Head 2 Head A showdown among natural PC competitors
THIS MONTH: Surro und-Sound Headphones!
W
hen we heard about headphones capable of
replicating the surround-sound effect of 5.1- or
6.1-channel speaker systems, we donned our
hip boots and prepared to wade into some deep BS. But
after listening to a couple sets—wireless, no less—fromPioneer and Sony, we put our boots back into the closet.
Neither product is cheap; in fact, both of these sets cost
more than a high-end 5.1 PC speaker rig. Can either of
these puppies live up to their hype—and their price tags?
Let’s find out.
—STEVE KLETTPIONEER SE-DIR800C
20 MA XIMUMPC MAY 2005
Accurate, natural surround effects; comfortable
design; integrated battery charger; a good price.5.0.
Only one optical-in, and no auto on/off. Slow
battery recharge.
$400, http://www.pioneerelectronics.comMA XIMUMPCVERDICT 8
Sound processor: Both
models consist of a wired
transceiver that receives
an input signal from a
source and beams the
audio (via infrared)
to one or more pairs
of wireless, battery-
powered headphones.
Pioneer’s transceiver
features two digital
inputs (one optical, one
coaxial) and one analog
input (stereo RCA).
A front-panel switch
selects the active input.
The receiver is outfitted
with decoders for Dolby
Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II,
and DTS. It re-encodes these
signals into two channels,
which replicate the acoustic
effect of five speakers plus a sub-
woofer. There are also three listening
options that replicate the acoustic
effects of a recording studio, a living
room, or a movie theater/concert
hall. These are all solid specs, but
Sony’s transceiver offers this and
more. Winner: Sony MDR-DS800 0Headphones: The soft, generously padded
earmuffs are a closed design that’s very
effective at eliminating background noise,
such as the hum of a nearby PC. The infrared
receiver provides clear, crisp signals devoid of
interference at the maximum stated range of
26 feet, as long as you stay in line of sight of
the receiver. Beyond that distance, we expe-
rienced drop-outs and interference. Although
the phones are a bit bulky, the double-banded,
self-adjusting headband remains comfortable
after several hours of continuous use. We
really like the easy-to-reach volume control on
the right-hand headphone case. The phones
are powered by two rechargeable AA batteries
(included, with the charger housed inside
the transceiver) that provided several days of
heavy use on a single charge; unfortunately,
the set does not have an auto on/off function.
Winner: Sony MDR-DSPerformance:
The 800Cs churned
out very believable surround-
sound effects with movies, music, and games in both living-room and
home-office use. Directional audio cues, such as the ricocheting bullets
in Saving Private Ryan , sounded truly “out of head.” Having said that, sur-
round effects do sound “closer” than they would with an actual 5.1-channel
system (this is also true of Sony’s set). Still, the Pioneer 800C provided the
best 5.1 effect we’d ever heard in a set of headphones; that is, until we tried
Sony’s product. Winner: Sony MDR-DS