[OS X] Mac compatible headset that supports 5.1 or .1

H0M3R · Dec 1, 2012, 07:43 AM

Howdy fellow gamers,

Are there any wired or wireless gaming headsets out with either 5.1 or 7.1 that work on OS X? I am currently using an old Plantronics USB headset and would like something that is better supported under OS X. At least something that has basic equalizer support.

Thanks.

Wardenski · Dec 1, 2012, 02:12 PM

Even if games did support 5.1 its would be difficult to get surround sound to work in OSX.

You would need a Mac compatible sound card that could output the 5 discrete RCA type channels or a Mac compatible sound card that could output DD encoded signal via optical.

There is a program called Jack that can use the CPU to encode via optical but I never got it to work for my games.

Then again this is about separate speakers rather than headsets which I am unfamiliar with except from a stereo point of view.

Jaguarxl · Dec 3, 2012, 05:05 AM

Try PS3 wireless headset. It's 5.1 and don't need any driver. The USB dongle does all the work for you. I have one and works perfectly on games.

CJM · Dec 3, 2012, 06:41 AM

You're best off using a USB-style headset where all the sound processing is done on the device. I'm sure there's one compatible with a Mac. Otherwise a USB DAC of some kind might do the trick.

edddeduck · Dec 3, 2012, 08:45 AM

IF you get all the right hardware most of our games (feral Interactive) will respect 5.1 surround sound. It is not heavily tested but when the game has 3D sound we hook up the libraries for the few people who have the hardware.

I think insidemacgames has a big forum post on what games work and what don't.

Edwin

Dec 1, 2012, 07:43 AM	#1
H0M3R macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007	Mac compatible headset that supports 5.1 or .1 Howdy fellow gamers, Are there any wired or wireless gaming headsets out with either 5.1 or 7.1 that work on OS X? I am currently using an old Plantronics USB headset and would like something that is better supported under OS X. At least something that has basic equalizer support. Thanks.
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Dec 3, 2012, 06:41 AM	#4
CJM macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2005 Location: U.K.	You're best off using a USB-style headset where all the sound processing is done on the device. I'm sure there's one compatible with a Mac. Otherwise a USB DAC of some kind might do the trick. __________________ iPad 3rd gen 64GB Black iPhone 5 32GB PC: OC'd 3.2-4GHz i7 960 / 2x ATi Vapor-X 5870 XFire / 6GB RAM / 24" + 22" H-IPS / W8 / 240GB SSD / 1.5TB HDD / 2TB NAS
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Dec 3, 2012, 08:45 AM	#5
edddeduck macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2004	IF you get all the right hardware most of our games (feral Interactive) will respect 5.1 surround sound. It is not heavily tested but when the game has 3D sound we hook up the libraries for the few people who have the hardware. I think insidemacgames has a big forum post on what games work and what don't. Edwin __________________ Feral Interactive - Follow us on Twitter or visit our Facebook page
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Dec 1, 2012, 02:12 PM	#2
Wardenski macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2012	Even if games did support 5.1 its would be difficult to get surround sound to work in OSX. You would need a Mac compatible sound card that could output the 5 discrete RCA type channels or a Mac compatible sound card that could output DD encoded signal via optical. There is a program called Jack that can use the CPU to encode via optical but I never got it to work for my games. Then again this is about separate speakers rather than headsets which I am unfamiliar with except from a stereo point of view.
	0

Dec 3, 2012, 05:05 AM	#3
Jaguarxl macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Brazil	Try PS3 wireless headset. It's 5.1 and don't need any driver. The USB dongle does all the work for you. I have one and works perfectly on games.
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