surround sound headphones?

Reality Bites · 9 Oct 2013 at 09:15

I'm in two minds whether to get a decent stereo pair or surround pair.

I want to have the ability to watch films while listening at decent volumes while baby sleeps and wife is watching other things.

Any suggestions? I've not really thought of a budget just yet as i need to weigh up what i'd need to spend to get what i want and the quality i'd get in return etc.

DJ_Bucho · 10 Oct 2013 at 14:47

I've bene looking at the Plantonics 780 7.1 Gaming headset, a couple of my friends have them, and turns out a good few people on here have them as well. You can turn off the virtual surround sound as well for if your watching movies or listening to music etc, Worth having a look at, it's the headset I'm going to get

window · 10 Oct 2013 at 14:58

sennheiser 323d. 7.1 dolby

Reality Bites · 19 Oct 2013 at 18:34

window said:
sennheiser 323d. 7.1 dolby

Shame it's a headset

anything I don't mind · 19 Oct 2013 at 18:58

I use a HDMI to a Yamaha rxv-467 and a Beyerdynamic dt770 pro that go in to the AVR. This allows for high quality sound on the head phones.

Marsman · 19 Oct 2013 at 22:39

Reality Bites said:
Shame it's a headset

Aren't they all headsets? 90%+ of the time these things are aimed at gamers, so have a microphone.

Personally, I'd grab a pair of decent headphones, then if you are watching films on the PC, add a sound card at some point, even if it is a Xonar DG/DGX for £20 or so. That will give you Dolby Headphone, which nearly all 'virtual' surround headsets use anyway, and you have a decent pair of headphones to use with it, rather than some crappy headset.

ethan · 21 Oct 2013 at 21:03

I'm still waiting details on the Turtle Beach setup due to be released shortly with headphone X. Best affordable development since the Smith Realizer.

ethan · 26 Oct 2013 at 01:17

this is the latest I can find:

Boost your gaming experience with Turtle Beach’s Earforce i60 headphones, the first products featuring DTS’ advanced Headphone:X audio technology. Available this November, the wireless i60 headsets from Turtle Beach include 7.1 DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound, customizable audio settings, connection to Apple devices via Bluetooth and more.
For more information, visit DTS.com, or connect on Facebook or Twitter (@DTS_Inc).

Mac only? I don't see why they won't work with a PC? :eek:

finga · 28 Oct 2013 at 20:53

I watch movies with my sennheiser hd600's through an astro mixamp and fiio headphone amplifier for dolby surround, not confined to the pc that way, works with anything with optical out. Get the best stereo headphones you can afford, they will last a while and I think you have to put music quality first, or you will end up wishing you bought a better pair

Zatoichi.uK · 8 Nov 2013 at 16:03

finga said:
I watch movies with my sennheiser hd600's through an astro mixamp and fiio headphone amplifier for dolby surround, not confined to the pc that way, works with anything with optical out. Get the best stereo headphones you can afford, they will last a while and I think you have to put music quality first, or you will end up wishing you bought a better pair

I'm looking at getting an astro mixamp with Sennheiser stereo headphones for the PS4 but am not sure if it's worth it. Do stereo headphones really benefit from something like the astro mixamp?

finga · 9 Nov 2013 at 09:36

something like the astro mixamp does not 'benefit' stereo headphones, it provides surround sound through them, otherwise unavailable.

Nick1881 · 9 Nov 2013 at 12:30

I'm amazed there has been 10 replies and no one has pointed out that surround sound headphones are pointless, a supposed 7 speakers so close to your 2 ears, it would be pretty hard to tell where each one was. A decent pair of stereo headphones and Dolby headphone mode is a much better idea. Even that's not really needed, try listening to the virtual barber shop video on YouTube with stereo headphones.

Zatoichi.uK · 9 Nov 2013 at 12:37

Nick1881 said:
I'm amazed there has been 10 replies and no one has pointed out that surround sound headphones are pointless, a supposed 7 speakers so close to your 2 ears, it would be pretty hard to tell where each one was. A decent pair of stereo headphones and Dolby headphone mode is a much better idea. Even that's not really needed, try listening to the virtual barber shop video on YouTube with stereo headphones.

This is the impression I've always had in that surround sound headphones are pointless. I suppose All I need to know is, is it worth getting this astro mixamp for stereo headphones as opposed to plugging the same headphones into my headphones jack on my speakers. Would adding the mixamp really be that noticeable?

Kreeeee · 9 Nov 2013 at 12:39

Zatoichi.uK said:
This is the impression I've always had in that surround sound headphones are pointless. I suppose All I need to know is, is it worth getting this astro mixamp for stereo headphones as opposed to plugging the same headphones into my headphones jack on my speakers. Would adding the mixamp really be that noticeable?

The mixamp is great for positional audio but the sound quality is not the best.

Nick1881 said:
I'm amazed there has been 10 replies and no one has pointed out that surround sound headphones are pointless, a supposed 7 speakers so close to your 2 ears, it would be pretty hard to tell where each one was. A decent pair of stereo headphones and Dolby headphone mode is a much better idea. Even that's not really needed, try listening to the virtual barber shop video on YouTube with stereo headphones.

That audio clip uses the same principles as dolby headphone software to emulate surround sound, in a pre-processed format. What dolby headphone does differently is allow you to convert 5.1/7.1 source material into emulated surround using stereo headphones on the fly.

Nick1881 · 9 Nov 2013 at 13:01

Thanks, no wonder it sounds so good.

So the mixamp is ok for PS/XBox gaming, otherwise get a nice soundcard in your PC and use that on stereo headphones.

Marsman · 9 Nov 2013 at 15:33

Nick1881 said:
So the mixamp is ok for PS/XBox gaming, otherwise get a nice soundcard in your PC and use that on stereo headphones.

Pretty much. I'd certainly go for a Mixamp + stereo headphones of choice for console use, rather than some overpriced headset gimmick nonsense. For PC use, either a sound card or DAC/headphone amp. Sound cards are fine if there is not so much EMI inside the case to affect the sound. If there is, then a DAC is the way to go.

Not a fan of surround sound headsets, or at least the multi driver variety. Some people do prefer them though that can't get along with DH. I have no beef with people who prefer them, but what does get up my nose is when people start spouting this 'true 5.1' nonsense. That's what marketing does for you. :mad:

Zatoichi.uK said:
This is the impression I've always had in that surround sound headphones are pointless. I suppose All I need to know is, is it worth getting this astro mixamp for stereo headphones as opposed to plugging the same headphones into my headphones jack on my speakers. Would adding the mixamp really be that noticeable?

A Mixamp will be better than plugging headphones into speaker headphone socket. Really depends what the speakers are though. In my experience, headphone out on powered speakers is never any good. It always there as an after thought convenience.

finga · 9 Nov 2013 at 15:57

Zatoichi.uK said:
This is the impression I've always had in that surround sound headphones are pointless. I suppose All I need to know is, is it worth getting this astro mixamp for stereo headphones as opposed to plugging the same headphones into my headphones jack on my speakers. Would adding the mixamp really be that noticeable?

do you notice the difference between standard tv built in speakers and a 5.1 surround system when watching a movie with a 5.1 soundtrack? I dont think youre quite grabbing the concept of dolby headphone!

Nick1881 · 9 Nov 2013 at 17:03

finga said:
do you notice the difference between standard tv built in speakers and a 5.1 surround system when watching a movie with a 5.1 soundtrack? I dont think youre quite grabbing the concept of dolby headphone!

Of course, 5 speakers positioned properly in a room and calibrated will sound great. I think you're missing the point.

finga · 9 Nov 2013 at 17:50

how is that? and what does proper calibration on 5 speakers sounding great have to do with anything?
he is asking, specifically, wether listening to headphones through a mixamp would be that noticeable. My answer states that it would be as noticeable as the difference between stereo audio and 5.1 audio! What point exactly do you believe I am missing then?