphones. Of course, you only get one set of headphones with the package ;)

Bear in mind though that these connections are completely proprietary and therefore no third-party headphones will connect to it.
 
Hmm ok, well hopefully by the time this set of headphones goes bust (I just ordered them) I'll still be able to buy another set...or something even better.

One question though...any idea why I'd want to connect 2 sets of headphones both with working mic and 5.1?
 
You play some kind of voip enabled multiplayer game where two people can play on one machine? God knows!
 
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