[utopic]

Hello, my name is Mike and I can't afford to be an audiophile. Just kidding...

I had decided to buy these headphones for gaming and for listening to music and now that I have them, I have some questions, I'm hoping you can help me.

First of all, these are the first audiophile grade headphones I owned so I don't have any reference at this level and I'm a newbie to industry standard connectors, equipment etc...

I have no issues with the headphones but with the headphones+mic combination. I'm using them connected to the Front Panel of the Creative X-Fi Platinum sound card.

As they are 64 Ohms I don't think I need separate amplification for them, I'm not sure what to say about the microphone, though... I encounter a strange issue with them and my sound-card: although they boast a high noise attenuation/isolation, if I raise the volume for the headphones and mic, over a certain level I think I get mic loop: after a threshold sound starts getting a metallic ring to it and if I continue rising the volume I get a straight high-pitched ring.

Now, this wouldn't be so strange if the microphone output wouldn't be so low...

What conclusion should I draw? If the mic needs amplification, wouldn't that mean that after amplification, even at lower headphone/mic volume combination I'd get mic loop?

Is the mic too sensitive for picking up feedback sound and creating mic loop? Is the mic too less sensitive for giving such a low volume?

I'm most definitely not using the headset for its intended use but... Also, why is there such a big price difference between the HD 280 Pro & the HMD 280 Pro? They say the HMD is based on the HD, should I take it that it's NOT the same headphone, mic aside? Is the mic so expensive?

HMD 280 Pro

Technical Data

Transducer principle (Headphones)Dynamic
Impedance64 Ohm
Load rating500 mW
Ear couplingcircumaural
Frequency response (headphones)8.....25000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL)102 dB(IEC 268-7))
THD, total harmonic distortion0,1 %
Transducer principle (Microphone)Dynamic
Pick-up patternSupercardioid
Nominal impedance200 Ohm
Sensitivity as per 121 TR 9-50,7 mV/Pa
Frequency response (microphone)50.....13500 Hz
Weight w/o cable310 g
Contact pressure6 N
Connection cable1m/3m coiled cable

Thanks...

 

[ph0rk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by utopic /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm most definitely not using the headset for its intended use but... Also, why is there such a big price difference between the HD 280 Pro & the HMD 280 Pro? They say the HMD is based on the HD, should I take it that it's NOT the same headphone, mic aside? Is the mic so expensive?

Basically because they put a real microphone on it. Don't compare it to a $100 gaming headset - those mics are more akin to a telephone handset then a broadcast or recording microphone.


It looks like you need a mic preamp - your soundcard probably can't do the job.

 

[utopic]

ph0rk, thanks for the clarification. Still, wouldn't that mean that with a better amplification I'd still get mic/loop effect?...

Apparently, the soundcard can drive the mic, if I set the volume to maximum, but then I can't use it at all because of loop effect (I'm not even sure that's how it's called).

What mic amplifier would you recommend? On the forum I found a mention about the EMU 0404 USB, but that's a full fledged semi-proffesional sound card and I already have a sound card.

The headset comes without a connector, I soldered 2x3.5 jacks but I guess I could change the connectors if needed, or get an adapter.