Spec me a headset

Tripnologist

Tripnologist

Tripnologist

Soldato
Joined
12 May 2007
Posts
3,896
Location
Bristol
I'm looking to get a new headset and my budget is around £50.
I'd use them for music, games and occasionally VOIP. It doesn't matter if they're surround sound or not as long as sound quality is high. Especially bass.

Currently only have integrated sound but will have a xfi music card next month when I build my new system.

Any suggestions?
 
not sure on other options but the sennheiser hd485 are pretty beasty, bout 40, as i sed not sure of any other makes so probably could be better out there.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

Aelred - How's the volume on those HD555's? Is everything (particularily the bass) still clear when turned up loud? I'm kind of leaning towards them based on your suggestion.

I'm currently trying to decide between the following:

- Sennheiser HD555 (Found them for £60 including delivery - They don't have a mic but I rarely use teamspeak or the like so I can just use the mic from my old headset when needed)

- SpeedLink Medusa SL-8796 5.1 Home Edition + 5.1 Amplifier (From reading reviews, I realise that this won't work well with creative cards but I wouldn't mind the surround sound + mic.)

- Sennheiser PC161 - The cheapest of the bunch which may or may not be a bad thing.
 
Tripnologist said:
- SpeedLink Medusa SL-8796 5.1 Home Edition + 5.1 Amplifier (From reading reviews, I realise that this won't work well with creative cards but I wouldn't mind the surround sound + mic.)
Click to expand...

What have you read about them not working well with Creative sound cards? Would you mind pointing me in the direction of these reviews?
 
Mansize_tissue said:
What have you read about them not working well with Creative sound cards? Would you mind pointing me in the direction of these reviews?
Click to expand...

Sure.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/medusa51home/5.htm

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Speed-Lin...0001919344?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:2

Apparently there is a problem with Creative drivers where the centre/sub channels don't work properly. You basically have to connect the centre to the sub channel and the sub to the centre channel. The other option is to use alternate drivers.

I had originally come across 3 or 4 reviews which mentioned the problem with creative drivers. For whatever reason though, I can't seem to find the others now and don't have time to search for them.

Edit: I came across another forum thread about the Medusas. 15 Pages mostly about the same sound problem with creative sound cards mentioned in the reviews. Also instructions on how to try and fix it.
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/ce/Medusa-Surround-Headset-ftopict5305.html
 
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Tripnologist said:
Thanks for the suggestions.

Aelred - How's the volume on those HD555's? Is everything (particularily the bass) still clear when turned up loud? I'm kind of leaning towards them based on your suggestion.

I'm currently trying to decide between the following:

- Sennheiser HD555 (Found them for £60 including delivery - They don't have a mic but I rarely use teamspeak or the like so I can just use the mic from my old headset when needed)

- SpeedLink Medusa SL-8796 5.1 Home Edition + 5.1 Amplifier (From reading reviews, I realise that this won't work well with creative cards but I wouldn't mind the surround sound + mic.)

- Sennheiser PC161 - The cheapest of the bunch which may or may not be a bad thing.
Click to expand...

The 555's are absolutely brilliant... out of those 3 for music there is really no competition lol I haven't used a surround headset so i can't compare them in game but the HD555's do me just fine :)

EDIT: Forgot to say im pumping all my music through a Yamaha RX-V450 AV Receiver :p I'm just listening to Queens of the Stoneage - No One Knows @ -20dB... WOW! The bass is incredible... buy these now!! You won't regret it :D ... my ears hurt now though lmao i'm used to late night quiet music :rolleyes:
 
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Arg! I need to decide today. For my Bday, my fiancee is getting me an 8800GTX when I build my new PC at the end of the month but as my bday is actually this Friday, she wants me to have something to open on the actual day.

I've narrowed it down to either the Sennheiser HD555 or the SpeedLink Medusa SL-8796.

From what I've read, Senns have much better sound but the medusas have 5.1 and a mic.
I'll probably use it more for games than I do for music (probably 75% games / 25% music). How much of a difference does 5.1 make when gaming?
 
medusas are crap built quality, everyone i know they have just fallen apart on, plastic bits coming off, sennheisers will be by far the better investment.
 
Christ i don't see why people buy expensive headsets with matching amp and soundcard. They are built badly, gimmicky, sound poor, and are a huge waste of money.

A good pair of senns (555's), beyers, At's, will sound FAR superior in games, much better soundstage than silly 5.1 headsets allowing a better all round experience, plus when your done with gaming, will sound brilliant with music through them.

I have a cheap £2 mic off 'the bay' and it works perfectly well for TS and in game comms on CSS, even though my asus P5B-D soundmax and drivers are crap, it does ok. One thing with the senns though, to get the most out of them a cheap headphone amp is advised.
 
I just ordered the 555's. Ended up finding them for £50 including shipping.
I would have gone with the Medusa's but there are just too many people unhappy with them for me to take the chance.

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Tripnologist said:
I just ordered the 555's. Ended up finding them for £50 including shipping.
I would have gone with the Medusa's but there are just too many people unhappy with them for me to take the chance.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

Well played :D

Go over to www.head-fi.org and ask about advice for a cheap amp. If you can try and save up to get one, should make them sound even better.

In the meantime, enjoy :)
 
Tripnologist said:
I just ordered the 555's. Ended up finding them for £50 including shipping.
I would have gone with the Medusa's but there are just too many people unhappy with them for me to take the chance.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

Very wise choice :D If you can get hold of a Yamaha AV Amp you'll be well away :)
 
I'll definitely look into a headphone amp later. As it is, I'm building two nice gaming machines at the end of the month and I doubt my fiancee would allow me an amp on top of all the other stuff I've been fortunate enough to talk her into.

Women... without mine I'd be broke.
 
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