For laptop headphones G35 v Turtle Beach HPA2 w/Xfi USB

I have an Asus G73, so I only have a stereo output, no 5.1 except mini-optical and hdmi. What would you use?

The Logitech G35s look great and many other posters seem happy with them, but I'm skeptical about surround awareness with virtual 7.1 vs real speakers. Are most of you able to find your opponents and not get snuck up on with the G35s. They are $65 when on sale.

My other choice would be the Turtle Beach HPA2 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_mmc=BFUS-_-707-_-N82E16826502011&nm_mc=BFUS) which has true 5.1 audio, but since my laptop doesn't support 5.1 analog, I'd have to buy a sound blaster xfi USB ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9102020&cm_re=Xfi_USB-_-29-102-020-_-Product). These two together would cost me $95 (both on sale right now). Then I could use true 5.1 on my laptop. I know they make 5.1 USB sets, but they are more $$$.

I'm leaning toward the G35s because they are cheaper, but only if the virtual 7.1 really lets you find the bad guys.

 

pfft, no headphones are true 5.1 you need speakers for that.

spend your money on some good 2 speaker headphones and thank me later

esp is you want music and not just gaming because there is almost nothing in the way of 5.1 music out there.

 

I meant that the Turtle Beaches had 3 speakers per ear piece, but you are correct there are no 5.1 headphones. I just want positional audio that lets me find the bad guys. I am not concerned with music since I have some excellent V-moda earbuds for that.

 

I'd actually recommend you look into buying a surround processor, and using them with the headphones that you already have using Surround Downmixing (sometimes called Virtual Surround). The Creative Labs 5.1 SB1090 USB sound card does a darned good job at this. I've also tried the Astro MixAmp, which isn't bad, as well as the Turtle Beach EarForce DSS (which is the worst of the bunch).

Almost every single surround headset uses some kind of Virtual Surround software to emulate surround sound. The only difference with headsets like the Logitech G35 is that their Virtual Surround software is baked into the headphones themselves via USB sound card, while a surround processor bakes the software into a box.

If you absolutely must buy a "surround" headset, then I assume that:
- You already know that "surround" headsets are a gimmick - they are no different than a pair of cheap headphones with surround software included in them.
- You already know that "surround" headsets sacrifice sound quality for positional audio effects.
- You already have a pair of headphones you use for music
- You want to spend ~$100.

Then yes, I'd look into the Logitech G35's. But only if you have valid reasons not to get a break-out box like the Creative Labs 5.1 USB SB1090 sound card instead.

 

The Creative SB1090 is the adapte I was looking at. So your saying you would use the 1090 with stereo headphones and that should be good? Would a 5.1 (6 speaker) headset go good with the 1090 or do you think any good stereo det is sufficient. Is the 1090s surround processing any different from the processing included in Creatives X-fi software package?

Thanks for help I do appreciate it.

 

That's the one to get.

Yes, it will work with any set of stereo headphones. Virtual Surround on that is pretty darned good. I would recommend you use the Virtual Surround on the SB1090 over buying a 5.1 headset and connecting that to the Sb1090.

And the sound processing in the SB1090 *IS* X-Fi, including X-Fi CMSS3D (Virtual Surround sound).

 

Got another question for you... what would the difference be between the 1090 and the Creative X-fi MB software (like this http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...ative-x-fi-mb-your-g73-realtek-hd-2-48-a.html) ? They both have CMSS3.

 

The difference is that the Creative Labs X-Fi 5.1 USB SB1090 is an external piece of software.

Creative X-Fi motherboard software uses CPU cycles to perform its sound calculations and processing. It also uses on-board sound, which is highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) because it is located on the motherboard. If you have high-quality headphones, you can often hear this EMI from the motherboard as a faint "hiss".

The Creative X-Fi USB sound card does not have these problems. It contains its own processor to perform calculations, and it is located outside of the motherboard to eliminate EMI. If you can afford the $50 and the inconvenience of carrying around an extra accessory with your laptop, then it is absolutely worth it.

 

The surround is more of an atmosphere enhancer than a pinpointing aid. True, sometimes it is effective - but I find you have to see the enemy first so that you can hear them relative to where you saw them, rather than e.g. being able to shoot them purely by ear.

There's definitely more of a sense of 'behind' and 'side' than a 2 channel headphone, and the advantage of sets like the G35 is that their HRTF (surround modelling) implementation is optimised for the specific headphone, and therefore effective. Some software-based generic surround effects are all but useless on some headphones.

The real problem with virtual surround is that 'front' is still 'in your head'. With the Logi 7.1 implementation. what you get is a front left, centre, front right which are all still in your head and not very different from a standard headphone. And there's virtually nothing in the way of up or down. However Left and Right are definitely hugely better spacialized than a 2 channel set, and the rear channels are definitely discernable as 'rear' - and the .1 sub effect (a codec-emulated subwoofer) is surprisingly good.

It does also depend on the game - EAX aware titles don't work, and older games such as CS:S don't work effectively. But pick up any modern game and it's definitely a better experience for me.

Personally, for gaming I put down the Beyer MMX300 or the T1, and pick up the G35. To me it's a more effective set. And while the Logis aren't as good as the Beyers for music, I would say for most people they're perfectly OK in their price range - being competitive with popular (or higher) phones in the same price - when you switch to stereo mode. They are, for example, notably better (more precise sounding - and you can dial in the bass or treble you like) than the likes of the popular closed >$100 Audio-Technica ATH-ES7.

 

I was considering the G35's as well. The new Creative Labs Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Alpha THX Gaming Headset seems interesting and cost much less. They claim to be able to give you above and below sound emulation as well.

 

Yeah - they are interesting, apparently a de-glitzed version of their WOW headset. I haven't tried them yet so have no opinions.

 

I would really like a wireless headset. Between the Logitech G930 and the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Sigma
, and the Digital Wireless Gaming Headset HS-1200 it's hard to decide :/ Anyone have any thoughts? I will be Gaming mainly with these, WOW, and COD.

 

Have you made a comparison between the CMSS 3D of the SB1090 the X-fi desktop soundcards?.

I'm pretty interested in using a SB1090 to get the CMSS and use the spdif output to bypass the internal dac but i'm a bit worried about some bad impressions about the CMSS.

 

Ok, I think I have narrowed it down to the G930. I have $86.00 in Dell Credit, and the G930 is $159.99 through Dell. Anyone have any ideas on getting a good deal with Dell?

 

I have a Creative X-Fi on my desktop PC, and the Creative X-Fi USB SB1090 on my gaming laptop. Both setups are using headphones with CMSS3D turned on. And I must say that prefer the Creative Labs X-Fi USB SB1090 on the laptop more. In my opinion, it gives a much more immersive surround sound experience.

To be fair, I am using different headphones on each rig. Both sets of headphones (Audio Technica ATH-A900 on desktop PC, and Etymotic ER-4P IEM's on my laptop) are known for their clarity and instrument separation. And I do find that I get a much more "intimate" gaming experience with the small 11.6" screen on my laptop vs. the colossal 32" screen of my desktop.


But when it comes to pure surround experience, I like the laptop better. I don't think that you'd be disappointed with the Sound Blaster X-Fi 5.1 USB SB1090.