7.1 Soundcard Vs. 7.1/5.1 Headsets

[TheHandsomeScone™]

As the title states i would like to know more about what would be best. for a good 5 years now i've been using Logitechs G35 and curently G930 headset which has amazing sound but the software is so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ that i am beginning to consider getting a new headset and a 7.1 soundcard.

I have never conisdered soundcards before now so it's a whole new world for me and frankly i don't know how it works to be precise.

If anyone know how does the surround sound compare when you use 7.1/5.1 usb headset or 7.1 soundcard and a jackstick headset (preferably high end both headset and soundcard) ?

Motherboard: B85-G43 GAMING

[Air]

Almost all surround sound headsets use virtual surround sound, there are very few with actual surround sound drivers(the physical kind, not the stuff you install).

Sound cards, in terms of surround sound, will only benefit speaker systems, seeing that headsets are either stereo and use a single 3.5mm jack or use (usually virtual) surround sound and plug in via USB(therefore, as a seperate audio device than the sound card).

I can't say I've ever seen a headset that used 2-4 3.5mm jacks for use with the surround output on a soundcard/motherboard I/O.

Also, your motherboard already has 3.5mm surround output. There will be no reason for you to get a sound card unless you're having technical difficulty, the drivers/software aren't very good, or the audio quality is too low for you.

[TheHandsomeScone™]

So all in all a soundcard may only optimize the soundquality in a headset which claims to have virtual surround sound? and the "surround sound" all depends on the headsets software?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If it is an Analog Headset, that relies on a Sound Card to do the work and is limited to whatever settings that has.

If it is USB Headset, this has its own sound chip/codec and drivers/software; and in no way uses any sound card.

[Azza ☠]

If going sound card...

GO VERY HIGH-END or not at all!

You want something with Dolby Digital or DTS surround upscaling, as they are support by many games, movies, and music. You get an overall high-quality experience. Done right, it sounds like the cinemas, but just gaming in front of the computer.

Box speakers and sub-woofer however can end up costing $1000s to connect up to your sound card via digital optical cable. Consider it like an entertainment system you would connect to the TV. You are pretty much creating a theatre system at this point. You could start off with just 2.1 and build up later down the track. This gets into audiophonic levels of audio, if done right.

If connecting a Heatset, it's cheaper... but there's very few which do a good job. It's better to actually get audiophonic headphones and a separate microphone such as a Snowball, etc. Even a 2 speaker budget headphone can sound great and in surround with pin point accuracy, with Dolby Digital upscaling. Remember you only have two ears, two large speakers is better than 5 small crappy ones.

Avoid USB if you have a sound card (use the jack and/or digital optical), get USB if you have a crappy or no sound card. A USB connection will bypass the sound card completely and use it's own builtin one (good or bad - mostly virtual).

[TheHandsomeScone™]

I was considering the Senheiser Game ONE, PC363D (7.1) or G4me Zero actually.
So if i was to go with an analog headset that isn't described as a 5.1 or 7.1 headset would a 5.1/7.1 soundcard make it sound like propper surround sound or is it just a gimmick of some sort.

Of all the "surround sound" headsets i've tried Logitechs G35/G930 are the only ones that have sounded extremely good to me.

I think what i'm trying to figure out is would a soundcard make stereo headset sound like a surround sound headset.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Any Analog Stereo Headset can be run under "Virtual Surround / 5.1 mode" via the Sound Card, yes. As that is basically a must for certain games / movies to sound "correct"

For the most part that is what most 5.1/7.1 Surround Sound Headsets do anyways, via the onboard sound chip, allowing u to switch between Stereo and Surround via the Switch/Volume Control integrated onto such headsets. Not all Surround Sound Headset have those extra physical drivers/speakers inside; some do and those are the ones to stay away from since they are packing smaller speakers into an already small space, like a 40mm for the main coupled with extra 20 or 30mm drivers to act as the extra surround sound; those sound horrible. A quality Stereo headset with 50mm or larger drivers inside able to pump up a good range of hi / mid / bass would be the way to go.

Through your Sound Card Software Settings and Equalizer, or through other free software (such as Razer Surround) u can enhance any Stereo Headset for both 2 / 6 / 8 channel sound.

[TheHandsomeScone™]

Hmm, might go for one of those Sennheiser ones then and see from there.

[GloriousDuck]

Please don't go for true 5.1/7.1 surround sound headsets. As the previous reply has said, they are usually just using several crappy drivers instead of two good ones. The drivers are also too close to your ears to make a difference. You can try search youtube for "virtual barber shop" with any stereo headphones and they'd work as well as a 5.1/7.1 if you want to test out audio positioning.

[TheHandsomeScone™]

Originally posted by General Disarray:

Please don't go for true 5.1/7.1 surround sound headsets. As the previous reply has said, they are usually just using several crappy drivers instead of two good ones. The drivers are also too close to your ears to make a difference. You can try search youtube for "virtual barber shop" with any stereo headphones and they'd work as well as a 5.1/7.1 if you want to test out audio positioning.

Thanks for the idea. I might just try that out then :)

[PimWL]

You can also buy a Sennheiser one like the hd6, it is a really nice one.

[Kreedz]

Good idea !