The NEW Gaming Headset/Headphone Topic! (REQUEST STICKY PLZ) - Page 156

I don't see why that wouldn't work.

My father is wanting some wireless headphones for watching TV at night. His TV only has digital out (coax) though. Obviously, we'ere not looking to spend on something as expensive as a Mixamp to plug headphones into, so I'm wondering if any wireless headphones take digital coax or if there's a cheap solution for the signal conversion. If we need 2 separate things, who makes decent wireless headphones under $50?
Edited by Viper187 - 8/5/12 at 3:50am

If you set your TV to downmix to digital stereo, you can probably use something like this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&seq=1&format=2

But thats not going to decode dolby digital - your TV *needs* to be able to downmix it first.

Unfortunately, decent, wireless and $50 can't all coexist in the same sentence. Pick two.

Pre ordered mine through best buy on the 4th and chose in-store pickup. I live in an apartment and didn't want to risk them not arriving the way they should. They told me they'd be at the store on the 10th. I also had free shipping by being a silver rewards member. Plus it goes towards my gamer zone points so I should be getting some gift certs back. Hope this helps you. 6 days including a Sunday to get them through best buy.

Pre ordered mine through best buy on the 4th and chose in-store pickup. I live in an apartment and didn't want to risk them not arriving the way they should. They told me they'd be at the store on the 10th. I also had free shipping by being a silver rewards member. Plus it goes towards my gamer zone points so I should be getting some gift certs back. Hope this helps you. 6 days including a Sunday to get them through best buy.

Well, I'm trying to find out what this TV does. The manual only says it outputs "PCM digital audio," but it sounds like that's only for analog inputs and the BD player obviously uses HDMI. It's a Mitsubishi DLP WD-65C10.

The in-store pickup is greyed out, I cant select it so I have to wait to try them out.

"Kind of a bizarre review. Seems like they heaped more criticism than praise on it, then they go on to say "the Warhead 7.1 offers the best overall user experience we've seen in an Xbox 360 headset." -bd2003

Hey there, I'm actually the person who wrote that review. You may remember me from many of my old YouTube videos that have been featured here.

Anyhow, it's quite simple -- the Xbox integration is well done, making for the best /overall/ experience on the console. Whereas, other headsets do certain specific tasks things better. Hope that clears it up a bit.
Edited by akaTRENT - 8/5/12 at 4:43am

This was in reply to bd2003's early comment about the conclusion of the review.

Also, before I peace out to get on with my Sunday, feel free to check out my other two reviews from the past two weeks:

Astro A50:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/astro-gaming-a50-wireless-headset-review/

Parrot Zik by Starck:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/02/parrot-zik-by-starck-review/

If y'all ever want to contact me, feel free to ping me on twitter @akaTRENT, or in the comments sections on the reviews. I usually am able to reply -- unless I'm crazy busy

Have a good one!

-joe

Thanks Joe.

You guys think it's time for another updated thread with my updated guide? It's been two years, and I haven't been able to update the first post in over a year. We've done it before with the original "What Gaming Headphones To Buy?" thread.

My updated guide on Head-fi...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-7-28-2012-external-microphone-section-added

I'd edit the first post, but you know AVS and not wanting to give me my main account. Trust issues and whatnot.

Of course, I haven't tested/bought any actual headsets lately, just headphones, and I know AVS is different from Head-fi in that regard in that you guys prefer a sacrifice in SQ for easier/less messy solutions (nothing wrong with that).

Thing is, if wires aren't an issue, I don't see a need for headsets, when you can just buy an awesome headphone + an antlion modmic. Saves a lot of money, and you gain a large boost in sound quality over headsets.

However, considering how everyone is on the wireless train atm, I don't know how you guys will bother with these new headphones, and the restructuring on my guide.

Don't get me wrong... I'm all for a purely wireless solution, but no way am I gonna sacrifice sound quality for it. So I'm quite happy with the Mixamp 5.8 + a headphone.

I'm currently using the Hifiman HE400.
Edited by Raven Crimson - 8/6/12 at 9:50pm

Not sure what has come over me lately, but I picked up the XP400's from Best Buy last weekend and also ordered a new Mixamp 5.8 RX (just the recieving unit, not the transmitter that connects to the console via toshlink). I also plan to pickup the Warheads when supposedly arrive in Best Buy stores on this coming Friday, Aug 10th. I plan to do the following shootout sometime in the next week.. and plan to keep the 2 best overall solutions, returning/selling the other units. I have two xbox360 systems, two copies of MW3 and actively use them at two seperate locations (one at home, one at the girlfriend's house). So I literally now have a need for 2 working "wireless" headsets.

A40/Mixamp vs. A50 vs. XP400 vs. Warhead.

If you guys can point out where I can buy the PC360's for $180 bucks. (Or somewhere with a good return policy like Amazon). I'll even give them a try. With all of the new headsets on the market, seems like a great time to weigh my options on whats available. With the amount of MW3 I play, Black Ops2 multiplayer reveal happening today and Madden '13 shipping in 2 weeks. I'm about to be gaming as much as ever.

On a side note..since you play MW3 in two places, have you considered the games on demand version? You should be able to play it both places without having to worry about discs, and I'm not sure what the going rate for MW3 is on the used market nowadays, but you might even come out ahead a few bucks.

Sennheisers are rarely found in stores though...if you can, get them on amazon.

Does the DRM for Games on Demand allow you to play the one licensed copy of a title on two consoles?

It should. The way I understand it, it downloads the a license to one xbox, and that one can play it on or offline. You can still download it to other xboxen, but you need to be signed online with the GT you downloaded it with for it to work. For a multiplayer game like MW3, that should never be an issue.

That's the theory at least. Since daekwan is in the mood to be a guinea pig, why not go all the way?

I bought 2 copies of the game because it was a great deal at the time. Paid $39.99 for my 2nd copy of MW3 from Amazon early this year. Before the 2nd copy, I would bring my only copy of the game from my house to the GF house.. and that got old real quick. I was either forgetting to bring it over, or when I did.. I often left it at her house. The worse, being when I was over there and she was busy reading/napping/cooking/excercising/etc.. and realizing I could be playing MW3 while she was occupied. The $40 2nd copy of the game has been priceless, with the added convenience it has provided. No longer do I need to worry about where my game disc is.. or being so careful not to scratch it.

The on demand version wouldnt be useful now, as I've already purchased the 2nd copy of the game. But I'll be sure to give it a whirl when BLOPS2 drops. I also have no problem testing the theory, I just have to remember to set it up. I play under the exact same gamertag on all 3 of my 360s.. (yes I have 3rd for travel/bedroom lol).

I believe you can transfer your licenses once every 4months...

Thats correct, thats what I do. Once a game hits the on demand I purchase it so I dont carry a disk between my xbox's


Sorry, this is right. I didnt realize they changed it.
Edited by emartins - 8/8/12 at 7:08am

Sounds like you guys just saved me $60 bucks (meaning I only need to buy one copy of BLOPS2).
As far as the on demand license. How do I know when I game "hits it"? Essentially what do I need to do to download the license to a particular 360.

I believe what you guys are telling me to do is:

1) Install the game to the harddrive of my *primary* 360
2) Download the on demand license to that primary 360
3) Use the actual game disc in *other* 360's to play the game.
4) Make sure I'm signed into XBL to play the game disc in other 360s.

Unfortunately, not at all like that. The on demand version is pure digital, has nothing to do with discs. And it takes a few months to hit that service, so until then, you need to be swapping discs around. MW3 came out in April. Eventually it's just a matter of paying for the digital version and downloading it to each console, and it should just work.

So you could say buy two blops discs on launch day, pay $120. Then when digital comes out, sell both discs for $80ish, buy the digital for $60 (or less, MW3 was $40 when it hit), pocket the difference and not need to worry about discs. If it came out launch day you could just buy the digital once and be done with it....but that would be too easy and convenient. This is Microsoft, you know they don't want that. Needs to be as difficult as possible.

No. It would go like this.

1) Purchase and download the game on the xbox that is licensed to your gamertag, usually your primary but if you never had your licensed transferred but moved around your xbox then it will always be the original xbox. You can find this out under the license transfer section on xbox.com

2) Re-download the game on every other console that has your gamertag. Use your download history here, I have heard of people getting charged twice and xbox isnt very supportive about refunds.

3) Sell you disc to make some money back. Unless you have other reasons of holding on to it. Once the game is bought and in your hard drive no disc is needed.

4) In order for the game to play on the other systems you need to be connected and signed in with your gamertag. That is how they validate the purchase. So if you dont have internet where you are going to be then bring the system that has your gamertag licensed so you can play offline. The other systems will not let you play them offline.


I myself have 4 systems and the Games on Demand is great for me. I just wish they would do it for new releases on day 1. Carrying a disc around sucks.

I'm actually pretty surprised they don't charge you additional license fees. I wouldn't be surprised if they did as the download/on-demand method gets more popular. It just seems like too easy of a revenue stream for them to pass up.

Ahhh! I see. On demand = essentially purchasing the digital download of the game from XBL Marketplace. Once that is done, you are able to "license" the game to ONE console. That console can play the game on or offline. You can then play the game on any other Xbox360, as long as you are signed in under your XBL gamertag and have the ability to download the game again. Also seems you both are pointing out that digital download availability doesnt happen day 1, meaning I need to wait till its available in the XBL Marketplace.

If all that is true? Why MS.. Why do you make our life so difficult? Instead of a true DD/Cloud solution, you purposely set up the system so that someone who wants to play the game in two seperate locations.. needs to carry the disc around OR buy a second copy.

All that said.. I wonder how much Amazon is giving for MW3 tradein? I might just trade in both discs and move to the DD version. I hate discs. Its stupid in the world of high speed internet. Just another item for me to lose/scratch/break/trasnport/protect or have stolen. I'd prefer all of my digital entertainment (games/movies/music) to be DD.. not optical based.

Another question. I want to buy the PC360's, and believe the Razordog guy on Ebay will sell them for $180-190 if PM'd about the price and referred to from AVS forum. But the more I read the more concerns I have about this headset.

1) Are the PC360's really just 595's with a mic. If thats the case, I've tried the 595's on MW2 and wasnt super impressed with the sound difference between the A40's.
2) Is the mic removable on the PC360's? I cant get a firm answer on this.
3) Since the 595's have been replaced by the 598's.. shouldnt Senn be working on a PC370, using the 598's cans?

I've always wanted a pair of hi-fi studio quality cans.. and while the 360's seem like the answer. I definitely would want to make sure I'm buying the latest technology and be able to take that bulky mic off, when not using them for gaming.

Thanks!

I'm sure it has to do with retail. Digital distribution cuts GameStop and others out of the loop, but MS still wants them to sell the box and promote their games. So this is the compromise. Theyre not willinh to give a middle finger to retail yet. It's slowly getting better, blops 2 might be out by feb or march. But yeah...you might break even on MW3 even if you switched now.

Looks like Amazon is offering $27 bucks for the Hardened edition tradein & $20 for the regular. Meaning I'd get $47 total in credit.

Just checked XBL Marketplace and MW3 DD is $60!!! If it was an even swap, I'd go for it. But not going thru all that effort of shipping, buying, downloading, installing an almost year old game for a $13 loss.

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-3/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802415608cb?nosplash=1&DownloadType=Game

Especially considering 3 months from now, everyone will be switched over to playing BLOPS. Shame I didnt learn about this sooner though. I'll try the DD option in the future!

Hmm.. wonder if they have Project Gotham on DD

If you're going wired and keeping the mixamp, you should consider headphones + mod mic. That'll open you up to a lot more choices. I absolutely loved my ultrasone HFI-780s, great headphones in every way. But wires man....wires. Don't do it.

Do you still have that founders card unredeemed from the hardened? I sold that alone for $50 on eBay not too long ago....

I wouldn't be surprised either, but this is like the only thing on demand has going for it. Not being able to resell reduces its value by a ton, this makes it up for some people. It's already made too difficult by the fact that you need multiple gold subs for two people to get online. If they want to take over your house and have people want to buy multiple xboxen, they need to relent somewhere.

No, the mic isn't removable on the 360s