Ben Heck Audio FX Pro 5+1

mikaelp · Post by **mikaelp** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:42 pm

These headphones do NOT give surround sound. OK I have not cut them open to actually prove to myself that they do not contain more than one speaker per phone, but they sure don't sound like it. The bass boost is great and they sound great for music but do not try to tell me that they deliver surround sound.

Post by **bicostp** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:29 pm

You're using a surround encoded audio source, right? (Basically any feature film DVD, for starters.)

You're the first one I've seen to make such a complaint; usually people only complain about the soldering job's bad case of gremlins.

Here's an independent, unsolicited review:
http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/10668/31/

mikaelp · Post by **mikaelp** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:27 pm

[quote="bicostp"]You're using a surround encoded audio source, right?[/quote]

Yes - I play games - they all support 3d sound nowadays

Post by **bicostp** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:01 am

Have you tried a 5.1 DVD and a media player that can run all the channels?

Have you set any of your games to surround sound mode?

You should really be looking to eDimensional for help; it's all their hardware. Ben just designed the case for that headset.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:27 am

mikaelp wrote:
bicostp wrote:You're using a surround encoded audio source, right?
Yes - I play games - they all support 3d sound nowadays

Most games are still set to "stereo mode" even if you have a surround sound system hooked up to it. You have to manually set it.

mikaelp · Post by **mikaelp** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:06 pm

The leds on the sides of the phones never lit up when I ran the test program that came along with it and even with the damn test program I did not hear 3d sound. Look I sure as hell configured my games for pro logic obviously - only theres something wrong with the phones or theyre not surround phones. I have never ones seen the leds on the sides light up, maybe thats a sign that some drivers arent working??

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:37 am

...I didn't know of this project. I need to keep up with the front page more often.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:51 am

If you look at the packaging and website, it says they're virtual surround sound. They approximate real surround through two speakers through mixing.

When this effect works, it's not too bad.

mikaelp · Post by **mikaelp** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:29 am

[quote="bicostp"] [i]virtual[/i] surround sound. [/quote]

Theres no such thing as virtual f surround generated by two f speakers.

Thats just fake marketing. You mean to tell me that I bought a pair of stereo speakers and notheing more than that.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:20 pm

Hey don't get POed at me because you didn't read the box.

mikaelp wrote:Theres no such thing as virtual f surround generated by two f speakers.

Yes, there is such a thing as virtual surround sound. Like I told you, it mixes the surround speaker channels into the two stereo speakers in such a way that it tricks your brain into thinking it's surround sound.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_surround

If you don't believe Wikipedia, here's an article in Popular Mechanics.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technol ... 52292.html

Think about it. You only have two ears. If you had a pair of headphones but instead of headphones it had microphones, and you recorded the stereo sound and played it back on regular headphones the resulting audio would sound pretty immersive. (Look up 'Holophony")

Some examples of virtual surround (wear headphones):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5G3HUiscW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBK4aDfjbRY

HotDog-Cart · Post by **HotDog-Cart** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:58 am

Yes, there is virtual surround sound. I have a USB adapter which currently does this. Its built by Turtle Beach.

Heck, even bose and other companies offer a virtual surround sound system. Its 2 speakers, and emulates 5.1

I know this because I have one in my parents room.