True 7.1 Surround Sound Headphones: Truth or Myth?

Surround sound technology uses multiple speakers, strategically positioned around the listener, to create an enhanced sense of immersion. In traditional setups, a 7.1 system includes eight individual speakers: six left and right-channel speakers for spatial audio, a center-channel speaker for clear dialogue, and a subwoofer for deep bass.

In 2010, the first 7.1 surround sound headphones were introduced. Unlike traditional setups, these headphones simulate the surround sound experience with only a single driver in each earcup, except for a few true 7.1 surround sound headphones. Surround sound headphones are primarily marketed towards gamers and movie enthusiasts seeking greater immersion, but have also faced scrutiny regarding their authenticity.

In this article, we’ll explore true 7.1 surround sound headphones and evaluate whether their design holds merit. We’ll also compare them with similar virtual surround sound speakers. Are they the future of audio technology, or just a clever marketing gimmick?

Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound Headphones vs. True 7.1 Surround Sound Headphones

Surround sound headphones can be divided into two distinct types: true surround sound and virtual surround sound. Understanding the differences between these two is essential for anyone interested in buying a pair of surround-sound headphones.

Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound & How It Works

Virtual surround sound headphones are more common than true surround sound alternatives and rely on built-in software to emulate the surround sound experience. They use algorithms to introduce subtle effects such as minor delays, volume adjustments, and phase changes, creating a more 3-dimensional audio experience.

This simulation is often achieved using Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF), a mathematical model that describes how sound waves are altered by the listener’s ears and head. By applying HRTF, virtual surround sound headphones manipulate audio to make it sound more immersive.

While virtual surround sound isn’t true surround sound, it offers benefits through algorithmic sound manipulation. These headphones can enhance spatial awareness and immersion compared to traditional stereo headphones and are usually more affordable than true surround sound models.

However, the effectiveness of virtual surround sound can be influenced by individual ear anatomy. Since each person’s ear shape and size are unique, the adjustments made by the software may vary in effectiveness from person to person.

True 7.1 Surround Sound & How It Works

True 7.1 surround sound headphones are very different from their software-driven counterparts and instead of using fancy software tricks to increase the sense of immersion, they approach it in a traditional sense, using many different drivers in each earcup to improve imaging and soundstage. The industry-leading true 7.1 surround sound headphones frequently have up to 5 drivers in each earcup. Each of these drivers is responsible for producing sound from a specific direction, so if a bomb explodes behind you in a game, the sound will come from the rear drivers, making it sound like it was really behind you.

On paper, true 7.1 surround sound headphones are great. However, in practice, even the leading models are plagued with negative reviews across retail platforms. In many cases, customers end up regretting the hefty prices they’ve paid for ‘true surround sound’ options.

Important Considerations For Potential Buyers

For Gaming  

Virtual surround sound is a good choice for gamers. These headphones can often have their surround sound feature toggled on and off, making them more versatile and letting users enjoy music more naturally too.

Logitech G PRO X 2

The Logitech G Pro X 2 is a wireless virtual surround sound headphone that performs excellently in sound quality and durability. With the 7.1 virtual surround sound active, it enhances the soundstage, immersing you in your game.

For Music    

Music sounds best using traditional stereo headphones that excel in soundstage and imaging. Open-back options are a popular choice and can elevate your music listening experience by making it sound more immersive.

Sennheiser HD 560 S

Ditch surround sound and go for pure performance with the HD 560 S. It has an outstanding soundstage and imaging that makes music sound immersive without any software tricks.

For Movies

If you’re primarily planning on watching movies, then either a high-quality pair of headphones with great soundstage and imaging will work best. The consistent frequency response and lack of subjective influence from your ear shape make them better suited than surround sound options.

Hifiman Sundara

Renowned for its high-quality headphones, the Sundara is a relatively affordable pair of headphones ideal for adding depth and immersion to the movies you watch. Their soft earcups also provide hours of comfort.

True 7.1 Surround Sound in Headphones – Fact or Myth?

One of the most common questions relating to surround sound headphones is whether it’s fact or myth. Are these headphones truly 7.1?

In short, true 7.1 surround sound headphones come close to matching the definition, however, because there is no way to emulate a center channel speaker through headphones, there is no authentic 7.1 surround sound headphone available.

However, the promise of performance is more important than the semantics, which doesn’t align with how the headphones perform. Even the most prominent true 7.1 surround sound headphones fail to live up to the hype created by the manufacturer’s marketing campaigns.

Virtual 7.1 is often the better choice, as they’re more affordable and the surround sound feature can easily be toggled on and off on many models, offering versatility. I used the HyperX Cloud IIs for years in competitive Counter-Strike and found the flexibility of turning the surround sound on and off to be useful, especially when quickly switching between gaming and music. So while not technically surround sound, there is merit to similar designs and some applications do sound better with the virtual surround sound on.

Why Headphones Struggle To Create True 7.1 Surround Sound

So why is it that even the world’s leading manufacturers of gaming peripherals are unable to create an effective, high-quality pair of true 7.1 headphones? The reason lies in the inherent qualities of surround sound.

Traditional 7.1 surround sound speakers are placed all around the listener, with enough separation to distinguish the location of the audio source. The problem with headphones is that they are small, and even when the drivers are separated within the earcup, there isn’t the same sense of immersion that’s afforded by traditional speakers.

Think of it this way…

If you’re in the center of a large hall with people all around you, your immersion is created by the subtle differences in volume and position. People who are further away from you will sound softer than those near to you, and you’ll hear people in front of you clearer than those behind you. But if you moved those people into a closet and stood amongst them, the sound would come across as less nuanced, without those subtle details.

True surround sound headphones suffer from the same issue, where even though the drivers are separated, they are separated by fractions of an inch and not feet, the way you would set up a surround sound home stereo system.

It’s also important to note that even traditional surround sound can come across as mediocre when the speakers aren’t correctly positioned and angled effectively toward the listener.

Are They Worth Buying?

At this point, I would advise against buying true 7.1 surround sound headphones, primarily because of the prevalence of hardware problems and the lack of effectiveness in their design. While technically not 7.1 surround, virtual surround sound headphones tend to offer better quality sound, and there are a lot more trusted models to choose from. Opting for a pair that can toggle between traditional stereo and surround sound is advisable.

Better yet, consider investing in a pair of stereo headphones that excel in soundstage and imaging. There are plenty of outstanding headphones on the market that have wide soundstage and precise imaging that create the same immersive experience with just two drivers. Open-back headphones are a great starting point, as their design, by nature lends itself to a broader soundstage.

For gamers, opting for a high-quality pair of stereo headphones along with a separate microphone is going to give you the best results, at the best price.

A Testament To The Power of Marketing

Whether the idea that true 7.1 surround sound headphones are myth or not, depends on who you ask. It’s true that by their nature they cannot implement the same 7.1 approach as traditional surround sound does, primarily because of the lack of a true center channel. However, a few modern releases come close to meeting the definition, by adding two additional front channel speakers to replace the center channel.

Virtual 7.1 has seen reasonable success over the years, with several gaming headsets remaining popular choices. However, the few true 7.1 surround sound headphones that have been released tend to perform sub-par, and considering wiring is often a weak point in headphone design, having 10 different drivers is inherently going to pose challenges.

The so-called success of 7.1 is mostly a perception created by strong marketing campaigns that oversell the potential of these headsets. The concept is an alluring one, but if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, avoid true 7.1 headphones for now.

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Written by
Bryn De Kocks

Bryn De Kocks is the lead editor for Audiostance, as well as one of our trusted reviewers. He has more than 15 years of experience in online publication and stands firm in being transparent with both the benefits and drawbacks of the products he reviews. Outside of editorial work, Bryn has been an avid online gamer and casual digital music producer since his teenage years, bringing his understanding of audio and especially headphones to the table. His daily driver is a humble pair of Fidelio X2HRs powered by a Fiio E10K. In his spare time he enjoys nature photography.

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