USB Headphones

[Venkman]

On an impulse, I purchased a set of USB headphones from Logitech. I needed a stereo headset with a mic anyway, but hadn't gotten around to ordering a Sennheiser set someone here long ago recommended.

In any case, the first pair I bought was a bust (broken right channel). That was one of those hybrid jobs that had miniplugs for mic and headphone that plugged into a USB dongle.

I thought the second one I bought was like that too. Turns out it is just straight USB.

What's the deal with USB headsets? They still a problem? Or will they work pretty much with anything that also talks to a headphone port. I ask because WoW didn't work with them until I changed the sound output setting within the game UI. Should I expect that elsewhere too?

It sounds pretty good. Not going to win any awards, but I don't play too loud anyway (gotta hear if the kids wake up) and needed a pretty sensitive mic since I need to talk low (same reason).

[IainC]

I have a pair of USB headphones too and the PC sees them as a separate sound device which means if I want to switch from speakers to headphones, I need to change it over in the Windows Control Panel. Less than ideal, but the microphone port on my X-Fi doesn't work and Creative failed dismally to sort it out so I have to use a third party solution to be able to use a headset.

[Mosesandstick]

I have a Ben Heck Fx 5+1 Pro and it usually works perfectly fine (probably because the headset came with drivers). Youll get sound issues when plugging it in and out though (I guess from the 'transferral' of the output).

[Yegolev]

If you use USB while you have a non-USB option, you are saying you just give the fuck up.

[Numtini]

I usually play music while raiding and use a usb and prefer it because I can route vent into it and leave the regular sound on my normal speakers. It seems to work fine, is there some reason it's not supposed to?

[Yegolev]

I am very angry at things in general right now.  USB touched me in the Bad Place several times.

[Furiously]

You bought the USB thingie for a fleshlight?

[Hutch]

He probably bought the standard lube. That stuff conducts electricity. You have to pony up for non-conductive lube if you're going to use the USB attachment.

[SnakeCharmer]

I have a Ben Heck Fx 5+1 Pro and it usually works perfectly fine (probably because the headset came with drivers). Youll get sound issues when plugging it in and out though (I guess from the 'transferral' of the output).

I had always wondered how a 5.1 set of headphones would sound.

Any problems with that set?

[Shrike]

5.1 headphones suck. Bigtime. Do not go there. Dinky little two-bit drivers don't get the job done.

Get a GOOD set of stereo headphones. That most certainly does not include Bose (Buy Other Sound Equipment). Grado, Sennheiser, Audiotechica, Beyer Dynamic--among others. That's where you shoud go.

[Mosesandstick]

I use the 5+1 headphones with my laptop, which lacks a sound card. If I had a sound card I would obviously get a 'proper' set of headphones.

I'm not an audiophile so I couldn't really tell you the difference between using my dinky little two-bit drivers and a proper sound card, but is definitely better than having nothing at all.

The headset I have has a nice bass and there is definitely a marked improvement when I listen to music, but its actually supposed to be a gaming headset; it shakes and rumbles (if you turn it on) on heavy bass sounds. Kind of nice to have your head vibrate when you've been shot or something (I'm not sure if I'm being serious).

Gaming wise I've felt that the headphones have been fairly good for telling where something is based on what you hear. I'm not sure how good the headset is, but it seems that you can at least tell where the sound is coming roughly, at least to the extent of something like Front+left, left, etc.

I have had no problems so far with set, and the one I got is comfortable and the drivers haven't caused any issues (even with my dell laptop).

Whether or not you get 5.1 headphones imho depends on what you want. If you obviously have a sound card already then this shouldn't be an issue. But if you don't and you wanna use it for gaming then I can't help but at least recommend what I got, or at least look around for something else that is 5.1. If it's mainly for music then I'm sure a stereo headset would do you better.

[Yegolev]

He probably bought the standard lube. That stuff conducts electricity. You have to pony up for non-conductive lube if you're going to use the USB attachment.

USB is supposed to be low voltage.

[Hutch]

It's not the volts that hurts you in your tender place. It's the amps.

[Shrike]

I"ll say it one more time...you can do further research if you want how's, why's, maybe's, wheretofor's, or whatthefucks...5.1 headphone are inferior equipment for any sound. Not just music. Anything.

No sound card is obviously a problem, but Sennheiser makes USB headsets that are far and away better than any of the gimmicky 5.1 trash pedalled as "gaming" headphones. I'm not kidding when I say these things suck. They do--hard.

The simple fact is GOOD quality stereo headphones with good soundcards (I have a hard time with "good" and Creative because of their piss-poor drivers) like the X-Fi not only eclipse 5.1 junk in sound quality, but also in positioning. The bass from something like a Beyer DT770 or Audiotechnica A900 has to be heard to be believed. These are suberb gaming cans. Also very good with movies and music, though many prefer open cans for more varied musical tastes.

Regardless, good quality cans are always preferable in any listening environment. In many ways they're far better than desktop speakers, especially if you invest in a headphone amp. The info is out there if you want to look.

[schild]

The first and only 5.1 headphones that did better positioning than stereo headphones on my PC are the Razer Barracudas, but only when plugged in through the digital jack on the Razer sound card.

So, yea, go stereo because the Razer drivers are mostly full of fail.