question about 5.1 headsets/phones with the m15x.

Hey guys I'm wondering how i would get 5.1 from a set of 5.1 non usb headphones (which I'm yet to buy) to work on my m15x

i know the sound card is 5.1 but I'm sure theres more to it that just plugging the set into my laptop i mean theres 2 head phones sockets and well I'm so confused, I don't want to buy some headphones just to find out i cant use them.
i want to use non usb because i figure i have the hardware in my laptop for 5.1 i may as well use it.
any suggestions or help would e greatly appreciated. xD

 

How many 3.5mm jacks does the new headset come with? Most 5.1 + headphones only require 1 3.5 mm. The surround sound emulation is done through the sound card, and can usually be output through only 1 headphones jack. Does the headset have multiple physical speakers per side? Or just 2 total?

 

I had the same problem..

I go with the razer Megadome "or what it's called"

because the sound card are in the volume controller

If this was a wrong choise, hell with it, it is still very nice

 

Suprasb im not sure what the headset has yet, i havent chose one yet as i was so unsure how it would work with the laptop. The info you have given me has helped alot though, thank you.so now i'll look into the headphones i want Any suggestions?

Crelle thanks for the suggestion i agree if they sound good who cares or i kinda agree, i do want to use the laptops sound card though

 

No, actually, the surround sound 'phones with their own sound cards and surround 7.1 virtualisation tend to be USB, not the standard 3.5mm jacks.

The headphones that have multiple REAL speakers in them are often multiple 3.5 jacks, as you'd get with 5.1 speakers.

I've yet to see surround sound headphones that use a single 3.5mm jack for sound.


I'd highly recommend a USB 7.1 headset instead. While they are virtual (not real), the virtualisation is actually better than real 5.1 that you get in other headphones. Because the speakers are so close in real 5.1 headphones, it's supposedly worse (harder to distinguish direction and the such).

I'd recommend looking at the Logitech G35 or Razer Megalodon. Both are USB, both are virtual 7.1, and both are excellent and not badly priced.

 

Also note, many headsets will be labeled "5.1 surround sound", but in actually are not. These type of headphones only have 2 physical speakers, use 1 3.5mm jack, and the 5.1 is an "surround sound effect" emulated by either on-board hardware on the headset itself, or by your sound card. These are not "true" 5.1, but use an effect to make it sound like 5.1 So don't be fooled, true 5.1 -7.1 headsets will have multiple drivers (speakers) per side, and are usually multiple 3.5mm jacks. Although, there are some available via USB, like corsair said, but are not true 5.1, it is virtualized.

That's what I was trying to say about the single 3.5mm 5.1 headsets.

Another thing you could do, if you wanted real 5.1, you would need something like this:

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 SB1090 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface Sound Card

combined with headphones like this:

Newegg.com - Turtle Beach TBS-2114 Earforce HPA2 5.1 Surround Sound Headset with Amplifier and Removable Microphone

 

has anyone tried these yet?

Psyko Audio Labs, Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headphones - Home

saw them at fry's, thinking about getting them.

 

Hey guys thanks for all you replays + rep for you informative ppl ;D.i'll look into what you have suggested.

 

Ok so i'v chose the razor megalodon,though i like the idea of using the hardware my laptop has (the sound card) the simplicity of this headset is what sold me. Again thanks for your help I'll post my feeling on this set when the arrive.

 

Why not just USB?

 

Also, I'm not sure if this relates, but I know if you go into the IDT control panel you can reassign the two headphones and mic to Front, Rear, and Center/LFE (respectively). That should give you true 5.1 channel surround sound. But I don't have speakers or headphones with 3 1.5mm jacks to try it out.

 

You should be very happy with your new headphones. Trust me, you wouldn't want to use any laptop's on board sound card, they're typically very low quality (an area that the manufacturer can skimp from, as virtually no-one looks for good sound from a laptop).

The great advantage about any high quality USB headphones such as the Razer Megalodon is that they have high quality sound cards integrated into them.

You'll be fully satisfied with your Razer Megalodon headphones. Particularly in games that offer excellent sound quality, good surround sound headphones result in complete immersion in the game. It really does enhance your gaming experience. (Try them out with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 if you have it; the sound is absolutely fantastic!)

They're supposedly very very good, however the disadvantage of real 5.1 headphones is that you can't turn them off if you're listening to a stereo source such as music, which can really hamper the quality somewhat.

Seriously, where on earth are you seeing virtual surround sound headphones with a 3.5mm jack? EVERY pair of virtual surround headphones I've seen use USB. Similarly, I've never seen a pair of true surround sound headphones that use USB.

Plus, if it's virtual, it tends to be 7.1 not 5.1.

From sources that I've read, virtual surround sound in headphones can actually be superior to real surround sound, as with the real surround, the sound can supposedly become muffled and less distinct because the speakers are so close together.

I can say from personal experience that virtual 7.1 in headphones sounds as real as the real thing. In games, I can hear the direction of environmental sounds, gunshots, explosions, as well as any real surround sound system.

 

I've got myself a Logitech G35, and it sounds fantastic, especially in games that actually support 7.1 surround sound (like StarCraft II).

 

In particular the nice thing about the G35s is that when you've actually got a stereo input, its sound card can upscale it to 7.1 surround, for music and videos and the such, and games that don't support Surround. It doesn't sound as nice as a real 7.1 input, but its still a nice touch.

 

it seems nice by what the reviews say but its still $300.

 

I've got a set of Razer barracuda 5.1 headphones that I use. It's a shame they don't make them anymore they have been very good. Have discrete drivers in each side and 4 plugs (standard 3 jacks for 5.1 speakers plus jack for microphone) and a USB plug for power. Looking forward to using them with my M15x when I get it (supposed to be at the house today but I won't get home until Wednesday night). I CAN"T WAIT!!!

Alienware M15x Cosmic Black-- Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core Processor 1.6GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6 GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHZ, 1 GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850, 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM), 8X DVD +/- RW Drive, 15.6-inch WideHD+ 1600x900 (900p) WLED, Dell Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card, Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module, Win 7 Premium

 

I'd recommend getting the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go USB device, supports virtual surround and lots of other nice EAX features.
5.1 headsets really are trying to take a hardware solution away from a software solution, after all its easier to get some far eastern factory creating plastic headsets with millions of speakers in them instead of figuring out the science behind virtual surround. Creatives virtual surround in games in Bad company 2 work great!

 

You do NOT need the X-Fi with the Turtle Beach headsets, they come with their own Encoder inline.

 

Okay...WHY did you bump up a 4 month old, defunct thread?

On topic (even if the topic is defunct) USB sound devices are a good solution for sound quality but if you want actual gaming sound then going with a fully dedicated gaming headset, preferably 7.1, is best. Most go with USB and have their own built in sound card.

The 'virtual sound' sound card combined with a stereo headset will never sound as good as headphones purposely built to emulate surround sound. It's almost always better to go with headphones purpose built for gaming than any other combination.

 

Either you're playing devil advocate or you just dont know what you are on about.
Sigh... this topic has been covered in so many other forums and threads i dont know if i should bother *shakes head shrugs shoulders*.

First off its a valid thread for anyone with a new gaming laptop this xmas and either have the crackling audio or whistling issue and want an alternative option, not to mention want to add surround for games.

As i guess i can't redirect you to other forums, so i can only say these 5.1/7.1 multi speaker headset have bee proven to be quite bad in design and quality compared to a good 2 speaker headset. Audio is a very personal thing so if you think ya million tiny (often poor quality) speaker/driver headset can give you better frequencies and positional audio than a virtual stereo set of cans then good for you.

Just do some research in to head-related transfer function (HRTF). Dolby and Creative utilize it the best, best for gaming anyhow. Twin this virtualization with a quality 2 driver headset and you'll find it difficult to tell the difference from an actual 5.1/7.1 speaker setup.

Also why do you think the big names in audio haven't created these 5.1 multi speaker headphones? Its often the unknown makes or gaming specific brands that try and grab as much money from anything they can by selling it as "professional gaming gear". Sony developed vitual surround through stereo headphones since early 90s!! Checkout Dolby Headphone range or try out Creatives EAX.

Anyhow if you do research and find anything to suggest 5.1/7.1 multi speaker headsets are superior to HRTF implementation, then please tell me and the countless other forum and audio specialists otherwise.

 

Neither. I simply recognize that this thread has long since been defunct and long since answered.

I can see your argument about xmas however. It was merely a point, I wasn't trying to be argumentative or anything. When I think about your argument it is valid.

You've pretty much not got my point whatsoever. I perfectly well agree; I'm well aware that virtual surround is better than real surround in headsets.

My argument however was that it's better to buy a gaming headset, designed from the beginning to deliver virtual surround sound, than to add on an accessory meant to make stereo headphones into virtual surround headphones.

Take my Logitech G35 headphones for example. (Notice that I do indeed use virtual 7.1 headphones) They were designed from the start to deliver virtual 7.1. The cans themselves are specially designed to deliver the sound well. These headphones will beat any stereo headset linked up to a virtual surround module.

The USB virtual surround headphones also all contain their own built in, very high quality sound cards, designed themselves to deliver gaming quality surround sound.

The stereo headphones that you link to these virtualisation modules were never designed to deliver surround sound. I'm not doubting for a second that they can deliver good surround like that, but there's no way in hell that they'll match up to dedicated virtual surround sound gaming headphones.

 

Ah good, i suppose i did rush into argue when i read ya post, i should have spotted from earlier post that you go for virtual surround with decent headset. Well done Hope others reading will get some understanding in what to buy.
Got to say i think as long as you got closed headset then you'll be fine with any virtualisation. However interesting to know is that everyone has different ways in percieving sound due to different shaped ears, so that can mean different headsets are better suited to differnt people, so i read.
I personally use sennhieser PC350 which were top of range when came out, they are still going strong and main thing is that hey are really comfortable, I combined them with using EAX virtualization, as practically all games have EAX support.

Creatives EAX is now deprecated and games studios are using the new standard called OpenAL. Anyhow thats why with my new m15x i'll be after the X-Fi Go PRO USB Sound Card. In the mean time playing Bad Company 2 in stereo is frustrating.

 

Lol i forgot about this thread Well the razor 7.1's are pretty great imo for music i switch to stereo and most games i use 7.1 and the sound great goood sound quality and good sound positioning.thought mass effect 1 and 2 sounded better in stereo.anyway i just listen to the game see what sounds best,take a look at the audio set up. fiddle for about half a hour and see whats best 2.1 or 7.1and go with that.thats what i love about this headset its simple u cant fiddle with too man options i kinda saves me from myself and they look awsome...ps i got the leather ear pieces recently and they improve the bass thought the bass is petty great anyway.if anyone want to ask me something about this headset i'll be happy
to try and help.i like to think i have a pretty good ear for sound.

 

Im getting a the Astro A30 headset, its dolby 5.1, How do i get the 5.1 out of my notebook ???

 

You do know that you need the MixAmp to get 5.1 out of them, correct?

It's likely a case of connecting the 3 audio cables to the 3 audio jacks in the M15x. You'll have to reconfigure the plugs in your audio driver so that they deliver 5.1.

However, if you haven't bought the A30, I'd instead highly recommend looking at the Logitech G35 headset, or the Razer Megalodon (unless you need the A30s for other things, not just gaming on the PC.) The virtual headsets are better by far and only marginally more expensive, and connect via USB. Their built in sound cards are massively superior to the one in the M15x.

 

Yea im getting the wireless 5.1 mixamp. I love astro, and im using them for everything Pc, Xbox360, Mp3, Phone. Its the perfect headset for me.

 

If you're using them for everything then that's fair enough, they should be ideal.

I personally use seperate headphones for my PC and everything else; I'd never want to give up my G35s on PC. It's a shame that Microsoft and Sony are too damn lazy to support sound over USB.

 

Ill probably end up just using them as a stereo headset over my computer. Yea im very surprised sony and Microsoft dont do more with Usb, seeing as many company's now are.

 

Crelle how is the Razer Megadome?

I'm seriously thinking of buying it over at newegg for my early xmas present

Do you play games like WoW and SC2? Sound quality there any good base wise/any distortion?