Headphones <= Price of G35s

Currently buying peripherals for the laptop I'm going to buy when Windows 7 hits. I was looking at the G35s to try something new and it's USB so perfect for the laptop. I've used 5.1 Surround Sound Medusa headphones for my old desktop which were okay but I'm pretty sure my laptop won't have 4 audio ports. Currently the G35s are going for around $110 at amazon. I am considering the Razer Megalodon but that's a $40 jump which I'm not sure is worth it. Any suggestions on better ones? or comments if you have the actual headphones.

 

Check out the Plantronics GameCom series. I have the 377, which is a pretty straightforward stereo headset with 3.5mm plugs, for $50. It's been excellent so far. They also have the 777, which is the same headset, but with virtual 7.1 surround, for $100, and I believe the 777 is USB.

 

Sweet I'll check it out right now.

 

I would avoid any of these headsets. If you spend the same amount of money on headphones built for music then you will get much much more for your money.

 

I have to say after trying out my friend's pair of G35 headphones, they are brilliant. They are very pricey though, I prefer just sticking to my Sennheiser earphones (seeming as my laptop has a mic built in already which works perfectly)

 

I would echo this too, although poor sound output from most laptops will prevent them being used to full potential you still get better sound for your cash, dont fall for marketting rubbish, you only have 2 ears!

 

I think the big problem with these kinds of responses is that they usually have no experience of what they're panning - they only do it because they have this sort of odd audiophile sensibility (in mind only: Most of them usually have far more 'consumer' tastes than they'll admit).

I'm quite intrigued by the Megalodon, but the fact that it has no isolation is what kills the deal for me: I like gaming phones to be closed for versatility. The G35's are not available at my vendor of choice yet, but since they seem to be closed(?) I plan to give them a try once I can get hold of one. I wouldn't expect miracles, but an outboard CMSS-like effect has attractions for me.

 

I'm no audiophile so giving up some sound quality doesn't bother me. Only problem with the Medusa 5.1 was the tinny sound from back speakers but nonetheless helps since I always knew something was behind if that noise was coming out.

 

Not really; just everything I've tried; from gaming, to movies to etc etc, they all sound better on decent headphones than on the headsets I've tried, and thats including cheaper models; you pair a decent £20-30 pair of headphones up against a £50 headset with XYZ technology, and the headphones still sound better! Pair it up with something like an x-fi chip for CMSS and you end up with something that sounds better, and is more flexible.

So actually, no it's not because I universally hate headsets, its because every damn one I've tried, has been worse than similar, or even cheaper, headphones I've tried.

It's not about being an audiophile; its about caring what I listen to; I'd rather listen to something nicer than something that instantly just doesnt sound right; especially if I want to listen to something whilst Im gaming, or I want to use the headphones for more than just gaming (seriously how many people buy 3 sets of headphones/headsets, one for games, one for music and one for movies...only people with too much money; or very precise tastes)

 

Yeah, generally when people call me an audiophile it angers me. That words has been completely destroyed, and to top it off it sounds much to similar to pedophile.

Like the others here have said, I just go off of what I hear, I've listened to many different headphones and headsets, for the price you get better sound quality out of headphones. And honestly, anyone that has used a few sets of headphones will know that the 'surround sound' headphones are a complete marketing gimmick.

 

Sorry you don't like audiophile. How about 'fauxdiophile'? Looking through some of your posts, it seems to me that you rely more on Head-Fi discussions for your 'opinions' with no fixed comparison base than actual experience.

The whole thing is debatable, since these are regular 2-driver phones. The surround effects are done digitally, much like Creative's CMSS. I don't know if you own or have tried (and - before you get too excited - I don't mean reading about it) the Headzone system for example, but the practical viability of it is increasing as DSP power gets cheaper. There is definitely a movement afoot to get this working - and gaming surround simulation doesn't require head-tracking as of course your head (is supposed to) stays in one place, so that's one level of sophistication that lower-end virtual surround systems don't have to contend with. I for one am interested to see what Razer and Logitech offer in the low-price stakes like the Megalodon and G35, but at the same time I have prerequisites for gaming (i.e. closed phones).

It's time some people realise that others have different priorities to the 'fauxdiophile'.

 

Yeah. I also found it easy to distinguish rear with the Medusa, but found it very difficult to gauge transitions of sounds though, while the digital 3D effects like CMSS did that better. As I said, I'm more sanguine about trying the Razer as a) once again I prefer closed and b) I think whatever '7.1 processing' it's trying to do, it'll probably not work well unless there's no noise around you.

The problem is at the moment that a lot of these virtual surround effects works on an averaged-perception basis, so it doesn't work for everyone. It'd be good to be able to calibrate these devices to your perception.

As I said, personally I'm aiming to get the G35 - and I've found a fairly local place which has it in stock. So I'll probably pop around to them and pick it up tomorrow.

 

Im not even talking about the 'faudioxphile' side as you put it; Im not a no-EQ etc guy, however, part of my argument comes back to quality. I get what you're saying about digital 3d effects having a future, and yeah, I do agree; it's bound to get better and better as processing power gets cheaper; however what Im saying is right now, the OP would likely be better served by trading over for a similarly costing headphone set over a headset; as it will sound better, and clearer (the amount of people who've switched over after trying is pretty high).

If one of these headset manufacturers offered me something with a decent 3d virtual surround setup which I could turn on and off; whilst simulataneously offering me a high quality set of drivers/tweaked headphones that sound good overall; as part of one unit then I'd be very interested as that'd be great; but experience so far has shown me that's not what they're after, and isn't what they offer. Headset manufacturers tend to go for either marketing jargon, 3d effects, or simply bunging more (cheaper, worse sounding) drivers in a headset, and thats not what I, or anyone should really want.

Call me an audiophile? Fine, I have spent more than the average joe on audio; because its one of my major enjoyments in life, however Im not closed minded to these things; AT the moment, no audio headset manufacturer has turned round and offered me the best of both worlds; hell even Sennheiser PC350 are a dissapointment, and overpriced, nor do they include a 'v-surround' chip.

Until someone can offer me the best of both; then I will prioritise sound quality; that doesnt involve spending a mint, just buying the right kit, which will offer me great feedback in games (to the point I can often hear people before they hear me), sound good for movies (although not quite as good as a nice juicy sub for the bass but hey) and sound great for music.

Perhaps before insulting people, try considering your own words "It's time some people realise that others have different priorities", and when it comes to sound, quality, surely by rights should be a fairly high priority as it depends on how much of the sound you can properly actually hear!

 

Cool let me know how it is.

 

I'm with Alexrose1uk on this one. You may have read alot of my posts, but by reading those you should know that I lean towards the musical part of audio, not gaming. I honestly haven't tried those 3d effects while gaming. And FYI, I visit head-fi very rarely, and usually ONLY look at the for-sale forums.

But even if you do want all these nice 3d sound enhancements, get it in the sound card, not the headphone.

 

Not sure if the laptop I'm getting will have a nice sound card able to produce 3D sounds like the Creative X-Fi cards. Is there even a sound card that does that in Sager laptops?

 

Your laptop will likely have some sort of realtek chip; they offer several audio modes but they're not really that good, as they're more spacialisers/poor EQs. There are things out there like Creative usb/pmcia/expressport cards out there though which would offer things like software CMSS, crystaliser and the like. There's a whole world of things out there for audio; USB headsets tend to be a cheap DAC, paired with a DSP, combined with some cheap drivers, thats all there is to it.
Seperating those bits gives higher quality; like buying all-in-one kits for all sorts of things often give you a lower overall quality/control than individual units

 

Laptop soundcards do their processing in software, if it's offered. As the state of the art goes for laptops, it's best to get it in the headphone (or an external processor), not the soundcard.

Looking closer at the stock status for the shop, there's a discrepancy. I'll call them tomorrow and see what's what. If it's in stock, I'll get it. If not, I'll backorder it through them.