Sound/headset help please

[PaulPaul]

Hello and thankyou for taking the time to read this:

I am looking to get a headset for my PC such as the TRITTON 720+ which offers 7.1 virtual surround sound.

I just don't really understand firstly what the difference between and analogue connection to my PC is and a digital one which uses an optical cable.

Also, would I then need a 7.1 sound card? Or does the sound box that comes with the headset convert the sound to 7.1 from stereo?

I don't really understand how it works. Also, just out of interest how do headphones/headsets REALLY differ in relation to 7.1 surround. As in if I plugged a rubbish set of headphones into one of these boxes would it then make the 7.1 surround?

There are some headsets such as the razer kraken 7.1 surround that appear to have no sound box so how do they work?


I know some of you will say don't get a headset get a sound hard and audiophile headphones but please don't as a headset suits my needs.
I know it's a lot of questions but it really baffles me, thankyou for the help!

 

[ram1009]

I recommend you try some "rubbish" headphones before making the investment you're considering. You might be pleasantly surprised. BTW, I use headphones for both computers and TV.

 

[Sevenater]

Well one of the big things with headsets is weather or not the surround sound is virtual, or native. Meaning, native you would essentially have 7 small speakers inside the ear of the headset, and virtual is just a fake rendition using less speakers/drivers. From what I know, the 720+ has native surround, and you simply plug the headset into the base station, and then that into your computer. I personally own a pair of Tritton kunai's, they are definitely not the best headset, or anywhere near the power of the 720+, they did give me a taste of Tritton as a brand. I would totally recommend the 720+, just be careful of the wires, make sure you don't run them over to much with your office chair. And along the lines of the Kraken 7.1, those are probably a good example of the virtual surround sound, it just uses software to make it sound like surround sound. And digital/vs analog, digital is faster and probably sounds a tiny bit better.

Hope this helps!

 

[PaulPaul]

Thankyou for the replies. The Tritton 720+ are virtual 7.1, so are the Razer Krakens 7.1. The Tritton Pro are 5.1 true and have speakers in the ears.

Would you say that the Kunai, while not being the best, as you said, are of good quality though.

And do you know in relation to the 7.1 sound card part?

 

[Sevenater]

Thankyou for the replies. The Tritton 720+ are virtual 7.1, so are the Razer Krakens 7.1. The Tritton Pro are 5.1 true and have speakers in the ears.

Would you say that the Kunai, while not being the best, as you said, are of good quality though.

And do you know in relation to the 7.1 sound card part?

I think that the Kunai's have great quality, especially if you are on PC, which from what I can tell, you are. There isn't anything I can say that's bad about them, and I don't really care about surround sound. I'm not sure what you mean by the relation to the sound card, all I know is that most surround sound headsets use them, and most stereo don't. I would suggest the Kunai, if you are just gaming, you will never care about surround sound, also they are really cheap!

Hope this helps, and be sure to select a best solution if possible!

 

[PaulPaul]

Thanks again. I basically don't understand sound cards, do they allow any headphones to produce sound in 7.1 if it is a 7.1 card. Or do a 7.1 set of headphones take the stereo and then turn it into 7.1.

There is also always a digital connection and a n analogue one which usually uses an optical cable and I don't know how these differ.

 

[Sevenater]

Thanks again. I basically don't understand sound cards, do they allow any headphones to produce sound in 7.1 if it is a 7.1 card. Or do a 7.1 set of headphones take the stereo and then turn it into 7.1.

There is also always a digital connection and a n analogue one which usually uses an optical cable and I don't know how these differ.

Once again, digital is a little faster, and the sound card/base station is what will convert the stereo to virtual surround.

 

[PaulPaul]

Ah ok thankyou.

http://www.razerzone.com/gb-en/gaming-audio/razer-kraken-71/

So if I got these, the headset converts the sound from whatever it may be to 7.1.

 

[Sevenater]

Yes, virtual 7.1, essentially the same thing though.

 

[PaulPaul]

OH right thankyou, I just don't get which part of the headset converts it if it doesn't have a converter box like the trittons.

 

[Orthodux]

I use the Sennheiser PC360 G4ME.. It's not a 7.1 headset but it's known for great directional sound. It's a little pricey, but it's definitely worth it! Two large drivers will always produce better sound than seven small drivers.. Btw.. you only have two ears, so you don't need more than two speakers, right?