Hello everyone. I'm in need of some guidance over another option I was considering with regards to my home cinema build. For reasons I won't bore you with, I might be limited to headphones for my set-up. My questions: For a £100-125 budget, what's the best out there? Will it need to be driven by an amp? And if so, for another £100-125, which ones would you suggest? If there's any other set-up/connections (can't I just connect straight from the dvd player? what really is the best set-up?) you might want to mention then feel free to do so. Thanks!

Just adding some more requirements. The missus and I will be using it so will be requiring 2 outputs. My budget for the dvd player is around the £150 mark and originally was going to buy a £400 receiver. Will a Dolby headphone truly deliver a 5.1 experience?

[wonderloaf]

Don't know if this helps..just bought some Creative HQ2300D headphones, the package comes with a pair of headphones with a single 40mm driver in each earphone and a palm sized gizmo that can take a digital co-ax connection (from DVD, etc) in 5.1 DD or DTS or a straight stereo connection (MP3 etc). It can output in Dolby headphone and/or Dolby Pro Logic for stereo sources, or DTS/DD + Dolby Headphone for 5.1 sources. The good bit is that it has 2 x 3.5mm sockets for the output.
I use mine for watching DVD's and for listening to CD's/DVD-A's over the digital connection from my DVD player.

Although I'm no Audiophile (can't afford it), seeing as the whole package only costs around £50 I think the sound is excellent, and although it's probably not 'true' surround sound, I think it's about as close as you can get with only 2 drivers in the headset, the sound stage is definitely widened and the high and low frequencies are detailed without being to overpowering/distorted.

With your budget you could perhaps by this, ditch the included headphones and buy yourself a couple of pairs of half-decent headphones.

[socrates1]

http://www.technikdirekt.de/main/de/...85&language=de

Philips Dolby Headphone unit as per link above is your best bet. This comes with one wireless headphone (you can order extra) and can also take two wired 'phones. Just hook your DVD player to the unit.

The dolby headphone effect is pretty good. While it's not the same as a 5.1 system (front speaker effect is in your head or inches in front of your forehead, and it took me a while to psychologically adjust), it is extremely good at drawing you completely into a movie as you have no external distractions and the level of detail all around and inside your head is fantastic. I find that I remember more of the movie weeks afterwards than I would have done on my old HT setup. Bass is good as well, but it doesn't have the visceral impact of a subwoofer.

There are other posts on this as well if you do a search.

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

I've anticipated loosing the thump of a subwoofer, but the frontal sound a centre speaker gives I did not. Which type of headphone is best suited for watching movies, a closed or open back? Which will be more "immersive" yet not compromising on sound quality?

Just to clarify, the budget is £100-125 for each pair of headphones, and another £125-50 perhaps for a headphone amp if needed.

Anyone there know or can guide me how to ensure my headphones are genuine. I'm providing a link to an ebay seller (if this isn't allowed; admin feel free to modify or delete). They are selling Sennheiser headphones for really very competitive price. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SENNHEISER-HD6...QQcmdZViewItem
What's the catch, if any? HD-650 for £130, but they seem reputable judging by their 100% positive feedback (3000+), they've provided contact details, photos, warranty, etc..

[TameRacingDriver]

Looks alright to me mate, and add to that, a decent pair of wired hifi headphones will easily sound better than any of these cordless things in my experience, even for movies, and most especially music.

[llanellijack]

I've had a pair of Senn 650's off Electromonster mate, there's no catch. Cracking headphones from an excellent seller. Go get em !

[llanellijack]

BTW, the 650's are £169, not £130 as you say ( that's the savings price )

Thanks for clearing that up llanellijack. I've now decided to go for the hd595 and that should extend my choices for the remaining components (if there is indeed any need for a headphone amp.) I am planning to get a HD DVD player as well - the Toshiba HD-E1. Checked the connections (http://www.toshibahddvd.co.uk//produ...onnections.htm) and again another problem - how am I to connect two pairs of headphones to this player?! What's the best way to extract the sound?

Help please, anyone....

[baldrick]

I have a pair of Senn HD555s (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/05342) which I use with my Sony STR-DB930. They amp doesn't feature Dolby Headphone but the sound is very good and I often find I have to take the 'phones off to check that I have turned the speakers off!!!

[baldrick]

Go here: http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_e...ent/index.html and click on the 'Experience Dolby'.....

Thanks for the help mate. I'm already trying out an hd595 which willl be paired with a Pro-Ject Headbox SE (needed the 2 outputs of this amp; the other pair of 'phones for the missus). I just hope it's a well paired combo. But until the amp arrives, I don't yet know.

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by baldrick

I have a pair of Senn HD555s (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/05342) which I use with my Sony STR-DB930. They amp doesn't feature Dolby Headphone but the sound is very good and I often find I have to take the 'phones off to check that I have turned the speakers off!!!

have you tried the 'headphone surround' mode? I have the 830 and I was wondering if that was any good for 5.1 stuff?