[msm8bball]

Not sure if this is the right place for this. If it isn't please let me know. I'm kind of new here.

I'm a gamer. I review gaming headsets on a popular competitive gaming website. I recommend 5.1 headsets to them due to their superior ability to locate the origins of noises within the game. However, finding a 5.1 headset with multiple drivers per earcup that still has decent sound quality is a hard task. I finally settled on the Turtle Beach HPA2, which is surprisingly good for the money.

Anyways, I personally use a Creative Extigy to decode the 5.1 signal from the Xbox 360's optical cable, and then the HPA2 hooks into the Extigy via 3x 3.5mm mini jacks. Unfortunately, the Extigy is no longer made by Creative and I've spent several hours on Google trying to find a replacement that's available in high quantity that I can recommend to my readers.

I've looked at the following options:
Creative Extigy (no longer made)
Creative DDTS100 (no longer made)
Klipsch ProMedia DD-5.1 (no longer made)
Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB MKII (probably needs a computer, probably hard to get in the US)
PPA International 6 channel (probably needs a computer to function)
Sabrent 7.1 USB (isn't standalone, played audio through wrong channels)
Mocha JY-M2 (expensive, may not be manufactured anymore)
Jazz Speakers DE-005/DE-006 (not available in the US)


I hope you guys can help me come up with an alternative. Here's what I need:
Standalone (doesn't need a computer to operate)
USB/battery/outlet powered (just one of those)
Accepts TOSlink optical input
Decodes the signal and outputs it through either 6x RCA jacks or 3x 3.5mm jacks
Decent quality (at this point I'm willing to examine a lot of options)

I don't want this to be a debate between 5.1 and stereo sound either. I'm perfectly aware that stereo is going to have better sound quality, but that's not what I'm interested in.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Erik Garci]

Have you seen the "HD Audio Rush" or "HD51" decoders?

 

[linuxworks]

I have that mocha unit. my main objection was (if you believe it or not) the scrolling display. I have a thing about those and they annoy me

other than that, it was a good sounding unit, for its price ($100 range).

you can buy mine if you want

I never use it and its firmware is not something the vendor wants to update for me, so its not something I will ever use again.

 

[msm8bball]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have that mocha unit. my main objection was (if you believe it or not) the scrolling display. I have a thing about those and they annoy me other than that, it was a good sounding unit, for its price ($100 range). you can buy mine if you want I never use it and its firmware is not something the vendor wants to update for me, so its not something I will ever use again.

I have a solution for myself. I need a solution I can recommend to my readers.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Garci /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you seen the "HD Audio Rush" or "HD51" decoders?

I just found the HD Audio Rush last night. What is the HD51? And are they good quality?

 

[Erik Garci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by msm8bball /img/forum/go_quote.gif I just found the HD Audio Rush last night. What is the HD51? And are they good quality?

HD51 is just another name for the HD Audio Rush. I don't personally know about the quality, but there are some user reports out there.

 

[RedLeader]

Tritton AX Pro, I love those headphones and have them hooked up to my TV for all my consoles.

 

[msm8bball]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLeader /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tritton AX Pro, I love those headphones and have them hooked up to my TV for all my consoles.

Tritton is a bad company, and their headsets fall apart easily. Their included surround sound decoder is nice, but they won't sell it separately from the headset. A European company will, but they you have to pay to import it.