5.1 Surround Headphone Hack!

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Headphones Sound Dolby Surround Make Build Easy Tips Tricks Tutorials Cheap Amazing Babblin5

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babblin5
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For less than $20, you can easily build a set of 5.1 surround sound headphones in about 10 minutes with fantastic sound quality!

Producer Rewards: Earned $393

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47 Comments | Add Comment
  • NOTES:

    The best part of this is that you can adjust the position of the earbuds for optimal sound. It's also surprisingly comfortable as the earbuds are small enough that they do not come in contact with your ears. I really expected that I'd have to do a lot more testing of different things to get the results I wanted, but this really works incredibly well! =)

    By babblin5 1193965357 Reply Spam [+12] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Gotta

    Give that a try!!!

    By instgtr 1193978036 Reply Spam [+7] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • What a great idea !

      Thanks for sharing, babblin5*****

      By LUCCHINA 1193986849 Reply Spam [+4] Moderate Up Moderate Down
      • to be honest

        I am not even sure if we really need to go to school to learn things!

        By sinisa10 1194167239 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
        • 5*****

          really good idea

          By intimate rush 1194115207 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
          • With 3 pairs of headsets ...

            .. be carefull with the volume, too much sound can be painfull for your hears.

            Nice idea. 5 star for you!

            By bacalhau_cnatas 1194057553 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
            • Very Cool 5 * * * * * "s

              Thumbs Up yall

              By Nickstar19 1194054397 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
              • well...

                this is probably to much voltage for an ipod to handle, but if you're worrying about fitting this into 1 jack, you could cut the ends off, find 2 wires from every one, connect the corresponding colors together and then solder them to one jack. this way, you can fit it into one jack. i might not be right on this. bablin, care to enlighten me?

                By poston 1194050058 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                • This is not a 5.1 Decoder

                  You have to have a decoder built in to your device that allows multiple speaker attachment, just like the home theater systems do. This is primarily designed to take advantage of a soundcard's ability to be used as a 5.1 decoder by routing the speaker channels through several jacks. I hope this clears things up.

                  By babblin5 1194072096 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
              • Nice

                Nice Work! 5star!!!

                By Lucky 13 1194041118 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                • Cool Video,

                  I need to try this one. Thanks

                  By fishin4daze 1194025118 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                  • Nice computer!

                    I have the same ;)

                    By Bunjabin 1193994571 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                    • But

                      there is only 1 audio out from laptop,pc, ipod, zune....So how can you plug 2 ends of the head phones to 1 hole ?

                      By vnstyle 1193985803 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                      • This works with

                        PCs with soundcards that support 5.1 surround sound via 3 seperate plugs. Some laptops (like mine) also have multiple plugs that allow this as well. You can also hook this into a surround sound TV system by using stereo to twin RCA adapters and plugging those into the speaker outputs ( but turn your sound all the way down, and then adjust them =)

                        By babblin5 1193973125 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                      • Um

                        How old/cheap is your pc to not have at least onboard surround? And you can always get card slot sound card for your laptop. If all else fails get a usb sound card.

                        By Doublevay 1196215046 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                    • i love it !

                      i made a pair and amazingly it's soooo cooolll i got an amazing sound i actualy turned down my 5.1 thinking the sound isnt from the headset ! 5stars this video really is awsome!

                      By akamakavely 1193979195 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                      • Nice video :)

                        Nice video 5/5

                        By nickhend444 1194392800 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                        • Did I miss a step?

                          Maybe I missed something. It does sound like it would sound great, but...... 5.1 means left front & rear (2 speakers), right front & rear (2 more speakers), a front center (1 more speaker), and the base channel (the .1). Some of the new systems are .2, meaning 2 subs. My own computer sound system is 4.2, and very similar setup to the computer as you are using here. Great idea, and sure it sounds great, but kind of lost out on the technical side, as you are making 6.0, also known as "flex wave" sometimes "bass reflex" sound.

                          By MJDick 1194210667 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                          • Ok, to make my own now

                            Wife just came back with the parts, so it's off to build my own pair right now. I think the first 10 seconds of the video won her heart over as she is the one asleep by 10, and I'm the one ready to watch LOTR befor bed. You ought to patent this ASAP. Bonus, it's quieter for the sleeping side, and the SNORING SPOUSE doesn't ruin the movie expreience.

                            By MJDick 1194212028 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                          • No, you didn't miss anything 8)

                            It is more 5.1 than 4.2, as the sub and center channel are shared by the main headphone's speakers. There are reports that some sound cards will split the centerchannel and subwoofer between the main left and right channel. If this is the case, either use a stereo to mono adapter plug OR just slightly pull the main stereo plug out slightly and you will get both sub and center on both headphone channels.

                            By babblin5 1194331845 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                          • MJD

                            First of all, did yours work? Second, a center speaker is picked up by both of your ears at the same time, same as bass. So the two main head speakers aren't that dissimilar as a center speaker. Same thing for the bass.

                            By REDMATRIX 1198148599 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                          • Yes, mine worked

                            I will say that it really works well, and the wife likes the better sleep due to my movie volume. Still stand by it being 4.2, which there is nothing wrong with. I've actually converted my home sound system to 4 subs, that put out more vibration then sound. this got me thinking and I'm trying to modify the main speakers of the headphones to a small virbra-motor to assist the effect, but problem has been the lower ohm and watt motors are not easy to find 2 that match.

                            By MJDick 1198183787 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                        • Nice tip!

                          Thanks!!!!

                          By hersheymagic2 1194200615 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                          • AWSOME

                            This really does work... proper cool!! thanks for the vid. Serious tho, Stop calling my wife (thanks kipkay)

                            By AidieThatBoy07 1194189885 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                            • 5 stars!

                              congrats! so pls don`t forget to come over and rate me as well1

                              By urzicutza 1194179644 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                              • HRTF

                                Since you only have two ears, you really only need two speakers/drivers. But to hear 5 channel with two ears you'd need to enable your software's HRTF feature.

                                * Head Related Transform Function

                                By JeffyPooh 1195919866 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                • 5 *'s

                                  for creativity.

                                  By betterskier 1194887494 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                  • NOT 5.1

                                    And for those of you who don't know what 5.1 surround sound is. 3 Speakers in the front, 2 in the rear, and 1 sub woofer.
                                    This setup has 2 front, 2 center, 2 rear. Not the same.

                                    By rnawky 1194586083 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                  • You only have two ears

                                    Or just realize that you only have TWO EARS, and that putting the different speaker elements right next to your ear is going to ruin the delay that you normally get from a surround sound setup.

                                    Instead, look into surround-sound processors that let you use a normal set of headphones with the TWO EARS that god gave you. Google "Dolby Headphone", "SRS Headphone", or "DTS Virtual". Or get one of the surround-sound headphone processors for Winamp, or other PC-based audio players.

                                    By interiot 1194485726 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                    • Quite true!

                                      And I've tested quite a few of them out actually. Many are 2x2 and split the center and sub by using the 4 speakers in tandem. They cost about $45. The more expensive ones use 3x3, just like these, except that they use plastic channels for better seperation. As to the ambiance of delay, simply use EAX or equivalent and select ROOM for your delay effect. The simulated Dolby 5.1 is pretty nice I admit, but I'm still partial to this setup, as it is the closest thing you can get to a real 5.1 speaker setup... =)

                                      By babblin5 1194629412 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                  • Cool

                                    I never think of this, 5 for you too

                                    By tycoyoken 1194077845 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                    • yeah great sound quality...

                                      and you will be deaf after the 3rd movie with these headphones

                                      By qfo 1194055319 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                      • You don't have to...

                                        Have it very loud to get the effect, and the overall decibles are significantly lower than in-ear headsets. I would never put out something that would be hazardous to use, which is why I take the time to thoroughly test my ideas before posting them, but I DO appreciate your concerns! =)

                                        By babblin5 1194063307 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                    • WWW.LL3RB.COM

                                      WWW.LL3RB.COM

                                      By LL3RB 1201545688 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                      • LL3RB.COM

                                        Thank You

                                        By LL3RB 1201489775 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                        • dammit

                                          i wanted to do this with my ipod

                                          By kenjimosher 1201010715 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                          • coolness

                                            so can't i just solder that earphone all together? That would throw off the rear, front sound though right? but since i don't have three different plugs in my computer how can i experience this 5.1 audio?

                                            By larchee 1199698755 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                            • awsome

                                              this is a great idea nice work im gunna try this oneim sick of cheap headphones all the time!

                                              By fuckyeahimover18 1196997162 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                              • i try it

                                                and it works just perfectly

                                                By vvr_1976 1194415746 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
                                                • not shure if i can make it

                                                  but i need ones
                                                  my doughter broke the ones that i had

                                                  By vvr_1976 1193983143 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
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