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The Medusa is a 5.1 Surround Sound headset, not the skinny sort used by call centres or for speech software - although the box claims it is ideal for the latter - but the older style type with padded earpieces like those currently worn by people working in noisy environments.

Firstly what do you need to use the Medusa Headset. Either a 5.1 soundcard or something like a standalone DVD player. It could be indirectly connected to a games console via a 5.1 system amplifier.

So what is in the package. You get the Medusa Headset in the top half of the box with the bottom containing the power adapter, a very large bag of gold plated leads and plugs and amplifier box to plug leads and the Headset into. The amplifier box has both 5.1 input and output sockets.

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You - like me - may wonder how a headset can produce 5.1 sound as there are only two earpieces. In fact there are four speakers in each earpiece. The rear speaker for signals from behind, front speakers for signals from front, centre speakers for signals from ahead and subwoofer for bass sounds. 

There is a CD/DVD switch that should be used when connecting to either of these products, be careful to have CD when connected to CD player and DVD for DVD player.

Of the six English pages in the manual two relate to connections and clear diagrams show where the supplied leads should go. There are also instructions to cover the connection of the headset microphone but I feel I would not last long using speech software with this headset as I found it hot on the head when connected for any length of time.

The weight of the unit is explained by the four speakers in each earpiece. An hour or so is about as much as I could stand but to be fair I have always detested anything covering my ears and with most MP3 players after around an hour my ears complain with earbuds as they seem too big for my ears. I see thousands of people quite happily using earbuds for hours on end so it must be my ears.

Any parent would probably rejoice if their son or daughter was happy to use the Medusa as they probably do not appreciate the choice of music of DVD of their offspring. I rarely go the cinema today but when I do I notice that volume levels seem a lot higher than they used to be. A nice new feature is the superb surround sound and I remember ducking when I was sure a bullet was coming my way from the side during a battle sequence.

To a thankfully - more limited - extent the Medusa headset can give this effect and perhaps to watch a DVD using a standard TV without extra speakers could be the utopia. The cost of the headset is a reasonable £44.99 and I suspect it will be something for the younger user not only for the weight but also having the ear drums to stand the pounding a recent DVD can deliver with the 5.1 soundtrack. If you watch DVD's on your PC then the headset could also be of use if only for the benefit of those not watching.

Link : http://www.meroncourt.co.uk/prodview/141