Speedlink Medusa Headset

[george1979]

Hi all,

Just wanted to get an opinion on this headset:

http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductID=28655

I am thinking of buying this but you also have the USB version:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Speed...et-SL-8795-sbk

Does anyone have experience with these? The USB version is cheaper, has less cables to connect and has a 5.1 sound chip built in but I'm wondering if its better to have the separate component audio cables?

Thanks

[barker967]

I`ve had a pair of these for about 3 years (the ones without a soundcard built in) and i`m very happy with them. Sound quality is very good through them, bass is good, clear audio. Personally I cant fault them.

[GoNz0]

cups are to small, they hurt my ears if i had them on for more than 30 minutes, bass was none existent and tbh with you the 5.1 isn't much to call home about as the speakers are to close to gether for the brain to fugue out.

i sold them and invested in a nice set of sennheiser pc-350's

[watercooled]

I just wanted to add something along the lines of what Gonzo said, I have a Sennheiser headset which uses an on-ear style i.e. the cups rest on your ears. It probably varies between people but if I wear them for extended periods I get a pretty intense, sharp pain in my ears (outer ears, not earache). Just something to be aware of before buying, maybe see if a friend has some you can try.

[george1979]

Thanks guys, I have read some reviews and they were generally pretty favourable. Most said they were really comfortable but whats comfortable for one person may not be for another i suppose.
I have a pair of Turtle Beach X1's that I got a while ago for my Xbox and have been using them in my PC but I want a new pair and these seem pretty good and well priced.

My main issue is whether to get the USB version or not. My MB has pretty good sound so was thinking maybe the non USB version might be better? I have heard that some of the USB headsets can be problematic but that was a while ago so that may have changed.

[Tonka777]

I have a set and find them very good sound wise, although I have nothing to compare them to.

One annoying problem with my component version, which are quite old, they suffer badly from 3g interference. Our bedroom is behind the wall that computer is on, and 3g transmissions from the OH's mobile in there cause that annoying noise. I don't know if it has been fixed in newer versions.

[Uriel]

I had a set of Medusas and was very happy with them - until I heard various headphones designed for music listening and surround virtualisation from soundcards.

To be quite frank - compared to what else is available - they're awful. I've heard much better sound quality from stereo headphones costing a tenner new. Their main redeeming feature is that they're very comfortable.

The 5.1 front and back direction thing did work for me though. Having said that, I've found I get better results with stereo headphones with an X-Fi using CMSS-3D Headphone and MUCH better results using a Xonar with Dolby Headphone.

For the price of the Medusas, I would get a Xonar DG soundcard, Goldring DR50 headphones and a clip on or desktop mic (a tenner should more than cover the mic). That will completely blow the sound quality, realism, directional perception and immersion of the Medusas out of the water.

Edit: If you're stuck with a laptop or have no space for a soundcard a Xonar U1 (USB - includes mic) and DR50s should do the trick.

Don't be fooled by 'real' 5.1 on headsets (i.e. multiple drivers in each earcup). Real 5.1 sound is intended for speakers. You hear every speaker with both ears. Virtualised surround via stereo headphones replicates this much more accurately than multiple driver sets.

[planet436]

I would try a pair on if possible before buying them. I had a set for 2 years and they would start to get sore at around the 2 hour mark (but then so do a lot of headphones). The microphone wasn't very good though compared to others have now, nor was the surround sound.

[Chunter]

i wouldn't buy those again if they were free,i had a set that failed,then failed again,then failed again upon which changed them for something else.
the shop i bought them from removed all of them and no longer sells anything from the company,they had so many returns they had to.
i had a microphone fail,one speaker failure and the last pair fell apart,all within 6 months.

[watercooled]

i wouldn't buy those again if they were free,i had a set that failed,then failed again,then failed again upon which changed them for something else.
the shop i bought them from removed all of them and no longer sells anything from the company,they had so many returns they had to.
i had a microphone fail,one speaker failure and the last pair fell apart,all within 6 months.

Sounds like Xbox 360 official wired headsets! I don't know who they have the production contracted to but I've been through loads of the new ones. The old style used to last a while but the new ones have lasted about a month, after which I kept getting them replaced but I've just given up and started using my wireless one instead. It's not like they're cheap either!

[george1979]

i wouldn't buy those again if they were free,i had a set that failed,then failed again,then failed again upon which changed them for something else.
the shop i bought them from removed all of them and no longer sells anything from the company,they had so many returns they had to.
i had a microphone fail,one speaker failure and the last pair fell apart,all within 6 months.

Yeah I've decided to spend a little extra on the Roccat Kaves. They have had great reviews and seem to be well built. I'd rather pay a little extra now in the hope that they'll last.