Do gamers need 9.1 sound?

[TriniXaeno]

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/efhpa2/home.aspx

This is my set. Like I said, it is full surround sound (with the multiple speakers) but I'm not very impressed with the positional performance.

I was hoping you had tried yours on a PC with integrated sound for an apples to apples comparison.

As is, there is an odd chance that my sound card is not doing a great job of processing positional audio cues in game. Or maybe it's just my ears. lol

My money is on the product just being shoddy @ positional audio though.

The AX Pros sounds like a better set. They cost nearly twice as much unfortunately and after my first failed experiment into 3d sound headphones, I'm not as likely to part with that kind of money on a second.

Here's a review of the AX Pro's positional performance from Amazon:

I picked these up and they were not good at all. I ended up returning them because the mic didnt work properly and the sound sucked. There was no seperation at all in the sound. I had a friend help me with a sound test. We went into a game of modern warfare 2. I closed my eyes and had him walk around my character shooting his gun. I could never pinpoint where he was. I had to guess and most times, i was wrong. I really couldnt tell if he was behind me to my left, or in front of me to my right. I went and picked up the cheaper ax 720s, which use simulated 5.1 and what a major difference it was. It has incredible sound seperation and I can easily tell if someone is above, below, or behind me. I cant tell you how many extra kills I have gotten by knowing where someone is before they do because I can hear where they are.....Skip on these though....

Not very encouraging

I'll try the true 5.1 physical speaker setup next and see if the results are superior.

If that fails, then I'll return...tail between leg...and buy two AX Pros or maybe the ax 720. lol

http://www.amazon.com/TRITTON-Digital-Surround-Precision-Headset/dp/B002ZS6Y64/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[Arcmanov]

Well, I can tell you now, that you won't regret buying the Ax 720 (which I upgraded to from the Turtle Beach).
The Dolby Pro-logic surround sound reproduction is stellar...its all digital, so you must have an optical (TOSlink)
outut from your PC to really realise its full potential.  It can also directly connect to the PS3 and Xbox 360.

I currently have all three connected via a TOSlink switcher.  Rather convenient, as I can switch sound sources on the fly,
and the included receiver instantly picks up the signal and there's your sound.
The mic is separate and independent of the game sound.  There's even an in-line control module that you can use to
vary the game sound and chat sound separately.  There's also a port on it to connect your Xbox 360 controller,
and that cable is also included. So right there's your Xbox Live chat.

Best headset money I ever spent.

[ViCe]

@ wyatt that review is BS
i heard ppl from miles away in mw2
i played SnD with trinis and clutched it many times cuz i heard guys tryin to sneak up on me to knife me
wen ppl saw that they were wtf how u know he was coming to knife u.

now the problem with mw2 sound is the F%&kin killstreaks drown out the sound
hence u hear better in SnD since they are hardly any killstreaks goin off in SnD

like i said i tried these headphones with ALL my mp games
ALL

U2 i cud have heard EXACTLY where sounds came from, heck i was my clans compass tellin everyone where enemies were based on sound alone

MW2 the same once no mc killstreaks was in d air makin ah setta dam noise.
MAG same, i hear ppls knife swipes missin behind me when they try to sneak up on me

KZ2 same
even heard when the engineer turret bots are moving so i knew which direction the turret sound was coming from

that guy need to clean d wax out his ears or maybe go in a less noise infested mw2 game

[TriniXaeno]

Excellent recommendation there arcmanov. That is what I was hoping to hear. A720 + TOSLink + Switcher ftw!

Look how you going and make me spend $$.

Blu_Vice, like I said...your experience is with the PS3. I have no doubt it works ok there.

Not dismissing your opinion but my concern is with the PC platform. I really need some assurance from someone who  used the thing on the PC.