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Topic: Earphones for surround sound? (Read 3431 times) previous topic - next topic
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Earphones for surround sound?

I've been looking into surround sound a little, not because I'm interested in home theatre, but because some of the classical SACDs I receive for review are said to offer surround sound (5.1 generally). I love my present auditioning setup and don't want to start over with new speakers and other equipment. Can't afford it for one thing. I keep hearing that an approximation of surround sound is available on some headphones, or on regular headphones with a device such as the JVC Surround Sound Headphone Adaptor SU-DH1. Does anyone know anything about this or any other headphone-based options?

Richard

Earphones for surround sound?

Reply #1 –
stereo is enough for any sound effect that normal human can hear unless you have more ears than normal human.

binaural stereo is probably what you're seeking:
http://b3liar.wrzuta.pl/audio/j6FzvdG7Ws/niesamowity_efekt

imo postprocessing wouldn't give any good results, only proper recording is desirable.

Earphones for surround sound?

Reply #2 –
There are 5.1 headphones, but the last time I bought a pair they weren't particularly good (read: rubbish). Zalman made some a while back, I presume it's still doing so. I can't comment on recent developments as I haven't listened to them, but as the headphones are aimed towards game players, I wouldn't put too much hope into them.

Said headphones aren't that expensive though, if that's your main concern.

Earphones for surround sound?

Reply #3 –
Quote
There are 5.1 headphones, but the last time I bought a pair they weren't particularly good (read: rubbish).
  Right!  Surround-sound headphones don't work because of the way we perceive sound-direction.

Quote
One of the most important factors in detecting the location/direction of a sound is head movement. But with headphones, the sound-source moves with your head and this removes much of the directional perception. When you move your head, your brain can "decode" the loudness changes, and maybe the phase changes. For example, if your head was clamped-down, you could tell if the sound is coming from the left or right, but it would be very hard to tell if sound was coming from right-front or right-rear. It would also be difficult to tell if a sound was coming from center-front, center-rear, or somewhere overhead-center! (Any center-sound is equal in both ears 'till you move your head.)

Most of the time, we are unaware of this slight head-movement, except we do sometimes turn to "see" where the sound is coming from, when we hear an unexpected sound. And, when there is a short- intermittent sound or rattle (i.e. in your car) you usually need to turn your head and wait for a 2nd or 3rd "reading" to zoom-in on where the sound is coming from...  And, you've probably noticed that animals turn their head slightly when they hear a sudden-unexpected sound.


P.S.
I've never listened to the JVC device or Dolby Headphone processing, so I can't say how well they work to create a surround-sound... illusion?

Earphones for surround sound?

Reply #4 –
[I keep hearing that an approximation of surround sound is available on some headphones, or on regular headphones with a device such as the JVC Surround Sound Headphone Adaptor SU-DH1. Does anyone know anything about this or any other headphone-based options?]


Are you familiar with Ultrasone headphones?  I have a pair and I really like them.  They are by far the best sounding headphones I've ever heard.  The one's I have are called Proline 750.  Ultrasone uses a technology they call "S-Logic Natural Surround Sound".  I won't try to explain it but if you go to their website, there is a very detailed explanation.  (ultrasone.com)
When using  ATSurround (a component of Foobar2000), there is negligible difference between when that setting is active and when it is inactive when listening with the Ultrasone headphones.  Actually, I've listened a lot comparing back and forth listening with ATSurround and the only difference I can detect is a slight lowering of volume when the ATSurround is inactive.  The sound stage and spatiality sounds very much the same. 
When using Dolby headphone and the Ultrasone Headphones versus using the 2-channel stereo setting with the Ultrasone Headphones, there is a difference in that there is more reverberation when using Dolby Headphone.  And there are different degrees of that reverberation depending on which Dolby Headphone setting is used.  There is some difference in spatiality (Ultrasone with stereo setting as compared to Ultrasone with Dolby Headphone setting).  One difference is that the center sounds, voices or what ever, seem to be more to the front WITHOUT the use of Dolby Headphone.  The comparison of the remaining spatiality aspects are probably somewhat negligible.  Either with or without Dolby Headphone, when listening through the Ultrasone headphones, it still sounds like surround sound.  Actually, when using the Ultrasone headphones, I prefer the regular stereo setting instead of the Dolby Headphone setting because it sounds more realistic to my ears. 
Good luck!