I didn't know what to expect from this product as I have never owned a pair of gaming headsets, but I wasn't willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of headsets that may or may not enhance my experience.
So let me break down the description given:
-- 7.1 surround - I've always see this more as a gimmick than an actual feature, even in headphones that cost hundreds of dollars but don't have discreet speakers. The computer sees these headsets as stereo and not 7.1 so whatever program you run, whether it's a trailer with Dolby Atmos or a game, the output will still be stereo. While their program supposedly tries to simulate virtual surround, you would still need the source to be 7.1 discreet channels so that their driver can process the signal to simulate surround sound. These headsets do not have DTS-HD or Dolby ATMOS certification so they aren't actually able to process raw 7.1 channel data. It means that in the end, the video player is still just playing stereo sound. The end effect of turning on virtual 7.1 surround sound is that the soundtrack is more "atmospheric" or "wider" sounding, but you wouldn't be able to tell that a sound is coming from your rear left flank. Since I never expected much out of this feature, I didn't mind that it wasn't true 7.1
-- USB - True plug and play on Windows 10. I plugged these headphones in and immediately, Windows output sound through them. No muss no fuss. It just worked. You can install their driver, which turns on the "virtual 7.1" feature but that's pretty much like installing drivers for any realtek sound card. You just have access to a few extra DSP effects. Honestly, I don't like extra processing to my audio signals. Being USB, it is a completely digital signal to your headphones all the way up until the speakers themselves. On 3.5mm headphones, the audio signal is analog at 3.5mm port, at which point, you will get some signal degradation just from the connection itself.
-- Gaming Headset with Microphone - I don't really play games online so I can't tell you whether the microphone is better or worse than any other headset but I can tell you that I used the Spirit Wolf with a few games and I was hearing sounds that I didn't hear in my Sennheisers.
-- PC Gamers - BONUS! This headset isn't just for PC gaming, it works with the Nintendo switch, too, using the USB port on the dock. Even the volume buttons on the headset works!
My overall experience with Spirit Wolf has been positive. The sound is crisp and clear and the high frequencies are very good but the bass could have been better. I'm not big on turning up the bass so it's not a big loss. I still feel that the overall sound quality is very good.
The headset is circumaural which means it surrounds your ears and the speakers are not pressed right against your head. It means that noise isolation isn't as good as earbuds or even supra-aural headphones (which press up against your ear), but there's a reason professional gaming headphones are this style. You can wear them for longer periods without discomfort and you are able to achieve a wider sound.
Overall, I recommend this headset for its price and overall sound quality. The ability to use it with my Switch is just bonus.
EDIT: I must amend my previous conclusions regarding the virtual surround sound. I recently started playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider and as a test, I went into the audio settings for the game. The options were stereo, 5.1, 7.1, and spatial sound. Reading the description for spatial sound, it states that it is meant to be used with Windows Spatial Sound (right click on the speaker icon in your system tray and you'll see an option to turn it on). Well, I tried the spatial sound in three different ways: with only the in-game spatial sound setting on, the in-game setting + Windows Spatial Sound on, and in-game setting + XEar driver 7.1 on. All three give slightly different positional sound effects but I found that the XEar effect was the best. The sounds simulate a wide environment and I was able to distinguish the direction of each distinct sound source. Very impressive.
| Brand | Anivia |
|---|---|
| Series | Gaming headset |
| Item model number | LYSB01E8RS598-CMPTRACCS |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Electronic Games |
| Item Weight | 7.1 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 7.8 x 3.3 x 7 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 7.8 x 3.3 x 7 inches |
| Color | White |
| Power Source | DC |
| Voltage | 0.01 Volts |
| Manufacturer | SADES |
| ASIN | B01E8RS598 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | January 22, 2015 |
