[3shirts]

Hi,
I am new here and would like your advice. I am looking for some wireless headphones which I can use for gaming. I have a Samsung surround amp which my media center PC and PS3 both go into and which has a headphone socket. A lot of the ones I've looked at seem to be designed to do the decoding on the base unit which seems an unnecessary expense when I have an amp but will the headphone output from the amp divide the channels or just output in stereo?
In an ideal world I'd love a base unit which connects to the amp and has a usb for the PS3 which is for a mic on the headphones but that seems like a pipedream looking at the market.

So basically what wireless headphones would give me the best gaming experience on my PS3?

Thanks for you time and any advice you might be able to offer

[torr1x]

Does your amp decode Dolby Headphone ? Even if it does, you'll still need a base unit to send the wireless signal.

Sounds to me like you need the Pioneer SE-DIR2000C's or the Philips equivalent, theres alot of threads on them.

The headphone socket will only output in stereo if your amp doesn't decode any virtual surround effects (like Dolby Headphone).

[3shirts]

Its a mid-range Samsung one but a couple of years old now so I doubt it supprts Dolby Headphone, I will check when I get home. I am looking at the Sony MDR-DS3000K at the moment. Any thoughts?

[ajgooner23]

I have a ps3 and a Onkyo 805 amp, I've been considering the Sony MDR DS3000k. Question is does it have a mic for gaming?

[Stinja]

I was looking about today for wireless 5.1 headphones for the PS3 too, and it sure dosent seem like there's any options with mic at the moment.

Also note there's threads in the 360 and PS3 forums asking about gaming headphones too:

Sharkoon Xtatic 5.1 Headphones
http://www.avforums.com/forums/ps3/707380-rant-rant-rant-give-me-headphones.html#post6427019

I'm happy to ignore voicechat at the moment,but it's a confusing mess as to what will work on the PS3... The thing which gets me is after you do find something you might like to buy there's no-one in the UK thats stocks it?!

Originally Posted by torr1x

Sounds to me like you need the Pioneer SE-DIR2000C's or the Philips equivalent

Hey torr1x, i read the DIR2000c vs Philips thread with interest, but am disappointed Pioneer seem to slack about keeping us uptodate. Reading about online the consensus does seem that the Dolby Headphone is better than Sony's efforts, but it is nice you can buy the Sony's straight off. I suppose is the loss of quality (and the MDR DS3000k sounds like their better than the Sharkoon Xtatic 5.1 and TurtleBeach X1/2/3s) worth it compared to almost double the price for the Pioneers/Philips?

[3shirts]

Hey all,
Just to follow up. I have now bought the Sony MDR-DS3000's and can tell you the following:

1) Sound quality is excellent, very clear, no hiss (except faintly if you turn them right up with no sound and why would you?)
2) Very comfy, you could wear them for extended gaming sessions with no problem
3) They have an optical input so you can go from the digital output of the PS3 straight to their base unit. I use a simle optical switch box from Maplin so I can easily switch the output from the PS3 to either the headphones or the amp. It also has analogue (RCA) input.
4) There is no mic but after A LOT of research it seems there are almost no wireless headphone that include microphone, the only one I found had a normal jack which would be no good the PS3 anyway as it needs USB or bluetooth. Personally I am buying one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWN:IT&ih=005 and will chop off the headphones. On the PS3 settings you can choose to have the headset output come through the main output so that works as an alternative.

[torr1x]

Originally Posted by Stinja

I was looking about today for wireless 5.1 headphones for the PS3 too, and it sure dosent seem like there's any options with mic at the moment.

Also note there's threads in the 360 and PS3 forums asking about gaming headphones too:

Sharkoon Xtatic 5.1 Headphones
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6427019

I'm happy to ignore voicechat at the moment,but it's a confusing mess as to what will work on the PS3... The thing which gets me is after you do find something you might like to buy there's no-one in the UK thats stocks it?!

Hey torr1x, i read the DIR2000c vs Philips thread with interest, but am disappointed Pioneer seem to slack about keeping us uptodate. Reading about online the consensus does seem that the Dolby Headphone is better than Sony's efforts, but it is nice you can buy the Sony's straight off. I suppose is the loss of quality (and the MDR DS3000k sounds like their better than the Sharkoon Xtatic 5.1 and TurtleBeach X1/2/3s) worth it compared to almost double the price for the Pioneers/Philips?

I'm not really sure as i've not tested the sonys, or the phillips.

I've done alot of research also, it seems the pinnacle of surround sound (with mic, but wired though) is the beyerdynamic headzone game setup. Mega dear though.

I'm probably going to bite the bullet and try either them or a serious set of wired phones into the pioneer box.

[Stinja]

I'll probably pick up the Sony MDR-DS3000's too. With late night gaming i'm less likely to be playing online, and hence needing to chat, and i'm fundamentally lazy - so faffing about with current adapters and tax-stings is slightly offputting.

[Houghsx]

I just read that the Sony MDR-DS3000's are not compatible with Plasma screens (light interferes with the signal?)
Is this true, apparently its says so on the box?

Thanks

[sven256]

The work fine unless you are about a meter away from the screen. Once you get too close you do get a lot of interference.

[bungieben]

There are names on here that have helped me out so take notice.I to are in the same boat as you and this is what i ended up going with.

I brought the jabra bt125 bluetooth headset but i guess any will do.set it up on the ps3 using default so the voice chat comes through the speakers not the headset ( the ps3 will only give you voice chat through bluetooth ) no game audio so at the moment complete wireless headsets are out.

Now, with this setup and bt125 headset i can talk via the headset and listen to the players voices as i was before through normal speakers.I to have looked at the sonys as they are uk and although i would spend £££ on the said pioneers,Phillips i guess i will go locally and get the sonys pending reviews and this post is one step closer.

right then............ headphones and headset together.Easy, i hook the headset onto my shirt collar as it is just used as a mic.When i get the cans i will just pop em on when you need to be quiet and then you will get the best of both worlds. Use em together or seperate, Job done

[Houghsx]

Originally Posted by sven256

The work fine unless you are about a meter away from the screen. Once you get too close you do get a lot of interference.

Hmmm that could cause issue's then. I tend to get close in when I put my games on.
Anybody else have a plasma and these headphones?

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by bungieben

the jabra bt125 bluetooth headset ... .set it up on the ps3 using default so the voice chat comes through the speakers not the headset

Now, with this setup and bt125 headset i can talk via the headset and listen to the players voices as i was before through normal speakers.

Great soution bungieben, i had been thinking i was going to have to have my BT headset inside the headphone cups, then an external mic... etc.. but yeah <slaps forehead> elegant solution. The headphones are the TV-speakers, so you just need an input - i might try my PS Eye

[ajgooner23]

bit the bullet and purchased the Sony 3000 from amazon for £137.70. Not a bad price when I read some reviewers spent close to 200 quid. Hopefully they won't affect my projector.

[honglong]

I used to own the sony mdr-ds3000 and also the mdr-ds5100. I sold both on eBay. Why?

1. The mdr-ds3000 is better than the mdr-ds5100 but the sound, while ok, is lacking bass and the surround effect is virtually non-existent. Although bizarrely, it sounds very good with DTS.

2. You can pick up interference. I had an issue with my BT Dect phone causing a repetitive hum. So, if you can try and buy from somewhere with a good return policy.

3. Unfortunately for Sony, there is Dolby Headphone.

I now have the Philips SBC-1500 Dolby Headphone for upstairs (connected via Soundblaster 24bit usb soundcard) and the Pioneer SE-DIR800 for downstairs. Connected to a Pioneer DVD player.

The pioneer's while convenient being wireless don't sound that amazing. They sound better than the sony headphones and the surround effect is in a whole new league. The problem is the philips surround headphones. Once you try them, everything else seems average in comparison.

The philips decoder unit is very nice, with great build quality, but the actually headphones, while wireless and excellent in sound quality are pretty badly made. My broke one day on one side and my head isn't even that big.

I replaced them with a pair of Grado SR-60 wired and to be honest, the surround effect is even better.

So i have some great advice for people, if you want the best Wireless surround headphones, whatever the make, go for Dolby Headphone. If you want good wireless headphones and don't care too much about surround sound effect, go for the sony ones.

[Stinja]

Wireless is important, so a top-notch decoder (Philips) with wired headphones isnt any good, and i'm not going to keep sending back/replacing shoddily built Philips headphones. The Pioneer DIR2000C's looked good, but best price i could find was well over twice the price of the Sony MDR-DS3000's!

As it's for gaming, not movies, as long as i can tell if enemies are left/right or front/back i'm happy, but will keep an eye out for the Pioneer's if they drop in price.

What i cant believe is all these models are a good 18 months - 2 years old overseas, yet you cant get most of them in the UK? Do they not want our money?!

[honglong]

I agree if you need good wireless headphones, the philips/grado combo is no good, but thats my own preference.

I have tried various different headphones and decoders and the Sony headphones while sounding good initial, don't have that much of a surround effect. Don't believe me? Try a pair of dolby headphones or try some of the demos on youtube. I sold mine and bought the Pioneers Dolby Headphone ones. They cost me £120 off ebay about 8 months ago. I must admit i was lucky there. I know audiocubes sell various dolby headphone models (although that bit is aimed at people about to buy some surround headphones).

I do agree with you about the amount of dolby headphone models out there and the customers willing to buy them in the UK, but the companies don't make them available in the UK. Pioneer and Philips both had models, which are very rare now. I guess they tried, there was no demand and gave up. Same for the creative decoder too.

[Stinja]

Have people been sent the Sony MDR-DS3000 or the DS3000K? Just wondering if there's a difference or not?

[jazz lang]

Hey honglong,

I have just bought a pair of the sony's and I have to agree with you the suround sound is poor. Could you please tell me where you bought your headphones from? I realy want to get a decent set for late night movies and gaming and cant find the headset's you advised anywhere. If you could point me the way I need to go that would be great. Thanks

Jim

[honglong]

Hi Jazz Lang.

Your right the sony's are poor for surround and compared to dolby headphone, even worst. They are also lacking in bass too (down to the 30mm driver they use).

The pioneer headphones i purchased were from eBay about 1 year ago. Its unlikely you will find another deal like this again though, unless your very lucky. If you can put up with wired you will get even better sound.

My advice would be to buy the JVC SU-DH1 from Audio-cubes (because it has the DC input) and a pair of Grado SR-60 headphones. That would be about £100-£120 ish if you shop around and would give a very very good surround effect thanks to the Grado's openess. It also has the advantage of being portable, battery powered, supports AAC (which the pioneer doesn't) and will drive the Grado's with absolute ease. It would also sound better than the pioneer and philips due to the better quality headphones compared to what your get with those models. The pioneer headphones are pretty poor to be honest and the philips ones while good, are no way near as good as the Grado's and the surround effect is just awesome with the Grado's.

If you need wireless, you could always add a pair of Sennheiser RS120 or RS130 to the JVC SU-DH1. They retail for about £30 upwards.

For those of you wanting to try out Sony Virtual Phones (VPT) and Dolby headphones, try the links below and use your headphones of course!

Sony VPT demo
http://www.sony.net/Products/vpt/flash/index.html

(if anyone can find more Sony VPT demos, please post them)

Dolby Headphone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAN43yAL4gg
http://odeo.com/audio/346717/view
http://www.monstermusic.com/dolby.asp
http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2006/11...dphone_demos/1
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/games/...consoles3.html

Have fun!

[yesteryeargames]

Hi all, looking for a pair of headphone sorround5.1
that will work with my ps3 games and blue ray, 360 games and hd dvd , wii,
tv and dvd player? any advise on a decent pair


thanks