Gaming headsets, especially those with surround sound functionality, were once considered a marketing gimmick. But in recent years, virtual surround sound headsets, which use dedicated software to emulate a surround sound experience, have become the real deal by helping a lot in fast-paced, competitive multiplayer games. They are also becoming more affordable and more mainstream by the day. With that in mind, we've rounded up the 12 best 7.1-channel surround sound gaming headsets you can buy right now.

The best gaming headsets allow you to locate your enemies and kill them before they even know it. Well, we're talking about the big guns in the headset market that are actually worth the price if you're looking for a surround sound experience on a headset. So if you're looking forward to buying one in the near future, here are the 12 best 7.1 surround sound gaming headsets you can buy in 2022.

Sennheiser is one of the most popular brands in the audio industry. Audiophiles usually prefer their headphones for studio monitoring. The company makes the world's most expensive headphones, priced at almost $65,000 and while they may not be the same size in the gaming headset segment, the company still makes some of the best surround sound headsets on the market. Meet the Sennheiser GSP 550 gaming headset.

This headset features an in-line control to enable Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound with the company's Transducer technology, allowing you to hear even the finest details in the game. The headset uses the Sennheiser Surround Dongle Software for the 7.1 profile. The open ear design, complete with soft ear cups with a breathable fabric construction make these headphones comfortable even for long gaming sessions.