Overdriving headphones

[dukelord]

Hi- I'm kind of new to this, so bear with me. I recently got a pair of HD595s and they're excellent. I have a SB X-Fi and equalized the sound using the Creative Volume Panel to enhance the highs and amplify the lows. Everything is great, except that as many probably know, often with games and voice chat (ventrilo), the sound level varies significantly in decibel levels, depending on what's happening. Even if you set the volume to specific level, certain situations in games and others talking push it higher than you'd like. The problem I have is that occasionally a loud noise will overdrive the headphones, creating a nice little popping noise, which is extremely obnoxious.

My question: Is there any way to clip sound in real time using software, as in, say preventing it from going above a certain decibel level, whether by sound frequency, or the audio altogether. This might be a strange thing to ask, but again, I'm no expert on the subject, so if anybody knows what I might be seeking, it'd be much appreciated if you offered an alternative solution. I might be coming at this the wrong way. Thanks in advance

 

[gritzcolin]

The best software for this is to yell at the loud people on vent to turn their output down or you will impend doom upon them. As far as I know there isn't anything although the boys at Dolby Labs are developing a new "Smart Sound". Which will be for movies that go from soft dialogue to explosions, but perhaps it will be something that can be applied to any audio source I don't know.

 

[Redo]

Usually with Ventrillo, the clipping is on the other user's end before it is sent to the Vent server. In that case, you're just SOL and have to yell at them.

For gaming with the X-Fi, I find keeping the volume slider maxed or near max while in game distorts the sounds. I usually keep it around 50% and use my headphone amp for the volume control. Either that or I vary in game volume levels, but I like to keep the X-Fi no higher than 50% (though it goes higher just fine).


You also may want to try not boosting any frequencies, rather attenuating frequencies all other frequencies.

 

[dukelord]

Thanks for the tips.

An additional question I had, if anyone can answer. I don't have a headphone amp. I understand the need for a headphone amp if your audio simply can't be driven any louder than to a decent level at max volume on your source audio device, but even after extensive reading, I don't understand what a headphone amp is supposed to do other than to make your audio louder. Does it actually allow you to boost bass frequencies for a good movie or hip-hop song or highs for some classical or general clarity? I would imagine the headphones themselves have physical limitations in frequency, and if I equalize my sound and turn the volume up, am I not meeting those limitations? Turning my sound up and making it loud is not really an issue.

This is probably more of a headphone amp question, though a more basic one. As I said, I've read up on amps, but having never personally owned one, I must be missing something here.

 

[cotdt]

what you need is not a headphone amp, because your headphone already gets plenty loud with the X-Fi's internal amp. what you need is a buffer, which an amp provides. this gives you the current needed to juice up the bass, treble, and increase dynamics. you will find that you no longer need to bass boost after using a buffer. since you can't buy a buffer commercially, you'll have to buy an amp.

 

[dukelord]

Thanks! I think that's the answer I was looking for. I'm also trying to learn from this as much as I'm searching for a solution to my problem. If anyone has any good links to how buffers work, I'd be interested to read on it. Also, I could use some suggestions on relatively inexpensive amps to pair with HD595s.

Again, thanks in advance.

 

[laxx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif what you need is not a headphone amp, because your headphone already gets plenty loud with the X-Fi's internal amp. what you need is a buffer, which an amp provides. this gives you the current needed to juice up the bass, treble, and increase dynamics. you will find that you no longer need to bass boost after using a buffer. since you can't buy a buffer commercially, you'll have to buy an amp.

Wowza, first post I've read not pushing the k701's down the OP's throat!

Ok, back on topic. When I was gaming pretty hardcore and using TS/Vent, my gaming community had a chat room where we'd join to adjust your mic volume so that everyone's mic was set the same. It was actually really great as we rarely had anyone sound like they're screaming. =T

For the gaming sounds, I usually had mine turned way down while I was on TS/Vent so that the game sounds don't take my attention away from TS/Vent. I'd advise doing this as well, unless you have the game sounds going to your speakers and TS/Vent to your headphone+mic/headset.

 

[Thelonious Monk]

a headphone amplifier is used to improve sound quality, but i can't see a headphone amplifier helping alleviate your situation; odds are the clipping is on their end, because their mouth is too close the a crappy mic. as long as it doesn't hurt your ears you're fine, the point where the hd595s start to clip is far greater than your threshold of pain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by laxx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wowza, first post I've read not pushing the k701's down the OP's throat!

cmon, cotdt has been a cool dude for months now!

 

[cotdt]

I am super cool!

 

[dukelord]

It's definitely on my end, probably because I equalized and boosted the bass up, trying to get the most out of the headphones without an amp. If I turn off the bass boost or equalization, the problem goes away. My question is whether or not I can achieve my current results and more using an amp without clipping or overdriving the headphones.

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukelord /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's definitely on my end, probably because I equalized and boosted the bass up, trying to get the most out of the headphones without an amp. If I turn off the bass boost or equalization, the problem goes away. My question is whether or not I can achieve my current results and more using an amp without clipping or overdriving the headphones.

yes. you actually want an amp that can overdrive the headphones. beleive it or not, this protects the headphone and amp at the same time.

 

[dukelord]

You totally confused me.. overdriving causes said popping with the sound, doesn't it?

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukelord /img/forum/go_quote.gif You totally confused me.. overdriving causes said popping with the sound, doesn't it?

that's probably your soundcard's internal amp running out of power. the headphones can make your ears bleed before melting.

 

[dukelord]

Awesome. Thanks for all the advice, cotdt. Still need any amp suggestions from anyone who can offer it.

 

[uraflit]

u don't need one. believe me!