Sennheiser or Speedlink?

hterag

hterag

hterag

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Joined
7 Nov 2007
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82
Location
Wales
Hi all,

I'm currently looking at these:

Sennheiser: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-024-SN
Speedlink: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-026-SL

What are your opinions on sound quality vs more direction? I listen to hardly any music, I play games a lot but mainly through my Z-5500's but obviously can't take these to a few upcoming events I'm planning on attending. I'd really like to spend as little as possible but can't help but want something "good".

I may also consider these:

Alternative: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-030-SN

To save the extra £10 or so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, does anyone have any experience with one or more of the above?
 
The PC151 will have better sound quality while also being cheaper, I've also found a good quality stereo headphones is just as good, if not better at placing sound as the cheap 5.1 sets (HD555 compared tot he Zalman 5.1).
 
Yeah but, let's face it, the Zalman 5.1's are about as entry level as you can get without resorting to supermarket value brand and the HD555's are at the opposite end of the scale. :P

Plus I really would prefer to have the mic built in, the reviews I've read, specifically this one: http://techgage.com/article/speedlink_medusa_51_and_sennheiser_hd555/

Have pushed me towards wanting the Speedlink set for the extra speakers, but then obviously you lose some quality...
 
The Speedlink Medusas need a soundcard capable of managing the sub crossover frequency. Speedlink recommend setting it to 100Hz.

With the correct setting they sound good. I've tried mine with several different soundcards and onboard. If your soundcard doesn't do bass management, forget about them.
 
Uriel said:
If your soundcard doesn't do bass management, forget about them.
Click to expand...

I have the X-Fi Fatal1ty, no way would I be running Logitech Z-5500's on onboard sound, that'd be like having an 8800 Ultra powering a 15", 25ms, 200:1 TFT! :P

If I go with a 5.1 headset, it won't be for quality but for the directional or... "soundstage", if that's the correct term, if I can get good quality as well then all the better.
 
Well I find the surround effect in the medusas relatively convincing. I can tell the difference between front and rear but the soundstage still sounds wide rather than deep. They don't quite manage to make anything sound like its directly in front or behind you though.
 
Uriel said:
Well I find the surround effect in the medusas relatively convincing. I can tell the difference between front and rear but the soundstage still sounds wide rather than deep. They don't quite manage to make anything sound like its directly in front or behind you though.
Click to expand...

Do you think messing with the CMSS 3D feature of the X-Fi cards would help?
 
I've used the Speedlink Medusa Home Edition 5.1 'phones and I found them utterly awful. Instead, I got a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros and, paired with my X-Fi Fatal1ty and CMSS-3D settings, they blow the Medusas out of the water on positional audio front. Plus, the sound quality is much, much better.

I even prefer my Sennheiser PX100s to those Medusas for gaming.
 
Sennheiser for the win. The 151s are often regarded as having better sound quality than the 16* range. Just google some reviews. The speedlinks are good if you have a good soundcard to back up the 5.1 demands.
 
Just got the speed link and I found having it on 7.1 with side speakers removed was better than 5.1, for detecting behind and to the side, but I guess that depends on your sound card too.

I'm mostly playing Call of Duty 4 atm and they really work well plus the mic is decent. Probably not as good as 5.1 they say but better in someways if you cant turn the volume right up, or theres other noises.
 
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Thanks for the opinions, all. Just for confirmation, the Sennheiser ones are passive and the Speedlinks are active(via USB power)?
 
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