I want recommendations too, but I have some answers... (Gaming)

by RC , UK, Saturday, June 21, 2014, 06:44 (3808 days ago) @ scarab
edited by RC, Saturday, June 21, 2014, 06:50

Does surround sound work?

Sort-of, depends. Short version: not worth it right now.

There are two kinds of 'Surround Sound' headphones:
1. Processed surround-sound signals delivered over stereo headphones
2. Headphones that pack in a lot of small drivers at different angles.

The first usually suffers from the Head-Related Transfer Function in use not matching your own (HRTF: how sound waves bend around the geometry of your head and ears). Meaning that your brain can't localise sounds properly and the surround effect is reduced or even lost. It is possible to learn to use your new 'virtual' ears but this creates a disconnect between games and reality.

You don't need to buy designated gear for this: it can be implemented in software. Some games have their own implementations of this.

The second kind gives a 'kind-of' surround experience to more people, more easily. But this is traded off with: greater expense, complexity. Lower quality, smaller drivers. Greater weight. Hence, there is higher likelihood of things breaking for dubious benefit.

Both kinds suffer from the sound field being fixed to your head rather than the screen: meaning subtle (and even large) movements of your head do not let you sample the sound field from different positions to achieve better sound localisation. It's like if you had a speaker-based surround sound system but you were tied down and in a neck brace the entire time.

Now, more-ideal surround sound over headphones would do two things:
1. Take measurements of your individual HRTF, or allow deep customisation options
2. Use head-tracking to keep sound sources static in space relative to their position on-screen

There are few decent implementations of this. Few have microphones. Research is lacking.

Besides, most surround sound content is still only authored in a 2D plane and fixed to specific channel arrangements (5.1/7.1). 3-dimensional ambisonics - despite being nearly 40 years old and having the key patents expired - has yet to catch on. It's a shame.

I'd say your money is still better spent getting the absolute best stereo headset you can afford.

Noise cancelling: gimmick or good?

Depends how noisy your environment is. The tech does work, but it's not absolute. A closed-back headset with good padding may be more than enough for your purposes. Even then, maybe game sound over an open-back headset would be fine? I've not seen many headsets with noise canceling.

Noise cancelling mike: as above.

Generally good. Again, not an absolute and it's usefulness depends on your environment.

Can people hear you?

I had difficulty hearing other people with a pair of office style USB headphones borrowed from work - would that be down to their systems or are there settings that I can adjust (somewhere)?

There are settings you can adjust in Xbox. Not sure about PS4. I always thought the leveling was awful and used the separate input and level on my (now busted) Turtle Beach X12s to jack the game chat WAY up. Halo, for example, is mastered REALLY LOUD.

Does wireless work properly?

Yes it can do. Implementations vary wildly though.

Is it worth spending more money?

Batteries, interference, weight... besides if it's PS4 you can plug your headset directly into your controller so....?

How long have you had yours? (I've seen what's inside some expensive ones and the build quality is shocking)

For the past several years I've been using Turtle Beach headsets - because of the ability to use them both on Xbox 360 and PC. I had the X1, X11 and most recently the X12. I could never find equivalent feature-sets at anywhere near the same price range so I was happy with them.

I used them HARD: at least several hours a day, up to all day. I only occasionally got sore ears but that will depend on your own ears. Each lasted me 2 to 3 years.

First one I accidentally broke somehow. Second one I think the mic died. The latest one (the X12) the separate 'bass boost' gave out - leaving me with absolutely no low-end sounds. Plus the ear-pads are starting to disintegrate now (replaceable, but the unit is busted anyway so no point).

My set-up has changed recently, and I'm willing to forego Xbox 360 chat ability these days. So I'm looking at maybe a USB or straight PC 2-jack headset. As simple and high-quality as I can afford. Also might upgrade my price bracket while I'm at it.

Suggestions for me would be appreciated too.