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?
 
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.
 
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
 
Last edited:
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?
 
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.
 
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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