Dolby Headphone

AblativE · 6th February 2006, 4:38 PM

In light of the thread about Holophonic and binaural sound, I was intrigued and discovered dolby headphone technology uses similar techniques to acheive directionaly sound when listening to a 5.1 track. http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html

Does anyone have any experience with dolby headphone and could recommend a good set of headphones for both movies and 5.1 DVD-A music listening that make good use of the "Sphere of sound" that dolby headphones creates (not all headphones create the illusion as well)?

I'm using the cyberlink powerdvd sound filter to utilise dolby headphone for ac3 tracks in windows media player classic and it sounds incredible. 5.1 music is so immersive you just can't listen to it any other way!

Snufkin especially, do you have any experience with dolby headphone? Which from your shop would provide the best dolby headphone experience?

Snufkin · 6th February 2006, 5:08 PM

Any decent open headphones work fine with Dolby Headphone.

I've had reasonable experience with it, I've found that in many cases a well mixed stereo track sounds great on open headphones..
Dolby Headphone support varies more at the source than on the headphones, just like Dolby Digita vs DTS; sometimes DD is better than DTS, so it pays to try both.

AblativE · 6th February 2006, 7:22 PM

I was reading that headphones made specifically for dolby headphone (like the pioneer DIR800C) have better surround effect so I assumed that some headphones may be better than others. However I don't want wireless and have no need for the base station. Would the MS-1s be a good choice?

Snufkin · 6th February 2006, 7:47 PM

Headphones "made" for dolby headphone generally just have a decoder in the base station, the headphones themselves often aren't that special.

I wouldn't personally pick the Alessandro MS-1 if they're primarily for movies, they have a narrower soundstage than some of the other open models. I'd say the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 would be a good choice

Morien · 6th February 2006, 9:01 PM

Hey Snufkin (or anyone else),

do you know of any decoder stations that don't come with headphones? I'd rather buy a pair seperate if possible.
I know JVC is coming out with an adapter in the US in March however I don't really want to keep replacing batteries on a portable device that won't ever be moved.
I'm wanting to use it for Xbox, Gamecube, etc.

Thanks
Morien

Snufkin · 6th February 2006, 9:38 PM

The only experience I've had with "surround sound" headphones that use a decoder, and therefore the decoders themselves, have left me fairly underwhelmed. Most of the time the "surround sound" label jacks the price up significantly for very little gain.

As I said before - in many cases a well recorded stereo track will sound great on headphones, surround sound or not. The "immersion" you get from the surround sound aspect is often done in a quick-n-dirty way (they add lots of reverb) and honestly isn't that great.

The PROPER dolby headphone/lake audio/holophonic/binaural stuff is quite rare unfortunately, so investing big in special surround sound headphones isn't worth it IMO. At least not until it catches on, which I don't see happening fast.

"5.1" headphones sell because most idiots think that more=better and that standard headphones "can't do surround sound" - it takes demos to convince people, which is effort, which costs time and money, which makes gimmicky "5.1" headphones easier to sell.

Morien · 6th February 2006, 10:32 PM

I've been advised to steer clear from the 5.1 headphones, but I've heard great things of Dolby Headphone, and, at Ablative's recommendation finally fiddled with it in Windvd last night with Saving Private Ryan and fell in love. The problem is however that I hate using my PC for movies, and it's too crap for newer games anyway, and so my options are restricted to my TV's dvd player, xbox and gamecube. I've seen some devices like the Pioneer SE-DIR2000C, Pioneer SE-DIR800C, and some smaller, lesser-known, crapper products (such as one by Technics). Those are perfect, however the price is jacked up considerably with the included wireless headphones. I'd just like the base unit without headphones so I can buy a pair, such as the Audio Technica ATH-AD700. Unfortunatley, the only product I've found that does this is JVC's newly announced portable adapter, but I'd prefer one that plugs into the wall.(Sidequestion to anyone who reads: is there such thing as a AA battery-AC adapter adapter?)

No headphone amps that you know of that do Dolby Headphone? Quite a few av recievers do it, but headphones are more often then not a mere afterthought with them and I don't want to spend that big for poor sq.

Thanks
Morien

Snufkin · 6th February 2006, 11:11 PM

To be honest it's not something I've researched much.

Basically the manufacturers need to stick a processor in the box and pay royalties etc to Dolby/DTS which costs a lot of money. This doesn't guarantee sound quality will be any good either, so while a ~$600 headphone amp will definitely improve the sound quality of most headphones, a (and I'm just pulling a figure out of the air here) ~$600 processor will only add surround sound effects without actually improving (if anything reducing) quality of sound.

AblativE · 7th February 2006, 11:16 AM

You're missing out snufkin, once you hear some 5.1 music or listen to saving private ryan with bullets flying around you, you'll be very interested in it! PM me if you want me to send you some 5.1 music converted to DH

Snufkin · 7th February 2006, 11:25 AM

I've heard it

cooks44 · 8th February 2006, 2:41 PM

One of the NEC notebooks I have here has Dolby Headphone included... Took it home when I was doing the initial build, just running through my basic Sony open ears - awesome stuff!!! Surprised I haven't seen it in more products though, Dolby licensing is a killer....

6th February 2006, 4:38 PM	#1
AblativE Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WA Posts: 290	Dolby Headphone In light of the thread about Holophonic and binaural sound, I was intrigued and discovered dolby headphone technology uses similar techniques to acheive directionaly sound when listening to a 5.1 track. http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html Does anyone have any experience with dolby headphone and could recommend a good set of headphones for both movies and 5.1 DVD-A music listening that make good use of the "Sphere of sound" that dolby headphones creates (not all headphones create the illusion as well)? I'm using the cyberlink powerdvd sound filter to utilise dolby headphone for ac3 tracks in windows media player classic and it sounds incredible. 5.1 music is so immersive you just can't listen to it any other way! Snufkin especially, do you have any experience with dolby headphone? Which from your shop would provide the best dolby headphone experience?

6th February 2006, 5:08 PM	#2
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	Any decent open headphones work fine with Dolby Headphone. I've had reasonable experience with it, I've found that in many cases a well mixed stereo track sounds great on open headphones.. Dolby Headphone support varies more at the source than on the headphones, just like Dolby Digita vs DTS; sometimes DD is better than DTS, so it pays to try both. __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au

6th February 2006, 7:47 PM	#4
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	Headphones "made" for dolby headphone generally just have a decoder in the base station, the headphones themselves often aren't that special. I wouldn't personally pick the Alessandro MS-1 if they're primarily for movies, they have a narrower soundstage than some of the other open models. I'd say the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 would be a good choice __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au

6th February 2006, 9:38 PM	#6
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	The only experience I've had with "surround sound" headphones that use a decoder, and therefore the decoders themselves, have left me fairly underwhelmed. Most of the time the "surround sound" label jacks the price up significantly for very little gain. As I said before - in many cases a well recorded stereo track will sound great on headphones, surround sound or not. The "immersion" you get from the surround sound aspect is often done in a quick-n-dirty way (they add lots of reverb) and honestly isn't that great. The PROPER dolby headphone/lake audio/holophonic/binaural stuff is quite rare unfortunately, so investing big in special surround sound headphones isn't worth it IMO. At least not until it catches on, which I don't see happening fast. "5.1" headphones sell because most idiots think that more=better and that standard headphones "can't do surround sound" - it takes demos to convince people, which is effort, which costs time and money, which makes gimmicky "5.1" headphones easier to sell. __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au

6th February 2006, 10:32 PM	#7
Morien Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 457	I've been advised to steer clear from the 5.1 headphones, but I've heard great things of Dolby Headphone, and, at Ablative's recommendation finally fiddled with it in Windvd last night with Saving Private Ryan and fell in love. The problem is however that I hate using my PC for movies, and it's too crap for newer games anyway, and so my options are restricted to my TV's dvd player, xbox and gamecube. I've seen some devices like the Pioneer SE-DIR2000C, Pioneer SE-DIR800C, and some smaller, lesser-known, crapper products (such as one by Technics). Those are perfect, however the price is jacked up considerably with the included wireless headphones. I'd just like the base unit without headphones so I can buy a pair, such as the Audio Technica ATH-AD700. Unfortunatley, the only product I've found that does this is JVC's newly announced portable adapter, but I'd prefer one that plugs into the wall.(Sidequestion to anyone who reads: is there such thing as a AA battery-AC adapter adapter?) No headphone amps that you know of that do Dolby Headphone? Quite a few av recievers do it, but headphones are more often then not a mere afterthought with them and I don't want to spend that big for poor sq. Thanks Morien Last edited by Morien; 6th February 2006 at 10:34 PM.

6th February 2006, 7:22 PM	#3
AblativE Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WA Posts: 290	I was reading that headphones made specifically for dolby headphone (like the pioneer DIR800C) have better surround effect so I assumed that some headphones may be better than others. However I don't want wireless and have no need for the base station. Would the MS-1s be a good choice?

6th February 2006, 9:01 PM	#5
Morien Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 457	Hey Snufkin (or anyone else), do you know of any decoder stations that don't come with headphones? I'd rather buy a pair seperate if possible. I know JVC is coming out with an adapter in the US in March however I don't really want to keep replacing batteries on a portable device that won't ever be moved. I'm wanting to use it for Xbox, Gamecube, etc. Thanks Morien

6th February 2006, 11:11 PM	#8
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	To be honest it's not something I've researched much. Basically the manufacturers need to stick a processor in the box and pay royalties etc to Dolby/DTS which costs a lot of money. This doesn't guarantee sound quality will be any good either, so while a ~$600 headphone amp will definitely improve the sound quality of most headphones, a (and I'm just pulling a figure out of the air here) ~$600 processor will only add surround sound effects without actually improving (if anything reducing) quality of sound. __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au

7th February 2006, 11:16 AM	#9
AblativE Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WA Posts: 290	You're missing out snufkin, once you hear some 5.1 music or listen to saving private ryan with bullets flying around you, you'll be very interested in it! PM me if you want me to send you some 5.1 music converted to DH

7th February 2006, 11:25 AM	#10
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	I've heard it __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au

8th February 2006, 2:41 PM	#11
cooks44 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 138	One of the NEC notebooks I have here has Dolby Headphone included... Took it home when I was doing the initial build, just running through my basic Sony open ears - awesome stuff!!! Surprised I haven't seen it in more products though, Dolby licensing is a killer....