Surround Sound Headphones

JLTucker · Post by **JLTucker** » 2006-11-07 02:51pm

Would a moderator please movie this thread to the correct place if it does not belong in G&C?

I was thinking about purchasing some surround sound headphones. I am contemplating doing this because I cannot afford a decent stereo system. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried any of these and whether or not it is worth it. Here is a link to the headphones I was looking at.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2006-11-07 03:02pm

Don't get surround sound headphones, they are almost certainly crap. Get yourself a good stereo pair of Sennheisers or Grados instead.

Headroom will help you out here.

EDIT: The excellent budget Sennheiser HD 201 can be had for a mere $25.

JLTucker · Post by **JLTucker** » 2006-11-07 03:04pm

But I would like to have the effect that I get in the theater when I am watching a movie.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-11-07 03:05pm

How anyone can differentiate the sounds from such close proximity is beyond me. The spatial effects of surround sound equipment is based on their placement within a room and the associated acoustics. Trying to do that within a fist sized cup round your ear is folly.

Do what The Kernel says. I just got some new Sennheisers and I'm not looking back.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2006-11-07 03:08pm

Valdemar is correct, these things are a cheap novelty in headphones, nothing more.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-11-07 03:36pm

JLTucker wrote:But I would like to have the effect that I get in the theater when I am watching a movie.

So then buy a home cinema system. Pricey? Not at all. The Acoustic Solutions getup I have cost me not more than fifty squid off Amazon.co.uk (around eighty bucks). It's good quality, is 5.1 Dolby and came with a multi-region DVD player. It's actually better in build quality and features than my dad's dedicated DVD player by Aiwa at twice the price.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2006-11-07 04:11pm

JLTucker wrote:But I would like to have the effect that I get in the theater when I am watching a movie.

A good pair of regular headphones will give you the full surround sound effect. "Surround sound" headphones are a gimmick, they sound like shit, even worse than Bose.

I second The Kernel's recommendation of the Senn HD 201, it's an outstanding bargain which sounds ridiculously good for its price. It feels a bit cheap & flimsy, but holds up pretty well and sounds good. Not much can touch it 'till you get to the ~$60 range.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-11-07 04:46pm

Some sound cards will do HRTF processing to simulate the effects of surround sound with headphones - and do it quite well.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2006-11-07 04:50pm

I've got these headphones and they are damned good.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=1794

The boom mike is also good for gaming and is a decent quality, the headphones sound is very and is quite comfortable.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-11-07 05:05pm

I've got a pair of Zalman headphones, plus the zalman 5.1 usb sound card; the base isn't so good, but I find it pretty decent for playing games. Of course the Zalman 5.1 headphones were the first (I saw), and I'm sure by now there are better products out there. In addition, it allows me to play games without bothering people.

In addition, its impossible to get cheap speaker stands to get real 5.1 on your computer, I've looked.

edit:
Review of my headphones

The headpones you linked in the OP look pretty cheap, and I can't find any sort of reviews on them. I'd go with something else, at the very least.

Ypoknons · Post by **Ypoknons** » 2006-11-07 05:17pm

Jade Falcon wrote:I've got these headphones and they are damned good.

Damned good compared to... what?

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2006-11-07 05:27pm

Ypoknons wrote:
Jade Falcon wrote:I've got these headphones and they are damned good.
Damned good compared to... what?

Seriously, there's are damn good reason why industry staples like Sennheiser don't make a surround sound headphone. Not the least of these is surround sound cans will ALWAY be inferior due to the cost of processing and the necessitation of extra speaker, which is money that can be better spent elsewhere.

JLTucker · Post by **JLTucker** » 2006-11-07 05:32pm

I decided on Sennheiser EH 250.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2006-11-07 07:49pm

Ypoknons wrote:
Jade Falcon wrote:I've got these headphones and they are damned good.
Damned good compared to... what?

Hell, I don't know, but I was looking for a good comfortable set of headphones that would also serve as a decent mic for BF2, and I can tell you that they serve me well enough. I'm not comparing them to anything else, just saying that I found them to be good.