Turtle Beach's AK-R8 eight-speaker USB surround sound headphones

If we had a revolution for every surround sound headphone that promises us one, we'd all be so directionally aware we wouldn't know what do with ourselves. Today's "revolutionary" headphones come to us from Turtle Beach, who promises to turn the very waveform on its head with this new Ear Force AK-R8 "True Surround Sound" headset. Lucky for Turtle Beach, it has indeed packed a couple of notable features into the AK-R8, including a whoppin' eight speakers, dual mics to monitor outside sounds, and a USB audio interface / sound card that includes a 10 band EQ and positioning abilities to (theoretically) get that big room system feel without all the calls from the neighbors. The AK-R8 also includes a removable boom microphone for chatting up your frag buddies, is Windows only, includes an optical S/PDIF adapter for tapping into your sound system, and should be retailing now for about $150.

[Ryhan @ Jun 4th 2007 11:18PM]

Add isolation, a seriously thick cable,and quality pin, and I'll be hooked...

[Kevlar @ Jun 4th 2007 11:18PM]

mmm overkill

[Hernan Paredes @ Jun 4th 2007 11:35PM]

i like alot.

[Adam Zaglaniczny @ Jun 5th 2007 12:47AM]

You need to hear this http://www.3gpvids.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=481 . You have to use headphones to get the real effect.

[Myrmidon @ Jun 5th 2007 12:01AM]

Hmmm that seems like a hoax. Our ears can only detect 'direction' of sound because we move our heads slightly from side to side, and can perceive the difference in signal. However, if the speakers are attached to your head (4 a side in this case), then the natural head motion won't work and you won't be able to establish direction that well.

[t-bone @ Jun 5th 2007 12:42AM]

You have a good point. If I hear something behind me and to the right, I can turn my head and better pinpoint the sound. With the headphones the sound will be relative to my head, not the game.

[Olivier @ Jun 5th 2007 3:50AM]

Turlte probably didn't include gyros to detect motion, but true spacial sound can be achieved with only two speakers and some clever maths.
This isn't the marketing crap you'll find under the name "virtual surround", it's called Binaural sound
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_recording

And Stereo ain't got nothing to do with it.

[Evan Labbe @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:43PM]

wait, i'm having trouble with what Myrmidon and T-Bone just said, but more T-Bone than the former. He kind of disproves Myrmidon's statements
"If I hear something behind me and to the right, I can turn my head..."
So, wait. if surround sound is only possible if you turn your head to pick up on the difference in wavelength, then how did you know the sound was behind and to the right in the first place.
Humans are amongst the few on earth that have the ability to distinguish sound location naturally, without moving ears or head.
Surround sound in a headphone is done by placing several tiny speakers inside, and activating each individually, similar to 7.1 surround. Its not trickery, or false promises, if a sound is behind an to the right, then the sound is put through the right headphone, rear most speakers.

[qbix @ Jun 5th 2007 4:12AM]

@Adam Zaglaniczny: Convincing surround sound is possible through headphones, as you pointed out, but only with the right recording equipment. 5.1 surround sound delivers different sounds to each speaker, and because it assumes the speakers (not headphones) are positioned correctly around the listener these sounds are projected with disregard of idiosyncrasies in frequencies and delays that your brain requires to interpret them accurately with headphones.

I have 3 pairs of 5.1 headphones which fail miserably at providing good positional audio. I can't set up a 5.1 system due to my living situation so headphones are my only option. Needless to say, I have reached the conclusion that accurate or even acceptable 5.1 surround sound is only possible with external speakers, at least per my experience.

[eric Strunk @ Jun 5th 2007 3:47PM]

Sorry for the stupid question . . . If i'm using these w/ my Xbox360, how will i be able to cut the sound from my tv speakers, so i don't bother my studying wife, or my sleeping baby? Do these plug into my wireless controller? A USB port in the console? or my TV?

[MaXKiLLz @ Jun 7th 2007 10:23AM]

Turtle Beach's build quality is pretty poor. They may look nice from a distance, but once you get within arm's length and closer, you start noticing the cheap plastic and thin cable. If you want some kick ass surround headphones for your 360, use what I use. Pioneer SE-DIR800c: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4171_108990338,00.html?bcsi_scan_4084C5AB3DBD951A=GBqhECwmYlIHG2/X4YilYAsAAADcvH0O&bcsi_scan_filename=0,,2076_4171_108990338,00.html

[palehorse @ Jun 6th 2007 11:25AM]

do those Pioneers have a boom mic accessory? if not, then they're useless for gaming...