1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Peripherals 3D Headphones are all bogus. They just don't work.

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by feathers, 15 Jul 2011.

  1. feathers

    feathers Minimodder

    Joined:
    11 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    2,535
    Likes Received:
    59
    Surround headphones...

    I've had a few. Most recent were the Roccat Kaves. Nice looks and build, pretty good sound quality although lacking top end compared to my Sennheiser HD 595. Problem is the surround sound simply doesn't work because surround headphones can't project the sound in front of you.

    In the end I gave up, sold them and bought Logitech X540. Center speaker on top of monitor. Side speakers on a set of surround stands bought from tesco for £30.

    2 rear speakers not on the other 2 surround stands but mounted on wall behind me. Thus I am surrounded by speakers that don't take up much space and the sound is projected in a way no so-called surround headphones can match.

    Also the so-called CMSS 3d or whatever it's called is also bogus. As with multi driver surround headphones, it can't project sound in front of you. So if you're using surround headphones you will only ever hear the sound off the the sides or seemingly behind you but with no real spacial positioning. It's all bogus.
     
    Last edited: 15 Jul 2011
  2. Tyr

    Tyr Minimodder

    Joined:
    7 Jun 2006
    Posts:
    136
    Likes Received:
    0
    I've never had any problem with my Speedling Medusa 5.1 analogue headphones. They give such accurate positioning and makes a big difference in games. It does help to have a decent sound card too. Used to have an Audigy 2 ZS-N but now just have the VIA/Realtek onboard poop. Still works fine though, very hard for anyone or anything to sneak up on me in a game.

    All the USB headsets I have tried have had very poor positioning, audio lag and a slight CPU overhead.

    Definitely the best gaming headphones I've ever used.

    I have no problem with the two forward drivers which work fine. The big problem is some games do not correctly support 5.1 and the front channel is almost non functional. Crysis, Farcry and some others are like that. Setting 4.1 fixes forward audio problems for me.
     
  3. The_Beast

    The_Beast I like wood ಠ_ಠ

    Joined:
    21 Apr 2007
    Posts:
    7,379
    Likes Received:
    164
    Analog headphones are best, all "gaming headsets" are junk in my mind. I tried the G35s, they were meh. The sound quality was ok but the drivers made my computer crash and they where like a clamp on my head plus the build quality wasn't super great


    So I went out and bought a set of Audio Technica AD-700
     
  4. bagman

    bagman Minimodder

    Joined:
    18 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    3,658
    Likes Received:
    79
    Just get the Audio Technica AD-700, they are the best headphones for gaming. They can also be modded quite easily to give them a even bigger sound stage. Check out http://www.head-fi.org/ .
     
  5. favst89

    favst89 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    390
    Likes Received:
    13
    I would agree with Beast, I'm using a now very old but very high quality pair of studio headphones and with my sound card the virtual surround is actually pretty good. You also don't get the channel issues with virtual surround as the card takes whatever channels are available and then outputs the edited audio.
     
  6. feathers

    feathers Minimodder

    Joined:
    11 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    2,535
    Likes Received:
    59
    I haven't tried those headphones. A friend of mine had some and liked his. Thing is I've tried surround using 2 zalman surround (absolutely the worst headphones I have ever used) and the roccat Kave and both pairs failed to provide convincing positional audio. I used a 3d soundstage test where the sound source was moved virtually all around. All that happened was the sound went from in between my ears (supposed to be front projection), out to the sides or seeming behind but with no real positional accuracy. My Sennheiser HD595's are not the cheapest headphones (cost me £130 when I bought them) and they are no different when it came to testing 3d positioning using my then XFI Fatal1ty Titanium (I sold it eventually because it hard crashed my pc whenever I changed sound modes). Now using the excellent Auzentech Meridian 2G. Will never buy another creative soundcard since using the XFI.

    Haven't heard those but AT produce some nice hardware.

    I don't buy these virtual surround gimmicks really. Problem is it's a very subjective issue and it's very easy for the mind to convince itself it's hearing 3d sound. I'd convinced myself of that when I tried the CMSS 3d on various headphones and of course when I bought the Kave's I was impressed by the overall build quality but after using for some months I realised I was kidding myself. It wasn't really true accurate 3d sound. It couldn't project sound in front, only to the sides or seemingly behind.

    Using the 5.1 speakers I can tell very easy where a sound is. One of the most surprising surround audio games turned out to be Serious Sam HD. The aliens firing spinny weapons at you, you can hear them whizz past you. Quite amazing.
     
  7. Frohicky1

    Frohicky1 Awaits his moosey fate . . .

    Joined:
    16 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    1,661
    Likes Received:
    9
    Medusas give good surround, but the music quality is terrible. I used them for a while, much preferring my sennheiser rs 170s.

    Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
     
  8. heir flick

    heir flick Minimodder

    Joined:
    2 Feb 2007
    Posts:
    1,049
    Likes Received:
    14
    I have medusa also and know they are far from perfect its better than having a proper speaker system blasting away disturbing everyone else in the house when I'm gaming
     
  9. The_Beast

    The_Beast I like wood ಠ_ಠ

    Joined:
    21 Apr 2007
    Posts:
    7,379
    Likes Received:
    164
    a BIGGER SOUND STAGE WITH THE AD700's?????????


    [​IMG]
     
  10. Huge

    Huge aka Dave

    Joined:
    11 Jul 2011
    Posts:
    573
    Likes Received:
    28
    Any of you guys experienced true 3D sound? The stuff they make either by pre-recording with a dummy head or with digital filtering. It's my opinion that it won't be long before that takes off, all you'd need is a decent set of stereo headphones. Perhaps you are talking about that, but if not you can see an example on youtube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA

    It's pretty interesting how they make the digital filters to make the sound appear to be coming from any relative position in 3D space around your head.
     
  11. Telltale Boy

    Telltale Boy Designated CPC Jetwhore

    Joined:
    3 May 2010
    Posts:
    989
    Likes Received:
    44
    The virtual barber shop is an awesome demonstration of properly recorded surround sound, it's one of the things I often use to wow family members and friends; it's great that they give a bit of explanation aswell.
     
  12. Huge

    Huge aka Dave

    Joined:
    11 Jul 2011
    Posts:
    573
    Likes Received:
    28
    Yeah, it's pretty good! I'm more interested in digital filtering myself though as anyone can shove microphones in a dummy's ears and walk around making some noise. I'm researching it at work at the moment, there's a few games that already incorporate proper 3D sound.
     
  13. Telltale Boy

    Telltale Boy Designated CPC Jetwhore

    Joined:
    3 May 2010
    Posts:
    989
    Likes Received:
    44
    Any games that have been already released or are they still in development? It'd be interesting to try it out.
     
  14. Huge

    Huge aka Dave

    Joined:
    11 Jul 2011
    Posts:
    573
    Likes Received:
    28
    I'm not sure, my research is looking into head orientation tracking linked with 3D audio, ie if you turn your head right the virtual sound source doesn't move to the right with you, it remains at a constant relative position. There was a team of dutch students that developed a FPS for the blind using GPS and head orientation with 3D sound, they managed to make a working prototype, would love to have had a go.

    There is a forum here that is devoted to making audio games, a lot of their stuff is 3D I think, have a look around.
     

Share This Page