Best surround headset for GT5/GT6?

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Whitestar

Whitestar

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Whitestar127
It'll probably never be as good as my 5.1 speaker setup, but are there any headsets that come fairly close? I sometimes need to keep the volume down when playing GT, so I'm looking for a really good surround headset, regardless of price.
 
Pulse Elites? Just bought these today for $99 on Amazon. They usually go for $120. I've heard they're pretty good. Not true surround sound but simulated 7.1. They have a racing preset via the PS app. Seems perfect for Gran Turismo 5/6. And PS4 support confirmed to be coming in an update.
 
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I use Triton 720's. Paid $140 for them. Hook up through USB and optical out. Does Dolby 7.1. Separate volume for your voice and game sound. Mic mute switch. Comfortable to wear for hours on end, I've done 5 hours straight and not gotten a headache. Sound is very good too. Better than bluetooth, which also has its own host of other issues.
 
Astro A40/A50 easily. I've had pretty much every surround headset and the Astros blow everything else away. Trust me on this. The 5.1 separation is amazing.
 
What about the genuine Sony PS3 headset. I have used one before and thought it was amazing. I haven't used any other 5.1/7.1 headsets so I'm not sure if others are even better.
 
Sony's headset is only in stereo, just left and right. the 5.1/7.1 headsets, those are Dolby. the differences is: Stereo, sitting at your parents house and watching a movie with audio coming out the TV's speakers; Dolby, Like watching that same movie, but in a movie theater with only you in it. Google Dolby and read about it. The "others" are far and beyond "even better."
 
Rallywagon
Sony's headset is only in stereo, just left and right. the 5.1/7.1 headsets, those are Dolby. the differences is: Stereo, sitting at your parents house and watching a movie with audio coming out the TV's speakers; Dolby, Like watching that same movie, but in a movie theater with only you in it. Google Dolby and read about it. The "others" are far and beyond "even better."
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The Sony headset is not Dolby? It states 7.1 surround sound, albeit simulated. Is there a big difference?
 
Ahh, I stand corrected. I had not noticed while looking the pulse had an elite edition. And actually, there is a difference. At the moment, I believe that all headsets, 7.1 is simulated and only has 2 speakers, while the true 5.1 headsets actually have six speakers in them, three in each "ear muff". This makes a big difference in the accuracy of placing sounds on a 3d audio plane (plain?) However, 7.1 sounds very good simulated, and either choice is of course far better then stereo.
 
No, most 5.1 and 7.1 headsets only have 2 drivers. Its the Dolby software trickery that creats the surround effect. Its brilliant. The Astro mixamp will work with any headset, but their package is great. Again, trust me on this, then come back to this thread and thank me.
 
Mayaman
No, most 5.1 and 7.1 headsets only have 2 drivers. Its the Dolby software trickery that creats the surround effect. Its brilliant. The Astro mixamp will work with any headset, but their package is great. Again, trust me on this, then come back to this thread and thank me.
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Plus if I might add. I tried various 'gaming' headsets including the ones with multiple drivers, but I found that in case of a headset with multiple drivers the sound became garbled. Cause as the distance from the speakers to your ears is so low, the audio waves can't really blend with each other properly, with the result that its very hard to hear anything clearly.

I have the Sennheiser PC-360 headset and even though it's just stereo, I had many times that I looked over my shoulder. If there was any 'trickery' present, it was already present the game's sound engine itself, as game developers already use spatial effects themselves these days. Especially since we can't use EAX anymore like in the old days.


As for playing GT with the headset (that only has the 2 standard analog plugs). I put my headphone jack in my av-receiver and I put the microphone jack in my SoundBlaster Play! usb soundcard, which goes into the PS3. Select the soundcard for microphone input and done. :)
With that I have great sound and a crystal clear voice pickup, so others can hear me really well. (I've never been asked "what did you say?" as far as I can remember)
 
I'm sorry my friend, I've owned the Sharks and the Astros destroy them in comfort, sound, and quality. Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to lead people to the best product as I've owned most all the gaming headsets, gone through 9 different ones. The Astro's are the standard for gaming headsets. I watch movies with them as well.
 
Ehh, my bro in law uses astros (exact model slips me at the moment). They are quite good. But I wouldn't trade my trittons for them.
 
I currently use a pair of Astro A40's. They are a nice headset and don't really have any complaints about them. I got them as a replacement under warranty from Best Buy for a pair of Tritton Pro's, because they where not in stock. The Astro's are no replacement for the Trittons that they replaced. They don't look as fancy as the Astros do, but they blow them out of the water for sound. As for surround sound there is no comparison the Tritton's do an excellent job recreating where the Astro's do a decent job emulating it.
 
LOL I guess everyone has an opinion but the Trittons were over bass extreme and you couldn't make out anything above the base. But too each his own. I sent the 720s an the AX Pros back. There is a reason the MLG circuit uses the Astros, they are great at what they do.

The positional audio on the Astros is the best I've heard. The AX Pros, while having separate drivers for each speaker were always distorting.

But hey, its your money. :)

Edit:Not to mention the Astro's are extremely comfortable for hours. The trittons felt like a inquisition torture device after 20 min.
 
I didn't wear the astro's for long, but my bro does, and as picky as he can be, they would have to be comfortable. But I have worn my 720's for hours on end, and forget that I have them on at times. And my head is slightly larger than normal. And while I have not noticed the bass issue you speak of, GT5 sounds amazing IMO, there is an "EQ" button of sorts, and you can choose between 3 modes. Movie, music and standard. I play it on the movie setting. Sounds great. Not sure if the Astro's I tried where a40's or not, looks like it, and it is the MLG edition. In my opinion, they just didn't sound as good. But, I also didn't try them on my PS3, it was through his computer.
 
Optical? If it was just the headset to the computer that is a completely different animal. The PS3/360/PC via optical with a 5.1 signal is where the sweet spot is for the Astros. Anyway, have fun you crazy kids!
 
I guess it depends on what your looking for out of these headsets. The Astro's are a very nice headset if you going to use them for more than gaming. They have a clearer sound (although not much) and are also louder for music. The Ax Pro's have a small hiss to them if there is no sound where the Astro's are silent. The A40's also have a superior mic and you can hear your voice in the headset where the Pro's you cant. So if communication is important the A40's win hands down. That's why they are preferred by MLG players.

If surround sound is your main focus the Pro's win hands down. The A40's will give some idea where the sound comes from and that's about as far as they go. You don't really get a sense that something is close are far away just left, right or front to back. The Trittons do an excellent job of this. You get how close or far the sound is, if its right behind or slightly to the side. Its just an all around better surround sound experience.

I know for me I have some Trittons coming for Xmas. :cheers:
 
Hear what you want to hear, I prefer to hear different channels rather than Reverb...
Channel per speaker is that what works :)
 
fatkrakr
I guess it depends on what your looking for out of these headsets. The Astro's are a very nice headset if you going to use them for more than gaming. They have a clearer sound (although not much) and are also louder for music. The Ax Pro's have a small hiss to them if there is no sound where the Astro's are silent. The A40's also have a superior mic and you can hear your voice in the headset where the Pro's you cant. So if communication is important the A40's win hands down. That's why they are preferred by MLG players.

If surround sound is your main focus the Pro's win hands down. The A40's will give some idea where the sound comes from and that's about as far as they go. You don't really get a sense that something is close are far away just left, right or front to back. The Trittons do an excellent job of this. You get how close or far the sound is, if its right behind or slightly to the side. Its just an all around better surround sound experience.

I know for me I have some Trittons coming for Xmas. :cheers:
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Well we'll agree to disagree because I can pinpoint with hands on a clock where an enemy is when playing CoD or Battlefield. I've gotten countless dog tags from waiting for an enemy walking behind a wall, around, and then to the front, knowing the entire time where they were. Don't know how yours are setup. While the Trittons also did this for me the sound quality was just to bass heavy for my liking.
 
Mayaman
Well we'll agree to disagree because I can pinpoint with hands on a clock where an enemy is when playing CoD or Battlefield. I've gotten countless dog tags from waiting for an enemy walking behind a wall, around, and then to the front, knowing the entire time where they were. Don't know how yours are setup. While the Trittons also did this for me the sound quality was just to bass heavy for my liking.
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Yes we just have different taste, because I find the Astro's to be to tinny.
 
Oh yeah! Well I think your both wrong! :odd: :crazy: :lol:

I didnt find the a40's (I verified, it was the a40) tinny, but I do think that the trittons have a richer sound. More robust. YMMV though. everyone hears a bit different then another. I'm also guessing you didnt flip through the eq settings, cause I can easily kill most of the base by shutting it off.
 
I did, they just sound muddy to me. I'm a big Grado guy and have a set of reference Grado's so all of these gaming headsets sound like poop compared to real headphones, but out of all of them, I thought the Astro's sounded most like real audiophile headphones. The trittons were just to muddy and bass heavy. But again, that is what I hate about them, you may like that.
 
I say get an Astro mixamp, the processing is great. Then get headphones/headset to suit your taste.

I much prefer open back headphones. From memory the A40s are considered a semi-open back headset. I use Audio Technica AD900x headphones, and am very happy with with all aspects. AKG 701/702 headphones are meant to be fantastic for gaming but are borderline as far as being driven well enough by a mixamp.

As an extra point of consideration, the mixamps have changed over time, and not all for the better. The newest is not necessarily the best. I have owned all three versions, but stupidly currently own the two that are the weakest of the three. The second version is in my opinion the best.
 
I'm thinking about getting the pulse elite edition. Does it really add that much to Gran Turismo? I currently play out of my TV. I have a wheel. I'm only interested if it really enhances the experience. I don't play COD or BF. I'd only use it for Gran Turismo and NBA 2k. I also want one that works with the WiiU, which is why I like Pulse Elites.
 
boxster233
I'm thinking about getting the pulse elite edition. Does it really add that much to Gran Turismo? I currently play out of my TV. I have a wheel. I'm only interested if it really enhances the experience. I don't play COD or BF. I'd only use it for Gran Turismo and NBA 2k. I also want one that works with the WiiU, which is why I like Pulse Elites.
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I can let you know in a few weeks. Mines currently under the christmas tree :p
 
I'd get the pulse elite edition, if for no other reason than you'll always wonder what you missed out on because you didn't.

I just wear my Beats. Yeah, I know it's all hype, but the price was right.
 
Gunstar
I'd get the pulse elite edition, if for no other reason than you'll always wonder what you missed out on because you didn't.

I just wear my Beats. Yeah, I know it's all hype, but the price was right.
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How do you wear your beats for PS3 games?
 
LeMansAid
I say get an Astro mixamp, the processing is great. Then get headphones/headset to suit your taste.

I much prefer open back headphones. From memory the A40s are considered a semi-open back headset. I use Audio Technica AD900x headphones, and am very happy with with all aspects. AKG 701/702 headphones are meant to be fantastic for gaming but are borderline as far as being driven well enough by a mixamp.

As an extra point of consideration, the mixamps have changed over time, and not all for the better. The newest is not necessarily the best. I have owned all three versions, but stupidly currently own the two that are the weakest of the three. The second version is in my opinion the best.
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This is also an excellent idea, I'd get the A40 mixamp and a set of Grado headphones, you can get the SR80s for just over $100. They constantly beat headphones costing 5 times as much on the regular. If you don't know about Grado labs, google them. One of the finest headphones on earth, this is no marketing fluff. Small company in Brooklyn NY, small family run, their headphones are like angles whispers in your ear. :)
 

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