Corsair HS1 USB Surround Sound Headset - $48 shipped

Buy.com is selling the Corsair HS1 USB Surround Sound Headset for $48 USD shipped ($58 - $10 rebate, free shipping). Link here

If you are looking for a decent pair of sub-$100 surround headphones, check out the Corsair HS1 USB headphones (not the HS1a analog version). Just about every review site that has looked at these headphones will tell you that they are an absolutely incredible buy. You get much more quality than the $100 MSRP asking price. The fact that you can get these for $48 shipped is incredible.

Bit-tech.net: Corsair HS1 Review
Hardware Heaven: Corsair HS1 Review
Tom's Hardware: Corsair HS1 Review
Legit Reviews: Corsair HS1 Review


I already own too many headphones, but jumped on this deal anyway, because it was too good to pass up. (what? I don't have a problem. I can stop buying computer accessories any time I want. I just don't want to right now.)

 

Is this really a surround sound?
Most of the website tag this one as a Gaming headset but not a surround sound headset.

 

Yes and no.

Any kind of surround sound in headphones / headsets use a software algorithm (called a head-related transfer function, or HRTF) to translate a 5.1 source audio signal --> 2.0 surround sound. This is true for headphones that have 2 sound drivers, or for "surround" headphones that actually try and cram 5 or 7 sound drivers into the ear cups.

That HRTF software algorithm may take place on a dedicated sound card, a breakout box (e.g. a Dolby Headphone processor device), or it may be baked into the headphones themselves as a separate chip. These Corsair HS1 USB headphones have that HRTF algorithm baked into the headset themselves as a separate chip.

So, the answer to your question (Is this really a surround sound?) is "yes and no". No, because there is no such thing as "real" surround sound on headphones. Yes, because a gaming headset like the Corsair HS1 USB is about as close as you can get with a pair of headphones.

 

I was looking forward to get G35. So are these similar since G35 claims to be 7.1? All I want is 5.1/7.1 while playing FPS.

 

Yes, the information I posted above would also apply to the Logitech G35.

The concept is the same. The Logitech G35 also uses a head-related transfer function (HRTF) algorithm to reproduce the positional audio effect you get from a true 5.1 / 7.1 surround sound speaker setup.

There are several different implementations of HRTF algorithms. Some are better than others, so the quality of surround sound you get from manufacturer will differ from another.

 

The logitech G35s headphone algorhythum is Dobly Headphone. I found it to be very good (I did a lot of positional testing playing Crysis and could locate enemies easily). Creative Labs CMSS 3D is good too, but not quite as good as Dolbys. Steel Series makes a USB headphone and it is terrible (although the speakers themselves are good (only the software is bad). If this headset uses Dolby headphone then it should be excellent, if it isn't Dolby Headphone then I cannot comment on it.

 

That's a good deal if they are truly 5.1. My Logitech G930's offer superb 5.1.

 

You mean 7.1

I have the G930's as well and LOVE them.

 

I was just getting curious coz most of the websites doesn't consider it surround sound headset? So, I still don't know what to get.

 

G930 G35 is not 7.1 its fake 7.1 it only has 2 speakers.

Aka virtual 7.1 and thus you may as well get 2 speaker headphones to start with so you pay for less of the fluff and more of the quality.

 

Vicious, it's Dolby 7.1. The positional audio is phenomenal and sound quality is excellent as well. I have been using a Sennheiser stereo headset for a few years now, and I find the G930 a good notch above the Sennheiser's. Even the bass is remarkably clear with no crackle and a good feeling of kick.

I have never had a better gaming experience and helps with locating enemies in games unlike I had been able to do before with stereo headphones.

Got mine for $50 from MicroCenter as an open box item, but it was still sealed and didn't even look like it was opened. /shrug/ I'll take it.

 

I got mine new from newegg for $99.00 so I am speaking as an owner, and I have heard surround jsut fine using games built in 3d positional audio and the G930 dont even come close to my other headphones in terms of quality/clarity/comfort/ or stability. So many issues with the fake 7.1 like only hearing voice in one speaker on mumble or crackling pop sounds from dead island.

Lying is bad and the headphones lie to windows saying its a true 7.1 device when its not and thats the source of the problem. When the logitech software intercepts the 7.1 audio and tries to decode it and do its fancy surround it does not always work right plus there are simply many things that do not have or work in 7.1 properly.

When you put the headset in non surround mode, its still showing up as a 7.1 device to windows, just the software stops trying to emulate surround and instead does channel stacking.

Well that was my good opinions, if you want to hear my cons ask me about the microphone quality

 

Wow. Seems like we're using different headsets. Maybe different strokes for different folks. I've had some odd things on occasion with audio not sounding completely 7.1 but nothing restarting the app or rebooting didn't fix. No crackling or popping sounds so far. I never use it in non-surround mode so can't comment on that. Years ago I had true 5.1 surround headphones that had three speakers in each headphone with three 1/8" jack cables to plug into the sound card surround inputs. Those worked pretty good, but nothing compared with these. Curious to see how these Corsair's would hold up.

 

I hope this fake 7.1 ends with the Razer Tiamat.
They should release it soon so I can stop being tempted by these deals.

 

I have this HS1. It's totally awesome.

Very pronounced surround sound, either with or without the Dolby Surround turned on.

Music also sounds very good on it. Overall build quality is good as well.

Highly recommend.