Headphones with a surround sound receiver

[Seriousheadcase]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so please forgive what is probably a blasphemous question....

I'm looking for high-quality headphones for both stereo listening and use with a surround sound receiver. I've heard of the so-called "surround sound" headphones, but they appear a bit gimmicky. Has anyone had any experience comparing how well some of the better-quality headphones, such as the Sennheiser HD 650 and Beyerdynamic DT 880, perform with a DSP signal?

 

[lindrone]

The main problem is that most surround sound receivers are made for speakers, and their headphone output doesn't really do a very good job at rendering dolby headphone environments. So there is *some* reproduction of surround sound, but nothing really that great.

Some of the "surround sound" headphones are really good, because they utilize a receiver that specifically down-mix 5.1 channel audio into dolby headphone playback. Such headphones like Pioneer DIR-800C and 1000C are very good. So in reality, it's really not the headphone as much as the receiver rendering the dolby headphone effect. You can even get a pretty good experience with computer and software dolby headphone playback.

However, other surround sound headphones, like the Zalman 5.1.. are nothing but gimmicky, crappy designs that produces subpar sound and non-convicing surround sound as well.

 

[Seriousheadcase]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindrone Some of the "surround sound" headphones are really good, because they utilize a receiver that specifically down-mix 5.1 channel audio into dolby headphone playback. Such headphones like Pioneer DIR-800C and 1000C are very good. So in reality, it's really not the headphone as much as the receiver rendering the dolby headphone effect.

I have a Yamaha HTR-5660 receiver. The manual is a bit on the "lean" side and only says: [The headphone jack] "Allows you to enjoy DSP effects when listening with headphones.." I also found a reference under "SILENT CINEMA DSP" setting that suggests special output for headphones.

Do you know if this receiver does something similar to the down-mixing you mention? Ideally I would be able to invest in a good set of stereo headphones without giving up the special audio effects from the better DVDs and HD broadcasts.

 

[bhd812]

Well I know that the onkyo 601 receiver I have in my home theater is magic with my 325's. very imagy sound from them, nowhere near surrond but not to bad. the ps-1's are worthless for this use, but the 325's are really cool


raynmen has the poineer wireless headphones and they are cool, really cool

 

[lindrone]

You can get somewhat good surround headphone sound from just about any receiver, but getting one that's dedicated to it really makes a huge difference.

I think the "DSP" effect mentioned in the manual is more like the post-processing effects of in the ways of say.. "concert hall" setting, or "rock" setting... things like that.

Either way, get a headphone that's easy to drive with good imaging, and you should be getting good sound out of it, although not absolutely spectacular, great sound. Unless you had great speakers, you might not notice that much missing.

I suggest headphones with good frontal image and easy to drive, such as Audio Technica A900.

 

[LTUCCI1924]

HI: My SONY 5.1 500 watt receiver has a mod called Headphone Theater and is supposed to render surround sound when a movie in 5.1 comes on my satellite system. It does sound a lot better than pologic with my headphones.

 

[venne]

It should sound alright. Silent Cinema is basically Yamaha's version of Dolby Headphone:

Quote:

SILENT CINEMA: Enjoy Movies Without Disturbing Others. The SILENT CINEMA mode allows private listening enjoyment of multi-channel music or movie sound, including Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround, through ordinary headphones. Yamaha DSP and HRTF technology (explained on right) make it possible. All the listener needs to do is connect a pair of headphones to the DSP-AZ1 and they will enjoy an accurate simulation of 5.1-channel surround sound in complete privacy. They can even select from among the many CINEMA and HiFi DSP programs to vary the sound field. Ideal for late night listening when you don’t want to disturb others, or if other noises are disturbing you. HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Functions) Technology Transfer functions refer to the transmission of sound to the ears and between the external ears and eardrums. Head-related refers to the method of measuring transfer functions by placing clinical probe microphones in the ear channels of people in anechoic chambers and recording measurements at many positions around their heads. Using these “HRTF maps,” Yamaha engineers were able to direct sound into the ears via headphones that accurately reproduces speaker sound from various directions. This is the basis of SILENT CINEMA.

As for what headphones to get . . . better to ask someone else about that.

Sorry.

 

[LTUCCI1924]

Headphone Theater. Allows you to experience a theater like environment while listening through a pair of headphones. Very effective with 5.1ch discreet signal sources like Dolby digital and DTS.

 

[clarke68]

If you're really curious about surround sound in headphones, you should check out the Sennheiser DSP-Pro. It does some funny things to your dynamic range, but the surround effects work with any headphones...I used it for years with my Grado SR-60s.

 

[Seriousheadcase]

Thanks for all the input so far. My current plan is the buy a good set of stereo headphones and see how they work with my AV receiver.

I've been researching the Audio Technica A900 suggested by lindrone. By all accounts, they look like a good set. However, as posted on another thread, they are only sold by one US dealer, Audio Cubes. Are these cans expected to distributed by other dealers in the near future? If not, what would be a comparable set that has similar "good frontal image and easy to drive" qualities mentioned by lindrone?

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seriousheadcase these cans expected to distributed by other dealers in the near future? If not, what would be a comparable set that has similar "good frontal image and easy to drive" qualities mentioned by lindrone?

No, unfortunately, Audio Technica does not distribute any of their high-end products in US officially. The only way to get them is through AudioCubes. Personally, I can't really think of another headphone that has A900's comparable quality and are easily available.

There are other headphone within the relative performance level, but not really in that combination of technical capabilities.