Surround sound headphones?
Discussion
24lemons said:
Are there any reasonably priced headphones that will give me surround sound from my Xbox one? Do I have to get a gaming specific headset or will any 5.1 headphones work?
Thanks
Have looked into this a bit as I'd like to have a silent cinema one day so I can watch films at a decent volume without disturbing the wife/kids after they've gone to bed. Consensus is generally to get a high quality set of stereo headphones and then some AV amplifiers have options for generating a pseudo surround sound effect in them through signal processing. You can never do true surround sound in a set of headphones as you can really put speakers behind and in front of the listener in such a small thing as earphones, even if the drivers were oddly placed in the earphone rather than just against your ear I'm not really sure that your brain would be able to distinguish the sounds from the different drivers as they all arrive within a few nanoseconds of each other.Thanks
I don't console play but I do game on my PC (water cooled rig so it's a proper gaming rig).
I use the Logitech G930 (older range) headphones and they deliver decent Dolby 7.1 sound, I have tried different brands over the years but quite honestly the 930's have been rock solid, so much so that I recently replaced the battery in them and it was like they were brand new again.
I would love to be able to game on a decent sound system but trust me, playing BF1 or ED on anything other then headphones at 11pm get's me in the dog house with wife and kids, it's bad enough using TS and talking with mates, never mind the various sound effects from BF1.
I use the Logitech G930 (older range) headphones and they deliver decent Dolby 7.1 sound, I have tried different brands over the years but quite honestly the 930's have been rock solid, so much so that I recently replaced the battery in them and it was like they were brand new again.
I would love to be able to game on a decent sound system but trust me, playing BF1 or ED on anything other then headphones at 11pm get's me in the dog house with wife and kids, it's bad enough using TS and talking with mates, never mind the various sound effects from BF1.
In a short answer, you need to spend a little more to get to decent headphones, and a lot more to get to "audiophile" levels.
I literally had the same thought process as I wanted much better sound quality on both my PC and Xbox. After a lot of research, all the mass market headsets (phones and mic combos) are sub par quality/over priced and I ended up buying some Beyerdynamic dt990s. Was also looking at the Sennheiser HD650s which are your other option, this price range is basically the first step on Audiophile headphones. You won't be able to use skull candy etc headphones after you've used them.
I got the 32ohm versions, however I'm also aware the 250's could be powered by the Xbox too without an amp. If you wanted better fidelity, you could get the 600ohm and a separate amp/DAC, such as a Fiio E10k for both DAC+Amp, or just for an audio passthrough amp, (what I got) the Fiio A3.
If you then wanted to have them as a proper headset, you simply add a ModMic, which is an attachable boom mic. Been told that my mic is a lot clearer and crisper with less interference (both sound leak and electrical) than using the standard Xbox headset.
Join both the Mic and headset cables together using a connector such as this Sennheiser one and plug them directly into the bottom of the Xbox controller if you have a 'S', or get the Xbox headset adapter..
In order to neaten it up, I got some braided sleeving and added some heat shrink to both ends, giving a professional "shop bought" finish. I'll take some photos later if you want to see the final outcome.
Also worth adding, that "surround" headphones are a gimmick. Think about your body, you don't have 7 ears on each side of your head....
I literally had the same thought process as I wanted much better sound quality on both my PC and Xbox. After a lot of research, all the mass market headsets (phones and mic combos) are sub par quality/over priced and I ended up buying some Beyerdynamic dt990s. Was also looking at the Sennheiser HD650s which are your other option, this price range is basically the first step on Audiophile headphones. You won't be able to use skull candy etc headphones after you've used them.
I got the 32ohm versions, however I'm also aware the 250's could be powered by the Xbox too without an amp. If you wanted better fidelity, you could get the 600ohm and a separate amp/DAC, such as a Fiio E10k for both DAC+Amp, or just for an audio passthrough amp, (what I got) the Fiio A3.
If you then wanted to have them as a proper headset, you simply add a ModMic, which is an attachable boom mic. Been told that my mic is a lot clearer and crisper with less interference (both sound leak and electrical) than using the standard Xbox headset.
Join both the Mic and headset cables together using a connector such as this Sennheiser one and plug them directly into the bottom of the Xbox controller if you have a 'S', or get the Xbox headset adapter..
In order to neaten it up, I got some braided sleeving and added some heat shrink to both ends, giving a professional "shop bought" finish. I'll take some photos later if you want to see the final outcome.
Also worth adding, that "surround" headphones are a gimmick. Think about your body, you don't have 7 ears on each side of your head....
Sorry for the wall of text! Trying to be as concise as I can 
First point I want to make is that Audiophiles are a lot like wine snobs. The difference between a £10, £50 and a £100k bottle of wine wouldn't make any difference to me for example, it's the same between sets of headphones for many people.
Ohm rating is the resistance of the drivers (the actual speakers in the headphones), generally the more powerful the drivers, the more resistance - which makes sense as bigger electromagnets need more electricity to move them.
This means that the device sending the signal needs to be able to send enough energy to power the speakers in order to produce sound. Having drivers that need more power also has the added bonus of having more control over the speakers, for example there is more range of signal strength you can send in 1/250ths of a volt then there is is 1/32ths of a volt. (This is the point where the quality of the sound/music file plays a key part, and depending on how much of an audiophile you are as to whether you can tell the difference). I couldn't tell the difference between an amp'ed set of 600's and the 32's for example, but I definitely could between the 32ohm DT990s and my 8ohm SkullCandy Hesh 2's (Which I previously thought were really good). I also now notice the difference in audio tracks and which are encoded in a higher quality compared to those that aren't.
The issue arises dependent on the device that is sending the signals, and its ability to overcome the resistance of the headset. Typically most portable devices, ipods/mobile phones etc, typically have enough power to handle 32ohms and below. When you get above this, the sound may be quieter/flatter and that's where you need an amplifier to increase the power.
When you amplify the signal, you also amplify any "impurities" within it, such as background static created when the signal is created etc. This can be sorted with a DAC (Digital Analogue Converter), which takes a signal and sorts it into a clean Left/Right sound signal. On decent motherboards on computers this is done for you by the on board sound card, however you can get external DAC/Amp combinations such as mentioned in my post above.
From my research, my computer motherboard can power up to a 600Ohm headset so I had no worries there, recent phones can power the 250's, however the Xbox headset/controller and ipods etc are only spec'ed up to 32. There are many people that say the 250s work with the Xbox, and that doesn't surprise me, however I can see it having a detrimental effect to battery life.
Hope that helps! Its a slippery slope into audiophile land with diminishing returns. I think the sweet spot is this £100-200 range, as its a huge step up. The next range £400-600 is more a look what I can afford IMO as I cant tell the difference.
First point I want to make is that Audiophiles are a lot like wine snobs. The difference between a £10, £50 and a £100k bottle of wine wouldn't make any difference to me for example, it's the same between sets of headphones for many people.
Ohm rating is the resistance of the drivers (the actual speakers in the headphones), generally the more powerful the drivers, the more resistance - which makes sense as bigger electromagnets need more electricity to move them.
This means that the device sending the signal needs to be able to send enough energy to power the speakers in order to produce sound. Having drivers that need more power also has the added bonus of having more control over the speakers, for example there is more range of signal strength you can send in 1/250ths of a volt then there is is 1/32ths of a volt. (This is the point where the quality of the sound/music file plays a key part, and depending on how much of an audiophile you are as to whether you can tell the difference). I couldn't tell the difference between an amp'ed set of 600's and the 32's for example, but I definitely could between the 32ohm DT990s and my 8ohm SkullCandy Hesh 2's (Which I previously thought were really good). I also now notice the difference in audio tracks and which are encoded in a higher quality compared to those that aren't.
The issue arises dependent on the device that is sending the signals, and its ability to overcome the resistance of the headset. Typically most portable devices, ipods/mobile phones etc, typically have enough power to handle 32ohms and below. When you get above this, the sound may be quieter/flatter and that's where you need an amplifier to increase the power.
When you amplify the signal, you also amplify any "impurities" within it, such as background static created when the signal is created etc. This can be sorted with a DAC (Digital Analogue Converter), which takes a signal and sorts it into a clean Left/Right sound signal. On decent motherboards on computers this is done for you by the on board sound card, however you can get external DAC/Amp combinations such as mentioned in my post above.
From my research, my computer motherboard can power up to a 600Ohm headset so I had no worries there, recent phones can power the 250's, however the Xbox headset/controller and ipods etc are only spec'ed up to 32. There are many people that say the 250s work with the Xbox, and that doesn't surprise me, however I can see it having a detrimental effect to battery life.
Hope that helps! Its a slippery slope into audiophile land with diminishing returns. I think the sweet spot is this £100-200 range, as its a huge step up. The next range £400-600 is more a look what I can afford IMO as I cant tell the difference.
Bit late to the game but I was in the same position a couple of week ago after I started playing Playerunknown Battlegrounds with stereo headphones and found it hard to figure out where what was coming from.
I went for the Logitech G633 after a recommendation from a friend with the 933's and a lot of reading up online.
I know there's a lot of talk about multiple drivers in a set of cans not working very well and real surround not being possible with headphones, but after using the 633's I was instantly able to figure out exactly what angle shots were coming in on me from, unlike with the stereo ones where I had to keep turning my head and hoping another shot would come in so I could zero it in.
So I hate to disagree with the audiophiles here, but having surround headphones has actually helped up my game, and they work really well.
So I can recommend the 633's or the 933's if you want wireless, the mic is fantastic, and muting it is as easy as just moving it up a little. There are programmable buttons on the headset which can be mapped, sounds strange to go to buttons on the headset instead of keyboard but I actually find them useful.
I went for the Logitech G633 after a recommendation from a friend with the 933's and a lot of reading up online.
I know there's a lot of talk about multiple drivers in a set of cans not working very well and real surround not being possible with headphones, but after using the 633's I was instantly able to figure out exactly what angle shots were coming in on me from, unlike with the stereo ones where I had to keep turning my head and hoping another shot would come in so I could zero it in.
So I hate to disagree with the audiophiles here, but having surround headphones has actually helped up my game, and they work really well.
So I can recommend the 633's or the 933's if you want wireless, the mic is fantastic, and muting it is as easy as just moving it up a little. There are programmable buttons on the headset which can be mapped, sounds strange to go to buttons on the headset instead of keyboard but I actually find them useful.
You'd be amazed what a decent audio source can do in regards to surround feel.
Also got to think that most media cant transmit/process actual multi-channel surround, so most of it is made up anyway. For example, the Xbox sound output is pure stereo with mimic'd surround unless pumped out via optical or HDMI pass though.
Forgot to add photos of my finished, after heat shrink and wrapping:
Took a couple so you can see both ends of it.
Also got to think that most media cant transmit/process actual multi-channel surround, so most of it is made up anyway. For example, the Xbox sound output is pure stereo with mimic'd surround unless pumped out via optical or HDMI pass though.
Forgot to add photos of my finished, after heat shrink and wrapping:
Took a couple so you can see both ends of it.
24lemons said:
Those are pretty cool. I'm having difficulty justifying the price though. Is there anything worth buying around the £100 mark?
I'd say probably best of with something like these. HyperX Cloud revolvers, my brother has them, I do like them.
Stereo ones are on offer at £78, Surround versions if you really want them are ~£130. As mentioned, personal taste as to surround being a gimmick or not.
Edited by Lazadude on Thursday 24th August 12:50
I won some Steelseries USB ones that retail around £100 recently in a competition.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/steelseries-siberia...
I think they're really good, must be, I can't hear a word the wife says when I'm wearing them
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/steelseries-siberia...
I think they're really good, must be, I can't hear a word the wife says when I'm wearing them
born2bslow said:
I won some Steelseries USB ones that retail around £100 recently in a competition.
snipped link
I think they're really good, must be, I can't hear a word the wife says when I'm wearing them
Wow, RGB leds,first time i've seen them on a headset. They're just what you need on headphones! snipped link
I think they're really good, must be, I can't hear a word the wife says when I'm wearing them
Didn't know the gaming gimmicks went that far, I mean you can't even see them whilst you are wearing them?
The no background noise means they are fulled closed (Rather than open with the Beyer's mentioned above, or partially closed as per the Senn's) with high insulating cuffs. Good for immersion, however doesn't mean anything about the actual speakers etc inside them.
Edited for SPAG
Edited by Lazadude on Thursday 24th August 15:42
Lazadude said:
Wow, RGB leds,first time i've seen them on a headset. They're just what you need on headphones!
Didn't know the gaming gimmicks went that far, I mean you can't even see them whilst you are wearing them?
The no background noise means they are fulled closed (Rather than open with the Beyer's mentioned above, or partially closed as per the Senn's) with high insulating cuffs. Good for immersion, however doesn't mean anything about the actual speakers etc inside them.
Edited for SPAG
I won them, for free, cost me nowt so I won't complain...I can't see anything when I'm gaming as I use my Oculus Rift...Didn't know the gaming gimmicks went that far, I mean you can't even see them whilst you are wearing them?
The no background noise means they are fulled closed (Rather than open with the Beyer's mentioned above, or partially closed as per the Senn's) with high insulating cuffs. Good for immersion, however doesn't mean anything about the actual speakers etc inside them.
Edited for SPAG
I saw a question about surround headphones around £100 mark and responded. Sorry if my understanding of the intricacies of headsets didn't meet your requirements...
some people...
born2bslow said:
I won them, for free, cost me nowt so I won't complain...I can't see anything when I'm gaming as I use my Oculus Rift...
I saw a question about surround headphones around £100 mark and responded. Sorry if my understanding of the intricacies of headsets didn't meet your requirements...
some people...
I saw a question about surround headphones around £100 mark and responded. Sorry if my understanding of the intricacies of headsets didn't meet your requirements...
some people...
My apologies if I come across wrong, intonation is hard on typed text.. I was saying I never knew they did RGB LEDs on headphones, cant see why anyone would want them especially as you cant see them when wearing, even less with a VR headset on!
The only people who would see them are others in the room, however if you have a full immersion headset on, you would be ignoring the others in the room anyway?
And my comment about them being fully closed was more for education of anyone who reads, who then gets confused by all the open/semi-open/closed etc terminology.
Can't complain for free, especially if they suit needs.
Edited by Lazadude on Friday 25th August 15:55
Lazadude said:
My apologies if I come across wrong, intonation is hard on typed text.. I was saying I never knew they did RGB LEDs on headphones, cant see why anyone would want them especially as you cant see them when wearing, even less with a VR headset on!
The only people who would see them are others in the room, however if you have a full immersion headset on, you would be ignoring the others in the room anyway?
And my comment about them being fully closed was more for education of anyone who reads, who then gets confused by all the open/semi-open/closed etc terminology.
Can't complain for free, especially if they suit needs.
Edited by Lazadude on Friday 25th August 15:55
Yes the VR & headset combo is a great excuse for ignoring / not having heard instructions from SWMBO, suits my needs perfectly occasionally
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