In this article, you'll find the best surround sound headphones to buy online in 2021.
Surround sound headphones can provide a truly immersive and theatre-like experience at home for watching movies. You will be able to hear every footstep, explosion, and gunshot with cinematic clarity.
They are also especially useful for gaming as these headphones provide precise clarity with both distance and depth that allows you to hear your surroundings in greater detail.
You will be able to pinpoint the location of your enemies in many FPS games, as you will be able to hear them coming way before you see them, giving you a competitive edge.
Here we have created a list of some of the best surround sound headphones you can get in the market, and we have also included some general factors to keep in mind while shopping for headphones online.
What is Surround Sound Headphones?
Surround Sound headphones include a variety of headphones with different sound channel productions that allows you to have a truly immersive experience with music and entertainment or gaming where you will feel like the sounds are coming from different directions surrounding you.
It gives an in-the-action experience when watching movies or playing games and is made up of two major channel variants – 5.1 surround sound and 7.1 surround sound.
The 5.1 surround sound system combines both surround and rear channel effects into two channels while the 7.1 surround system splits the surround and rear channel information into four distinct channels in which sound effects are directed to the left and right surround channels, plus two rear surround channels.
The 7.1 is mostly preferred for creating a more realistic sound and better directional sound for more precisely locating the direction of the sounds. They are generally preferred for competitive gaming.
Our Top 3 Picks for the best Surround Sound Headphones
Sennheiser RS 175 RF
Sennheiser RS 175 RF is the first among our top 3 picks. Sennheiser stands as one of the pioneering global titans in the headphones industry with over 75 years of history and innovation in the field. Their superior sound quality and durability are almost always assured, and all their products come with a 2-year standard warranty.
Sony WH-L600
Sony is also a top player in the digital and audio system industry renowned for its superior sound quality. The WH-L600 is great for cinematic surround sound from movies, shows, games, sports, etc.
HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset
HyperX headphones are one of the most popular 7.1 surround sound systems you will find online with an impressive 4.6/5-star rating on Amazon. Its exceptionally comfortable memory foam ear cushions and padded leatherette headband makes the design more comfortable.
10 Best Surround Sound Headphones available online:
1. Sennheiser RS 175 RF
Sennheiser RS 175 RF are equipped with the latest bluetooth technology and the RS 175 features a pair of digital wireless headphones that can be the right complement to your home entertainment system.
It uses a transmitter that can be connected to your TV or other devices using an optical connector or an analog (3.5mm cable). The transmitter then sends the audio to the headphones.
Pros
Cons
2. Sony WH-L600
Sony WH-L600 has a lightweight design and is especially useful for PlayStation users, as the dedicated Game mode can create a more immersive experience. It is programmed with Dolby’s 7.1ch3 crystal clear theatre-style audio.
Another great feature is its 1.57” (40mm) dome drivers that will help deliver deep bass and a wide frequency range.
Pros
Cons
3. HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset
The hardware-driven virtual 7.1 surround sound that comes with this device provides precisely located audio and a truly immersive experience combined with its 53mm drivers
which are capable of providing High Fidelity audio performance in gaming or professional audio environments. It also has passive noise cancellation with its closed ear cup design that blocks out outside distractions and improves your focus.
Pros
Cons
4. Razer BlackShark V2 Gaming Headset
Razer comes with the THX 7.1 Surround Sound that provides industry-leading audio realism by providing accurate spatial audio information that goes beyond standard 7.1 surround sound directional cues.
It is made with cutting-edge 50mm triforce titanium drivers divided into 3 parts for individual tuning of highs, mids, and lows.
Pros
Cons
5. RUNMUS K2 Gaming Headset
This gaming headset features an attractive design with fascinating LED lights on both sides that make this gaming headset very appealing and will look cool for live streams and making gaming videos.
They are made with an ergonomic design with a retractable band and breathable ear pads that will help to prolong comfort for extending periods of use.
Pros
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6. Jeecoo Xiberia USB Pro Gaming Headset
They are a slightly less expensive version of gaming headphones and they come with attractive RGB lighting on the earpads.
They are a slightly less expensive version of gaming headphones and they come with attractive RGB lighting on the earpads. The 50mm speaker unit that they come with includes neodymium magnets for providing high-quality audio performance.
Pros
Cons
7. Logitech G432
A dedicated gaming headphone, manufactured by the Swiss-American computer peripherals titan Logitech.
They feature large 50mm audio drivers for producing great sound with next-gen surround sound technology that performs beyond the normal 7.1 channels.
Pros
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8. EKSA USB Gaming Headset for PC
These headphones are specially dedicated for PC users as they come with a USB connector cable. This gaming headset has a built-in USB audio sound chip with 7.1 surround sound functionality.
This is combined with their large 50mm magnetic neodymium drivers for creating an immersive gaming experience with stereo sound in the game.
Pros
Cons
Things to consider while shopping for surround sound headphones:
Main purpose: if you are looking for a pair of headphones that can expand your home entertainment experience for watching movies and listening to music, then 5.1 surround sound systems will be enough. The pair from Sennheiser RS 175 and Sony L600 are both great options in this regard. But if gaming is your main priority, then you should go for the other 7.1 channel-based surround sound headphones for better sound direction. The HyperX Cloud II seems to be one of the most popular gaming headsets.
Wired vs Wireless: This is a very important decision to make. Some headphones only come with either wired or wireless functionalities. If your devices have a Bluetooth facility then going for the wireless variant will be fine but if you want to connect with multiple devices, you need to get the wired variant with either USB connectivity or the 3.5mm audio jack.
Battery life: if you go for the wireless variants, then battery life is a considerable factor and you should always go for headphones that provide at least 15-hours of battery backup as they will deplete over time, so the longer the better.
Microphone: If you are a gamer and will frequently team up with other players then you will need good voice chatting facilities on your headphones. Go for those with noise-canceling technology for better quality voice.
Warranty: always ensure the warranty policies from the sellers. Most of the products listed here come with 1-2 years of the standard warranty.
Final Take
Surround Sound headphones can truly enhance your audio experience for watching movies, listening to songs, and gaming. For competitive gaming, in particular, the 7.1 surround sound and noise-canceling functions that they offer are very important.
Almost all of the gaming headsets we have listed here are great options for connecting to your primary gaming platform or device and they will provide an incredible cinematic experience for watching movies and shows.
Just make sure that they are compatible with your preferred devices and please go through the “things to consider” section to make a more informed choice when shopping for the best surround sound headphones.
Cheers!