m17x R2 Headphones

I am enjoying the heck out of this machine, its a real treat to have a decent windows based machine. I am now in search of headphones for gaming. I am looking at the logitech g930 but am very intrigued by the Psyko Carbons that just came out. They are supposedly better than the original Psyko 5.1 set. I like the idea of a 5.1 headset that uses the 5.1 outputs on the r2 vs a USB plug to simulate 5.1/7.1. I knows it all simulation in headsets but... What are you guys/gals using for headsets and gaming?

 

I'm using this , since I'm wearing glasses while gaming. I think its only headset won't hurt my ear after few hours long.

SteelSeries – SteelSeries Siberia V2

 

I've got the Alienware TactX headset, which is a rebranded SteelSeries 5Hv2. It splits into 3 bits for travel, and is quite comfortable for wearing during extended gaming sessions. It's only a stereo headset though, so if you really want 5.1 you'll need to look elsewhere.

 

The TactX is only stereo? I was wondering about that

 

SteelSeries – SteelSeries 5Hv2 USB

it has 7.1 , unless you want alienware logo. Sorry then.

You might just buy usb soundcard , but its seem hard to find.

 

Wait, so the original ones are capable of 7.1 but the Alienware TactX rebranded ones are just plain old stereo only?

Also, that's showing up as a usb headset but the tactx aren't usb...?

 

These two threads will tell you everything you ever wanted to know (and way, way more) about gaming headsets/headphones:

The NEW Gaming Headset/Headphone Topic! (REQUEST STICKY PLZ) - AVS Forum

Mad Lust Envy aka Shin CZ's Guide To Headphone Gaming (particularly with Dolby Headphone) - Head-Fi.org Community

 

... and, for what it's worth, I recently bought Audio Technica ATH-D700s (and will be using a desktop mic) and a Creative X-Fi Go! Pro USB sound card.

Planning on upgrading to the Asus Xonar U3 USB sound card when it comes out, and will probably get the Sennheiser PC 360 when it is available as b-stock (or just gets cheaper).

 

I have the same Setup as Shempmalone, I can't tell you how much better it is than a traditional headset, Surround sound in headphones is a gimmick, get yourself a good pair of Audio technica, Sennheiser, Beats by Dre, or Boise headphones and buy a Zalman mic.

 

Just to add to MrButterBuscuit's comment, you get better positional audio out of good standard headphones/headsets and a good sound card with Dolby Headphone or CMSS-3D (aka THX True Studio) than you would from a 5.1 or 7.1 headset with lots of drivers.

 

I'm currently using Razer Megalodon. Bought it for $50 with free shipping! Just couldn't pass up the deal. It works very well with the system. Megalodon supports both 5.1 and 7.1 with a push of a button so very comfortable although I don't see why I should ever use 5.1 Maybe its the brainwashing but Alienware goes well with Razer products. It somehow in some way seems perfect for each other. Using Razer Mamba that I got for free from Dell for delaying my laptop. Very happy!

 

To get the most out of your headphones and best sound from your notebook get a DAC with an amp. I is the DAC in my Sig. The sound with the same head phone was 10x better with the DAC than without it. I also is the Bose QC2 headphones.

 

As my R2 is only my secondary gaming system I just use a set of Logitech G330's on it.
Very comfy.
For 5.1 on my desktop i use the Roccat Kaves.
Awesome sound from these.

 

To the OP:

Read this:

Quest for Holy Grail of gaming sound! - Head-Fi.org Community

That's a very accurate and informative write-up.

My advice: Good stereo headphone (around $70 and up if you know where to look at) >>> Any 7.1 marketing bs headset. I had spent *you don't wanna know* amount of time and money on headphone related despite being a starving student so I can help pretty much when it comes to headphone. Just don't ask me how to place new thermal paste on Alienware lol

Edit: And DR650SE is so correct about a DAC. You don't want to use a good headphone with crappy headphone out on Alienware. USB DAC is the way to go if you don't own R3. If you have R3 you can buy whatever DAC.

The other guy's recommendation AD700 is great too. AD700 + boom mic mod + budget used DAC cost you around the price of new Logitech G35 and it blows G35 out of water.

 

One more thing. All the recommendations for a USB DAC are spot on. The onboard sound in our R2s is crap and there is no point to using good cans with it. However, all of the audiophile USB DACs you will see recommended are two channel only, and won't give you positional audio (unless Dolby Headphone or similar is in the game itself, like it is with MW2 and a few other games). To get positional audio from a game, if that is important to you, you will want a USB DAC that supports either Dolby Headphone or CMSS-3D/THX SP.

 

I have the Razer Megalodon and I ALWAYS have to use the 5.1 mode because the 7.1 sound quality is just...lets just say the best is the double voices of people so they sound like robots.

 

There are 2 editions of the 5Hv2 - one that's USB-based, and one that just uses standard 1/8" / 3.5mm jacks. The Alienware-branded headset uses the 3.5mm jacks.

The only reason I haven't gone with a USB-based headset is that I've read some games can crash or have other issues if you plug/unplug the headset while the game is running. This is because the USB headsets present themselves as another sound card to the system, and games don't always cope well with sound cards appearing/disappearing.

I'd rather have stereo sound and no issues with crashing games, than surround sound and potential game flakiness.

 

Thanks for all the replies.