UBB Headsets make sound cards obsolete?

elrasho · 21 Jun 2016 at 13:26

I currently have a Sound Blaster Z sound card with a part if Roccat Kave 5.1 cans. I bought the came as I wanted to experience 5.1 "true" surround sound rather than some software making virtual surround sound.

So I'm looking online for gaming headsets that have individual input jacks you put into each sound port on the sound card, like the Kave. But there aren't any! They all now come with a USB connection that does virtual surround sound so now my Sound Blaster Z is rendered useless

PapaLazaru · 21 Jun 2016 at 14:21

Basically. Also 'true' 5.1 is pretty much a waste of time as well, all those tinny little drivers are no way as good as virtual with a decent driver.

paradigm · 21 Jun 2016 at 14:28

Why replace the Kaves?

I'm still using mine for this reason.

elrasho · 21 Jun 2016 at 15:13

PapaLazaru said:
Basically. Also 'true' 5.1 is pretty much a waste of time as well, all those tinny little drivers are no way as good as virtual with a decent driver.

Can you recommend a headset that has virtual 5.1/7.1 with good drivers?

paradigm said:
Why replace the Kaves?

I'm still using mine for this reason.

The microphone has started to make a crackling noise and no one can hear me

Disco_P · 21 Jun 2016 at 15:33

Some googling shows there is a version of the Kave with analogue 3.5mm jacks. Might be worth considering if you can't rma or repair your current set.

As for your original question it depends on what you use the soundcard for. Personally I avoid any form of headphone surround like the plague and use my xonar Xense for the higher quality dac and headphone amp with a pair of headphones in stereo mode. This is for music and games.

elrasho · 21 Jun 2016 at 15:42

Disco_P said:
Some googling shows there is a version of the Kave with analogue 3.5mm jacks. Might be worth considering if you can't rma or repair your current set.

As for your original question it depends on what you use the soundcard for. Personally I avoid any form of headphone surround like the plague and use my xonar Xense for the higher quality dac and headphone amp with a pair of headphones in stereo mode. This is for music and games.

I'm a big FPS gamer so position surround sound is a must for me. I very rarely watch a movie or listen to music on my PC.

Looking at Hyper X Cloud II Gaming Headset the and the top review has almost sold it for me lol

'Great Headset

Great headset.
Been playing Rainbow six siege and in 7.1 mode I can tell where the bad guys are coming from, above, below, left or right.

Great at long gaming sessions, not too heavy and the choice of ear cups is a bonus (leather type or soft velvet type)

The USB sound part of the headset is very good and the quality, well, I can't fault it. Came from a creative z soundcard and this is just as good if not better with sound in game. '

PapaLazaru · 21 Jun 2016 at 17:15

Hyper X is pretty much the 'go to' headset for under £100. Nothing else comes close, it will do you good.

Disco_P · 23 Jun 2016 at 00:46

elrasho said:
I'm a big FPS gamer

I'm a big FPS gamer too. Doesn't make surround any less ****

Safetytrousers · 23 Jun 2016 at 01:14

I bought the Cloud II's when they were about £120 and I thought they were great value then. At their present price they are an amazing bargain.

bemaniac · 23 Jun 2016 at 08:36

My steelseries 800 is pretty good for virtual surround. 2 reasonable drivers and really nice sound for gaming and watching tv and movies. Really not good for music though, keep the nighthawks for that.

Uriel · 23 Jun 2016 at 13:47

Gah - using the Soundblaster Z to drive the Kaves is a bit like only ever using a Civic Type R to drive to the local shops.

Another recommendation for the HyperX Clouds - and it's worth a try with Virtual Surround. Not everyone gets on with it though. I've always found Dolby Headphone more convincing than Creative's THX Trusurround (or CMSS-3D).

Just a caveat though - most games don't produce a convincing simulation of 3d sound on their own over stereo headphones. If you want to hear the difference between front and rear over headphones you either want a decent game-engine headphone mode (which is rare), a multi driver headset (which I used to be a fan of, until hearing decent virtualisation) or virtualised surround sound / 3d sound (sound card or receiver for better versions).

Casdawer · 29 Jun 2016 at 14:43

I recently bought a Cloud I with a Sound Blaster Omni USB Souncard and the sound is amazing.

I tried the Cloud I via the motherboard but it didn't have the same clarity and punch as the Omni.

The HyperX Clouds are brilliant and worth every penny!