Medusa SL-8790 Headset Questions

MeatLoaf

MeatLoaf

MeatLoaf

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Was thinking of getting the SpeedLink Medusa SL-8790 5.1 Surround Headset (SP-000-RA) seeing as they are on this week only.

Connecting them - do they plug into my souncard or into the headphone jack on the front of my x-fi? If they plug into the soundcard where am i meant to plug my speakers in ( creative 6.1 6700 ).

And once connected do i just keep the soundcard set on 5.1/6.1 speakers or do mi still need to change to headphone mode?
 
The headphones have the same connections as a 5.1 speaker set, so they go into the back of your X-Fi. They come with an amp, so that connects to your soundcard, and the headphones connect to that. The amp also has some output connections for your existing speakers so you can leave them plugged in all the time. You have to leave the soundcard set to 5.1 to get surround sound out of the medusas.
 
if i were you, id pay the extra and get the USB sets, far better than the amplifier set (ive owned both)

Amplifier set Pro`s:
no team speak corruption (will explain further in)

can use on your DVD player if it outputs 5.1 sound.

Cons:
amplifier picks up every frigging taxi and mobile phone within half a blooming mile.

its very distracting to hear a taxi driver halfway through BF2 ...
speakers are difficult to level out

right bass driver on these model has a tendancy to blow then distort (i went through 3 sets via RMA)

Analogue controlls

no microphone mute on the controlls

too many damn wires and too much of it, youve got the 3 audio connectors at 2 meters, the main headset wire at a good 14 feet, the mic wire that splits off that adding another 6 feet, the power adapter for the amplifier, all in all makes for a mess which makes it difficult to look after (i cant count the ammount of times i got the wires wrapped in my office chair wheels)



USB set Pro`s:
much shorter wire!!! :D got about 8 feet here.

only 1 thing to plug in to the system

no interfearence from taxi`s, aircraft, carrier pigeons with walkie talkies ect ect

nice digital controlls with a mute button for the mic

speakers are always configured for optimal 5.1 surround sound

USB soundcard built into the digital remote :D

no base driver pop issues

comes with a hook to put your headset on when your not using them :)



Cons:

ts corruption...

very rarely, your ts craps out on you when you launch battlefield 2, i.e. your mic gives mad feedback, but its easily fixed by turning off ts and restarting it, ive had this headset for a month now and its happened twice (i use it every night)

cant use on your DVD player as its only got a USB connector for your pc.
 
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I'd avoid them altogether. Even for £30 they just don't give you a good sound quality for the money and the 3d sound is pretty ropey. Plus there's build quality issues with them, and Toms H/W found serious failings with the USB ones.

Your X-Fi can do a good pseudo 3d effect on stereo headphones. Get the best Sennheiser set your budget will allow.
 
locutus12 said:
if i were you, id pay the extra and get the USB sets, far better than the amplifier set (ive owned both)
Click to expand...

Hmm, that's interesting. Do you notice any difference in sound quality between the two models? I got the amp model since I thought it was meant to sound better. I agree that the amp interference can get pretty annoying, whenever I get a call or a message on my mobile I get a horrible loud popping sound from the medusas :mad:
 
fish99 said:
Your X-Fi can do a good pseudo 3d effect on stereo headphones. Get the best Sennheiser set your budget will allow.
Click to expand...
Yea. Though in the £30 area, I also recommend the Koss Porta Pro (and its derivatives: Sportapro, KSC-35/75 etc.).

They are offer superb bang for buck. Fun headphones.
 
Aidoscuz said:
Hmm, that's interesting. Do you notice any difference in sound quality between the two models? I got the amp model since I thought it was meant to sound better. I agree that the amp interference can get pretty annoying, whenever I get a call or a message on my mobile I get a horrible loud popping sound from the medusas :mad:
Click to expand...


only that the surround sound has no gaps in it due to incorect levels or miss aligned levels, also you can use your base driver without fear of blowing the headset as the amp version can give out waaaaay more than the headset can take. and i tell you, the best things having no more interfearence, this alone makes it worth it in my book :)
 
Well ive already got a decent set of wireless stereo headphones so i may as well stick with them. I had hoped the medusas were wireless as i usrmy pc a lot to watch DVDs and have to have headphones in so i dont wake my kids up at nite
 
fish99 said:
Review of both USB and non-USB versions -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/2005/07/14/headsets_gamers_can_love

The bottom line is if you spend £30 on stereo headphones/headset you will get a far better sound quality.
Click to expand...


Toms:
"The microphone performed perfectly online and offered crisp, clear sound though it was a different story when speaking through VoIP to landlines, where the speaker could be barely made out."

me:
well thats crap because ive been on blooming skype most nights for the last month without an issue.



Toms:
The headset also has trouble when a lot of things are happening at once. For example we were watching the run into the Deathstar in Return of the Jedi, in which there is a lot of things going on at once with the music and the action. While the set's bigger brother could pick up all the sounds and transmit them as well as our 5.1 speaker system, the 5.1 USB failed miserably: at times either the music or dialog was inaudible.

Me:
funny, i just took my return of the Jedi dvd, popped it in, fast forwarded to this bit, played it 3 times over, changed back to my amplifier set of medusa`s, played 3 times over, unless your a cat, theres no difference.


overall the only thing i dont like is the fact that the volume isnt loud enough for my liking...

"i take you where you wanna go, I give you all you need to know, I drag you down i use you up! Mr Self Destruct." - Nine Inch Nails

doesnt quite make my ears bleed in the way it used to with my old set, still bloody loud though :)
 
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