Quad Headphones

[mmann68]

Curious what folks who have had them think about quad headphones. Kind of looking for thoughts in general on quad cans, and also would love to hear what people might think were the best specific examples of them. Do people think they are worth seeking out? I have a QRX-5500. Quad headphones haven't been a priority, but I am curious. And when you're curious, you guys are the people to go to. Thoughts? And thanks.

 

[1tumbleweed]

Back in the day, I must have had four or five different pair of quad 'phones. Koss, Superex, Telephonics, others I can't remember. The only ones that remotely gave a surround effect were the Telephonics, but they otherwise sounded terrible.

The Koss K2+2 and the Superex sounded OK, but no discernible quad effect.

As far as I was concerned, the only sensible reason for quad 'phones was to monitor all four channels at once when I was recording bands with my various TEACs.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.

 

[Cruzah]

I don't really know...But I know who does.

http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?7155-Opinion-wanted-Quad-Headphones

I guess we'll learn together...Yep Yep!

 

[RamblinE]

The modern equivelent would be listening to binaural recordings on a pair of regular cans.

 

[transmaster]

Back in the day I had a set of Koss Quad headphones and like 1tumbleweed I was hugely disappointed. As RamblinE points out binaural recording for headphones is what gets you the (3D) surround sound. What I have always found interesting is binaural environmental recordings in so many cases are more vibrant, and spell binding then musical recordings. I have posted this link else where but you can see what I mean.
https://soundcloud.com/groups/binaural-recording

mman68 the place to find out about modern surround headsets, not headphones, is from gamers they use them in participatory shooters games where you literately have to be able to hear the enemy sneaking up on you from multiple directions. Turtle Beach builds such a headsets
http://www.turtlebeach.com/product-detail/call-of-duty-headsets/ear-force-tango/27
At the gaming forums you will get almost abusive reviews on such equipment these people are happy with nothing so in a review if they don't call for a contract hit on the designer of a piece of gear that is tantamount to an unsolicited testimonial. The Turtle Beach wireless surround headsets get generally good reviews but there are complaints about their fragility. I guess they don't take kindly to getting dashed against the floor and stomped on when a Halo warrior gets surprised and killed. :cry::grumpy:, ...........

 

[mmann68]

Thanks for the comments, all. Much of this confirms what I've heard regarding quad headphones. That they're not usually much to write home about. Thanks for your post, transmaster, regarding the gaming headsets. That's food for thought. I'm still going to keep my eye out for something at some point down the road, but it will stay on the back burner.

 

[SoundsAlike]

I had a pair when I had a monster Sony SQR-8750. I had a pair of JVC 9944's. I thought they did the job of quad playback but the sound quality was underwhelming. A decent stereo can will stomp the best quad cans, imo.

 

[hank520]

I have a pair of Pioneer quad headphones (don't remember the model #, but probably not TOTL). I should try them with some modern SACD or DVD-Audio recordings (using pseudo center, obviously) and see if they do anything. Definately not super hifi in stereo. I think the only difference is 4 drivers instead of two. Wish I could tell you more, but don't have a Quad source to drive them. Cheap buy from the GW. Worth the couple of bucks, for nostalgia sake, if nothing else!

 

[transmaster]

These Creative Sound Blaster Omega 3D wireless headsets I have are interesting it doesn't sound like the sound is coming from the headsets I keep lifting the cans off of my ears to make sure the speakers aren't going. At first I was disappointed with them I though $200 dollars down the tube, not anymore these are the best headsets/headphones I have yet owned. I find myself curious with the real 7.1 headsets are they any good. Kind of expensive to find out.

 

[mmann68]

Interesting to read the cross section of comments about the old headphones that were made specifically for quad versus the newer surround type headphones. Sounds like companies back in the day likely didn't put a ton of effort and technology into the cans they were putting out. Quad never really caught on, so we're left with some underwhelming stuff headphones wise from the old days, I guess. I will confess to not being a gamer, and never really having had any real surround sound theater type set up, I haven't listended to the newer headsets. Have to give them a listen. In the mean time, as hank520 said, I'll keep my eye out for something cheap just for nostalgia and to be able to plug into both headphone jacks.

 

[Coastsider]

For surround sound I've used a pair of Pioneer SE-DIR800CII IR wireless headphones for many years and they are pretty amazing. Small transmitter connects via toslink to source and headphones require only two rechargeable AA batteries which you can recharge in a small charging station in the transmitter and they operate over a surprisingly wide range without any breakup. Pretty good for relatively old technology.