Sennheiser HD555 vs Speedlink Medusa NX 5.1 (Uriel HELP!)

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 14:02

I currently have Speedlink Medusas, that aren't even that old... Compared to my old headphones (Creative Fatality stereo) they are much better- but I am not sure if it's the atcual headphones responsible for the better quality, or the fact that I now have a soundcard, and a decent one at that, in my computer.

I havn't even been able to get the 5.1 to work on my Medusa headset. FOr example, when I change the volume on rear / centre control on the inline volume control- nothing happens. Only the Front Speaker volume will work.

I still get surround sound in games though, but I believe thats Dolby Digital from my soundcard... which would also work on my old Creative Headphones... I dunno, all this is what audiophiles are good at, not me!

I think there is something wrong with the sound when I listen to music. My metal just doesn't sound deep enough. Trance is ok'ish though.

Question:
I'm considering buying the Sennheiser HD555's- would I see much of a difference though, compared to my Speedlink Medusa 5.1...? I don't want to spend -another- £50-60 on headphones for not much gain...

PinkFloyd · 16 Nov 2009 at 14:34

Huge difference in quality. Medusas are so unbelievably poor by comparison.

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 14:35

PinkFloyd said:
Huge difference in quality. Medusas are so unbelievably poor by comparison.

=(

I thought I did all my research... so many good reviews about it! But oh well.

I just noticed the Sennheiser HD555's are open-ear... this is bad... I am a very private person and like to keep my music for my ears only, and this house is noisy!

Is there an equivalent closed-ear headphone to these Sennheiser HD555's?

Greebo · 16 Nov 2009 at 14:52

Hmm I think you maybe getting things confused a bit.

With a 5.1 headset connected to the anologue outs of your soundcard you should make sure that the soundcard is set for 5.1 or 7.1 speaker systems on anolgue and not headphones or dolby digital headphones. If you are selecting doly digital for headphones then it will only be sending the sound to your front speakers on your headset which is why the volume won't work for the centre/rear. The soundcard is doing the 5.1 work which is what it would do with any set of stero headphones.

And yes per about 100 threads on here, Sennheiser HD555's would be a massive improvement.

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 15:22

Greebo said:
Hmm I think you maybe getting things confused a bit.

With a 5.1 headset connected to the anologue outs of your soundcard you should make sure that the soundcard is set for 5.1 or 7.1 speaker systems on anolgue and not headphones or dolby digital headphones. If you are selecting doly digital for headphones then it will only be sending the sound to your front speakers on your headset which is why the volume won't work for the centre/rear. The soundcard is doing the 5.1 work which is what it would do with any set of stero headphones.

And yes per about 100 threads on here, Sennheiser HD555's would be a massive improvement.

When I set my Asus Xonar D1 Audio Center to Analog: 5.1 Speakers (There is no 5.1 Headphone option) I still am not able to adjust any other volume other than Front.

And the sound qualit is actually better when set to Analog: Headphone with Dolby Headphone enabled...

Audio Channels: 8

:S

Greebo · 16 Nov 2009 at 15:48

Just an idea. If you disconnect your jack to the front out in your soundcard, do you still get sound with the doltby headphone switched off?

Also, are you running windows 7? The settings in the sound control panel may be overiding the the xonar panel and you are not gettting 5.1/7.1 output.

Marsman · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:00

Some people like the Medusa's, some think they are terrible. I think because you have a decent sound card, and one that has Dolby Headphone, it will be worth investing into some good phones. For music a good pair of phones will easily be better than the Medusa's. The HD555's would be a perfect choice in your case if it were not for their open design, which will leak sound a lot. HD215 might be worth looking at, they are closed design.

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:26

Am considering these now:

Goldring DR150

or

Goldring NS1000

The Goldring NS1000 have noise-cancelling, and are usually £150@, but on a website they are £50... The DR150's are £70. :S

I wonder which give better quality sound? The noise cancelling technology in the NS is tempting... very tempting... But I am spending this money on QUALITY sound predominantly.

BeeP · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:47

I have the DR50 & they are quite good for the money, both the DR150 & the NS1000 are highly rated.
I found that the Medusas actually leak loads more sound than my DR50's, My step son now uses them from time to time & I can hear him playing CS:S downstairs. The DR50's leak a little but nowhere near that extent.

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:50

BeeP said:
I have the DR50 & they are quite good for the money, both the DR150 & the NS1000 are highly rated.
I found that the Medusas actually leak loads more sound than my DR50's, My step son now uses them from time to time & I can hear him playing CS:S downstairs. The DR50's leak a little but nowhere near that extent.

Do you think a DR150 will leak more than a DR50? *shrug*

BeeP · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:52

Don't think so, can't say really. They look like similar designs so probably similar construction apart from better drivers etc.

I had the old old medusas, from when they first came out, don't know if the new ones are better or not.

MikeHunt79 · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:57

dr150's don't leek too much, but you have to remember they're open so will leek... carrot!

I'd go for the NS1000's, they're closed so will leak/leek much less sound if leekage/leakage is a big concern...

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:58

Now I just need to know if the Goldring NS1000 has the same audio quality as the Goldring DR150. If it does, the bonus of the noise cancelling will be a no brainer for me...

I think only Uriel has the answer to this!

@ above: I'll go for the one that has best audio quality, even if it means more leakage! Do you know?

BeeP · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:01

I'm sure Uriel has a rate your headphones thread on here somewhere, he probably already answered your question

MikeHunt79 · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:25

I'm going to order some NS1000's tonight, I already have DR-150's but £50 is a very nice price.

They're going to sound different, I imagine the DR150's will sound a little more airy and have a wider soundstage compared to the NS1000's, but I have not heard the NS1000's yet so I'm not really sure how they compare.

Either goldring will be at over 9000 times better than any 5.1 'headset'...

Uriel · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:44

I still have both NS1000 and DR150. The NS1000s seem to do slightly better with Dolby Headphone than the DR150s, giving more of a sense of depth. They're more detailed and have a wider frequency range too.

Dolby Headphone with noise cancelling is quite strange. It's almost like listening to open headphones. It's rather airy sounding.

Some people have complained about creaky hinges. Not a problem on my set. Noise cancelling is a bit hissy though (but you can opt to turn it off). At £50 (I paid £70 for mine 2nd hand) the NS1000s are a steal.

With noise cancelling off they can be a bit boomy and lose treble and mid sound quality. A cheap amp like a FiiO e5 will improve this dramatically.

Don't know if it was just me, but I wasn't blown away with the NS1000s when I first heard them. Now they repeatedly surprise me and I love them. Could be burn in. Could be that I've got used to the sound signature.

I usually use my NS1000s over my DR150s. Handy to have open headphones on some occasions though.

Edit: yes - the Medusas are much better in stereo with Dolby Headphone than their 5.1 mode. I still use mine like that sometimes, when a boom mic is absolutely essential.

johnyccc · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:53

I find a lot of peoples opinion of the medusa rather strange.
I have changed from them to the more respected Goldring DR150's and although it is an improvement, its not massive, nor would I say that the medusa's were poor.
I actually quite liked them, in terms of music, games (positioning) and comfort. Their main negative is they tend to break however.

MikeHunt79 · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:55

Uriel, nice comparison.

If I wasn't going to order NS1000's before, I would do now!

Just a quick question, do you find closed headphones like the NS1000's lead to hot/sweaty ears? This is one of the main annoyances about my HD-25's, they sound nice but if I use them for more than an hour, it's like my ears are burning!

Even my dr-150's get quite hot, so it may just be me....

Uriel · 16 Nov 2009 at 17:57

My main issue with the Medusas (aside from the 5.1 thing) is they are extremely overpriced. Have heard a lot of £10-£30 headphones that sound much better.

If CMSS-3D and Dolby Headphone didn't exist, I would still use Medusas for gaming though (given that my surround speakers might disturb the family / neighbours).

StarSolitude · 16 Nov 2009 at 18:08

Ok I've established that the Goldrings wipe the floor with Medusas...

I'm still not sure which to buy between the Goldrings though... I've had a pair of noise cancelling headphones before and they were very bad. They were cheap though, I don't even know the brand.

I'm afraid of the concept of open-ear headphones. I don't like other people listening to my music! But on the otherhand, I don't want to sacrifice quietness for sound quality...