Every gamer desires to have a complete and fantastic gaming experience. When you buy a Blu-ray copy of a movie, you expect the audio to be superb. Thus, you switch your sound system on. If you are living a carefree life as a bachelor or bachelorette, you set your sound system to its highest possible volume and enjoy gaming or watching a movie until your eyes and mind give up. A great surround sound system is wonderful. It turns your entertainment activities into a positively addicting habit. It also improves audible cues that will make you feel as if you are in the game you are playing or movie you are watching.
However, there are gamers and movie lovers who have the company of roommates, or family members. Others are living in apartments or loft where a neighbour is just a wall away. Unless these people would want to be entertained with whatever you are playing or watching, you cannot enjoy your sound system in its full capacity. There is one remedy left for you now, to use a reliable pair of 5.1 headphones with surround sound technology.
How surround sound works on 5.1 headphones
Similar to a surround sound system, 5.1 headphones have several discrete speakers sophisticatedly hidden in each ear cup. These speakers are responsible for the different channels of sound which give every pair of 5.1 headphones that surround sound.
Earlier versions of surround sound headphones are quadrophonic. This means that the headphones only have four channels. Today, the popularity of 5.1 and 7.1 headphones continue. 5.1 headphones, by the name itself, have five main channels: front left, front right, surround left, surround right, and centre. The .1 pertains to the subwoofer. On the other hand, 7.1 headphones have seven main channels: front left, front right, surround left, surround right, rear left, rear right, and centre. The .1 pertains to the subwoofer. These surround sound headphones remedy the concern of having unnatural and detached sound when watching a movie or playing a game.
Top rated true surround 5.1 headphones
Every game and every movie have their own way of maximising the power of music and sound effects. Here are the three most sought after 5.1 headphones of every gamer or avid Blu-ray watcher.
ARCTIC P531 Gaming Stereo USB Headphones, True 5.1 Surround Sound with Vibration Feedback
Arctic P531 is a pair of 5.1 headphones every gamer desires to have because it has true surround quality, can be totally and easily controlled, offers a complete bass experience, and absolutely comfortable to wear for long hours.
True surround
The surround sound quality of Arctic P531 produces a more accurate sound reproduction which will allow you to have a higher level of sound experience. It has dedicated drives for each channel which enables it to replicate the sound in the most precise way possible. Gamers love it because the sound allows them to easily spot enemies positioned behind them.
Complete control
Arctic P531 5.1 headphones can be connected using a USB. It has its own sound card and inline remote control which will give you a complete access to modify each channel.
Awesome bass experience
Remember the .1? It may be numbered as a fraction but it sure will slip you off your feet. These subwoofers will shake your world because it has special vibration units inside the ear cups.
Perfect comfort
Although you are lying down on your couch, Arctic P531 5.1 headphones will make you feel like you are in bed. The extra soft fabric and thick cushions in each ear cup provide extreme comfort even during straight long hours of play. Moreover, the cushions will isolate you from external noise which inspires you to focus on what you are playing or watching. No matter how much your roommate bugs you, you will not be hearing a lot from him.
TRITTON Pro+ 5.1 Surround Gaming Headset for PS4, PS3, and X360
Tritton Pro+ 5.1 headphones are developed for three main things: immersion, isolation, and control. The Tritton 5.1 has individual backlighted volume controls, high quality ear pads for maximum comfort, and so much more.
The cushioned ear cups encapsulate the ears in the most sophisticated manner. Moreover, the ear cups swivel to allow it to rest around the neck in a cosy manner when not in use. Moreover, a box of Tritton is a complete package. It has all the required cables, adapters, and other connectors which can be set-up easily and effortlessly.
Immersion
Get immersed in the game. That is what Tritton Pro+ wants you to have. These headphones have a true surround sound. Aside from this, the headphones have a selectable voice monitoring (SVM). This feature will let you to take control of your conversation with your teammates. You can choose whether or not to activate the headset.
Isolation
Tritton 5.1 will not only make you immersed in the game. It will also isolate you from exterior noise. While playing, you cannot be bothered with sirens, shouts, or your neighbour’s loud music. The soft but thick ear cups detach you from outer noise.
Control
With Tritton 5.1, you will have control of everything. It has a dial on the headset’s in-line audio controller which will allow you to remove any distracting sound coming from the game. Moreover, game volume can be easily adjusted to make your competitors’ voices unheard while continue hearing every soft move on stealth mode.
Sharkoon X-Tatic True 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Gaming Headset
Sharkoon X-Tatic 5.1 headphones are perfect for gamers because of its great connectivity and compatibility, one-of-a-kind sound technology, and enhanced ease of use. Every sound emitted from Sharkoon X-Tatic comes from its sound control unit that supports a variety of sound formats including Dolby Digital 5.1.
Easy to connect and amazing console compatibility
Sharkoon X-Tatic’s sound control unit can be connected using a 3.5mm jack, coaxial cable, or optical S/PDIF connector. Hence, you can connect it to an amplifier and still hear that amazing sound. Aside from this, the unit is compatible with Xbox, Xbox360, PS2, PS3, PS4, PC, Mac, and DVD players.
Incomparable sound technology
When Sharkoon X-Tatic 5.1 headphones were designed and created, the manufacturers imagined gamers in mind. The result is a wonderful pair of headphones which have the optimum gaming sound. The Dolby Digital Decoder technology will give you a high degree of realistic experience and spatial sound location. This will help you in game because it will let you hear even a slight and stealthy move of your opponent. Moreover, Sharkoon X-Tatic has an integrated microphone voice monitoring. This feature will enable you to separate game sound and chat volume. Hence, you will be able to hear your teammates clearly without letting their voices interfere you during gameplay.
The promise of supreme comfort
Use it all day and you will never get weary. The Sharkoon X-Tatic 5.1 headphones are thickly padded to give you a pleasant experience despite wearing them for long hours. The ear cups encircle each ear perfectly while isolating you from external noise. The headphones also have a cable integrated control for volume which will give you an easy access to it.
How different is 7.1?
Some people say there is not much difference between a 5.1 and a 7.1 when it comes to sound quality. However, a big difference is very obvious when it concerns the pricing of the headphones. Here are some of the best 7.1 headphones, their descriptions, and unique features. Know them first before making a verdict on which between 5.1 headphones and 7.1 are really worth your money.
Sades Stereo 7.1 Surround pro USB
Sades Stereo 7.1 has a USB sound card which is responsible for its thrilling sound. Its ear cups and headband are all padded to add some comfort even during long hours of use. The ear cups have spotlight design. The headband has nine (9) levels of height adjustment to let you have that perfect fit. The microphone is flexible enough which will enable you to position it correctly in front or near your mouth. Its USB cord measures approximately three metres.
Despite Sades Stereo being a pair of 7.1 headphones, it has several disadvantages.
Connectivity restrictions
Remember, this is plugged using a USB. Hence, if you will be using a laptop to play online, you will not be able to place it on the same side as your USB-connected mouse. Moreover, the headphones are only compatible with PC and laptop, not on gadgets such as mobile phone, iPad, or iPod. You will not be able to use this during long trips on a bus, unless you buy a suitable cable.
Battery life
The ear cups of Sades Stereo 7.1 have this lighting design which cannot be turned off. It will remain on when the headphones are being used. This lighting accent will easily drain your battery and you will be constrained to plug it during hours of game play.
Top notch Quality
Likewise most Sades headphones, the 7.1 version is a high headset that has received high ratings from technical experts, as well as very good to excellent reviews from gamers.
Logitech G430 7.1
Logitech G430 is made for sound, control, and comfort. It uses Dolby surround sound technology which will give you a holistic auditory gaming experience. The ear cups are multi-positional. This means that the ear cups pivot or rotate up to 90 degrees to make the headphones easier to transport and fit around your ear. Further, the ear cups enclose your ears to cancel any background and external noise. Overall, the headphones are lightweight and slimmer. A pair of these will not give you a headache during an all-day game.
Similar to Sades, Logitech G430 7.1 headphones do not have it all. It suffers some downsides.
USB makes all the difference
Logitech G430 7.1 headphones only use virtual 7.1. This means that the headphones only have two speakers – left and right. In order to activate surround sound, you will need to install the Logitech software. The software will not be part of your headphones package but may be downloaded from Logitech’s website. Aside from this, you will need to plug the headphones using its USB connection. Without the USB, Logitech G430 is just another pair of ordinary stereo headphones.
Compatibility
G430 works on Windows 7, 8, and Vista. However, it is not compatible with OS X and Linux. Aside from this, you will only be access the surround sound feature when you are playing on your PC or laptop. If you will be using Logitech G430 with your PS4, the surround sound quality is not available. Hence, you will be hearing everything only on stereo mode.
High quality
The ear cups each have small plastic cups that hold them in place. There have been reports, however, that after roughly six months of using the headphones, these plastic cups crack beyond repair. This will leave the ear cups dangling and the metal within exposed.
Razer Tiamat Over ear 7.1 Surround headset
Razer is very proud of its Razer Tiamat 7.1 Surround because it is the world’s first ever circumaural gaming headphones. It has 10 discrete drivers built in it to produce the 7.1 surround sound. The headphones will also give you a full audio mastery. You can set the right level of intensity, volume, audio position, and depth of bass. The ear cups are padded thickly with leatherette fabric to give you maximum comfort even during long gaming sessions.
Sound quality gone wrong
The compact built of Razer Tiamat 7.1 has been its power and weakness. There is no doubt that this pair of headphones can deliver a 7.1 surround sound. However, because 10 drivers are too tightly packed within a pair of small headphones, the sound quality is not as amazing as it promised.
The front and left channels emit clear sounds but the rear and side channels sound a bit fuzzy and muffled. High frequency sounds are heard too thin that they will pierce your eardrums a bit and will make you flinch. In its totality, the sound is not very rich despite having 10 drivers. Wishing for a circumaural sound effect? Be careful what you wish for.
Battle comes to an end
When you use headphones, sound effects and music are piped in directly to your ears. To get a surround sound, a software algorithm must be developed. This algorithm is the one who calculates the timing and echo of a certain sound and estimates which channel the sound will pass through. There are many types of algorithm such as Dolby, down mixing, and virtual surround. This algorithm should be installed into the headphones and processed using some kind of software; some requires downloading while others are built-in
Headphones are measured on three major parameters: convenience, compatibility, and surround sound quality. These same parameters can be used to determine which between 5.1 and 7.1 headphones are better and worth your money.
- Convenience
- When it comes to the weight of headphones, it depends on the materials used to manufacture them. When it comes to length of cable for mobility, it, generally, depends on the brand of headphones. However, when it comes to connectivity, 5.1 headphones are easier to connect. 5.1 headphones, usually, have jack, coaxial or S/PDIF connections. Meanwhile, 7.1 headphones come with USB connectors only.
- Compatibility
- Headphones are used to play games on PC, laptops, PS3, PS4, Xbox, and Xbox 360. They are also used to watch a movie in PCs and laptops. Therefore, it is important for headphones to be compatible with these pieces of technology. 5.1 headphones are compatible in more gadgets compared to 7.1 headsets because of the formers different modes of connectivity. Another thing why 5.1 headphones are better than 7.1 is because there are still movies and games which do not have a 7.1 soundtrack. Hence, no matter how many times you configure your settings, the sound will remain at 5.1 and you will be constrained to downgrade your software set-up.
- Surround sound quality
- Most people would believe that more is better. This is not the case for headphones. When it comes to 5.1 and 7.1 headphones, more is not better. It is the quality of performance that matters. 7.1 headphones have 8 channels. Some 7.1 headphones have 10 drivers to optimise these channels. This is good if you will be having a physical surround sound set-up. However, when it comes to headphones which are manufactured small and lightweight, problems will arise in trying to squeeze everything in. Most 7.1 headphones suffer in sound quality because they try to compress a lot of things inside. This results to a terrible sound quality which, though controlled, still emit high pitch that makes you cringe.
The verdict
The bottom line is that 5.1 headphones are better than 7.1. They will give you optimum surround sound without diminishing quality, convenience, and compatibility. Moreover, a pair of 5.1 headphones are far cheaper than 7.1. When you buy 5.1 headphones, you still have some change to spend on another game.
