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Okay i've narrowed it down to 2 headsets I would get this christmas. Either a Medusa Speedlink 5.1 or Sennheiser PC 350. I would like to know from many firsthand experiences how good either one is in PR and other games, and which should be worth getting? I already planning on getting this Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 70SB073A00000 - Turbo charge your gaming experience with Xtreme Fidelity® audio!

Airs0ft_S0ldier11 wrote:Okay i've narrowed it down to 2 headsets I would get this christmas. Either a Medusa Speedlink 5.1 or Sennheiser PC 350. I would like to know from many firsthand experiences how good either one is in PR and other games, and which should be worth getting? I already planning on getting this Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 70SB073A00000 - Turbo charge your gaming experience with Xtreme Fidelity® audio!

I can't tell you about the headphones, but I'm sure most people will recommend the Sennheiser ones, if only because they are convinced the brand is the best. For all I know the Medusa is better, I suggest doing some research into reviews instead of blindly trusting us (as we obviously think the stuff we bought is the best). That being said, there is some wisdom to be gained from the crowd.

In regards to the sound card, if you have not yet found a supplier:

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

$70 with Free 3 day shipping at that.

i just bought the G35 from logitech, built in sound driver, 7.1 surround (that works on the majority of games) etc etc, a nice buy for me since i have a laptop so i don't have the option of buying a sound card. but you should check it out.

I have the Medusa Speedlink 5.1 ProGamer v2 headset. It works well. Fallen apart a fair bit though in the last 2 years, but that was probably my fault. I'm getting Roccat Kave Solid 5.1 Headset hopefully in a few days though which are supposedly much better. They're also said to be much better than the G35's. I really wouldn't know though, but we'll see.

As compared to the Sennheiser ones though, I wouldn't have a clue, since I've always gone for 5.1 headsets over 2 channel ones.

i had the roccat kave 5.1 which seemed good. i sent them back though, due to an annoying constant electrical noise. after closer thought, i probably couldve lived with that noise as it wasnt very loud, but right now im hoping it was a faulty product and the noise will be gone with a new pair.

and when it comes to soundcards... im currently using the integrated Asus-exclusive(i think) realtek ALC 1200 which isnt too bad, but im really interested in getting an Asus Xonar DX which is cheaper than the creative titanium. judging from various sites around the internet, it would seem the xonar beats the titanium and most creative cards in terms of sound quality.

considering that the x-fi cards have EAX 5.0HD support unlike the Xonar which uses software emulation to fake it, im not sure which card to get.

LeChuckle wrote:i had the roccat kave 5.1 which seemed good. i sent them back though, due to an annoying constant electrical noise. after closer thought, i probably couldve lived with that noise as it wasnt very loud, but right now im hoping it was a faulty product and the noise will be gone with a new pair.

and when it comes to soundcards... im currently using the integrated Asus-exclusive(i think) realtek ALC 1200 which isnt too bad, but im really interested in getting an Asus Xonar DX which is cheaper than the creative titanium. judging from various sites around the internet, it would seem the xonar beats the titanium and most creative cards in terms of sound quality.

considering that the x-fi cards have EAX 5.0HD support unlike the Xonar which uses software emulation to fake it, im not sure which card to get.

The xtremegamer is cheaper, if you really care about that. Sure, the Xonar and titanium are better, but imagine what else you can get with the money saved. The reason I got the xtremegamer is for this reason: its the cheapest full X-fi card on the market.

Then again, if I were you I'd read reviews to determine which card best suits your needs.

Creative Titanium is great. I have one.

As for head sets. Get the Medusa Speedlink 5.1 Home Edition. It has an extra amp/speaker switching box that makes life oh so easy. No need to pull cables out when you want to have your speakers working.

Also, Make sure, and this is very important, You get the non USB version. No point having that nice sound card if you are just going to plug in a USB head set and use the lower/Non-EAX5 sounding driver system that comes with it. vBF2/PR is made to use OpenAL sound system. It is a Creative technology that gives great surround sound IE: 5.1 and so on (It will do 7.1). So, If you plan to by a Creative sound card. Make sure it is a "Gamer" version or above. As the "budget" and the "Music" versions don't have the "X-RAM" that makes your vBF2/PR run fast (more FPS from off loading sound rendering from the CPU to the Sound card).

I Agree with AncientMan about build lastabilaty. I Am now on my 3nd set. The 1st and 2nd set lasted about 2 years. But both developed the same fault. The "in-line Volume controller" just fell apart. I Have rapped mine up this time in some socks this time (silly I know).

I Did try out the "Roccat Kave". But They did not sound nowhere near as good as the Medusa's. And there is a flaw in the fact that when you have them on your head, The ear cups are so deep that they make that "Sea shell" sound. Remember as a kid you went to the sea side and picked up a shell and put it over your ear? It Makes the sound of the sea waves. Well it's the same thing with the "Roccat Kave". this has the knock on effect of clouding the sound image you get and is not good. For the price that they are. I Was not happy and send them back.

So that's my report. Medusa's all the way. Just so long as you don't use the USB versions.

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EDIT

Oh and here is a tip. when you get your set of medusa's. Turn "OFF" the "CMSS" in the X-Fi sound setup. You will not be needing that. That feature is for using "stereo headphones" and you will not be doing that.

Oh and MotherDear. Try this. http://us.creative.com/products/product ... 7751&nav=1

Disable your laptop onboard sound and get the above in my link.

Tofurkeymeister wrote:The xtremegamer is cheaper, if you really care about that. Sure, the Xonar and titanium are better, but imagine what else you can get with the money saved. The reason I got the xtremegamer is for this reason: its the cheapest full X-fi card on the market.

Then again, if I were you I'd read reviews to determine which card best suits your needs.

the xtreme gamer is actually a tiny bit more expensive than the titanium where i live. in any case, the xtreme is a PCI card and i want PCI-Express.

I'm actually going to kill myself....


I've said a million times before, 5.1 HEADSETS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY



That soundcard is overpriced aswell, get this for cheaper, a lot better aswell.


PC350 is HD555 drivers in a closed back shell with a good mic on it. Providing you don't mind open backed headphones, get the HD555's and a clip on mic, better quality and should be cheaper.


Stereo headphones with CMSS3D in the X-Fi panel is as good as, if not better, than any 5.1 headset (I've tried the Medusas, hated them for everything, music and gaming sucked) (que Oddsodz disagreeing) and from what I've heard the Roccat's are overpriced ****.




So in short: Stereo with soundcard for virtual 3D >>>>>>>>> Any 5.1 or 7.1 solution.


It's cheaper aswell.




Robbi, back me up.

Que Noted. And you are wrong lol

[OCNHC] Guide to Gaming Headphones\Headsets. - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

"5.1" or Multiple speaker Headphones

Basically, the 5.1 is a gimmick. Take it from the audiophiles here, who have done side by side tests, that a good 50$ set of headphones will beat out a "5.1" set of headphones any day of the weak. Just because there are 5 drivers, does not mean positional audio will be better. Typically, you're get 150% better sound quality and sound staging audio from standard stereo headsets than 5.1 headphones.

looks like you got some backup vox... but im still not sure what to get

G35 is virtuel surround 7.1 the cool thing though is that it got the ability to switch to normal stereo mode which turns off the dolby surround sound drivers and turns on the dolby stereo instead. works like a treat and means that the driver is better optimized. although the price is certainly a bit high

G35 is a USB headset, essentially a headset with a USB DAC as a means of headset connectivity, allowing it to use its own drivers for virtual surround for immersion in game, and switch back to stereo mode for audio.



The best route to go for is some decent stereo headphones and a separate clip-on mic.


Check out the:

-Sennheiser HD555
-Sennheiser HD595
-Goldring DR150
Goldring NS1000

I personally have the Goldring DR50s (Lowest in the range, with the DR150s mentioned above being the top in the DR range and the NS1000s being a different range that are raved about a lot) and the audio quality for music is awesome, and positional audio for games incredible. For BF2/PR it works incredibly and source games (CSS etc) I know where the enemy from pretty far away, purely on audio!




OCN have some pretty large Audiophiles, so take it from them and that guide in particular as to what headphones and what type you should go for.

LeChuckle wrote:[OCNHC] Guide to Gaming Headphones\Headsets. - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net




looks like you got some backup vox... but im still not sure what to get

3 Years out of date.

Woops, Read that wrong. 1 year out of date. But you have to read it all. He says they are "gimmick". But he does not say that they do not work. And I can back that up as I know for a fact that they do.

Gimmick does equal dont work to what people would expect though. They sound really good compared to other 5.1 headsets, but the range and variation in sound is a little off putting and very very 'virtual surround' sounding imo.

Also, at the guy that says the xonar is good, so wrong also, pile of shit, with an even worse software set up.

also, PCIe Xfi cards can and will be buggy as death, but if you have a bit of cash, get this

Also, check out this site (Jaymz's bible)

Robbi wrote:Also, at the guy that says the xonar is good, so wrong also, pile of shit, with an even worse software set up.

assuming this "GUY" is me, i never said that they were good did i? i said they seem good. read more carefully next time

so what kind of bugs do you get with the PCI-E ones?

Clicky sound, software crashes and blue screens, but, this was pre windows 7, and PCIe has had a few updates of late.

Ok, well seeming you seem to think that the xonar seems to be good, well, you seem to be mistaken

That soundcard is overpriced aswell, get this for cheaper, a lot better aswell.

The OP's sound card is not overpriced. Indeed, it is $30 cheaper. I think you are referring to the OTHER person who wants to buy an X-Fi titanium.

Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

In regards to the OP, if you don't want the 5.1 headset, here is one which is supposedly quite nice:

Newegg.com - Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MKII

In addition, I own the Razer Carcharias 2.1 headset.

Newegg.com - RAZER Carcharias 3.5mm Circumaural Professional Gaming Headset

It really isn't as comfortable on me as it is supposed to me. I'd look into reviews of the Creative one if you wish to get a 2.1 headset.

I'm just stating which card i would probably get, hopefully some black friday specials tomorrow would be the same or cheaper.

Airs0ft_S0ldier11 wrote:I'm just stating which card i would probably get, hopefully some black friday specials tomorrow would be the same or cheaper.

Just don't get anything below an xtremeaudio, as its simply a rebranding of the audigy line.