Gaming headset suggestions? 5.1...?

[razer121]

Looking for some new gaming headphones Currently thought about this set,

LN36655 - Scan code,

That is the SPEEDLINK MEDUSA NX USB 5.1 Surround Headset

Now i've read some reviews which seem to point to a decent headset but is anyone about on hexus who actually has used them?

I play alot of L4D and COD so i feel 5.1 is the way to go with headphones (pin pointing where they are XD)

Now of course if it's a bad idea which stereo headsets would you recommend? Ive a budget of £60 for these... thanks guys!

[Biscuit]

I personally think 5.1 headphones are a bit naff, the speakers aren't spread out enough to really pin point locations. You would get a lot more bang for your buck with a decent set of stereo cans.

My preference is to any set of beyerdynamics as they are often user serviceable, everyone is different though.

[razer121]

See thats the argument which is what makes me lean towards stereo headsets, any recommendations?

[Biscuit]

As above, i really like bayerdynamic cans. Sennheiser also makes some pretty good ones.

Beyerdyanmic
the DT-235s are pretty decent, quite a bit below your budget too.
DT-100s are pretty heavy duty, look stupid and more designed for studio monitoring but they are decent.
DTX-710 would fit in nicely

Sennheiser
HD448
HDR120
HD205

There is also Grado, KRK, Sure, Sony...A lot to choose from. Best thingto do is get yourself to a store which has some and try them out

[razer121]

Well...the idea is to buy them from scan plus of course they need a mic XD

[razer121]

To add, what about the Corsair Gaming Audio Series HS1A??

[shaithis]

I had the original Speedlink Medusa 5.1s......horrid things.

Heavy, hurt my head after extended sessions, sounded way to bassy/muffled. For the money I paid for them I was disappointed.

In fact, since getting rid of them I then tried the Sharkoon X-Tactic 5.1s.....and they carried the same issues.

Recently picked up a pair of Corsair HS1As for a 1/4 of what I paid for each of the 5.1 headsets.....and apart from some EQ tweaking, I am much happier. Lighter, comfortable and using virtual surround they give just as much directionality as the 5.1s

Unless there is a significant tech change any time soon, I will be staying away from 5.1 headsets.

Just get a quality stereo set....and for the price of the Medusas, you may well get a pair of Beyerdyanmics.

[Biscuit]

I prefer using normal headphones with a separate desk/clip on/webcam mic. Means you dont have to replace the whole thing when the microphone inevitably breaks

Personally i would avoid most products from Razer, Creative, Thermaltake, roccat, speedlink, logitech.... These people have little pedigree is good quality sound products and tend to sell crap based on the gaming gimmick. Creative and logitech do have a bit of pro-audio in their portfolio but creatives customer service is terrible and im not convinced any of that has bled down into logitechs lower end product portfolio yet.
Not sure about corsair, they seem to get good reviews however until i hear it i cant recommend it.

Plantronics should be good, as should sennheiser

[razer121]

Ok any more recommendations for the Corsair's? I'm liking the idea of the HS1A but i'd always prefer USB however scan only seem to stock the Analog one's unfortunately XD

[Biscuit]

Why would you prefer USB?

USB means the D to A conversion is done in the headphones them self and the quality is likely to be worse than a dedicated soundcard or even many of the more modern onboard soundcards. Added to which it means you can only ever use them on a PC.

[razer121]

Thanks i just prefer USB as i have a 5.1 kit hooked up to the pc XD but i can deal with analog which seems to be the way i am heading!

[Biscuit]

Thanks i just prefer USB as i have a 5.1 kit hooked up to the pc XD but i can deal with analog which seems to be the way i am heading!

I assume by 5.1 kit you mean a set of 5.1 speakers like logitechs or something?

Dont they have a headphone input in the volume control? You could also use the HP/Mic connectors on the front of the PC

[Zak33]

firstly... no one in their right mind uses a usb headset for gaming if they're interested in using the quality ingame sounds and a good soundcard... that make it worth having a good headset in the first place. Cos the USB headphones are rubbish. BUT... USB for powering them is different which some Medusa do. That makes sense... for boosted power.

sad.. but true.

secondly: 5.1 headphones do work fairly well for 4.0 but the centre channel is fairly irrelevent as it's just the two sides playing together.. and the .1 (ie bass box) is.. er.. in your headphones.. so bass is dependant on the quality of the cans anyway.

thirdly: I've had Medusa's and they were very good, but only in certain games. The operating system, sound card and game combo made a huge difference and then working out whether I was really hearing REAR footsteps or actually just footsteps was hard to decide. In IL-2 is worked ok... but there were dead zones.. where they went quiet for no reason.. and I finally gave up with them when I changed sound card for ...

firstly an m-Audio Revolution 7.1 (old card, astonishingly good at stereo ) and later a Razer Baraccuda (still use it.)

Now the Revolution uses the CPU to calculate the sounds via drivers and was ace in XP but rubbish in Vista and I never tried in Win7. But it was excellent for positional sounds.. especially in 3rd person shooters.

The Razer Barracude AC1 card I have now HAS devoted 5.1 headphones.. with a full set of cables to connect it... and you know where those (very expensive) headphones are.? In the loft.

Why...?

Cos these exist.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/sennh...s-xxl-ear-cups

big dough.. but worth while with a great soundcard.
My sound card is set to stereo and it does a fantastic job....

if I was realyl being picky.. I'd say you shuld buy a good sound card first.. and headphones second

[Pete301]

Sennheiser headphones are great on reliability afaik, I know loads of people who own a pair and I haven't heard a complaint yet. The ones Zak33 linked would be awesome however only if your budget stretches that far. You could try a step down and get the PC 330s.

What soundcard have you got? and what is this 5.1 kit, can you plug your headphones straight in?

If the soundcard you have isn't too top end there may not be much point in spending >£70 on a headset as you probably won't hear the difference you paid the money for.

Also, I haven't listened to any 5.1 headsets, but I can't imagine that they are too much of an upgrade over virtual surround due to the drivers being so close to your head, I'd stick with getting a decent stereo set.

[razer121]

Well, the new board im getting is a msi something...but either way i'm sure it has a realtek audio chipset in it...will have to update when i get the board XD

Back onto the headphone's I've already decided that 5.1 is being eliminated...so stereo it is!

Still thinking about the HS1a as it seems to have really good reviews!

Now last thing, my 5.1 setup is using analog, straight to my amp with some speakers hooked up of course

[balamut182]

hi. i'm from russsia, and sorry for my awful english.
i have one. medusa 5.1 usb gaming headset. this one have inside sound card and 8 speakers.
5.1 sound is very nice for headset for 80$. particularly basses.
microphone is normal. i'm using it in skype, mumble when kill zombies in L4D with friends . voice is clear
but it has one big problem. driver for win 7 x64 don't correctly work. windows go to BSoD. without special driver it correctly works with 2 streams only. but on win 7 x32 everything is great