Hands-on wiht Psyko's 5.1 PC gaming headset

At last week's CES, Psyko Audio gave us a demonstration of the Calgary, Alberta-based company's 5.1-channel gaming headphones, which offer a unique yet simple approach to simulating surround sound in headphones. They have integrated seven drivers into the over-the-head form factor, with five mid-range drivers located in the bridge of the set and two low-range drivers in the see-through ear cups.

The middle of the five speakers in the bridge acts as the center channel speaker, with pair of nearest speakers representing the front right and rear channel and the outermost ones representing the rear right and left channels. All are connected with air tubes or what Psyko calls WaveGuides which travel to both earcups, with their location producing the latency in either ear for a surround-like experience. There is no digital signal processing involved, with the design responsible for all the timing, based purely on the speaker's location relative to a user's ear.

Wearing the set on a PC version of Crysis demonstrated this sensation, which was subtle but any audiophile would notice. A subtle volume difference is also noticed depending on which speaker the sound generates from because of its location relative to each ear. The rear speakers deliver sound to a WaveGuide that opens towards the ear of a user's ear, while the fronts deliver it to the front opening. When users aren't listening to music, they can open a door to let ambient sound in. An included microphone boom can be attached using the built-in 2.5mm connection.

Psyko offers a version for PC gamers in red and a light green model for Xbox 360 gamers, with the main difference being the color and connections. Either set of headphones can be ordered now, priced at $300 each.

By Electronista Staff