Gaming headset.... need thoughts.

So yeah, i'm into gaming alot, and sound it a super important thing in the games i play, because it can help me know where everyone is around me. Basically i use sound to my advantage. So i had a few questions, i am looking to purchase a headset for a few reasons. One, is that im in gaming, and that my parents dont like listening to me fragging online. So i can't really use my speakers for gaming. Second, is that I'm playing on a laptop, Asus G51vx-X2A, it rocks and stuff but the speakers don't. I'm pretty sure i am looking for 5.1 or 7.1 channel sound, i heard that will really let me have surround sound and help me locate other people around me with sound alone. And also, my microphone isn't that good, so a headset incorporates everything i really want. So i was wondering, first off, if i put in a fancy headset with 7.1 or 5.1 channel sound, will it work with my laptop, or will it be degraded to stereo because i dont think my computer can do anything more than that yet. So, i am looking for two things, what headset should i get? and also if i need some sort of soundcard or something, i really don't want an external sound card... you can take into consideration that, the way the headset looks plays a role in it to. i mean there's nothing special that im looking for, in terms of looks, but i dont want it to look super ugly. and also... price wise, i think im looking up to maybe 150 or around there? idk the price ranges of good headsets. preferably less than 150 maybe closer to 100 but you know, whatever you think. so thanks for the imput!

 

ohhhh, also im looking for a 1080p monitor, 20-24 inches. and a good keyboard, good for gaming, but not a gaming keyboard i think. basically i have this laptop but most of the time i use it in my room, and im trying to make a whole workstation with you know, monitor keyboard headset and the whole deal, i already have sidewinder x8 mouse. and i rarely take it out of my room, but when i do its really important for me. so i need a laptop no matter what, and i dont need two computers... so yeah. any ideas on maybe monitor/keyboard also? but ideas on headset is most important.

 

The best you can expect with a surround headset is to discern 'behind' a bit better. Most of the good surround sets do actually work in that if you pay attention, you can run a 5.1/7.1 test sound and actually tell where the speakers are. The problem is that you have to be paying attention to do this, and if you aren't focused solely on the sound, then it can all be a bit nebulous.

The Astro A40's are next on my list of headsets to try, so I'll throw that in as a suggestion.

I'm just dealing with a return of a Logitech G35 at the moment - I'd also suggest that if the faint whine from the right-hand-side earcup doesn't bother you (it bothers me - I'd suggest trying it and seeing if it is an issue for you): The surround works as well as the above limitations, the sound is punchy and accurate, has excellent isolation, good ergonomics and a decent mic. And a purely personal opinion but I really like how they've included all the G9 design cues into a pretty sharp-looking headset. The price would be within your limit.

 

I recommend the Plantronics GameCom 777. Its surround sound is done via a USB sound card, so it will work regardless of what your laptop's integrated sound can put out. I have its stereo cousin, the 377, and sound quality is superb both going in and coming out.

 

I have the G35's and absolutely love them. I have not had a single issue with the headset. The sound quality is amazing, the surround sound is a gimmick but it's a decent attempt, the build quality is great, overall it's a killer headset. I recommend at least looking into it.

 

Yeah, for me the whine was the sole deal-killer, and apparently some people don't have the hearing ability to make it out. I've had multiple replacements and tried it on multiple machines, and I know that this is a product issue, not an isolated problem.

However, apart from that problem I was extremely surprised at how good it was overall, thus an even bigger shame that I have to process the returns.

 

ok heres like a follow up. ive kinda moved on to either the steelseries 5h v2 or the siberia v2...
so out of those two, which would you pick?
didn't like the look of g35, or the price of the i think you said a40...
so out of those two?

 

So it really depends on your usage. The 5H's are more suited to mobile gaming The Siberia's are most suited for desktop level gaming or somewhere were the openess of the Siberia's wouldn't be a problem.

If you are interested I am actually selling my 5H's in the marketplace.

 

ok so... openness means nothing... kinda. to me i will be gaming in a very quiet enviroment, the headphones are so i dont wake up my parents all the way down the hall with my loud speakers, this is for during the night. so openness means nothing, unless it means my parents in another room can hear the music/game. so, i use a laptop but that doesn't really matter me, like mobile gaming vs desktop because i mostly use my laptop on my desk and rarely move it. so what i am really wondering is, what will be better for a) gaming, like the quaility of surround sound the 7.1 and b) music and movies in general. i care more about gaming, but i also listen to a moderate amount of music... so what do you think. and could you give me a link to your 5h v2's because i'll look into buying them. why are you selling them?

 

By openess I do mean people besides you can hear it. Though I don't know about people down the hall being able to hear them.

As far as the 7.1 surround, well truth be told it's a gimmick. It does simulate a surround environment, and the effect is pretty cool in some games.

The sound quality itself is amazing for gaming headphones. Of course they are not head-fi quality but you also aren't paying for head-fi quality.

Here is my for sale thread as you requested.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=433463

 

I have the G35 and it's pretty awesome.

As I recall, the Creative Arena headset is currently $50AR at Fry's B&M, good until Thursday I think. I don't know how well virtual surround sound works but if I didn't already have the G35 I would probably have bought the Arena as long as I could distinguish between front and back.