Looking for wireless surround headphone

[GoldDragon007]

Hello, I looking for headphones for the following feature set:

- wireless

- physical mute for mic (either button or flip up)

- has a good range indoor (around 10-15m)

- has good sound and surround sound

- easy to switch between 5.1 speaker setup and headphone (if headphone requires equlizer setting, it must be applied only for that)

- capable of using wired (i.e. battery run out) and wirelessly

- nice to have jack i.e. for xbox, phone or other jack device

 

Currently I have a Razor Tiamat 7.1, but it's sound is... not good, in terms of quality due the small drivers. Even if it has directional sound with proper content. And it's wired.

 

Then now I bought a Corsair virtuoso rgb wireless xt which I will send back, as its... useless. It has good surround with dolby access, but it not capable wirelessly to cover my flat, while the Sennheiser PXC 550 is capable of with high definition transfer mode enabled. Also, the sound of this is feels dull for me, with some EQ it's possible to somewhat fix it. But still sometimes just loose the connection or the audio has sudden delay/loss. Start playing something doesn't immediately plays on windows the sound. I don't know what it does or doesn't but its frustrating. But in theory it has multiple platform support... And it's not too comfortable either.

 

I had several years (3-5) before access to Logitech G9XX headphone to try it out, but it didn't amazed me the surround that it had...

[Psittac]

I would forgo surround, trying to split everything up into smaller drivers, from what I'm told, just doesn't work.  Rather look for some headphones with good soundstage and imaging

 

What is your budget?  The HiFiMan Deva with wireless attachment is going to be one of the best options you can come up with anywhere near the gaming headset price point  Though you'd need to add a wireless mod mic that'll up the price a good deal.

 

*I should clarify, there are other more reasonable options, but that's why we need to know a budget

[cmndr]

Downmixing multiple channels down to 2 channels usually doesn't help a TON. You often end up with artifacts based on how aggressive the algorithm is.

Also wireless... if the DSP is done ON the headphones, sending 2-10x the data wirelessly (read: just compressed a ton) won't gain you a ton.

 

From a pure sound quality perspective - 2 channels, 2 GOOD drivers and don't focus on gimmicks.

 

I'm not immediately knowledgeable on what checks ALL of your boxes but the linked HiFi man option looks promising since it's seemingly a "good headphone" first and everything else second. I think the ATH-M50bt is reasonably close.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50xBT-Wireless-Bluetooth-Headphones/dp/B07HKVCVSY
 

Also be aware the "headphones running out of battery" isn't that much of a thing. Like I don't think about charging my Sony XM4s. If I leave them on and they don't power off... "ohh no, I need to charge them for 5 minutes to get 3 hours of use" the one GREAT use case I had for wired had been nintendo switch use and Nintendo FINALLY lets people use bluetooth headphones.

As far as switching is concerned - I tend to just plug my HD800s into my AVR. The HD800 headphones are flat enough that I don't bother with EQ. Automatic switch. Even if you're not doing something like that you could conceivably code up a keyboard shortcut or macro to change audio output sources.
https://superuser.com/questions/426293/keyboard-macro-to-change-default-audio-device

[Psittac]

On the note of battery running out, my AKG K-361BT will go FOREVER on one charge, I don't use it a whole lot but I've had it for several month's and  charged it maybe twice?  I used it every night for an hour and it went a month without a charge at least.

[GoldDragon007]

Regarding the budget, max 300€. I try to avoid bluetooth headphones as with PC there's struggle to use them. I had also struggle to connect my PXC 550 headphones to my pc... And it just partially functioning (mic and output ok, but media buttons not really). Windows messing up something as on linux it does work better.

Surround sound is a must for me. Either physical or from a good software solution. But it must have a good sound also, as otherwise I won't change from my current one, that's for sure. Going back from surround to stereo is like going from stereo to mono. A big no-no.

[Roswell]

14 hours ago, GoldDragon007 said:

Regarding the budget, max 300€. I try to avoid bluetooth headphones as with PC there's struggle to use them. I had also struggle to connect my PXC 550 headphones to my pc... And it just partially functioning (mic and output ok, but media buttons not really). Windows messing up something as on linux it does work better.

Surround sound is a must for me. Either physical or from a good software solution. But it must have a good sound also, as otherwise I won't change from my current one, that's for sure. Going back from surround to stereo is like going from stereo to mono. A big no-no.

Physical surround implementations in headphones are total snake oil.

 

The reason you can distinguish sound behind, above or whatever in a room is due to how the sound changes once it reflects off of said surfaces. This obviously cannot be reproduced in headphones when everything is just being pumped straight into your ear canals from half an inch away.

 

The only legitimate surround implementation on headphones is a software based solution and even then it’s largely pointless since most modern games and movies already master their effects with positional processing.

[GoldDragon007]

11 hours ago, Roswell said:

Physical surround implementations in headphones are total snake oil.

 

The reason you can distinguish sound behind, above or whatever in a room is due to how the sound changes once it reflects off of said surfaces. This obviously cannot be reproduced in headphones when everything is just being pumped straight into your ear canals from half an inch away.

 

You trying to explain this to somebody who has it and hear the difference... The only one thing that I need to admit that it does matter how you place your headphones, as it changes the where you hear from. I had to learn literally again where to place my headphone to have the correct surround sound otherwise the rear or the front was missing if I place too front or back on my head. The only one pain in it the sound quality, it's just no possible to make a 1-2 cm driver the same sound like from a 4-5 cm one...

 

11 hours ago, Roswell said:

The only legitimate surround implementation on headphones is a software based solution and even then it’s largely pointless since most modern games and movies already master their effects with positional processing.

Unfortunately, as they sometimes make really terrible job...

[Roswell]

6 hours ago, GoldDragon007 said:

You trying to explain this to somebody who has it and hear the difference... The only one thing that I need to admit that it does matter how you place your headphones, as it changes the where you hear from. I had to learn literally again where to place my headphone to have the correct surround sound otherwise the rear or the front was missing if I place too front or back on my head. The only one pain in it the sound quality, it's just no possible to make a 1-2 cm driver the same sound like from a 4-5 cm one...

 

Unfortunately, as they sometimes make really terrible job...

Placebo and persuasive marketing can do wondrous things. It’s scientifically impossible for your brain to interpret sound location when the source is directly on your ear unless there’s additional processing done through software.

[GoldDragon007]

On 8/8/2022 at 12:10 AM, Roswell said:

Placebo and persuasive marketing can do wondrous things. It’s scientifically impossible for your brain to interpret sound location when the source is directly on your ear unless there’s additional processing done through software.

 

If you don't have brain than it's hard indeed. If you have then it's easy. When somebody wipers near your ear you can tell which direction the sound coming from if not you have a hearing problem. Replacing somebody with speakers doesn't change anything.

[Roswell]

26 minutes ago, GoldDragon007 said:

 

If you don't have brain than it's hard indeed. If you have then it's easy. When somebody wipers near your ear you can tell which direction the sound coming from if not you have a hearing problem. Replacing somebody with speakers doesn't change anything.

If you’re talking about touching around your ear, you’re unknowingly talking about bone conduction which normal headphones absolutely cannot take advantage of for positional audio.

[rice guru]

On 8/5/2022 at 5:52 AM, GoldDragon007 said:

Hello, I looking for headphones for the following feature set:

- wireless

- physical mute for mic (either button or flip up)

- has a good range indoor (around 10-15m)

- has good sound and surround sound

- easy to switch between 5.1 speaker setup and headphone (if headphone requires equlizer setting, it must be applied only for that)

- capable of using wired (i.e. battery run out) and wirelessly

- nice to have jack i.e. for xbox, phone or other jack device

 

Currently I have a Razor Tiamat 7.1, but it's sound is... not good, in terms of quality due the small drivers. Even if it has directional sound with proper content. And it's wired.

 

Then now I bought a Corsair virtuoso rgb wireless xt which I will send back, as its... useless. It has good surround with dolby access, but it not capable wirelessly to cover my flat, while the Sennheiser PXC 550 is capable of with high definition transfer mode enabled. Also, the sound of this is feels dull for me, with some EQ it's possible to somewhat fix it. But still sometimes just loose the connection or the audio has sudden delay/loss. Start playing something doesn't immediately plays on windows the sound. I don't know what it does or doesn't but its frustrating. But in theory it has multiple platform support... And it's not too comfortable either.

 

I had several years (3-5) before access to Logitech G9XX headphone to try it out, but it didn't amazed me the surround that it had...

https://www.audeze.com/products/penrose-wireless-planar-magnetic-headset#shopify-product-reviews the Audeze penrose should fit most of what your looking for the only thing it sucks at from what I remember is the range isnt very good its not as good as the gaming brands 2.4 ghz range but should be fine when suing a bluetooth dongle. the switching to your speaker setup can be done throughyour desktop easily but if you want a hardware solution I do have one for that. but will cost you a bit of extra money 

 

 

[rice guru]

On 8/5/2022 at 7:28 PM, Psittac said:

I would forgo surround, trying to split everything up into smaller drivers, from what I'm told, just doesn't work.  Rather look for some headphones with good soundstage and imaging

 

What is your budget?  The HiFiMan Deva with wireless attachment is going to be one of the best options you can come up with anywhere near the gaming headset price point  Though you'd need to add a wireless mod mic that'll up the price a good deal.

 

*I should clarify, there are other more reasonable options, but that's why we need to know a budget

the problem with bluetooth on pc is its really bad Bluetooth connectivity isnt very good, supported Bluetooth codecs often sucks and latency is garbage. as much as I would love to recommend a deva when it comes to gming its really hard to beat 2.4 ghz

[GoldDragon007]

On 8/9/2022 at 12:09 PM, Roswell said:

If you’re talking about touching around your ear, you’re unknowingly talking about bone conduction which normal headphones absolutely cannot take advantage of for positional audio.

No, without contact. I don't talking about any bone conduction thing. I talking when somebody is behind you and whispers from back near your ear. Without any contact, and without blowing on you.

 

On 8/9/2022 at 1:45 PM, rice guru said:

the switching to your speaker setup can be done throughyour desktop easily but if you want a hardware solution I do have one for that. but will cost you a bit of extra money 

Could you also tell it? So at least I can look on it.

 

On 8/9/2022 at 1:47 PM, rice guru said:

the problem with bluetooth on pc is its really bad Bluetooth connectivity isnt very good, supported Bluetooth codecs often sucks and latency is garbage. as much as I would love to recommend a deva when it comes to gming its really hard to beat 2.4 ghz

Agree, i.e. LDAC support is 0 on Windows. I had a Sony wh-1000xm5 which I were not able to make it work on my machine. It's connected, but it did not give any sound, and when it did it was soo bad, that a pot had better sound reproducibility capability. With android phone it went like a charm... BTW bluetooth is 2.4 ghz. I think the gaming headsets operates usually a different frequency or mode than bluetooth.

[rice guru]

On 8/11/2022 at 11:50 AM, GoldDragon007 said:

 

 

Agree, i.e. LDAC support is 0 on Windows. I had a Sony wh-1000xm5 which I were not able to make it work on my machine. It's connected, but it did not give any sound, and when it did it was soo bad, that a pot had better sound reproducibility capability. With android phone it went like a charm... BTW bluetooth is 2.4 ghz. I think the gaming headsets operates usually a different frequency or mode than bluetooth.

Sorrybyour right they do operate on 2.4 GHz but they have dedicated hardware and often software to make the experience way better than just Bluetooth. Like the dongle on the audeze Penrose I reccomended

[GoldDragon007]

On 8/9/2022 at 1:45 PM, rice guru said:

what I remember is the range isnt very good its not as good as the gaming brands 2.4 ghz range but should be fine when suing a bluetooth dongle

Well, yeah sometimes it just a few 10 cm away from the transmitter, I place between my hand and it starts breaking the connection... kinda sucks, but truly the sound is good. Except when randomly has artifacts. As I living in a high population area this won't be my choice. I also have now with me an EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 670, which has also a really good sound, the only difference between the two is probably from the driver size, but that one has better wireless range, even tho if it has no jack, I think I will choose that one as it has a somewhat better value in my eye.

 

And I also realised, how bad can be the software simulated surround sound, just simply sometimes doesn't hear the direction...