Please recommend headset/sound card for positional audio in gaming

[Who?Me?]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Thanks for reading this!

I like playing action games and shooters (Call of Duty, Battlefield, Mad Max, Borderlands etc.). Until recently, I was using a Logitech G35 Headset (USB-connect, soundcard built-in) in 5.1 configuration, which was ok and rather easy to use, but I was never really happy with. Now one of the earpieces came off, and out it went. Presently I am using a Soundblaster Recon 3D with a Sennheiser stereo headset w/microphone (the model no. of which I have failed to locate), but that combination leaves even more to desire.

Hence, I would be grateful for your recommendations for a replacement, at least for the headphones, or both. Browsing the internet, I have so far not found much up-to-date useful information.

For shooters, the ability to locate sounds is paramount, so obviously I need positional audio of some sort (at least 5.1). I would prefer an open design, so I can hear the phone/doorbell ringing. I wear glasses, so the earpieces should accomodate that. I would prefer a headset w/mic, but I'm not adamant about it. Price is not an issue for now. 400 $ for a sound card like the latest & greatest from Creative does sound (sic!) nuts, but I'm willing to spend if really advantageous.

Thanks in advance for your help! [/FONT]

 

[Who?Me?]

Hm. Not a single reply? Amazing.

 

[mnewsham]

Sound cards generally just use software tricks, I generally prefer a good quality headphone amp/DAC set up.

I am running a Schiit Magni and a Schiit Modi stack paired with AKG K712, gives great positional accuracy for games like Counter strike Global offensive. I use a standalone condenser microphone for talking to people.

 

[DigDog]

i play quake with no soundcard (think that the original soundblaster is the equivalent of an ALC 883, stuff that has been on mobos since socket 775) and a pair of audio technical AD900X (which i got for half price, around 130 bucks), and i can hear every footstep, every jumppad, every item pickup.

for mic i use a glue-on mic called AntLion, currently considered the best in its category.

 

[bononos]

.......
For shooters, the ability to locate sounds is paramount, so obviously I need positional audio of some sort (at least 5.1). I would prefer an open design, so I can hear the phone/doorbell ringing. I wear glasses, so the earpieces should accomodate that. I would prefer a headset w/mic, but I'm not adamant about it. Price is not an issue for now. 400 $ for a sound card like the latest & greatest from Creative does sound (sic!) nuts, but I'm willing to spend if really advantageous.

Thanks in advance for your help! [/SIZE][/FONT]

Have you read this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...ng-guide-1-8-2016-creative-x7-ps4-setup-added

Win8,10 have changed the driver model so hardware audio acceleration is now supported but it will some before new hardware htrf platforms like AMD's trueaudio is widespread.

 

[guskline]

Replaced My Logitech G35s with Kingston HyperX II headset and VERY happy.