Speedlink Medusa 5.1 Headset Owners' Thread
- Thread starter mosfet
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fish99 said:
I have the non-USB version with VIB control (vibration control?
).I've installed the latest drivers for everything, including the sound card. I've also tried plugging them into a different computer which appeared to output similar results. Just to check that it wasn't css I isolated the two channels using Audigy's CMSS feature so I could hear exactly the same peice of music coming from each set of speakers and it's clear that the rear speakers have hardly no bass or depth whatsoever. I also ran the front channel output to the rear channel speakers to make sure it wasn't the sound card.
I'm taking it that both the front and rear speakers should sound exactly the same especially judging from what it says in the manual??
Medusa Manual said:
thanks both for your quick replies. Do you suggest I get onto speedlink about this?
Actually I've just tried this and I'm getting the same thing you describe. I couldn't notice it on that speaker test thing, but I can on music.
I think it's because the headphones take the input for the subwoofer from the left/right channel. You'll see if you turn subwoofer volume down to zero in 'surround mixer->advanced' then it doesn't change the sound at all. That's because these headphones (and 5.1 speakers work the same way) use the left/right channel to feed the subwoofers (yes they actually have a subwoofer built into each headphone
) and not the subwoofer channel.
So what you're hearing on the left/right channel is left, right + both the subwoofers, whereas on the rears all you're hearing is right rear and left rear. That's why left/right sounds so much meatier than left rear/right rear.
So it's not a fault and nothing to worry about.
I think it's because the headphones take the input for the subwoofer from the left/right channel. You'll see if you turn subwoofer volume down to zero in 'surround mixer->advanced' then it doesn't change the sound at all. That's because these headphones (and 5.1 speakers work the same way) use the left/right channel to feed the subwoofers (yes they actually have a subwoofer built into each headphone
) and not the subwoofer channel.So what you're hearing on the left/right channel is left, right + both the subwoofers, whereas on the rears all you're hearing is right rear and left rear. That's why left/right sounds so much meatier than left rear/right rear.
So it's not a fault and nothing to worry about.
Jimbo Mahoney said:
Could you let me know how to do this please. edit - never mind, worked it out and it was not that.
Not sure if somethings wrong, but I seem to get really bad bass distortion whenever there is some loud bass. None of the rumbling earphones people talk of, just some nasty corrupt sounding bass. Especially in BF2 artillery strikes.
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hmmm. The VIB control appears to make no difference to what I hear. Is this an indication of an incorrect setup? Is there something i'm missing?fish99 said:Actually I've just tried this and I'm getting the same thing you describe. I couldn't notice it on that speaker test thing, but I can on music.
I think it's because the headphones take the input for the subwoofer from the left/right channel. You'll see if you turn subwoofer volume down to zero in 'surround mixer->advanced' then it doesn't change the sound at all. That's because these headphones (and 5.1 speakers work the same way) use the left/right channel to feed the subwoofers (yes they actually have a subwoofer built into each headphone
So what you're hearing on the left/right channel is left, right + both the subwoofers, whereas on the rears all you're hearing is right rear and left rear. That's why left/right sounds so much meatier than left rear/right rear.
So it's not a fault and nothing to worry about.
The difference in front and rear audio is really off-putting, and doesn't help me to identify where the sound is coming from during games.
if its bad in games, I would suggest getting a replacement pair. These aren't perfect headphones, certainly for music, but for £35 they certainly do the job of giving me surround sound in gaming very well and helps me out with sound direction etc
Retorted said:
Mine don't have the VIB control, but I believe it's for controlling the amount of vibration caused by the subwoofers. If you have The Matrix DVD play the famous 'lobby shootout' scene and you'll see the subwoofers make the whole phones vibrate. VIB is for controlling that. It doesn't happen so much in music cause it's not loaded with so much bass.
About the positional audio, if I load up a game with 3d sound (I used Thief to check this), stand near a sound source and spin slowly round in a circle, yeah the tone does change a bit on the rears, but it's not much. It also changes slightly between centre and fronts. If you're getting a dramatic change of tone, then maybe they are faulty. It's hard to say for sure though cause I have the original version (even though I only bought them last month).
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Soldato
My Mic has gone on my pair 
I have to yell for the mic to pick anything up. All I get is static. Tried onboard sound, An Audigy 2 & my Audigy 4 so its gotta be my mic. Was working perfectly for a few months & then it just went. Messed with all settings & connections & all I get is crackle. Time to check my warrenty
I have to yell for the mic to pick anything up. All I get is static. Tried onboard sound, An Audigy 2 & my Audigy 4 so its gotta be my mic. Was working perfectly for a few months & then it just went. Messed with all settings & connections & all I get is crackle. Time to check my warrenty
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After failing to find my Matrix DVD (which appears to have been nicked/borrowed! grr) I loaded up Minority Report instead. It sounded pretty good actually.
Also I've fiddled around a lot with the Audigy settings and it seems to have improved the CSS sound a little. I can now actually hear a bit of bass and vib on the rears which is just slightly better.
I'll see how I get on with them...
Also I've fiddled around a lot with the Audigy settings and it seems to have improved the CSS sound a little. I can now actually hear a bit of bass and vib on the rears which is just slightly better.
I'll see how I get on with them...
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Mine arrived on Friday, and they really are lovely. After adjusting to having a headset the surround sound isn't half bad, Call of Duty 2 had some really believable moments in it, very pleased overall. A word of warning though, which I suppose is common sense, but dear goodness DON'T TURN THE VOLUME ALL THE WAY UP. My ear aches. A lot. Finally, maybe I have a small head or something, but don't they seema bit loose?
One qualm, the amp isn't properly EMI insulated, I had to move it to the floor because every time I did something on my PC they buzzed.
Finally, sound quality isn't bad, but they seem to distort every so often for no good reason, listened to some Schubert and for example a repeated phrase of music (so exactly the same sound output) crackled for like 1/4 of second on the repeat but not the first time?!
Anyways, my first hand input, and they're really quite nice.
Fluff_eei
One qualm, the amp isn't properly EMI insulated, I had to move it to the floor because every time I did something on my PC they buzzed.
Finally, sound quality isn't bad, but they seem to distort every so often for no good reason, listened to some Schubert and for example a repeated phrase of music (so exactly the same sound output) crackled for like 1/4 of second on the repeat but not the first time?!
Anyways, my first hand input, and they're really quite nice.
Fluff_eei
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Just had mine arrive at my work today, looking forward to trying these out tonight. Hopefully my copy of COD2 has finally turned up as well....
Well, I've had similar problems as those posted by others. My center channel is very thin and has very little volume even at the highest settings. Anything directly behind me or in front of me creates no sound.
The rear channels are also much thinner and quieter. I've tried reinstalling drivers, the sub/cen reverse, etc. Nothing changes anything.
I've contacted Speedlink and they offered to replace them after testing them free of charge....well, that's changed now. Due to the issues Creative is having with the new X-fi extreme music and platinum versions with NForce 4 mobos, Speedlink will now charge you $20 to test the card. They feel all claims of malfunction at this point can only be deemed dubious at best.
I think they are looking for a bit of a loop hole, but meh, that's life.
The thing that really stood out to me was the fact that Speedlink told me that they would test the phones with a non-Xfi card to determine if the phones were faulty. I understand this will determine if the phones work or not, but after the cost of shipping and the test fee are added up, I'd rather know if the damn things work with the card in my box.
Unfortunately, I've had enough frustration and I'm refunding them. I still get screwed though....I have to forfeit the $50 international import (shipping) fee from the Uk to the US. So, I'm still taking a hit by refunding them.
The rear channels are also much thinner and quieter. I've tried reinstalling drivers, the sub/cen reverse, etc. Nothing changes anything.
I've contacted Speedlink and they offered to replace them after testing them free of charge....well, that's changed now. Due to the issues Creative is having with the new X-fi extreme music and platinum versions with NForce 4 mobos, Speedlink will now charge you $20 to test the card. They feel all claims of malfunction at this point can only be deemed dubious at best.
I think they are looking for a bit of a loop hole, but meh, that's life.
The thing that really stood out to me was the fact that Speedlink told me that they would test the phones with a non-Xfi card to determine if the phones were faulty. I understand this will determine if the phones work or not, but after the cost of shipping and the test fee are added up, I'd rather know if the damn things work with the card in my box.
Unfortunately, I've had enough frustration and I'm refunding them. I still get screwed though....I have to forfeit the $50 international import (shipping) fee from the Uk to the US. So, I'm still taking a hit by refunding them.
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I've got the DFI lanparty board, which comes with an inbuilt 5.1 sound module (Karjan I believe it's called.) Now, when I plug my amp into this, I get really nice centre/rear sounds but my front sound is appallingly quiet. I can hardly hear myself shoot in Counterstrike, or any walking/shooting from infront of me. However, I hear everything that goes on behind me. It's really strange and I'm well confused.
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Actually, I've just done a speaker test and on the test I'm getting centre, left/reight rear, left and right but no front sounds. Also the sub doesn't seem to work (although I swear it did yesterday when I was using these headphones). This is really strange!
mine seem fine after fine tuning and adjusting, I really like them, I only had/have two problems with them
the cables I got supplied to connect the 3 holes in back of sound card to the 3 holes in the amp were all damaged and cut through to the wire at one end....not happy about that as theyr brand new (couldnt b arsed to rma so i just took some audio cables from work and theyr fine now)
2nd thing was, I know it hard for a "virtual" 5.1 setup to simulate a centre speaker since all the speakers are on either side of your head but does anyone else think the centre speaker when you do an audio test on it seems more on the left than on the right? its no big deal, I just think it, either that or my left ear is better than my right ear which is probably more likely
the cables I got supplied to connect the 3 holes in back of sound card to the 3 holes in the amp were all damaged and cut through to the wire at one end....not happy about that as theyr brand new (couldnt b arsed to rma so i just took some audio cables from work and theyr fine now)
2nd thing was, I know it hard for a "virtual" 5.1 setup to simulate a centre speaker since all the speakers are on either side of your head but does anyone else think the centre speaker when you do an audio test on it seems more on the left than on the right? its no big deal, I just think it, either that or my left ear is better than my right ear which is probably more likely
Soldato
I have been very happy with mine, until the main cable got damaged some how (my fault not the Medusas). Anyway, what are the differences between the old version and the new version? I have the old and don't want to get the new version if its not as good in some way.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Underboss
I have only 1 problem with these (old ones i guess)
is that if i move it arround i get hissing noises I have to get it in a good place to make very little hiss
I also notice that i can not have the volume (on the cable) at max all round, i have tio turn it down somewhat, but becuase there are no numbers, and no clicks u cant tell if they are all set to equal, otherwise a good £30 spent
is that if i move it arround i get hissing noises I have to get it in a good place to make very little hiss
I also notice that i can not have the volume (on the cable) at max all round, i have tio turn it down somewhat, but becuase there are no numbers, and no clicks u cant tell if they are all set to equal, otherwise a good £30 spent