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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want the lowest-fuss way to add virtual 7.1 surround sound to a headset or console you already own, choose Dpofirs USB Sound USB; if you need a complete wireless gaming headset with a detachable mic and huge battery life, choose ATK N9.
• Dpofirs USB Sound USB — biggest strength: a plug-and-play USB-to-3.5mm adapter that delivers virtual 7.1 surround sound with 192 KHz sample rate support, plus inline mic and headphone volume control and a mute function.
• Dpofirs USB Sound USB — biggest trade-off: it is an adapter, not a headset. You still need your own wired headphones and a microphone, and the surround effect is virtual, not true multi-driver 7.1.
• ATK N9 — biggest strength: a full tri-mode headset (3.5mm wired, 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth) with stereo drivers, a detachable noise-canceling boom mic, and a claimed 130-hour battery life.
• ATK N9 — biggest trade-off: its audio is stereo-tuned, not 7.1, and at 270 g it is a real over-ear headset you have to physically wear and charge.
• Who each pick is for: Dpofirs for tinkerers who already love a specific pair of headphones and want directional game audio cheaply; ATK N9 for players who want one self-contained wireless headset that just works.
The Dpofirs USB Sound USB is a small external sound card that plugs into a USB port and gives you a 3.5mm jack on the other end. Its headline feature is virtual 7.1 surround sound, which the sheet describes as a way to perceive in-game footsteps and environmental sounds so you can judge direction quickly. That is the whole pitch, and for a lot of gamers it is exactly the missing piece: you keep the headset you already find comfortable, and you add directional audio to it.
What makes it practical is the control layout. There is independent volume adjustment for the microphone and the headphones, plus a mic mute for cutting yourself off instantly mid-match. The LED indicator tells you at a glance whether the 7.1 virtual surround and mute functions are active, which sounds trivial until you have spent a match wondering why your teammates cannot hear you. Plug and play is the other big deal here — no driver installation, so it works the moment you connect it.
Compatibility is broad: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One are all listed, with a USB hardware connection and a 192 KHz maximum sample rate. The 7.1 channel configuration is the audio output mode.
Who should buy it: anyone on PC or console who already owns a wired 3.5mm headset or a good pair of headphones and wants virtual surround, mic control, and a mute button without buying a whole new headset. Who should skip it: if you do not own a wired headset with a mic, or you want wireless freedom and a built-in boom mic, this adapter alone will not get you there — you would still be tethered and still supplying your own mic. It is also not the pick if you want genuinely discrete multi-driver surround rather than a virtual effect.
The ATK N9 is the opposite approach: instead of adapting what you own, it replaces it. This is a complete over-ear gaming headset with stereo-tuned dynamic drivers that the sheet says deliver balanced sound with clear details and sharpen in-game cues like footsteps, gunfire, and environmental effects. Note the wording carefully — ATK tunes this as stereo, not as a 7.1 surround headset, so if spatial virtualization is your number one priority, that is a genuine difference between these two products.
Where the N9 earns its keep is flexibility. Tri-mode connectivity means 3.5mm wired, 2.4G wireless, and Bluetooth, so you can move between a console, a PC, and a phone without swapping gear. The detachable noise-canceling boom mic is removable, which is a nice touch if you only want the mic for team chat and prefer a cleaner look for single-player or music. The over-ear design uses soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband for a stable fit across long sessions, and the enclosure is polycarbonate with silicone.
Battery life is the standout number: the sheet lists a 130-hour average battery life from the included rechargeable battery. Even accounting for real-world variance, that is a headset you charge occasionally rather than nightly. It ships with an adapter, cable, and user manual, and carries a 6-month warranty. At 270 g it is a normal full-size headset weight — comfortable for most, but it is still something resting on your head for hours.
Who should buy it: players who want one headset that handles console, PC, and mobile, who value wireless freedom and a long battery, and who want a mic they can detach. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants virtual 7.1 surround processing rather than stereo, or who already owns headphones they love and only needs the adapter half of this equation.
• Best for virtual 7.1 surround sound → Dpofirs USB Sound USB. It is the only one of the two that lists a 7.1 channel configuration and virtual surround as a core feature.
• Best for wireless freedom → ATK N9. 2.4G and Bluetooth on top of wired, versus a USB adapter that keeps you plugged in.
• Best for battery life → ATK N9. Its 130-hour average battery life is in a different league from an adapter that draws power over USB.
• Best for keeping your existing headphones → Dpofirs USB Sound USB. You add surround and mic control without replacing the headset you already like.
• Best for a built-in microphone → ATK N9. It has a detachable noise-canceling boom mic; the Dpofirs adapter only passes your existing mic through with volume and mute control.
• Best for multi-device switching → ATK N9. Console, PC, and phone in one headset via three connection modes.
• Best for a quick, no-install upgrade on PC, PS5, or Xbox → Dpofirs USB Sound USB. Plug and play, no drivers.
• Best for long sessions out of the box → ATK N9. Soft cushions and an adjustable headband are built for hours of wear.
In my opinion, the ATK N9 is the better buy for most people, because it solves the whole problem at once: wireless audio, a detachable noise-canceling mic, and a 130-hour battery in a single comfortable headset. I would only steer you to the Dpofirs USB Sound USB if surround sound is genuinely your priority and you already own a wired headset you refuse to give up — in that case, its virtual 7.1, inline volume, mic mute, and LED status indicators are a smart, simple upgrade. Decide which of those two situations sounds like you, then check the current price on Amazon before committing.
FAQ
is surround sound headphones good for gaming
Yes, and it is one of the most useful features for competitive play. Virtual surround like the Dpofirs USB Sound USB's 7.1 processing is designed to help you perceive footsteps and environmental sounds so you can judge direction faster. It is an aid, not a guarantee — good game audio design and practice still matter.
For positional awareness, yes. The Dpofirs USB Sound USB lists a 7.1 channel configuration and virtual surround as its main selling point, aimed squarely at picking out in-game cues. Just know it is virtual surround from an adapter, not seven physical drivers, and that the ATK N9 takes the opposite approach with stereo-tuned drivers instead.
do gaming headphones have surround sound
Not always. Plenty of gaming headsets, including the ATK N9, are stereo-tuned rather than surround-processed — its sheet describes balanced stereo sound with clear details, not 7.1. If surround is a must-have for you, look for it stated explicitly, as it is on the Dpofirs USB Sound USB.
is surround sound good for gaming headphones
It depends on what you play. For shooters and anything where direction matters, virtual surround is a real advantage, which is why the Dpofirs adapter exists. For music, movies, and casual play, a clean stereo tuning like the ATK N9's is often more natural — and you get wireless freedom and a 130-hour battery with it.
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