True 5.1/7.1 headset vs virtual surround sound.

I am looking at getting a new headset and honestly I couldn't be more confused about what I want. If anyone has used both a true surround sound headset and a virtual one plz help me out here.

From what I have read is that true 7.1 headsets can be disorienting to new users and plus these headsets are hard to come by. True 5.1 sets are easier to come by, but from reviews I have read the sound quality may be lacking in comparison to the virtual ones, since they typically use 4 smaller speakers. I am also skeptical about the accuracy of the virtual surround sound compared to true surround sound. So, I am pretty much between virtual 7.1 and true 5.1.

Recommendations are welcome. I am willing to spend up to $200, but less would be preferred. I do have a dedicated sound card too.

There is no such thing as a "true surround headset".

You can get Razer Tiamat with "true" but the score of the users indicate it's working like crap.

I owned Razer Megalodon with virtual surround and it's external soundcard - worked like sh^t.

Well speaking of headsets I recommend 1st of all 3.5mm jacks for mic and audio, second NOT getting virtual surround.

Currently using Tt eSports Shock and I'm very pleased.

Cramming lots of drivers in a pair of headphones doesn't work well and sounds crap.

Virtual surround is liked by some people. However with a cheap soundcard you can use virtual surround on any headphones which leads me to my final point.

Don't buy gaming headsets.

For $200 I recommend Sennheiser HD598 and a $10 mic.

You could also spend $10 more and get the AKG K612 pro.

@kraken2109 Thanks, for the advice about my sound card being able to virtualize 3D sound. I tested it on my current head phones and it works. Now, I will look into getting a decent stereo headset instead of a true/virtual headset.

@PredatorRules how is the bass quality on the Tt eSports Shock?

Pretty basic, like most headsets 20HZ ~ 20 KHZ with 40MM driver

You can get them for 50$

you can also concider same quality Logitech G230 for 45$

It has by specs a bit better mic

Does a 50mm driver provide much better bass? I have seen plenty of 50mm driver sets that are around the $75 mark: still very affordable in my opinion.

You can go with Turtle Beach Ear Force Z11, it got 50mm driver and it costs only 30$

Well high end audiophile headphones use 53MM drivers so it might means something.

Also it really depends on the built quality not always bigger means better.

It's all virtual with headsets.

In theory a larger driver can produce lower frequencies with less distortion but really it relies on tuning.

A bit like monitors, many specs mean nothing in audio. For example frequency response without a -= dB value is completely pointless.

I really wish we still had the audio/video board.

TC, I recommend looking on HeadFi.org.

This thread is a good start: http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-1-9-2014-shure-srh1840-added

What do you call this then?

I call that different drivers on the same ear.

I've used those type of headsets before (Turtle Beach) and they were utter crap. They have multiple drivers but low quality ones, hence why they can afford to put 4-5 in each ear.

I much prefer a single high quality driver with Dolby Headphone Surround.

I know they don't have a great sound quality, but isn't the positional audio produced by multiple drivers better than virtual surround?

Nope, since Tiamat 5.1 got bad reviews

Actually NO believe it or not.

I've used various different models of multiple drivers and my $200 Senheiser single driver headphone with Dolby Headphone Surround sounds better.

@harry_james_pot: You have two ears. Read about binaural sound and head-related-transfer.

^This. The audio is so far below the virtual, it's not even worth having a headset like that. I suppose I was a little too all encompassing in my statement, but I could change my wording to, "All worthwhile headsets are going to have virtual surround."