Wearing surround sound headphones is like enjoying sitting in a concert hall or jumping into the game field and hearing the enemy’s footsteps before they show up. You can clearly pinpoint the direction from which the sound comes.
However, that’s not what most “surround sound” models on the market offer. Manufacturers have been using this label just to increase their sales without incorporating the actual feature. That’s why we dug around to bring you the top-selling products that offer the truly immersive experience you’re seeking.
If you’re curious about how this technology works and want to find out about the features that make the best surround sound headphones, scroll down to the other half of the article. Now, it’s time to show you what we’ve got.
Contents
At a Glance:
| Image | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
HyperX Cloud Revolver S |
9.5
|
Check On Amazon |
 |
Corsair Void RGB Elite |
9.4
|
Check On Amazon |
 |
Sennheiser PC 373D |
9.4
|
Check On Amazon |
 |
HyperX Cloud II |
9.3
|
Check On Amazon |
 |
Runmus Gaming Headset |
9.1
|
Check On Amazon |
The 5 Best Surround Sound Headphones
We chose these products based on our testing and experience. These are our favorite pairs in every price bracket, so you’ve got a big chance of finding the right model that suits your personal taste and budget.
1. HyperX Cloud Revolver S – Our Top Pick
You just don’t go wrong with HyperX, and this model is solid proof. Our best choice features 360-degree 7.1 Dolby surround sound to bring extraordinary immersion and vividness to your experience.
Although it doesn’t use eight speakers to cover all directions, the 50-millimeter directional drivers do a fantastic job of giving you a sense of distance and volume separation. They have the epic soundstage that FPS gamers or those who watch action-packed movies adore.
Apart from the surround sound, the headset pumps out high-quality audio with an extended frequency response range and accurate bass. The sound will stay true to whatever you’re watching, and the stereo audio will make you feel like you’re on the scene.
What we like about HyperX is that they pay equal attention to sound quality and design. The black over-ear headset has the right mixture of cool and professional and built to last a lifetime.
The sturdy steel headband is unbreakable and covered with soft leather. It’s adjustable so that it can sit comfortably atop the head without imparting a lot of pressure. Moving down to the ear cups, they are stuffed with memory foam and sealed with leatherette.
You’ll find that they adjust quickly to your ears but may feel hot after a couple of hours. Moreover, the whole headset weighs 2.64 pounds, which is by no means light, but the comfort it brings compensates partially for its heaviness.
Back to the advantages, the model comes with a noise-canceling mic that delivers your voice clearly with no distortions or ambient noises. You can control its settings along with the volume and surround sound settings from the audio control box positioned at an accessible spot on the cable.
Finally, it doesn’t hold the lowest retail price on our list, but it stays in the middle, which is incredible considering all its top-notch features. However, note that the surround sound doesn’t work on Xbox and other gaming consoles.
Also, Check out our guide of best headphones for PSVR
- Top-notch sound quality
- Surround sound is on point
- Sturdy and comfortable construction
- Reasonable price
- Noise-canceling mic
- Heavy
- Short cable
- No sidetone adjustments
- No surround sound for Xbox
Bottom Line
HyperX is the best surround sound headphones for users who don’t want to compromise anything. Sound quality, construction durability, and immersive experience are all guaranteed.
2. Corsair Void RGB Elite – Best Wireless Headset
Void RGB Elite has been in the field for a while and never lost its shine. This wireless version will save you from the awful wire tangles and provide you with a 40-foot operating range. This means you can get up and grab a snack from the kitchen on the other end of the house without taking them off.
The model offers you 16 hours of battery life when the RGB is turned on and more if you turn off these LED effects. It can cover a whole day of vigorous gaming before you have to charge it through the USB port at the ear cup’s bottom.
Speaking of the ear cups, they’re huge to envelop the whole ear and covered with breathable mesh to prevent sweating after extended gaming sessions. The memory foam cushions add to the comfortable experience. However, the cups don’t have clamps, so they may slip off your ears if you have a small head.
Holding the two ear cups, the band is made of aluminum, which enhances the set’s strength and reduces the overall weight to less than one pound. Like the cups, they’re padded so that they won’t crash your head and offer several adjustments to maintain the best fit.
What about the audio quality? Like all Corsair models, the sound is crisp, and thanks to it’s enhanced bass responses, you hear every single tone with the expected clarity.
Provided with an immersive soundstage, the 50-millimeter neodymium drivers do an excellent job of transferring distant tones, ambient voices, and spooky sounds from all directions throughout the sound field.
For a wireless headset, it sits on the lower end of the price range, making it a worthy bargain. The included mic is of high quality and can be flipped up to mute. Overall, the model can be plugged to nearly all devices, but the surround sound is only compatible with PCs.
- Enhanced wireless connectivity
- Large operational range
- Great battery life
- Top-class soundstage
- Comfortable construction
- Mesh cover for breathability
- Lightweight
- Ear cups have no clamps
- Huge for small heads
Bottom Line
If a wireless version is what’s in your mind, Void RGB Elite is the top choice of hardcore gamers and professional users who like to have this feature. As for the surround sound, it’s executed flawlessly to envelop you in the hectic war zone.
3. Sennheiser PC 373D – Best Customization Software
We like PC 373D for its wealth of features, but what makes it stand out is its sound customization app that can be downloaded from the official site on Android or iOS devices.
This magnificent software allows you to personalize and configure the headset with a plethora of settings. Meaning that you can create the audio experience you want to have and even adjust how much ambient noises you want to allow. In short, it makes you feel you’re in control.
The model itself offers epic sound quality with no muffling or dilution. The wide range of frequencies is well-represented and allows for a deeper soundstage. That, of course, contributes to an immersive surround sound by which you’ll be able to distinguish things to the left, right, and center. Following the enemies’ gunshots will be a piece of cake.
As for the bass, it’s a bit shallow and losing impact, but it’s clean and well contained. Although the open-back design of the earcups allows for a more natural sound stage, there will be minimum sound isolation. You’ll still be able to hear your dog barking or the car horns coming from the street.
Yet, this design has a unique benefit. It makes wearing the headphones for hours bearable as it allows for the air to flow inside. The breathable plush velvet ear pads add to this breathability and provide comfortable cushions for your ears.
Remember those ugly headaches you used to get after an all-nighter of playing Overwatch? PC 373D solves this problem with the unit’s adjustable padded headbands that, unlike our previous model, can fit on any head size. And to make things better, it only weighs 0.8 pounds.
The overall headset looks classy, and the dynamic noise-canceling mic makes the voice chat sound quality amazing. It can be flipped upwards to be turned off, and there are sidetone adjustments to be able to hear your voice when speaking and avoid speaking louder than necessary.
Price-wise, the model is the most expensive on our list, but if you can spare the expenses, it’s totally worth it. However, unfortunately, it doesn’t offer console compatibility for Xbox, PS4, and Nintendo Wii.
- Sound customization app
- Comfortable and secure design
- Breathable open-back cups
- Epic and immersive soundstage
- Highly-functioning mic
- Price
- Lacks console compatibility
Bottom Line
PC 373D doesn’t only offer amazing sound quality and immersive soundstage, it also gives you control over all its sound settings with its companion app. With this model, you’ll feel like you’re in the center of the action.
4. HyperX Cloud II – Best Under $100
Another HyperX champion on our list, but this one comes at a really attractive price without compromising any of the ground-breaking features we love about this brand.
Cloud II is a comfortable headset that you can wear all day without nasty headaches or disagreeable feeling at the back of your head. Despite weighing more than two pounds, it doesn’t feel heavy at all, and that’s because of its smart design.
Stuffed with memory foam and covered with artificial leather, the cups feel like soft cushions. They’re very light on the ears and only get slightly warm after a six-hour movie marathon.
Supporting the soft cups is an aluminum band built to take a beating and come out unscratched. It’s adjustable to many levels so that you can set the cups to cover your entire ears for complete insulation.
Inside the cups, there are 53-millimeter custom tune drivers, which produce immersive Dolby 7.1 surround sound. You’ll be able to hear 360 degrees of sound and go as far as hear every faint footstep in the game.
To top it all, the unit covers a wide frequency range and pumps out all the sounds with superior clarity and detail. The excellent bass production and crisp highs allow you to enjoy your favorite rock music as if you’re attending a concert.
The included mic is noise-canceling, so it won’t pick up stray sounds in the background. And to further justify the competitiveness of the price, it comes with an extra carrying bag, Airline adaptor, and spare ear cushions.
As for compatibility, the virtual surround sound works on PC & Mac while PS4, Xbox One, and other gaming consoles get stereo sound only.
- Truly immersive audio experience
- Competitive price
- Unique design
- Padded band and cups for extra comfort
- Professional noise-canceling mic
- Questionable cable’s quality
- Incompatible with Xbox
- More on the hefty side
Bottom Line
All in all, Cloud II is built brilliantly for the price and looks stunning. Besides, its 360-degree soundstage and surround sound are great for gaming and watching lively concerts or action-packed movies.
Find HyperX Cloud II featured in:
5. Runmus Gaming Headset – Budget Choice
Runmus offers a surround sound gaming headset that’s cheap in price but isn’t anywhere near cheap in quality.
For starters, it’s equipped with 50-millimeter drivers that maintain positional accuracy and gives you a precise sense of distance that manifests itself clearly in the gunshots you hear in FPS games.
The frequency response range isn’t as comprehensive as in higher-end models. However, the sound coverage is more than sufficient, and you won’t be able to detect any difference.
The set itself is designed to be extremely flexible and durable at the same time. The padded band can twist in all directions without being damaged, meaning it will hold up to your heavy usage and occupy a place on your desk for many years. Moreover, it’ll be easy on your head.
Attached to the bands, the large ear cups are covered with breathable pads. They’ll give your ears a room to breathe and offer great coverage so that you can shut out the whole world and get lost in what you’re hearing.
The overall weight is 0.75 pounds, which is the lightest on our list. Although the mic is advertised as noise-canceling, it picks up ambient noises. Your voice will appear clear, but also all the surrounding sounds will be heard as well.
It comes with a long braided cable that holds a control box for volume and mic controls. Finally, it’s compatible with PC but needs a headset adapter for Xbox one.
- Attractive price
- Immersive sound storage
- Sufficient sound coverage
- Lightweight and flexible
- Padded band and cups
- Not much volume controls
- Mic isn’t voice-canceling
Bottom Line
We’d happily recommend this pair for anyone on a strict budget but still want to enjoy the magic of surround sound. With less than $50, you get a deep soundstage, durable body, as well as a breathable and comfortable design.
What are Surround Sound Headphones?
Imagine you’re standing in the street, and you can hear the sound of car horns from behind you, a woman screaming from the left, and maybe a dragon flying over you. Even with all the noise, you can still detect where each sound is coming from, right?
That’s precisely what surround sound is. It’s a feature achieved by using several speakers positioned in different places to give you a sense of direction.
Most surround sound headphones produce a virtual version of this feature, using only two speakers and complicated technology to mimic the actual sound.
Other true surround sound headphones use several distinct drivers positioned in a specific way around your ears and set up at different volumes to simulate the sound coming from different directions.
How do Surround Sound Headphones Work?
This feature is created based on the fact that we have two ears, and the sound that reaches our ears come from different directions with various volumes.
Suppose you’re at a soccer game, and a player is coming from the front. Both your ears will receive the sound of his footsteps at the same time. However, if he’s running towards you from your left, your left ear will hear him earlier, even by a fraction of a second.
That may sound ridiculous to you, but that’s exactly why sounds in real life differ from virtual sounds. Also, that’s the reason why you turn to the left spontaneously when you hear someone calling your name from the far left of the room.
For surround sound headphones to give you the same experience, the speakers are placed in positions that help send the audio to your ear walls first before your eardrums. That makes the sound reach your ear in a natural way.
Furthermore, they raise the volume of certain audio more than the other and send the waves a bit earlier to your right ear before your left to get a better sense of direction.
Factors to Look for in Surround Sound Headphones
For hardcore gamers, studio editors, and standard users, audio quality is a priority. That’s why you need to pay attention to the frequency response, bass, and how the sound is executed.
As we mentioned before, some products on the market falsely advertise the “surround sound” feature, and others produce synthetic sounds that can put you off whatever you’re doing. But are their other buying considerations to keep in mind? Well, take a look at these features:
Comfort
When playing games or watching movies, you’re not going to wear your headphones for just an hour. We all know we can pull an all-nighter playing Borderland or Fortnite. Thus, like sound quality, it’s equally important to ensure that your set is comfortable and kind to your ears and head.
As you’ve seen in our reviews, this type mostly comes in the form of over-ear headphones. So when considering a pair, take a look at the headband and ear cups.
The best headband should be sturdy to withstand heavy usage but soft and flexible not to press your ears harshly. It’s also important to be flexible and adjustable to many head sizes to fit you snuggly without feeling too tight.
When it comes to earcups, consider the ones with thick cushions to be soft on your ears and keep a safe distance between the drivers and your eardrums.
Material
Prolonged usage of over-ear headphones will cause your ears to sweat. Thus, look for the material that can hold up to the dampness and allow the air to flow in to prevent your ears from overheating.
Usually, you’ll find headphones made of pleather (fake leather), velour, or a hybrid of both. The former offers the best insulation and thus better soundstage and audio quality.
On the other hand, velour is more comfortable and breathable, but it sacrifices bass and provides poor audio isolation. Moreover, leather is sturdier than velour and has better longevity.
A hybrid will be your best option as it’ll give you the best of both worlds and at a cost comparable to that of pleather.
Compatibility
This is the major problem you’ll face when buying surround sound headphones. Most of them come with standard jacks that are compatible with most PCs and some X-boxes. But the surround sound only works on PCs. Therefore, always make sure that the model you’re buying is compatible with your platform.
Weight
Your head is heavy enough with the weight of your skull and brain, so it won’t welcome any additional weight. Wearing a heavy pair of headphones is like asking for a headache for the rest of your day, even if you use them for only one hour.
A model that incorporates both sturdiness and lightness may put a burden on your pocket, but it’d feel like a part of your head and spare you the awful pressure.
As we said before, surround sound headphones are usually worn for extended periods. Hence, look for the lightest pair you can afford.
Wired vs. Wireless
Wireless headphones make use of Bluetooth to transmit sound without cords over short distances. We can’t promise you that they’re going to be completely distortion-free unless they’re really expensive or fall in the “high-end” category.
Before you buy a wireless pair, make sure to check their battery life, operating range, and the amount of time it takes to charge.
On the other hand, wired headphones are preferred by the majority since they’re lighter, cheaper, and spare you the burden of charging.
Moreover, portability isn’t a priority for most surround sound headphones users since they’ll be using them from their desks or home couch. Hence, a wireless pair will be useless if you’re not going to use them from a distance. But the decision is ultimately yours.
Microphone
When you sift through models and find the word “headset,” it means that these headphones come with an attached mic. But do you need this feature?
Well, if you’re just going to watch movies or play single-player games, it’ll be a waste of money to buy a headset instead of high-functioning headphones that cost a fraction of the former’s price.
You’re only going to need a mic if you use these headphones to make calls or chat with players in multiplayer gaming rooms.
Just make sure that it’s not just a good-for-nothing additional feature and that it provides a uniform and smooth sound reproduction with high voice clarity.
Noise Cancellation
This is a pleasant feature to have on surround sound headphones, especially because they’re not the type to be used in outdoor activities where you need to be aware of your surroundings for your safety. However, it’ll be nice to block out outside noise when you’re having an Avengers marathon at home.
Final Verdict
After all is said and done, we hope our comprehensive guide, along with the detailed reviews, have helped you reach the best decision that suits your preferences and budget as well.
If you’re looking for the ultimate choice that combines functionality, first-class materials along with outstanding soundstage and audio quality, Cloud Resolver S won’t disappoint.
Void RGB Elite is the best surround sound headphones for anyone looking for a wireless set. They are designed to dominate the world of gaming with their deep soundstage that makes you feel like having a third eye behind your back. And to our surprise, they come at a quite reasonable price without compromising the connectivity quality.
Finally, if a cheaper road is what’s in your mind, Runmus gaming headset will be your happy choice.
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