5.1 headphones for computers don´t provide great sound quality and they don´t stand comparison with standard classic stereo headphones like the HD-212 costing approximately $50. Sound is flat and saturation becomes obvious with small increases in volume. Putting the qualitative aspects aside, we will now review 5.1 function and see if there is any advantage to the presence of several speakers for the user.
Indeed stereo headphones are at least as efficient as a 5.1 speaker set in reproducing sound ambiance. This is especially true for games. It is due to the excellent stereo effects of headphones and a perfectible stereo image for computer speakers. And all 3D sound standards like DirectSound 3D and EAX have been designed to designate a 3D positioning with stereo systems. Algorithms used when activating the "headphone" parameters are tried and true and provide a simple but efficient sound ambiance with a correct 3D positioning.
We have made a few comparative tests withRightMark 3DSound in order to compare a quite good 5.1 headphone (the Zalman ZM-RS6F) to a stereo headphone of comparable price (Sennheiser HD-212).
For this test we used a Creative labs Audigy 2 sound card with the following parameters:
- 5.1 ZM-RS6F headphone: sound card parameters and Windows XP on 5.1 mode
- HD-212 stereo headphone: sound card parameters and Windows XP on headphone mode
The results were quite disturbing as it is difficult to decide during the first hearing the best sound positioning between the two of them. The ZM-RS6F provides a better sound spatialization and the feeling of surrounding sound is noticeable more significant. However the HD-212 had excellent results, mainly with positioning accuracy of sound sources in motion. The sound restitution of a stereo headphone is better when rotating around an object than with a 5.1 headphone. Transitions made by algorithms and used with DS3D and EAX are more subtle and progressive than with a 5.1 headphone and the 5.1 activated mode. Technically, 3D sound restitution is better with stereo headphones than with 5.1 headphones. If you add to the equation the better sound quality of stereo headphones, the result seems quite obvious.
If 5.1 headphones don´t bring any vital improvements to games, what about for movies? Indeed, in that area, the EAX or the DirectSound 3D won’t be of any help to the stereo headphone (except for the Creative Labs CMSS 3D which is an EAX component). We have compared the results of the ZM-RS6F connected in 5.1 and using the Audigy 2 5.1 decoding and the results of the HD-212 connected in stereo, using else the headphone sound card mode or else the Dolby Headphone technology integrated to Power DVD and WinDVD software in full version.
Dolby Headphones use a technology developed dedicated to headphones. This technology emulates surround sound on simple stereo headphones. For that, Dolby Headphones use a specific algorithm allowing virtual sound spatialization. It is included via software modules in the main DVD applications like Power DVD or WinDVD. It should be selected in the audio parameters to work correctly. It is then possible to access several configuration types emulating different spatialization: DH1 Small Room, DH2 Conference Room, DH3 Movie Theatre Model. Below the pictures of the Power DVD dedicated software solution.
The CMSS 3D is an owner technology integrated to Creative Labs sound cards. It uses the EAX routines and the DirectSound 3D to emulate a 4.1, sound from any stereo sound sources. It is very efficient but differs from the Dolby Headphone by using stereo sources and not 5.1 sources like the Dolby Headphone.
Here the 5.1 headphones give a rather convincing result due to the immersion impression provided by the numerous headphone elements and even if it lacks of precision with the positioning effects. The stereo headphone combined with the Dolby Headphone technology provides a smaller image but is able to relatively a have good effect restitution. It has to be noted that Dolby Headphone isn´t very good at providing sound located only at the back of the listening position. The Creative Labs CMSS 3D is a little bit more comfortable with this type of effects. The result is more than convincing and is close to the result provided by the 5.1 headphone. And once again if the qualitative aspects are added, we realise that is more appreciable to watch a movie with stereo headphones and the Dolby Headphones technology than with a 5.1 headphone.
