Eight 5.1- And 7.1-Channel Gaming Headsets, Reviewed
Table of contents
- 1. Surround Sound Headsets? Come Out With Your Ears Up!
- 2. Arctic Sound P531
- 3. Cooler Master CM Storm Sirus
- 4. Corsair Vengeance 1500
- 5. Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma
- 6. Logitech G35
Surround sound headsets are often more practical than a home theater system attached to your PC. We compare eight premium models from Arctic, Psyko, Cooler Master, Logitech, Creative, Thermaltake, Corsair, and Razer to figure out who sells the top option.
If you live alone as a carefree bachelor or bachelorette, a powerful surround sound speaker system attached to your gaming machine is the ultimate way to enjoy the latest AAA blockbusters. Positional audio is a beautiful thing. Not only does it add to the entertainment factor, but it also helps you along, feeding audible cues from the environment, revealing an enemy's position, and delivering the soundtrack that intensifies before an important action sequence.
Unfortunately, the reality of roommates, family, and even apartment living make it difficult to crank the volume up on a full-scale surround sound configuration without annoying everyone around you (particularly if you game at night). The solution for most enthusiasts is a headset. In addition to bringing the action in closer to your ears, a headset simultaneously arms you with a microphone, perfect for coordinating with a team or trash-talking opponents.
A lot of PC peripheral vendors are taking their first steps into audio. We're putting eight premium headsets through a vigorous testing regimen to quantify the good, bad, and ugly of "multi-channel" personal audio. Some of these devices truly facilitate 5.1-channel surround sound using discrete drivers. Others employ software-approximated virtual 7.1-channel surround sound to get the job done. How effective are they all at achieving their purpose? Let's have a look at specifications before going into detail on each product:
| True 5.1-Channel Headsets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Sound P531 | Psyko Carbon | Cooler Master CM Storm Sirus | |
| Surround Type | True 5.1-Channel | True 5.1-Channel | True 5.1-Channel |
| Center Speakers | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Sensitivity: 108 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 30 mm Output Power: 200 mW | Driver unit: 30 mm (measured) | Frequency response: 10- 20k Hz Sensitivity: >105 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 30 mm Gross specs for Headset |
| Front Speakers: | Frequency response: 18-20k Hz Sensitivity: 100 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 40 mm Output Power: 400 mW | Driver unit: 30 mm (measured) | Frequency response: 10-20K Hz Sensitivity: >105 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 30 mm Gross specs for Headset |
| Side Speakers | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Sensitivity: 108 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 30 mm Output Power: 200 mW | Driver unit: 30 mm (measured) | Frequency response: 10-20k Hz Sensitivity: >105 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 30 mm |
| Subwoofer | Frequency response: 10-400 Hz Sensitivity: N/A Impedance: 8 Ω Driver unit: 27 mm Output Power: 600 mW | 40 mm (measured) | Frequency response: 10-20k Hz Sensitivity: >105 dB Impedance: 16 Ω Driver unit: 40 mm Gross specs for Headset |
| Microphone | Sensitivity: 39 dB ± 3 dB Impedance: 2.2 KΩ Driver unit: 9.7 x 5 mm | Not provided | Uni-directional Frequency response: 100-10k Hz Sensitivity: -46 dB ± 3 dB Impedance: <2.2 KΩ |
| Inputs | USB | Analog | Analog or USB |
| Cable | 3 meters | 2 meters headset, 1.7 meters amplifier | USB: 3.4 meters Analog: 2.1 meters |
| Control Pod | Volume, microphone mute, surround channel levels | Volume, bass, and power on inline amplifier; mic can be turned off by removing it from headset | Power, volume, microphone mute, and surround levels on tactical mixing console (software-only controls with analog); auto-mute on retractable mic boom |
| Software Settings | input/output channels, environment effects, equalizer, voice effects | N/A | Volume control, speaker settings, sample rate, EQ, environmental FX, 7.1 virtual speaker shifter, Flex Bass II, mic volume/sample rate/voice effects |
| Weight | 13.1 oz | 1 lb 1.4 oz | 13.3 oz |
| Accessories | Driver disk, setup sheet | Amplifier, owner's manual | Tactical mixing console, analog cable, second set of ear pads, quick start guide, software download link |
| Price: | £50 on Kikatek | UK pricing not available | ~£105 from Aria |
| Warranty | Two years | One year, limited | Two years, limited |
| Virtual Surround Sound Headsets | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logitech G35 | Creative Tactic3D Sigma | Thermaltake eSports Shock One | Corsair Vengeance 1500 | Razer Megalodon | |
| Surround Type | Virtual 7.1-Channel Dolby | Virtual 7.1-Channel THX TruStudio Pro | Virtual 5.1-Channel DTS Sensation | Virtual 7.1-Channel Dolby Pro Logic IIx | Virtual 7.1-Channel Maelstrom Audio Engine |
| Center Speakers: | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Impedance: 32 Ω Sensitivity: 90 dB Driver unit: 40 mm Neodymium magnet | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Sensitivity: 105 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 50 mm Neodymium magnet | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Impedance: 32 Ω Sensitivity: 114 dB ± 3 dB Max. input: 100 mW Driver unit: 40 mm | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Sensitivity: > 105 dB Impedance: 32 Ω Driver unit: 50 mm USB power consumption: 250 mW | Frequency response: 20-20k Hz Impedance: 32 Ω Sensitivity: 102 dB ± 4 dB Max. input: 200 mW Driver unit: 40 mm, Neodymium magnets |
| Microphone: | Unidirectional Frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 KHz Sensitivity: -42 dB Test conditions: 3.0 V, 2.2 KΩ | Noise-canceling condenser Frequency response: 100- 18k Hz Sensitivity: -41 dB Impedance: <2.2 KΩ | Bidirectional Noise-cancelling condenser Impedance: 2.2 KΩ Frequency response: 100-10k Hz Sensitivity: -45 dB ± 3 dB | Unidirectional Noise-cancelling condenser Frequency response: 100-10k Hz Sensitivity: -44 dB ± 3 dB Impedance: 2.2 KΩ | Unidirectional Noise-cancelling condenser Frequency response: 50-16k Hz Sensitivity: -37 dB (user adjustable) |
| Inputs: | USB | Analog or USB | USB | USB | USB |
| Cable: | 3.05 meters | 2 meters | 3 meters | 3.2 meters | 3.3 meters |
| Control Pod: | Volume, surround toggle, and mic mute on-ear; auto-mic mute also on rotating mic boom | Volume and mic mute | Power, volume, mute, mic mute, illumination, and control lock | Volume and mic mute | Surround toggle, surround levels, bass level, volume, mic mute/sensitivity/level |
| Software Settings: | Programmable G-keys, equalizer, surround mixer, voice FX | Sound levels, THX controls, equalizer, Voice FX, appearance | Environment effects, equalizer, levels, surround controls, timer | Levels, equalizer, surround controls | N/A |
| Weight: | 12.3 oz | 10 oz | 11.2 oz | 11.4 oz | 8 oz |
| Accessories | Three swappable headband pads, quick start guide, CD with software | THX TruStudio Pro dual-mode USB adapter, quick start guide (software download link) | Set of cloth ear pads, velvet carrying bag, quick install guide, driver disk, warranty card | Warranty guide, (software download link) | Storage case, certificate of authenticity, master guide, quick start guide, product catalog |
| Price | ~£100 on Amazon | £65 on Play.com | ~£61 on Amazon | £75 on Amazon | ~£118 on Amazon |
| Warranty | Two years, limited | One year, limited | Two years | Two years | One year |
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Argh... No Roccat?
Would be great if did this for Wireless headsets next
Perfect timing on this. My current headset needs replacing.
No Roccat... shame!!!
Their headsets are fantastic. I Have the Roccat Kave 5.1, they are very well built & comfortable & sound quality is very good indeed.
Any known conflicts with soundcard drivers either Asus or Creative? I went for Creative for both to ensure this didn't happen, but would like to upgrade my Sound Blaster Arena headset.
I wonder how these things compare to a proper (similary priced) stereo headset with virtual surround enabled through your soundcard drivers or stuff like THX TruStudio.
I had to do all this about 2 years ago. 5.1 headsets were not that great then and you didn’t have this much choice. I'm not an audiophile and got by with basic bits for years.
Here is what I spent my limited budget on:
First - I bought a Xonar 5.1 sound card with a few processing features. Creative had bad driver press at the time. Had no problems with the Xonar.
The soundcard upgrade made a HUGE difference. Even with cheap headphones. I wouldn’t use motherboard based sound again. Look into upgrade this (any brand) before getting headphones.
Second, I bought a decent pair of stereo headphones. You get more bang for your buck over 5.1s, especially around the £100 mark. I bought Grado 80i and will buy a more expensive pair if I break the current set.
On holiday in Japan I tested out over 50 headphones sets in a huge shop. The range of comfort and ear heat was extreme. Sound fidelity tended matched price.
5.1 wireless 2.4Ghz didn’t start to get good until the £300 mark. These were great
Pioneer SE-DRS3000C Wireless. I’d have tested an older model. But you’ll love them!
My soundcard can do all the 5.1 processing and no matter how much it isn’t like a speaker setup.
I spent around £150 on sound card and Cans, which is a lot. But I do get really good sound for music and other non 5.1 things.
My advice - You’ll be wearing these for 1000s of hours. Get a comfortable pair!
this is a great article
Arctic P531 won't disappoint I swear on my honor - I got both Logitech Wireless version and they don't render the sound as good as the Arctic Sound. All virtual headset I tried had unnatural sound coming out of them.
If you are on the cheap, Google "Somic E95" (which is the Original model of the p531 sold by Arctic Sound and can be purchased around 40-50$ shipping included in some places). Enjoy!
P.S Roccat (not listed here) are good too but are not resistant enough...