7.1 Surround Sound | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 29 Mar 2023 21:07:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png 7.1 Surround Sound | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Corsair HS55 Wireless Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mat-mynett/corsair-hs55-wireless-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mat-mynett/corsair-hs55-wireless-review/#respond Mon, 13 Feb 2023 14:00:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=593242 The HS55 Wireless is a refresh of the HS55 Wireless Core headset from hardware goliaths Corsair

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The new HS55 Wireless headset from Corsair may look familiar to any fans of the brand – and that's because it‘s a refresh of the HS55 Wireless Core that launched last year. This updated model brings Dolby 7.1 surround sound to the table, while also coming in slightly lighter than it's predecessor, despite a longer stated battery life. Today we're putting it through its paces to find out just how it performs at the £99.99 price point.

Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:28 Intro
01:00 Unboxing and first impressions
02:20 Headset design and build quality
04:12 On-ear controls
04:48 Looking at the mic
05:52 Mic test with Nvidia Broadcast tech
07:57 Mat’s thoughts on the mic quality
08:37 One slight issue
09:53 Overall sound quality
10:50 Battery life
11:39 iCUE software
13: 23 Closing thoughts

Specifications:

  • Audio Driver Custom – 50mm Neodymium
  • Frequency Response – 20Hz – 20 kHz
  • Impedance – 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
  • Sensitivity – 114dB (+/-3dB)
  • Mic Type-  Omni-directional
  • Mic Impedance – 2.2k Ohms
  • Mic Frequency Response – 100Hz – 10kHz
  • Mic Sensitivity –  -41dB (± 2dB)
  • Dimensions – 184mm(L) x 87mm(W) x 193mm(H)
  • Weight –  266g
  • Warranty – 2 years

The Corsair HS55 Wireless is available for £99.99 direct from Corsair HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Lightweight.
  • Good sound quality.
  • Good microphone performance.
  • iCUE now has native Nvidia Broadcast features.
  • Comfortable.
  • Great Dolby 7.1 surround sound performance.

Cons:

  • Mostly plastic build.
  • Average build quality.
  • Non-detachable microphone.
  • Slight static sound when listening to short clips of audio (We are currently talking to Corsair about this and will update the article as and when we know more).

KitGuru says: The new HS55 Wireless is a good wireless headset. It produces rich bass and crisp treble and back the sound quality up with great performance when Dolby 7.1 surround sound is turned on. The build quality could be better but for a headset that weighs just 266g it's not a major concern. There are slight issues with background noise which we are currently talking to Corsair about and will update when we know more. The microphone is very good for a ‘headset' mic and is more than capable of servicing gamers. 

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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ASUS ROG Fusion II 300 Headset Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mat-mynett/asus-rog-fusion-ii-300-headset-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mat-mynett/asus-rog-fusion-ii-300-headset-review/#respond Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:47:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=572743 With an ESS-9280 Quad DAC, the ROG Fusion II 300 promises top quality audio, but can it deliver?

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The ASUS ROG Fusion II 300 focuses on crisp, clear audio with the inclusion of a ESS-9280 Quad DAC and 50mm Neodymium drivers. It sounds impressive on paper, but do those specs translate to good audio quality in every day use? Today we put the Fusion II 300 through its paces to find out…

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:35 Introduction
01:18 Packaging / Accessories
02:19 Design / RGB Zone / Construction
02:58 Comfort
04:00 Plastic construction
04:50 RGB – do we need it ?
05:23 Controls and connectivity
06:44 Microphone / Armory Crate / Sound Test
10:20 Mat’s thoughts on the Mic
10:58 Listening experience / Gaming
13:10 Armory Crate software experience
15:26 Closing thoughts

Specifications:

  • Interface – Wired
  • Connector – USB-A & USB-C
  • Supported Platforms – PC, MAC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, iPad
  • Drivers – 50mm Neodymium Magnet
  • Headphone Impedance – 32 Ohm
  • Frequency Response Range – 20-40,000hz
  • Microphone Pick-up Pattern – Omnidirectional
  • Microphone Sensitivity – -37dB
  • Microphone Response Range – 100-10,000hz
  • Hi-Fi DAC – ESS 9280
  • Hi-Fi Amp – ESS 9280
  • Surround Sound – Virtual 7.1
  • Weight – 310g
  • Cable – 2m USB  Type C

You can buy the ASUS ROG Fusion II 300 from Amazon UK for £119.99 HERE

Pros:

  • Comfortable.
  • Decent sound quality after some EQ tweaks.

Cons:

  • Poor build quality.
  • Poor microphone performance.
  • Non detachable cable.

KitGuru says: The Fusion II 300 headset is very comfortable and can put out some decent quality sound when it has been setup correctly, but a poor microphone and very boor build quality let this product down considering it's price. RGB couldn't save the day after all…

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Razer release new Tiamat 7.1 and 2.2 V2 headsets https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/headphones/damien-cox/razer-release-new-tiamat-7-1-and-2-2-v2-headsets/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/headphones/damien-cox/razer-release-new-tiamat-7-1-and-2-2-v2-headsets/#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2017 00:28:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=341573 After the mostly well-received release of the Kraken 7.1 V2 headset earlier this year, Razer has a new pair of flagship gaming headsets on the way. This time, it’s a revision of its Tiamat range, introducing the Tiamat 7.1 V2 and Tiamat 2.2 V2. The Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2 is the much anticipated sequel to …

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After the mostly well-received release of the Kraken 7.1 V2 headset earlier this year, Razer has a new pair of flagship gaming headsets on the way. This time, it’s a revision of its Tiamat range, introducing the Tiamat 7.1 V2 and Tiamat 2.2 V2.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2 is the much anticipated sequel to the company’s analogue, true 7.1 surround sound gaming headset. It’s fitted with 5 discrete drivers per ear cup, totalling a sizeable 10 drivers. Each cup is comprised of a 40mm subwoofer, 30mm front (L/R) and centre drivers and 20mm rear and side surround drivers.

The Tiamat 7.1 V2 comes equipped with a new Audio Control Unit that, while bulkier than the V1 ACU, should fix to the desk easier. The ACU allows users to control the volume of each channel, muting of the microphone and also has a pass-through feature for desktop speaker setups. If external microphones aren’t your thing, the Tiamat V2 comes with a unidirectional microphone attached to the ear cup.

Needless to say, the Tiamat 7.1 V2 includes Razer Chroma support for 16.8 million colour options.

The Razer Tiamat 2.2 V2 is, of course, less featured than its big brother coming in as a stereo-only gaming headset. While only featuring a single driver in each cup totalling 2 drivers, both are oversized at 50mm subwoofers that should give a good amount of bass and directional sound. It is also kitted out with the same unidirectional microphone as the 7.1. Since it does require the extra power source from a USB connection, the 2.2 has a standard audio jack meaning that users can use it with almost any device.

Both headsets are available now on Razer’s online store with the Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2 for £219.99 / $199.99 and the Tiamat 2.2 V2 costing £129.99 / $129.99.

KitGuru Says: I will admit that I harbour a bit of a grudge against virtual surround sound headsets since experiencing true analogue & 7.1 surround sound, so this pair has me very interested. What headset or headphones are you currently using? Do you plan on picking up a pair of Tiamat V2s?

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Asus unleashes Strix 7.1 surround headset with 10 speaker drivers https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/anton-shilov/asus-unleashes-strix-7-1-surround-headset-with-10-speaker-drivers/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/anton-shilov/asus-unleashes-strix-7-1-surround-headset-with-10-speaker-drivers/#comments Sat, 29 Nov 2014 00:41:37 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=224071 Many multi-channel surround sound headsets come with only one driver per ear cup and a special software, which emulates surround sound using various tricky methods. Asustek Computer decided to offer something that provides a true surround-sound experience in headphones and introduced Strix 7.1 surround gaming headset that features 5 miniature speaker drivers per ear cup. …

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Many multi-channel surround sound headsets come with only one driver per ear cup and a special software, which emulates surround sound using various tricky methods. Asustek Computer decided to offer something that provides a true surround-sound experience in headphones and introduced Strix 7.1 surround gaming headset that features 5 miniature speaker drivers per ear cup.

The Asus Strix 7.1 surround headset features specially-designed ear pads with 40mm front, 30mm center, 20mm rear, 20mm side and 40mm subwoofer drivers made of neodymium magnets inside each one. The manufacturer claims that each driver has 32 ohms impedance, 96db sensitivity (which is pretty low) and 20Hz – 20kHz frequency response. Ten discrete drivers should naturally provide better surround sound experience than software emulation. Each ear pad also features special LEDs designed to make the headset more stylish and emphasize Strix branding.

asus_strix_71_headset

The Strix 7.1 comes with a special USB audio station that works as a USB digital sound processor (DSP) and provides useful in-game audio controls and up to 90% environmental noise cancellation (to suppress background noises for more comfortable communications). To connect headphones to the Strix 7.1 DSP, Asus uses unique 5-pole 3.5mm connector suitable for carrying multi-channel audio and data signals with appropriate cable. The Strix 7.1 USB audio station also has an HDMI speaker jack, giving the ability to connect speakers with an included HDMI-to-3.5mm adapter.

The audio station of the Strix 7.1 can be programmed and offers four game-audio spectrum profiles, including first-person shooter (FPS) gunfire mode, FPS footsteps mode, action RPG mode, and racing mode. Each mode is designed to provide improved experience (or benefits) in particular type of video games. For example, the FPS footsteps mode enhances the sound of footsteps in first-person shooter games. The profiles are instantly-selectable from the USB audio station.

asus_strix_71_external

The Strix 7.1 headset weighs 320 grams and is designed to be comfortable to wear for prolonged periods of time. The headset is cushioned with soft, full-size memory foam – 130mm across at its widest point – and is covered with highly breathable protein leather.

Pricing of Asus Strix 7.1 surround headset is unknown, just like availability timeframe. It is highly likely that the product will become available in the coming weeks, but given the fact that it comes with a dedicated DSP, do not expect it to be affordable.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Asus Strix 7.1 looks to be an interesting product that will compete against Razer’s Tiamat 7.1 surround headset, which also boasts 10 speakers. Unlike Tiamat, the Strix 7.1 does not require a 7.1-channel audio solution and can enable multi-channel audio even on laptops. The problem with such approach is higher cost since it requires an external DSP, which will translate into higher price for the consumer.

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Corsair Gaming H1500 USB headset Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-announcement/matthew-wilson/corsair-gaming-h1500-usb-headset-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-announcement/matthew-wilson/corsair-gaming-h1500-usb-headset-review/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:25:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=220362 Today we review the latest in a series of peripherals to be released under the ‘Corsair Gaming' brand. The H1500 USB headset offers a pair of 50mm drivers, 7.1 virtual surround sound and a high level of comfort thanks to the memory foam padding and large ear cups. Corsair have a diverse range of peripherals …

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Today we review the latest in a series of peripherals to be released under the ‘Corsair Gaming' brand. The H1500 USB headset offers a pair of 50mm drivers, 7.1 virtual surround sound and a high level of comfort thanks to the memory foam padding and large ear cups.

Corsair have a diverse range of peripherals available to the enthusiast gamer and the Gaming H1500 is set to target those wanting for a headset with performance ahead of entry level products. At £75 inc vat, should these be top of your shortlist for an upcoming upgrade?

Corsair H1500 Side View 2
Specifications:

  • 50mm neodymium drivers.
  • Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound.
  • Memory foam ear cups and padding.
  • 20Hz to 20Khz frequency response.
  • Unidirectional noise-canceling microphone.
  • 3M cable length.
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