What gaming headphones to buy? - Page 263

If you do not already own a toslink cable, you should add one to your monoprice order.

Formulanerd also wrote “honestly you're probably better off picking a can that has the characteristics you want vs. trying to EQ the sound.”

One of the main reasons for looking to EQ the sound is so that one or two sets of cans can be optimized for my current favorite games and also work well with any future games. The following examples are not precise; however they help explain my desired benefits.

For Modern Warfare 2, most of the time, I would like the opposing team’s footsteps to be heard over air strikes, sentry guns, etc. Sometimes near the end of a match, just let me hear the unsilenced assault rifle in its full glory.

For racing games, I really enjoy the sound of the revving engine.

In some future game, who knows? There may be levels where it is best to add gain to the 500Hz sounds while reducing the gain from the 4000Hz background noise. Other games or levels may swap these so that the enemies can be heard at 4000Hz while the background noise is at 500Hz.

With a graphic equalizer, I could add or reduce gain around the key frequencies. I could even adjust the equalizer within a match or between levels and checkpoints. These adjustments may be less than ideal for music; but they could add enjoyment to some games.

The above helps explain why I am looking at equalizers, below is the reality.

So far my searching has reinforced the comments by formulanerd and foe-hammer. Trying to equalize the toslink dolby digital 5.1 (6 channels to equalize) severely limits my options. I might have found a Krell unit, but do not care to spend over $10,000. I passed over quite a few articles and products that discuss using a PC to equalize the dolby surround signal (I would like to keep my PC out of the process).

There are many more choices for equalizing the output after the DH processing using the astro output. Using headphone lead from the astro y-cable, the signal is now down to 2 channels (left and right) and analog. There are quite a few 2 channel equalizers. However, several people have told me that equalizing dolby headphone signals will mess with their positioning and soundstage.

Here is a link that may discourage you from trying to equalize the dolby surround signal. Look at the tip on the bottom of the page.
http://inethometheaters.net/faq_avreceivers.asp

If I do end up purchasing an equalizer, it will probably be equalizing the Dolby Headphone 2 channel signal. When I turn the equalizer on and adjust the sliders, I will be trading off surround positioning detail for frequency detail.

I see thanks. I notice when i plug the regular ear buds i use for the gym (z moda bass something) it says theres no Dolby digital for it and its only steroea, would buying a good set of head phones help with sound direction as hearing foot steps?

If I were you, I'd most likely go with the Mixamp + HPX. You should be more than fine with it, and it has good bass impact. You wouldn't be missing anything. The AD700s are most likely better in everything BUT bass, but I like SOME bass. However, the soundstage on the AD700s would spoil you, as there's almost nothing better until you get headphones worth almost triple the price of the AD700s.

As for EQ affecting positioing and soundtage, it's true.

Just adding a Fiio E5 after the Mixamp (with bass boost on = emphasized low end), the soundstage got noticeably smaller, though the positioning was just as good. Once I turned bass boost off, the soundstage opened up again.

I wouldn't eq a DH processed signal.

Ppfffffftttt.... AD700s are totally overrated!

Bah.

BTW, saw some pretty cool headphone posters on Ebay.

I want the monkey headphone one.

From looking at reviews online, it seems the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 are awesome and the fact i can get them for about 92 dollars is awesome. I think i will be able to notice a huge difference in sound. Also anyone know the cheapest place to get them? I've looked at Amazon and Newegg and both the prices are the same, however newegg has a warehouse closer to me and i can it in like 2 days on regular shipping.

I played with them again last night. Mine sound a little better than the stock ones. I've changed all the wiring and connections through out the entire headphone (stock wiring was tiny in the headset). I have at least 20hrs of my burn-in/use and countless hours that the previous owner had. I still think they're good headphones, and work excellently for gaming... but not the best. I still use/and would rather use my HPX setup. You have to manually stretch the HPX (as the clamping for is way too high), but like the AD700, the headband is metal and will stretch. The bass impact is light years ahead on the HPX over the AD700. The mids are also meatier on the HPX. The highs, well... forget it, the AD700s are great... even shrill to some point. What I don't like is how everyone claims that they have this HUGE soundstage when it sounds like you've flipped on the "HALL" DSP effect on your receiver. I can hear pretty the same things, locate the same things and everything else on the HPX that I can on the AD700. Hence, the reason why I don't feel like I have to ever go back to the AD700 for anything (music or gaming). So, mine will be going up for sale on Head-Fi in the next day or so. If you want to take a quick look at what I've done to mine... click on the "SWZ on Facebook" in my signature and go into the 'photos'... it's the one labeled "Dark Knight" Project.

I'll have to ask my brother to let me use his account later today, i don't use facebook.

I don't believe you need facebook to look at the page. Well, here is the Head-Fi posting.

PJ,

This is the headphone stand I was talking about. I had it designed with a large base to hold my Little Dot I+ (when it gets here) and uDac (or future Dac). The stand holds up to 4 headphones and the pegs in the back are for coiled cables.

Yes, I know... my desk is a mess... but once the Little Dot gets here... I'm gonna re-model anyway.

Cool man, looks good! Nice design. Are you thinking about staining?

Maybe, but first I'll have to figure out how to 'mod' it... j/k...

wow you made them look 10000* better, i don't understand why they went with such an ugly color scheme

Thx!

Mailman likes me!

- almost ready to build the cable, all I need is a proper pinout and I'm good!

Just sent the cable today.. Those Futurtech plugs are very big & heavy, thats why I like them.. Can't say they add to the SQ or not.. But they are very robust & look cool..

Yea, it's all metal except for the compression fitting (which I guess has to be plastic). If I tossed this at someone... they'd know it!

Yeah they are super heavy duty. The pictures can not convey how big and heavy it is. I've heard from a few people that there IS a difference in sound, but who really knows with these things.


Assault with a deadly weapon!

When I get my D2000 or 702... I'm going to put the Furutech connectors on mine too.

Just a quick buffing... and she's all complete...

Two of my recabled DT48a has them.. They really are heavy. No exageration. Improved sound or not.. They are totally bad ass, & nice way to pimp out your cans a bit.

some of futurtech connectors are really expensive like their new 3 pin XLR 150.00 or 175.00.. I guess that is worthy if you want a terminator type headphone.. Just the best parts..

I ran out of headphones to mod.... maybe time to take a long look at the HPXs and rip them apart...

apuresound.com
We would like to announce the new Carbon Fiber line from Furutech that that includes the Furutech CF-601M Rhodium XLR connector. The CF-601M Rhodium is truly a piece of art. In stock now!

Features:
a (Alpha) Beryllium copper and phosphor bronze Rhodium-plated Conductor.
Carbon fiber and nonmagnetic stainless steel housing.
PVDF Teflon insulation.
Specially designed cable clamp ensures cable stability.
Dimensions: 18.6mm ± 0.1mm diameter x 65.5mm ± 0.1mm overall length.

Make woodies for my DT48

Hi. I just like to say that my Mixamp is not defective, nor is my setup wrong. It helped I turned the master volume up a little more. If the master volume is too low I'm having difficulty separating the front speakers when Dolby Headphone is enabled.

I have tested it with the THX audio test from a Star Wars DVD played from my Xbox360 and PS3. On both consoles I can clearly hear the difference in the surround sound when disabling and then enabling the Dolby Headphone mode on the Mixamp. I also tried listening with my eyes closed and I could pinpoint the supposed positions of all the speakers and I could hear the Sub-woofer when Dolby Headphone was enabled, but not when it was disabled.

The only game I have tried so far with the Astro set is Everybody's Golf: World Tour on my PS3 and the sound in that game is much more detailed with the Astro set than with my old Sharkoon V2 set. I now hear details on the golf course's surroundings I never noticed before with the Sharkoon. It was kind of strange at first, but now it's pure joy.

nice, i need to recable my alessandro's, but first i want to figure out a way to keep the cups from rotating 360*

That's easy... put your head in-between them!

well over time they get all twisted, regardless

Sounds good.

There is always the rod shaft limiter mod, where you thread in a small thumb screw or grub screw to keep the shaft from slipping down the block. That should keep it at your preferred height as well as keep it from spinning (easily that is).