14 DAY TRIAL // It's not easy to provide truly immersive sound through a set of headphones, since surround sound gets its name from, well, having yourself surrounded by speakers on all sides. Obviously, that can't be done with a two-piece headset.
That doesn't mean there aren't ways around the limitation though. Software exists to simulate different sound sources, and sometimes companies go a lot further than that.
The Strix 7.1 True 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset that ASUS has just revealed is probably one of the best examples of that human creativity.
Normally, a headset has only two audio drives, one for each ear. The Strix 7.1 True 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset has no fewer than 10.
The Strix 7.1 True 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset
You probably can't imagine how immersive sound is when so many speaker drivers are used. Unless you've experienced both normal and high-end headsets for at least a few weeks or months, you probably lack a frame of reference.
It's strange, really, that we can remember images and visualize things so much more easily than reliving sounds and music. There's a reason so many people hum even if they have atrocious voices. But we digress.
The 10 discrete neodymium-magnet drivers in the new headphone set from ASUS have diameters of 40 mm for the front and subwoofer, 30 mm for the center one, and 20 mm for the rear and side drivers.
You can use them as they are, or set them in a high-tuned stereo mode that allows you to properly listen to music even while playing a game (instead of the sound getting blurred or garbled).
Direct audio control is included as well, with dedicated volume controls offered for each surround channel.
None of this would be possible without the use of a USB connector (the 3.5 mm audio and microphone jacks would be ill-suited, incapable of transmitting enough information bi-directionally).
You even have four game-audio spectrum profiles ready to engage at any given time: first-person shooter (FPS) Gunfire Mode, FPS Footsteps Mode, Action RPG Mode, and Racing Mode.
Finally (though there are other assets mentioned in the press release below), the design is one which incorporates “breathing” light effects with Strix owl-eye design for the ear cups and either a constantly-lit static lighting effect or a gently-pulsing “breathing” lighting effect (switch between them with a dedicated button on the USB audio station).
Availability and pricing
ASUS mentioned neither in its press release, unfortunately. Considering the sheer quality of the hardware and the audio station (which also has an HDMI speaker jack), you can be sure this will be one of, if not the most expensive headphone set on the market.
