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Mad Lust Envy's Headphone Gaming Guide: (8/18/2022: iFi GO Blu Review Added)
Apr 23, 2014 at 5:14 PM Post #23,252 of 48,566
Apr 25, 2014 at 1:44 AM Post #23,256 of 48,566
So I bought the Omni, but am having a really really big issue with the Microphone!
 
When I have the speakers on I get a really loud THUMMING booom boom boom sound. Almost as if there is a feedback loop going on with the microphone.
 
I am assuming I have to turn off some setting. Anyone have any idea what is causing this? I have my speakers connected to the OMNI and its just very annoying.
 
Would really appreciate if anyone had any input on how to set this up correctly since right now I can do nothing
 
The other problem with the microphone it seems to pick up all the sounds from the keyboard, mouse and speakers.
 
When I have the headphones plugged in I dont seem to get this issue. Ideas? I set the microphone to as narrow of a field as possible and have it positioned in front of my center monitor in front of my keyboard. Maybe I should move it to the side or something?
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 8:05 AM Post #23,257 of 48,566
Hi all, just bumping this for more advice - I've been away doing my dissertation (all done, woo!) so haven't had time to come back til now. So far I've gotten recommended the Recon3 USB as well but haven't been able to narrow it down further. MLE / anyone else got any more input on headgear and dac/amp etc?

Quote:
sentinus said:
  Hi everybody - I come seeking wisdom.
 
I've read MLE's guide (thanks for putting the time in dude; it's awesome for 'audio newbs' like me) quite a few times and have used it as a reference over the last few months during my own research. The trouble is, I'm still stuck, so I decided to finally register and put forward my predicaments and some questions in order to get some better insight.
 
SO. I'm looking for a new headset for online gaming both on my PC and Xbox 360, with the possibility of wanting to use it for the Xbox One / PS4 in the future. This gaming is varied (League of Legends, CS:GO, Halo etc.) and I use Mumble, Teamspeak, Skype etc. for chat so voice is important.
 
Nothing too unusual so far, but here's the interesting bit: currently I have my relatively new PC (just over a year old now, bless her), sporting the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H motherboard and no sound card. This PC is connected to my Panasonic HDTV (quite a few years old now) via HDMI to my nvidia graphics card and uses the sound drivers that come with it (which all works well and great so no problems here; I listen to my music, watch videos, game single player etc. this way without headphones and it's bliss, so I don't want to change that). When I wish to play online with friends, I plug my Sennheiser PC350s in via USB and it all works pretty swell. However, these are really getting old now (5-10 years) and they're wearing out cosmetically and a little functionally (I swear the mic and a bit of the audio is degrading a little over time now) and they've never been 100% comfortable - they pinch my ears after around 3-4 hours each session. Plus I can't use them on my 360 as they are, so I'm looking to upgrade.
 
With regards to the upgade, I've been doing a lot of reading and watching youtube etc. and have been floating around the following possibilities:
 
1. Philips X1 Fidelio + Mic + some sort of amp/amp+dac combo - this may be rather expensive, and can't grab new pads. Not sure if easy to swap setup considering my situation above.
2. Sennheiser Game One + amp or use current USB sound card which came with PC350s. Not sure how comfy it'll be considering 350's fit hurts my ears.
3. Astro A40/50 + mixamp - seems the best all-rounder to me but lacking slightly in audio quality; the A40 is probably better than the A50 audio wise.
4. Steelseries Siberia Elite - Similar to the Astro with regard to setup, but a major problem is that nobody has reviewed and compared them to the above - this is a major problem and hassle for people like me looking upgrade yet are unable to get both for testing xD   I have found however, that the mic quality isn't as good as the above options - but I'm still unsure of the audio quality. *UPDATE: Seems they are bad, hence why nobody here reviewed them here - which is annoying as they're reviewed pretty highly everywhere else*.

...and that's about it. I do like having the convenience of simply plugging a USB card in and everything working and sounding well, but I also want comfort and the best sound I can get for my price range (let's say, £300 or so tops for everything, but I may stretch it) as well as able to use it on all platforms. Any guidance would be extremely welcome - and apologies for the long read but detail is everything.
Click to expand...

 
Apr 25, 2014 at 11:33 AM Post #23,258 of 48,566
Sent,
If you want just one DAC/Surround Processor to use with both PC & console, the Recon3D USB really is the best suited option. I recently discovered that the mic gain switches on the Recon3D work with the PS4 as well to boost (or reduce) lapel mic volume input.

For headphone, focus on what your budget can accommodate. Your old headphone was basically a Sennheiser HD558 [or WAIT... PC350? The PC360 is = HD558, you may have a step down or closed model] with a USB plug & mic, and the headphone can usually be found between $100-$120 online. Once you have your budget in mind, look at headphones in that range and read reviews for what their sound character is like, particularly if they mention being good at things you felt your PC350 was good at (like mids) and things you'd wish to improve (like comfort). I don't worry to much about numbered scores, they usually reflect value-for-price and personal taste of the reviewer, just read for the things the reviewer is excited about (or not excited about).

The current fav (without knowing your sound signature preferences, only you will know that) around $160 is the AKG K612, or you could stretch up to a Q701, K702, or Phillips X1. Keep in mind, these will sound great and probably give you more satisfaction than the PC350, and you probably won't feel an itch for a headphone upgrade again (unless you get curious about different sound signatures, HELLO WELCOME TO HEAD-FI, SORRY 'BOUT YOUR WALLET!), but at some point you'll probably want to get an Amp for any of these headphones because that helps to fill out the sound more with more distinct sounds, impact, control, and body to the bass without becoming louder.

THIS GENERAL ADVICE IS GOOD FOR JUST ABOUT ANYBODY AT THIS BUDGET LEVEL.
We could probably cut/paste this for 90% of the people who ask... It's all in the first post, and repeated in different ways throughout the thread. The only things that change are budget and sound preference, and some people play PC or Console only might want a more specialized processor for one or two little features.
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM Post #23,259 of 48,566
Excellent budget solution I've found.  The only problem is solving for the chat mic for gaming... which I don't much care for.   I play COD solo, and public lobbies tend to be uninteresting to chat with anyways.
 
-Picked up a used Turtle Beach PX5 base station on eBay for 25 ish bucks
 
-Panasonic HTF-600 - these headphones are a great combo of decent bass + extremely accurate soundstage.  Used for 18 bux.
 
Basically I got up a LEGENDARY gaming setup for below $50.  I highly recommend the pannies, though the PX5 base can easily be replaced by a Mixamp.
 
I just ordered the Panasonic HTF-890, which is pretty much an open-backed HTF-600.  I'll report back if there's even further improvement on the soundstage, though I hear the bass performance will be lacking.
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 2:13 PM Post #23,260 of 48,566
 OMG!!  
Ok first I want to say thank you to Mad Lust Envy,  Evshrug, Stillhart, Napalmhardcore, PurpleAngel, 
 
Per the below, I installed the Omni, other than the microphone issue, everything is so CLEAR,  I would never even dreamed that my headphones could sound so good. They blow away my speakers, but even the speakers are louder, crisper than they were before.
 
So now I need to tweak them, do any of you play COD, Titanfall, or any other FPS games? Whats the best option in the SBX Pro Studio for these headphone for games? Should I use the presets? Also what do yout hink of scout mode? When I tried that mode, it sounded a little bit hollow, but I could not tell. Would love your input. Again thank you sooooo much!!! Best $72 I ever spent (other than these awesome headphones which I thought were bleh up until now!)
 
Quote:
bombadilio said:
I think you guys sold me on the omni. I was going to purchase the ZxR but the problem was that with my xeon and 3 video cards I do not have anymore slots available.
 
Is the recon3d a lot better? if so I will spend the extra $50 for it since the OMNI and recon3d also seem to solve my problem of not needing another microphone!
 
EDIT: Seems the Omni is the only one with a microphone. So I take it I should go that route. I take it more expensive here does not mean better?
Click to expand...

 
 
napalmhardcore said:
  With the Recon 3D you're paying for multi-platform support. For just PC use you'll be better off with the Omni.
Click to expand...

 
evshrug said:
Yup, I specifically decided to use the amp when I switched from Z to Omni, to minimize variables, but I had to unplug the Z and uninstall/install drivers before I could hear the Omni, and the difference didn't leap out at me with that much time difference. I rebought a Recon later from Nameless cuz I needed a console processor (& I thought he was in a financial bind), and before any A/B testing I let a coworker borrow my Omni (which I didn't realize he would hold for 3 months). Still, I thought the Omni seemed a bit clearer, or at least Borderlands 2 PC sounded great!

PS: Processor Setup Video Update
I just got back the Omni on Saturday, so now I'm just waiting for the Mixamp 5.8 I loaned to Zombie to get back through the mail
smily_headphones1.gif

The Omni sounded really too close to tell apart from the Z, and sounded GREAT with Borderlands 2. All the output options you could ask for, too. It's the best PC gaming external processor, and a great value when you consider it replicates all the features of the Zx card/ACM without potentiometer problems from the ACM adding resistance.
Click to expand...

 
dremag said:
  Excellent budget solution I've found.  The only problem is solving for the chat mic for gaming... which I don't much care for.   I play COD solo, and public lobbies tend to be uninteresting to chat with anyways.
 
-Picked up a used Turtle Beach PX5 base station on eBay for 25 ish bucks
 
-Panasonic HTF-600 - these headphones are a great combo of decent bass + extremely accurate soundstage.  Used for 18 bux.
 
Basically I got up a LEGENDARY gaming setup for below $50.  I highly recommend the pannies, though the PX5 base can easily be replaced by a Mixamp.
 
I just ordered the Panasonic HTF-890, which is pretty much an open-backed HTF-600.  I'll report back if there's even further improvement on the soundstage, though I hear the bass performance will be lacking.
Click to expand...

Dre Mag do you use the omni if so what settings do you use?
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 4:04 PM Post #23,263 of 48,566
Rovve,
You're basically gonna want a TRRS extension cable if you want to keep Mic input... I haven't used such a cable myself, but Monoprice has all sorts of cables and good prices.


Bomb,
Glad it's working well, thank you for thanking us! The DAC (and amp) built-in to the Omni is a bit better than the one in that base station DreMag is using, though his works processing surround from consoles. Conquerator2 (spelling?) uses the same base station as him.

I usually turn off crystalizer and other special effects besides surround, but in the end they are tweaks to suit your preference, so season to your taste. For example, "I" like to use the dialogue booster :)

For the mic issue, could be a bunch of things, I recommend asking tech support.
 
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