Hello all,

I've been looking recently for a new set of 5.1 (non emulated, individual channels assigned to different speakers) headphones primarily for PC use, with a mic, in the $100 to $120 range. After doing quite a bit of research I've narrowed down my choices to the following two pairs:

The Tritton PC510 HDA (I'm leaning heavily toward this pair)

http://www.trittonusa.com/prod/pc510.asp

or the Turtle Beach Ear Force Z6A

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/pc-gaming-headsets/ear-force-z6a.aspx

Has anyone here had experience with either of these? I'd love to hear what you thought of them. Your thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks!

I wanted to add that I would certainly be open to any other headphones that come highly recommended

I have a pair of pc510 HDA and I like them.

Pros-
Removable flexable mic.
Very comfy, I can wear them all day with no problems
Can't hear anything else when I'm wearing them

Cons-
Get occasional interference from my cellphone. If it happens I can just move the phone 1' farther away and it goes away.

Other than that bit of interference, I've had no problems.

I will always recommend the corsair vengeance 1300 or 1500. 1300 if you have a 7.1/5.1 surround sound card, 1500 if not (1500 is USB). I also find them comfortable and can wear them a long time and not notice them, mic is also really clear but downside is that it is not detachable. Great headset can't recommend enough (sound like a salesperson lol)

Thanks for the replies. I'm still researching my options. While the Tritton PC510 HDA definitely sounds like an amazing product I'm a bit unsure about whether any true 5.1 headset can accurately provide a surround sound experience given how close the drivers are to each other. I would absolutely love to hear anyone's experiences with surround sound with a true 5.1 (or 7.1) headset. Did it actually provide you with a compelling surround sound experience?

Also, are there enough games out there that support it to warrant the expense?

I'm beginning to think that I may just forego surround sound altogether and get a quality stereo headset. My girlfriend has an outstanding pair of VModa Crossfade LPs that not only sound amazing, they are also beautiful, very solidly built, have a mic and includes a case for the same price.

A stereo headset also has the benefit of being usable with my consoles (through the television), iPod, DS and PSP whereas the Tritton PC510 HDA would be usable only with my PC.

I've never personally heard a 5.1 or 7.1 headphone, but I can't imagine they're good. Multiple drivers present many problems, all of which are greatly exacerbated in such an enclosed space. The sense of direction and space in audio is created by the interaction between sound waves and your outer ear, by specific kinds of delay and equalization between channels. Multiple drivers in an enclosed cup an inch from your ear isn't going to allow for any of that. So ultimately the best sense of surround sound in headphones will come from software regardless.

As for specific stereo headphone recommendations, you might try to pick up a pair of http://www.amazon.com/Creative-EF0060-Aurvana-Live-Headphones/dp/B000ZJZ7OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328821081&sr=8-1 headphones from Amazon. They go on sale for $60 a lot. They'd be more useful with your iPod than other recommendations I'd give, like Audio-Technica AD700 or Sennheiser HD555/558, which are open-back and leak sound in and out. If you really want to cheap out you can get a pair of http://www.amazon.com/Koss-KSC75-Portable-Stereophone-Headphones/dp/B0006B486K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328821294&sr=1-1, which are very portable and very good for the money. I've used them briefly for gaming and they work quite well. They're the best bargain I can think of for any kind of audio.

Then with all the money you save buying a good pair of stereo headphones, you can get an http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-Sound-Cards-XONAR_U3/dp/B0054L8GVK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328821336&sr=1-1 or equip your computer with a http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Channel-Sound-Card-XONAR_DG/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328821336&sr=1-2. I know some people don't like Dolby Headphone as much as Creative's CMSS-3D, but it works well for me.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-all-testing-w-dolby-headphone-updated-2-6-2012 for more good recommendations of all price ranges.

The Corsair 1500 headset I recommended is useable with iPod and that. I wouldn't go outside with it though as the mic isn't detachable, and Surround Sound headsets are really good (at least this one is <3). It sounds really directional, say a bullet came from North West, it sounds like it came from north west. Can I ask why 5.1 and not 7.1 surround?

Thank you very much for the informative reply and the links.

Of course I would be open to a nonemulated pair of 7.1 headphones. I have yet to see any however.

The ones I recommended are both, but I'm not sure if the 7.1 is not emulated. I don't think the 5.1 is emulated, but it sounds great either way, and the 7.1 sounds great too.

But for the 1300 you'd need a 5.1/7.1 surround sound enabled card, but the 1500 is USB. I'd recommend going the full whack and getting a sound card and 1500, works out cheaper in the long run and would probably work out at about ￡10 more expensive at purchase, plus you can use it with your music devices.

turtlebeaches are high glossed headphones, my xbox ones are not as good as some

I already have a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer. Sorry, I should have mentioned that in my original post. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Part of my hesitation with a 5.1 (or 7.1) surround sound headphone is due to the fact that I'm using this card and Windows 7. I'm not sure that I'm prepared for the ordeal of getting individual games to enable surround sound through ALchemy (if that's indeed necessary to enable surround sound). Regardless of what stereto headphones may or may not be, all games natively support stereo

Hhmm, I'm not sure what you mean by "high glossed". Are you referring to the appearance or something else?

I had a pair of Tritons. Good quality headphone, and great sound.

I'm not much of an audiophile, but I just got a pair of Turtle Beach X12's. I'm extremely happy with them for a stereo headset.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I wound up going with the VModa Crossfire LP for general use and the PC510 HDA for PC gaming