Gaming headsets are a dime a dozen these days – it seems like every manufacturer has some headset they market to the gaming crowd. Most are just general-use models with some flashy marketing. So, when we hear about a headset-maker who is genuinely trying to do something revolutionary, we take notice. Enter: The Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset from Psyko Audio Labs.
The Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset is a true surround sound headset. Unlike virtual surround sound models, the Psyko 5.1 actually features seven speakers mounted throughout the unit. Five of the sound drivers are meant for the surround sound channels and are mounted in the head band. The other two drivers are the sub-woofers and are located in the lower part of the ear cups. The price for all of these speakers comes in terms of added weight. The Psyko 5.1 headset is easily the most weighty headset I have ever used outside of aircraft-grade models. Thankfully, Psyko Audio Labs has put a lot of foam padding around the unit in an attempt to soften it as much as possible.
As previously-mentioned, the surround sound drivers are located in the top of the headband, leaving the question of how they get the sound from the headband down to your ears where it belongs. This is where the real magic of the Psyko 5.1 lies and how they recreate the ‘perfect room’ or audio ‘sweet spot’, which is the bane of many audiophiles’ existences. In short, the ‘sweet spot’ is the exact location in a surround sound system where all the speakers and sounds are exactly the same distance from the listener, ensuring a perfect balance of incoming sound channels. This spot is very hard to obtain and even more difficult when several people are attempting to enjoy the surround sound – obviously, some folks just wont be able to get the sweet spot – concessions need to be made. With the Psyko 5.1, they recreate this audio holy grail by funneling surround sound down from the headband via ‘waveguides’ which then output the sound in the proper direction from your ear. This means that the rear sound channel waveguides output the sound behind your ears, giving your body the chance to locate the sound as nature intended, instead of through the use of some virtual surround system.
For the gamers out there, this means that sound input will be accurately delivered to their ears in order to give them an additional edge while playing against their foes, virtual or real. Setting up the Psyko 5.1 is very simple. You plug the four input jacks into the included, external amp unit and then connect the cables coming out of the amp into the 5.1 surround sound outputs on your PC. Technically, the Psyko could be used with any audio source providing the four surround sound outputs, but there are certain aspects of the Psyko amp which make this unwise.
Confused on if you have plugged everything in correctly? On the external amp unit, there is an array of channel-specific LEDs. As sound is pushed out through the 5.1 channels, these lights will brighten and dim with the volume of the sound per channel. So, if you need to test a particular channel you will know rather quickly if you plugged everything in correctly.
Psyko Audio Labs has intended this for gamers. In speaking with their CEO, James Hildebrandt, the company has used the external amp to enhance the sound frequencies most found in first-person shooter titles. These are apparently not the best sound frequencies for movie watching or album listening. The company’s motto for this product is ‘The Dawn of Audio as A Weapon’, and it holds true. Do not buy these if you are not a gamer, they will simply be an incorrect fit for your needs.
I only found two things off-putting about the headset. First, was its weight, which after several hours of play began to bother the top of my head – even with the cushions provided. The second thing that threw me off was the lack of an auxiliary speaker output on the amp. If your PC is located on the ground like mine, you have to reach under there and swap out the headset plugs with your general-use system for movies and music. If I could just have the general speakers plugged into the amp along with the headset (maybe have a toggle to go back and forth between outputs) – it would be a lot more convenient. At least the earcups are ventilated, which helps not make your ears all sweaty after long hours at play. However, this also means that sound can be heard by people around you – so, if communications secrecy is a concern you may want to watch who is standing next to you.
I put the Psyko 5.1 through its paces over a few weeks (save for the week of Comic-Con) full of games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Call of Duty: World at War, Armed Assault 2: Operation Arrowhead, and a few others I am sure I am just forgetting at the moment. The channel separating in the games supporting 5.1 sound was incredible and definitely gave me an additional layer of situational awareness not found in the general-use headset I usually employ while gaming.
Left 4 Dead 2 was an especially eerie play-through, as that is an experience where the audio can be just as scary as the zombies intent on eating your flesh and sucking the marrow from your fractured bones! After setting up the Psyko 5.1, I could make out zombies scampering about all around me – especially when they start horde runs. The experience of hearing the sound being picked up by your ears from the actual direction it should be coming from was alarming to say the least.
Putting the CEO’s advice to the test, I did attempt to watch a few movies and listen to a few albums on my PC. The experience was definitely something I would not recommend as the equalizer was simply not right for those uses.
At $299, the Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset will undoubtedly turn some folks off. It is a very pricey investment for a headset that is not a great fit for movie or music use. However, this is not for casual folk. This headset is for gamers and in a world of ‘for-gamer’ products which, in reality are anything but, the Psyko 5.1 headset is an exceptional work of audio art that is certain to give you the edge whether it be in single or multiplayer game sessions. Game on!
