Audio advice if you please!

[Lex]

I have a really old TV - it supports HDMI but my PS3 will only work in HD with component cables for some bizarre reason. It displays my PC in HDMI using a HDMI cable though, I read up on it and apparently it has something to do with the PS3 using some HDMI security thing that my TV is too old to recognise.

Anyway, that's irrelevant. The TV has a shitty headphone jack that, with even the best quality headphones, just destroys the bass.

What I really want are true surround sound headphones (preferably with a mic) that'll plug into the optical output in the back of my PS3 for true 5.1/7.1.

I wouldn't mind getting a real surround sound system that has a headphone jack, then just using the stereo sound output of said system when I have to use headphones.

But I've been looking for ages and can't justify spending over £100 on a sound system atm. There are some half decent 5.1 systems out there built for PC, but none of them output true 5.1 from the PS3 because none of them have an optical out WHICH TOTALLY SUCKS WHY DO NONE OF THEM HAVE THIS!!!

Seriously, I'm not a huge geek for audio so I can't get my head round the fact that you can buy a decent set of Dolby certified Logitech speakers for about £50 but because it doesn't have that stupid optical out you have to listen in stereo. Very annoying. The only ones that seem to have optical out are the home cinema "all-in-ones" that almost always include a DVD or Blu-Ray player.

So I think a gaming headset is the best bet. I saw Trittons that are built for PS3/360 gaming that seem ideal, but because I'm poor I don't want to spend £99. Somewhere in the region of £50-75 would just be orgasmic.

Can anyone point me in the right direction or give me any advice in this area? It absolutely needs to have optical input for true surround sound audio, emulated does ma box in. A mic is also desirable, though not essential. I don't do online gaming on the PS3 much, and when I do I usually don't use the mic anyway.

 

[Cookie Monster]

From what I hear, the Astro A40s are the best of the best, but the price taking is fucking outrageous. Close to $300, iirc. I'd suggest you take a look at the Turtle Beach headsets. I know they used to have a set for $80, but they have created some new models since.

 

[Lex]

I might jump into a few places tomorrow and take a look. Curry's/PC World sometimes have deals on, I just need to know it'll be true surround sound. I don't see the point in splashing out on a new sound system without upgrading to some form of surround.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Yeah, at the prices most headphones of the sort go for, you might try and find an older surround system with Optic in and go with a proper 5.1 setup.

It might be over the original budget, but not necessarily by much.

 

[Ⓐaron]

I would never spend $300 or even $100 on a pair of headphones. I have broken every single pair of headphones I have owned, regardless of price, and nearly all of them were my fault. Right now all I have are a $13 pair of earbuds, and honestly, with my track record I'm not prepared to spend anything more. This is despite being probably the single most anal-retentive member of this forum about sound quality.

I'm with Ryu on this. Go for a good surround system. The stevehoffman.tv forums probably have loads of good recommendations; the people there know even more about sound than I do, and it's where I go if I need advice about something related to sound quality.

 

[Lex]

While I'm not a huge sucker for brands, I would prefer a proper speaker system. Having said that, I've been looking for ages and brand aside, I'd like something like your average Logitech 5.1 PC speakers... with optical in (does not exist for some bizarre reason).

Thanks for the forum recommendation, I'll check it out. But I've done extensive searches and all I've seen is people being told "I'd just buy a decoder amp and then buy speakers". That's all well and good if you've got the cash to blow.

At this point, I think I'm just going to have to buy second hand.