Need headset recommendation.

[st_dux 26]

Plus it has the directional speakers for true suround sound rather than the simulated sound you get from most others.

Headphones with more than two channels are a gimmick. There is nothing that you can achieve with "7.1 surround headphones" that you can't achieve with two channel headphones, provided that you have a decent soundcard.

[mosh 0]

Headphones with more than two channels are a gimmick. There is nothing that you can achieve with "7.1 surround headphones" that you can't achieve with two channel headphones, provided that you have a decent soundcard.

True but don't some headphones really have several different speakers on each side giving it more of a true surround sound?

Anyways, mine don't but I like them... Logitech 7.1 (simulated of course) G930. They sound good and they are wireless. The amount of damage I've done while getting up and walking away with headphones plugged in justifies the price.

But then again I only use headphones when I have need for a microphone, any other time it's true 7.1 blaring...

[st_dux 26]

True but don't some headphones really have several different speakers on each side giving it more of a true surround sound?

Some headphones do this, yes, but there's really nothing more "true" about it. You only have two ears. Strictly speaking, all surround sound is simulated -- simulated by your brain. Your ears take in sound from two sources, and your brain automatically dissects that sound and figures out where it came from based on subtle differences or cues in sound intensity and arrival time.

With speakers, having multiple channels makes a difference because the sound is coming from a location that is spatially separated from your ears. With headphones, however, the environment is completely controlled: All of the sound is being directed right at the source of your audio input, your ears. This means that software solutions are utterly adequate for emulating the differences in sound that lead your brain to believe that it's coming from various directions.

[DrunkenVeteran 10]

Logitech G35 Gaming Headset.

7.1 surround sound and i've never had a problem with it :D

I agree. Although I now want to buy new Desktop speakers. This headset sounds better then my BOSE Desktop speakers.

[Westsailor 10]

@ST Dux

I've never read any review that, bottom line, spoke well of "5.1 surround sound" headphones. At least with respect to effectively duplicating 5.1 surround sound for exactly the reason you mention.

[celery 8]

This video shows rather well how a sound card can give a perfectly decent surround experience for two-channel headsets.

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[CameronMcDonald 146]

Sennheiser PC350, due to the fact that:

a) USB headsets are truly homo, and

b) Surround sound on headsets are a waste of good sound fidelity.

[galzohar 31]

G35 have great quality and comfort (big enough to not press your ears). Mic quality is quite good. They're slightly heavy which might hurt the neck a bit after using them for a very long time without taking them off.

Those USB headsets may seem expensive, but when you consider how much a good sound card costs (which is not needed for those headsets, and even if you had one you'd still need to buy at least some semi-expensive headset anyway) you notice it's pretty worthwhile.

As far as I understand, though, if you want the best surround sound experience you just have to go with a good speaker setup and a good sound card (which will probably end up much more expensive than a G35 or similar).

[Nutlink 10]

I've owned a icemat Siberia, Medusa 5.1 Home Edition, a Tritton AX51 (not the updated Pro, the old green ones), Medusa NX 5.1, and my current set, a Fatal1ty MKII. The Siberia sounded great and lasted a while, but they hurt my ears after several hours of gaming. Usually not a problem, but I did a lot of LAN parties at the time, so I replaced them with the Medusas. The Medusa Home Edition was by far the best sounding of the bunch, but by far the cheapest build. They fell apart several times, and after the 4th time I was told I would have to send them to London for a replacement or fix. For the cost of shipping I managed to get the Trittons, which were probably the best ones overall from a price/performance ratio. I really have nothing bad to say about them, and they lasted about 2 years.

Once the Trittons gave up the ghost I decided to try my hand at the new Medusa NXs. HUGE waste of time and money. My first one came in with a defective rear right speaker. The second one came in with a dead mic. I had ot pay for shipping to send BOTH of them back, and it wasn't cheap. No way I'll be buying Medusa headsets again. My current set is the MKII. I bought them on sale as a replacement, and after using 5.1 for over four years I thought they wouldn't work for me. I was dead wrong. Sound card technology has been improved so much over the years that I'd gladly take this $40 set over the $120 Medusas. The sound difference is negligible, and I'd rather save that money for something else.

[Infam0us 10]

Sennheiser PC350, due to the fact that:

a) USB headsets are truly homo, and

b) Surround sound on headsets are a waste of good sound fidelity.

Well said that man, I myself have the 555's :)