Question for audio/receiver guys???

[kasey435]

Ok. I am very new to gaming headsets, and receivers.

So my setup.

Sony Bravia kdl w series 46 inch
Sony STR-DH800 receiver
PS3 slim
Xbox 360 slim

I have everything(xbox and ps3) hooked into the receiver via HDMI cable in the HDMI inputs. Then I have an HDMI running from output of the receiver into the tv.

Now i want to run a gaming headset, but before I buy, i'm wondering, whats the best way to hook it up?

Im looking at either the Turtle beach px21/x41 or the trittons 720. I noticed the px21 is rca cables. But the 41 and 720 are optical.

Can I just simply hook them into audio out of the receiver either rca or optical? Or is there more to it? And sorry for the stupid question. I tried to research, but yeilded no results. I found alot of info if hooking straight into a tv, but not a receiver. Is it the same thing?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Bonefork]

Not if you plan on using the mic, no. Unfortunately I have no idea how those headsets work, but the web sites should give you an idea based on what's in the box. I've only owned the Astro headset and that uses a "MixAmp" (a small box) that takes aux or optical, but I couldn't possibly recommend them, they're awful.

EDIT: On my receiver, you can only pass optical to optical, but mine doesn't have HDMI, so I don't know, again you have to check the user manual for your receiver. Some Xbox and PS3s have additional optical output on the back, so you could always either run those to the receiver and out from there, or plug it into the console itself if you don't have the extra wires. (/edit)

You should check your receiver manual to see if you have Dolby Headphone support.

I've considered many times slicing open a pair of cheap headphones and jerry-rigging my Xbox headset into it since my receiver has Dolby Headphone.

 

[kasey435]

Thanks for the reply back. I will look to see if my receiver does that. Im not really looking for chat, just a good headset that allows me to play at night, but gives good bass, and does (or simulates) surround sound.

Would it be better to just buy a decent set of headphones, and plug straight into the receiver?

 

[Bonefork]

Like I said, (I also just edited in a part for you), you gotta check and see if your receiver does the Dolby Headphones - that will make it "surround" sound. If not, normal headphones only do stereo.

If you get surround sound headphones they'll definitely have a sound processor halfway between the headset and the audio source.

 

[fatkrakr]

Your best bet would be to use the optical from the ps3. Youll have to switch back and forth in the xmb menu to use the reciever through hdmi though. Unless your reciever has optical.

 

[kasey435]

I dont think my receiver has dolby headphone output support. damn.

I belive my receiver does have an optical though. So maybe that will work.

 

[Bonefork]

Yeah, turns out it doesn't. It looks like newer receivers have a version Sony made to compete with Dolby called "Headphone Theater."

The receiver is going to give you a better sound quality than a little headphone mixer since it has DTS, an active EQ, and a hell of a lot less harmonic distortion; but on the other hand, it won't be in surround. Decisions, decisions...