Gaming Headphones

[slypie]

is it best to buy headphones with a USB connection or 3.5mm jack. Also is it best for gaming to buy headphones with surround sound?

I have read about USB headphones coming with sound cards are these built into the headphones or seperate. Sorry for the dumb questions I know nothing about headphones.

Also are the SteelSeries SteelSound 5H v2 USB headphones any good???

[TooNice]

Do they have to be surround sound? As from my own experience Iv found that a decent set of stereo headphones can be just as good at spatial positioning (for gaming) and sound effects/sound quality, but obviously come into their own even futher when listening to music etc.... Get a decent seperate mic and your away!

I avoided posting on this topic because slypie specifically asked about gaming headphones in the original post. Since you've already posted, and he may be willing to hear about the alternative, I will back you up on this one. But I do have an added requirement: I think that an X-Fi's CMSS is what makes a stereo headphone into a special positioning beast in games and movies. This is redundant for music where it's all about quality stereo anyway, and it's solely up to the headphone's ability to separate instruments/widen the soundstage, but relevant in games and movies IMO.

Personally, I have never been really impressed by gaming headphones. I don't think that headsets (even Senns PC1## series) are all that amazing either (but better) and favour the 'get a cheap separate mic' + dedicated stereo headphone approach. There are some very good yet cheap stereo headphones and combined with a 3D positioning algorithm, gives positioning that is as good (I'd argue better) as the gaming headphones I've tried, while having a sound quality advantage (though admittedly, more noticeable for music).

Between USB and 3.5mm jack, it shouldn't make a difference from a sound quality perspective (at least not one you'd notice). USB can be more convenient (back then they were more pricey though), while 3.5mm allows you to plug into other (e.g. MP3) devices.

[Webby]

If the is a soundcard atached to the head phones it is normally a box near the end of the cable (closer to where you plug it in than the head phones) this may not be the case in all situations but is what I have personally seen.

As to surround sound headphones not sure how useful they are... best bet would be to go to an audio shop and try a few pairs out, in fact do that anyway you could get the best sounding headphones in the world but if they are not comfortable for you to wear then they will be a poor investment.

[999tigger]

I have Medusas, but I find them a bit heavy after a while.
I prefer my Sennheisers 156s for long periods.

[TooNice]

I agree with Webby on trying first if it is possible. I think one problem may be to find 'gaming headphones' in an audio shop. Maybe PC World would have something you can try, but I don't even think that Dixon/Curry would have them.

The other issue is that sometime you don't notice the headphone until longer period. It may be fine for the first 20 seconds, but it can be as little as 5 minutes before you find them uncomfortable.

And then, there are headphones that sound so good they are good investment despite the (lack of) comfort. For me (and I am not alone), that's typical of Grados cans.

[slypie]

As to surround sound headphones not sure how useful they are... best bet would be to go to an audio shop and try a few pairs out, in fact do that anyway you could get the best sounding headphones in the world but if they are not comfortable for you to wear then they will be a poor investment.

Chance would be a fine thing but there isn't anywhere near me that would stock gaming headphones. By the looks of it I'm either going to opt for the Medusa or Steelseries headphones as they seem to get good reviews and I'm not sure to opt for the USB version or 3.5mm version.

[999tigger]

For the medusas, then the review on Toms Hardware favoured the non USB version by a long way.

[Thorsson]

I have Medusas, but I find them a bit heavy after a while.
I prefer my Sennheisers 156s for long periods.

Agreed.

Also agreed that you shouldn't get a USB version. That was the point I was making earlier. USB headphones (and speakers) rely on their own, built-in, soundcard, which usually isn't up to much. Strictly for laptop use.

[slypie]

Agreed.

Also agreed that you shouldn't get a USB version. That was the point I was making earlier. USB headphones (and speakers) rely on their own, built-in, soundcard, which usually isn't up to much. Strictly for laptop use.

Damn not what I wanted to hear. I thought USB would be just as good as 3.5mm jack connectors. I'm just a little put off with the cabling of 5.1 headphones on a 3.5mm jack and does it mean I would have to keep unplugging my speakers when I wanted to use my headphones and vice versa or do you use a splitter of some sort?

[Webby]

Well I'm sure the are splitters out there, you can get splitters which separate a single channel or ideally you find one which allows you to select the output (like a multi-scart selector for a tv) if you cant find one you could always make one

[Thorsson]

Damn not what I wanted to hear. I thought USB would be just as good as 3.5mm jack connectors. I'm just a little put off with the cabling of 5.1 headphones on a 3.5mm jack and does it mean I would have to keep unplugging my speakers when I wanted to use my headphones and vice versa or do you use a splitter of some sort?

How it works is you plug the breakout box to the soundcard and the speakers to the breakout box. Basically unless you power the breakout box the headphones are not on, but it still passes through to the speakers. If you want headphones and not speakers you power on the breakout and switch off the speakers.

[donkiddik]

How it works is you plug the breakout box to the soundcard and the speakers to the breakout box. Basically unless you power the breakout box the headphones are not on, but it still passes through to the speakers. If you want headphones and not speakers you power on the breakout and switch off the speakers.

That's exactly how my Medusa's are configured, it's easy peasy

[DratUK]

That's exactly how my Medusa's are configured, it's easy peasy

Same here. Very very comfortable for me, I've worn them for 4 hrs at a time and not been uncomfortable.
5.1 is debatable but hooked up to the X-Fi I can notie a difference in FPS games, but maybe thats in my head

[2Cold Scorpio]

I use a pair of Koss KSC75 stereo headphones for my games and they sound awesome. If you have a SoundBlaster X-Fi card (like my XtremeGamer), you can enable 3-D sound though Creative's console, and it sounds wicked. I use these earphones for both my music and my games, and I think they sound as good or better than headphones I've tried that cost two or three times the price. I got them on Amazon.com for about $15; a heck of a bargin.