audiophile vs 7.1 for gaming

[Red Harbinger]

Hey guys, trying to find a good headset for gaming, but cant come to choose between either a audiophile headset or 7.1, let me know what you guys think, also my budgets is 300 if that matters 

[Enderman]

Buy high quality headphones and add a modmic 4.0

[Aniallation]

Hey guys, trying to find a good headset for gaming, but cant come to choose between either a audiophile headset or 7.1, let me know what you guys think, also my budgets is 300 if that matters 

I'd say 7.1 for gaming, but look up reviews if you find a 7.1 headset you like and see if the surround actually works or is just a crappy gimmick

[Red Harbinger]

Buy high quality headphones and add a modmic 4.0

any suggestions on a exact headset?

[creativename]

I'd say audiophile. It boggles my mind that in CS:GO, I can hear footsteps other people can't, but I assume they just have crappy "gaming headsets" like a vengeance 1500/2100 or a kraken.

[OBEYSQUIRREL]

The 7.1 is simulated anyway, just get a nice pair of headphones and a mic like the others have said.

[rmac52]

Get a nice set of headphones and just use software 7.1 if you really want it.

[-MOBIUS-]

I have the Steelseries Siberia V2, and I think it's a pretty good 7.1 headset

[creatip123]

I have the Steelseries Siberia V2, and I think it's a pretty good 7.1 headset

 

Those are stereo headset. Any surround you hear come from software. 

 

Ok, here's the concept, for OP, and anybody else who may need it:

 

As far as surround goes, there are 2 common methods:

 

- Real surround, involving multiple channel audio signals, output to multiple ends. The only worthwhile implementation would be in multiple speakers placed in the right places. Those multiple drivers headsets are mostly gimmicks. Imagine strapping 8 satellite speakers around your head/ears.

 

- Virtual surround or fake surround, involving using software processed algorithms to simulate real surround into 2 stereo channels. This can be implemented on the:

 

- 3rd party software, like razer surround, sound card's sound engine/driver, or DSP dongle that comes with the headset

- built-in sound engines inside the games. Most people don't realize that the game they're playing, especially FPS, already got virtual surround implemented in it. In many cases, the games' built-in surround + 3rd party software = too much effects, giving bad results. Imagine eating a slice of sweet tiramisu cake, with maple syrup poured on it, while drinking strawberry shake. 

 

Virtual surround headsets are stereo headsets. They only got 2 channels. 

 

Headphones = headsets minus microphones. In other words, take 'audiophile headphones' (even those that are $1000+), clip on a mic, use it in a game with built-in virtual surround = surround headset

[EmeraldFlame]

Hey guys, trying to find a good headset for gaming, but cant come to choose between either a audiophile headset or 7.1, let me know what you guys think, also my budgets is 300 if that matters 

 

Get an audiophile set of cans. A good set of audiophile headphones, especially open designs, already have amazing soundstage and you can often locate sounds even without software. 7.1 headsets just have some software that throws some effects in, and you can get that same thing through software like Razr's surround, and many games have a special 'headphones' sound mode that does something similar through the game engine itself. For about $150 you can pick up a pair of Sennheiser 558's with a modmic 4.0 and that is an awesome setup.

[IdortMasterRace]

Surround sound on headphones is a gimmick. Complete waste of money. Get a proper pair of stereo headphones.

 

[MrGoat]

For sure audiophile headphones. I prefer them to even really nice speakers, personally.

 

For recommendations, I will always say the Sennheiser HD650. They're incredible.

 

You will also want to look into getting a DAC + AMP as well for the full experience. Have fun!

[TheGrapeEscape]

Imagine eating a slice of sweet tiramisu cake, with maple syrup poured on it, while drinking strawberry shake. 

 

Is it a bad analogy if I want one of those really bad now?

[Red Harbinger]

im looking at the beyerdynamic mmx 300's right now, and am pretty impressed, anybody got a second opinions on these?

[TSM WifiTrash]

Virtual 7.1 surround sound is crap (I've used Razer Surround and Logitech Gaming Software; they're both horrible!) I suggest getting a pair of audiophile headphones (Sennheiser, Audio Technica, etc.) and just add a ModMic 4.0 to it.

Oh, yea - I'd also try and add an AMP or ODA for the complete experience.

If you want surround sound, though, go with a speaker system.

[BoredErica]

Virtual 7.1 surround sound is crap (I've used Razer Surround and Logitech Gaming Software; they're both horrible!) I suggest getting a pair of audiophile headphones (Sennheiser, Audio Technica, etc.) and just add a ModMic 4.0 to it.

Oh, yea - I'd also try and add an AMP or ODA for the complete experience.

If you want surround sound, though, go with a speaker system.

ODA by itself will be more than his entire budget. Plus it's not even readily purchasable in a shop. O2 can do what the ODA does at a much lower cost in the large majority of cases, and even then a $99 Schiit amp is enough for whatever he needs.

 

 

OP:

Read FAQ, skip surround sound headsets and move on.

[smjpl]

Sennheiser HD558 would be a fantastic audiophile budget (approx $100) pair of headphones. Get a mod mic to go with them and you will be doing well. 

[Whit3Rav3n]

7.1 Headsets with multiple drivers physically can not give you surround sound so simulated surround is the right way to go.

[BaSkA]

What's your budget?

 

If you can live with a headphone + microphone separated, don't even consider getting a headset. 2.0 Stereo Headphones (Sennheiser, Beyerdynamics, AudioTechnica) will be bette than any pair of headsets within the same price range.

 

If you cannot live with a separated setup so you need to get a headset (like I do), don't bother with surround or stereo. Positional audio (which surround headsets supposedly is better for) does not show much difference whether you're using a 2.0 or 5.1/7.1 drives. There just isn't enough space for your ears to differentiate different drivers (physical or emulated/simulated by software) within an Over-the-Ear system. Seriously, both are just as good.

 

In my case, my 7.1 Virtual Surround headphone has many profiles for you to choose from. However, the Dolby Surround profile is not that good for music so I use the 2.0 Stereo one. After a while, playing different games for many days, I remembered I was still using the 2.0 Stereo profile and I just couldn't tell the difference. I could hear footsteps, explosions and whatnot and tell where it was coming from just as good as I was with the Surround profile.

 

TL;DR: I got a 7.1 headphone and rarely use that feature. The 2.0 Stereo does the job just as good, if not better.

 

When looking for your headset, just get what has a good build quality, decent sound quality and it's comfortable. Siberia V2, Vengeance 1500 and HyperX Cloud are all decent options. I have tried both the Siberia V2 and the V1500 and I like them very much. I'm not really a fan of leather pads so I can only say the HyperX Cloud has great reviews and it's worth checking out.

[Red Harbinger]

right now i've come down to either the ath ag1 or the beyerdynamics mmx 300, anyone know which one is better? also for everyone recommending the headphones + microphone setup any suggestions?

[Red Harbinger]

??????

[IdortMasterRace]

right now i've come down to either the ath ag1 or the beyerdynamics mmx 300, anyone know which one is better? also for everyone recommending the headphones + microphone setup any suggestions?

 

Why are you getting a headset? You are paying a premium for an attached microphone and some other gimmicky features.

 

Get something like the Audio Technica ATH-M50s, and a Blue Snowball.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVLUR86/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OO333Q/

 

Both an excellent sounding pair of headphones, and an excellent sounding microphone. You even have money left over, buy some Pop-Tarts or something.