usb headphones

[Ginka]

Hey guys,

Another question today
sometimes I saw headphones in the same range of price having different connector. The usual 3.7 jack and usb connector.
And I just wanted to know : why usb ?
Is there a benefit of using one type over another ?
Is the usb input somehow related to  "virtual surround" headphones ? I often see those two together.

thx guys

[_JohnB330ci]

USB Can transmit 5.1 - 7.1 Surround sound and I believe higher frequencies. Don't hold me to that though.

[The Official Czex]

Hey guys,

Another question today

sometimes I saw headphones in the same range of price having different connector. The usual 3.7 jack and usb connector.

And I just wanted to know : why usb ?

Is there a benefit of using one type over another ?

Is the usb input somehow related to  "virtual surround" headphones ? I often see those two together.

thx guys

 

What headphones have a 3.7mm jack?

[SunshineBob]

From my personal experience with usb headsets and headphones... Hell no. Don't get it. If a headphone or a headset is USB, that means it has a DAC in it. So it's a) going to be way too heavy for every day use and b) if it's going to be light that means the DAC will be a complete piece of shit. DAC's are no light weight stuff for their size. I'm no expert on this but that's what I've encoutered in my short life so far.

So if anyone smarter and more experienced could deny to this or agree that would be awesome.

[Deletive]

I believe, USB uses Digital signal which is then put through a not so great dac so they turn into analog signals that we can hear. 

[Ginka]

What headphones have a 3.7mm jack?

3.5 * ^^

[Ginka]

I believe, USB uses Digital signal which is then put through a not so great dac so they turn into analog signals that we can hear. 

 

From my personal experience with usb headsets and headphones... Hell no. Don't get it. If a headphone or a headset is USB, that means it has a DAC in it. So it's a) going to be way too heavy for every day use and B) if it's going to be light that means the DAC will be a complete piece of shit. DAC's are no light weight stuff for their size. I'm no expert on this but that's what I've encoutered in my short life so far.

So if anyone smarter and more experienced could deny to this or agree that would be awesome.

so, basically, this is BS ?

[Deletive]

so, basically, this is BS ?

Usually compared to an actual DAC yes. but most of the headphones that use USB anyways are the most amazing drivers anyways. 

[Naeaes]

The jack is 3,5mm, BTW. 

 

The stereo plug only allows stereo sound. If you want surround, you gotta take another path. Either multiple 3,5mm plugs or something like a USB.

 

Technically USB is more than just a connector. No sound is transmitted over USB, it's data. The 'sound card' is in the headphones. Having an external sound card has a multitude of benefits too. Anything encased within the computer is subject to interference where as external devices are somewhat safe from it, the integrated sound card might not have functions like surround sound to begin with, the USB cable can be extended without degradation to the sound quality. It'll also add an actual sound device to your system, having two has benefits too.

[SunshineBob]

so, basically, this is BS ?

I think so... All the DAC's I've holded in my hands weight at least double the decent headphones weight. Also at least bigger than a headphones cup. Soooo those were I guess decent amps. Now I can not imagine how that weghty beefy and kind of not small DAC is outperformed by something sitting next to the driver inside the cup.

[Ginka]

The jack is 3,5mm, BTW. 

 

The stereo plug only allows stereo sound. If you want surround, you gotta take another path. Either multiple 3,5mm plugs or something like a USB.

 

Technically USB is more than just a connector. No sound is transmitted over USB, it's data. The 'sound card' is in the headphones. Having an external sound card has a multitude of benefits too. Anything encased within the computer is subject to interference where as external devices are somewhat safe from it, the integrated sound card might not have functions like surround sound to begin with, the USB cable can be extended without degradation to the sound quality. It'll also add an actual sound device to your system, having two has benefits too.

So If I wan't Virtual surround, I have to get a headphone with an usb connector ?  

[SunshineBob]

So If I wan't Virtual surround, I have to get a headphone with an usb connector ?

No. You just need software. Something like ASUS Sonic Radar II, or Razer whatever it's called.

[KaminKevCrew]

For the most part, you all need a serious bit of education about audio stuff...

I think so... All the DAC's I've holded in my hands weight at least double the decent headphones weight. Also at least bigger than a headphones cup. Soooo those were I guess decent amps. Now I can not imagine how that weghty beefy and kind of not small DAC is outperformed by something sitting next to the driver inside the cup.

From my personal experience with usb headsets and headphones... Hell no. Don't get it. If a headphone or a headset is USB, that means it has a DAC in it. So it's a) going to be way too heavy for every day use and b) if it's going to be light that means the DAC will be a complete piece of shit. DAC's are no light weight stuff for their size. I'm no expert on this but that's what I've encoutered in my short life so far.

So if anyone smarter and more experienced could deny to this or agree that would be awesome.

Why would weight have anything to do with it? A dac is not a heavy component... At all. Most of the DACs available are a large, fairly empty box... You can put a desktop dac with a portable amp and battery in a portable player (it's been done - several times...) weight has nothing to do with it. The reason USB DACs are garbage is that good DACs start at around $60-$200... Most headsets cost about that to far less... So very little money goes into the DACs.

I believe, USB uses Digital signal which is then put through a not so great dac so they turn into analog signals that we can hear.

Pretty much. Thanks that's a really good, concise definition.

The jack is 3,5mm, BTW.

The stereo plug only allows stereo sound. If you want surround, you gotta take another path. Either multiple 3,5mm plugs or something like a USB.

Technically USB is more than just a connector. No sound is transmitted over USB, it's data. The 'sound card' is in the headphones. Having an external sound card has a multitude of benefits too. Anything encased within the computer is subject to interference where as external devices are somewhat safe from it, the integrated sound card might not have functions like surround sound to begin with, the USB cable can be extended without degradation to the sound quality. It'll also add an actual sound device to your system, having two has benefits too.

Having two sound devices does not pose any benefit to the user, other than confusion when something doesn't play through the right one. You can't do surround through headphones regardless, so that's totally pointless to talk about. It's true that external does have an advantage over internal, and a tangible one too. It's just too bad that USB headsets use terrible components, which completely negate any advantages.

Usually compared to an actual DAC yes. but most of the headphones that use USB anyways are the most amazing drivers anyways.

I hope you meant "aren't the most amazing dricers"

USB Can transmit 5.1 - 7.1 Surround sound and I believe higher frequencies. Don't hold me to that though.

USB can, but that has nothing to do with headphones, so that point doesn't matter. USB can't transmit anything audible, so that doesn't matter anyway. Regardless, a dac will output whatever signal you feed it, even upwards of two or three hundred kilohertz, not that that matters, since you can only hear up to 20khz.

In short, USB DACs are a good thing. USB headsets are not. All you're paying for with USB are the looks and the "features" which end up causing more harm than good, imo.

[Ginka]

No. You just need software. Something like ASUS Sonic Radar II, or Razer whatever it's called.

Does this plays the role of a DAC ?

How can a stereo plug that only allows stereo sound suddenly become able to do surround ?

[KaminKevCrew]

Does this plays the role of a DAC ?

How can a stereo plug that only allows stereo sound suddenly become able to do surround ?

The thing about ALL headphones (literally every single one of them, regardless of the number of drivers in the cups, etc) is that they can only play stereo sound. Surround in headphones is based off of using software to mimic the way that your brain interprets sound locations. Your brain uses very, very slight differences in the time it takes a sound to reach your two ears to determine where a sound comes from. As such, surround software simply re mixes the stereo signal to do pretty much the same thing. And that's also how every single "7.1 headphone" on the market works, whether or not it has multiple drivers in the ear cup. (hint: about 90 percent that are labeled as 7.1 surround actually only have two drivers total, one for each side. Making them stereo headphones.)

[Ginka]

The thing about ALL headphones (literally every single one of them, regardless of the number of drivers in the cups, etc) is that they can only play stereo sound. Surround in headphones is based off of using software to mimic the way that your brain interprets sound locations. Your brain uses very, very slight differences in the time it takes a sound to reach your two ears to determine where a sound comes from. As such, surround software simply re mixes the stereo signal to do pretty much the same thing. And that's also how every single "7.1 headphone" on the market works, whether or not it has multiple drivers in the ear cup. (hint: about 90 percent that are labeled as 7.1 surround actually only have two drivers total, one for each side. Making them stereo headphones.)

Crystal clear ^^

Thx for your help every one

 

[Naeaes]

Having two sound devices does not pose any benefit to the user, other than confusion when something doesn't play through the right one. You can't do surround through headphones regardless, so that's totally pointless to talk about. It's true that external does have an advantage over internal, and a tangible one too. It's just too bad that USB headsets use terrible components, which completely negate any advantages.

Having even a simulated surround sound in something like FPS gaming is an obvious advantage. Stereo can't even mimic the sound coming from behind you, let alone below or above. As for the benefits of having two or more audio devices, it's the only way to have your VOIP calls use a headset and everything else use the speakers. The few call center softwares I've dealt with, even supported having the ring of the incoming call play over one device and the call itself play from the other. For home users, a software-based way to switching between headphones and speakers is a must have in an HTPC.

[KaminKevCrew]

Having even a simulated surround sound in something like FPS gaming is an obvious advantage. Stereo can't even mimic the sound coming from behind you, let alone below or above. As for the benefits of having two or more audio devices, it's the only way to have your VOIP calls use a headset and everything else use the speakers. The few call center softwares I've dealt with, even supported having the ring of the incoming call play over one device and the call itself play from the other. For home users, a software-based way to switching between headphones and speakers is a must have in an HTPC.

Fps games gave virtual surround effects built in. I was exclusively talking about the software stuff that comes with headsets. I use hardware to decide what i want played where, and I exclusively use speakers or headphones at a given time, so I fail to see the reasoning in any of your points.