Which is better for a gaming headset: 2.0, 5.1, or 7.1?

I’ve been browsing the forums lately regarding these 5.1 and 7.1 headsets. It’s a mess out there. Some people swear you’re better off grabbing a high-end 2.0 setup for the same price, while others argue the exact opposite...

I see the Logitech G Series is on sale at this link. Is it actually worth the $150, or should I just invest in a solid stereo pair for the same amount?

To be clear: gaming is my only priority here.

Thanks.

The Medusa is actually pretty solid—if you’re looking for something specifically for shooters, you can't go wrong with that surround sound setup. You might also want to look into the SteelSeries 5H v2; their 7.1 surround is great and the mic is top-tier, though they aren't exactly high-fidelity for music—but if you're just gaming, they're more than fine. Honestly, they probably cost about the same anyway. Razer has the Orc and the Electar in that same price bracket, but I haven't really heard much about them—so, who knows, maybe they're better than the first two?

Thanks for the reply, Benjamin King2, but now I'm stuck. I clicked through the links and did a little digging at the checkout. From what I can gather, this Medusa setup offers true 5.1 surround, whereas those SteelSeries headphones are just using >>virtual<< surround.

He suggested the 5H v2 because I don't have a dedicated sound card—just the standard one on my motherboard. Since the 5H comes with its own "sound card" on a USB, he claims the audio quality would be significantly better. He couldn't quite say if that virtual surround actually holds a candle to the real thing.

Bottom line: for shooters, I need to pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from. Can I really rely on virtual surround for precision? If someone is behind me, am I going to know for sure, or am I just guessing?

You won't have any issues—the surround sound on the SteelSeries works flawlessly.

Logitech G502 preorder placed.