Best External Soundcard/Surround Sound Headset Combo for Gaming?

Hey there

I've been using a pair of Logitech G35's for almost 4 years now, but I finally ended up breaking them, they lasted a good amount of time and I thought they were absolutely brilliant, with their virtual 7.1 surround sound. However, now that they're broken I'm after a new headset, specifically for gaming, I'm interested in the best headset that will give me amazing surround sound in terms of being able to pinpoint by sound and etc. I'm aware that most headsets will need me to get an external 5.1/7.1 soundcard with Dolby Digital Live(?) compatibility, which I'm fine with. I've looked at A40s, which I'd need to get a soundcard with, but that'd be extremely pricey, but possibly considered for the future. I've also looked at Ear Force's HPA2's new version, Z6A with a Soundblaster Xifi Soundcard 5.1 which I read was apparently a good setup. Then there's Tiamat 7.1, Tritton Warheads, or just another G35. I'm really not too sure on what setup to get, so I'm really open to most ideas here. A mic on the headphones doesn't have to be a requirement, but it'd be nice. I just care about a good surround sound setup through headphones.

I have an Alienware M18X, if that means anything, so suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

 

It always helps to know your budget. And is you m18x an R1 or R2?

This is what I've got:



Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless

I have no complaints about them. They do awesome for virtual 7.1 surround sound. But some people don't like having wireless headphones as you need to keep them charged. I only use them for movies and videos so it's not like their being used several hours everyday.

But take it with a grain of salt. All virtual surround sound is software driven. So it can be the best pair of headphones, but sound horrible because of the software driving the soundcard can't do virtual surround sound very well.

 

The G35's are still almost peerless for me in terms of virtual 7.1 - nothing I've used in terms of a soundcard + analog headphone / headset combo gets close for example.

However, you can definitely do better in terms of music - and that's what lead me to ultimately pull the G35's off PC duty, because I don't want 2-3 headsets per PC (e.g. at worst 1 for gaming, 1 for Skype, 1 for music) cluttering up the desks - I now use Creative ZXR & Fatality soundcards, with the odd pro audio soundcard thrown in as well - along with a variety of flagship headphones like the Sennheiser HD800.

But again, for virtual surround effectiveness the G35's were ahead when I pitted it against the best headphones I have (but which usually collects dust in the living room due to it's impracticality) the Sennheiser HE/V90 + the supposed best high-quality gaming audio card, the Asus Essence STX. And while both the G35 and Asus STX uses Dolby, using Crysis as the main test tool, comparatively speaking I found the depth cues unusable on the Asus although directional cues were still decent - and that's through a $15K headphone.

I've not tried the current Creative Recon headsets, but since the Creative soundcards appear to do gaming audio IMO better than even the flagship (and again IMO, hugely overhyped) Asus soundcards, I'm assuming they'll be decent.

I think the Corsair 1500 would be the logical replacement - it's not necessarily 'more' in any huge way, but for gaming audio it should be a worthwhile sidegrade for about the same price.

 

In terms of budget I'd say maybe £200 at the very most. I'm using an R1 M18x.

I'd be content with wireless, as long as I can use them while they're charging, would you be able to compare their effectiveness in terms of their surround sound to the G35s?

Yeah, I know virtual is software driven, I kinda understand the process, which is why I was willing to use an external soundcard and 'proper headphones'.

 

Well, it's personally surround sound > music for me, even if one is considered a gimmick.

It seems like then it's between another pair of G35's, the Creative Recon, or the Corsair Vengeance 1500 v2. The corsair's do 'look' nice to to me, what would you think between these 3?

 

I'd go with what Vogelbung recommends. He is the maestro of all things audio. I can't compare the Omega wireless headset to the G35s cause I've never used the G35s before.

 

Thanks for both of you guys' help.

So, I've chosen to go with your decision, I love how they look. So, it's the Corsair Vengeance 1500 V2 with a USB?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F0IZQQ0/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers#productDetails

I also saw there, that there's the Corsair 2100? Is that the Vengeance 1500 V2 but wireless? I'd consider getting the 2100's as long as they're the same as the 1500 v2's, and whether I could play/charge at the same time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EZ5N1UC/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers#productDetails