How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a simple, plug-and-play wired headset built around 7.1 virtual surround sound for PC and PlayStation, choose ENHANCE Scoria 2; if you need one headset that hops between Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and your phone over wired, 2.4G or Bluetooth, choose ATK N9.
• ENHANCE Scoria 2 — biggest strength: Dedicated 7.1 virtual surround sound over a single USB connection, plus on-earcup volume and mute controls and a metal-reinforced build.
• ENHANCE Scoria 2 — biggest trade-off: It's wired-only over USB, so it won't work with a phone, a Switch in handheld mode, or any device without a USB audio path.
• ATK N9 — biggest strength: Tri-mode connectivity (3.5 mm wired, 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth) with a detachable noise-canceling mic and a long battery rating, so it covers consoles, PC and mobile.
• ATK N9 — biggest trade-off: It's a stereo headset at its core, so you don't get the labeled 7.1 surround processing the Scoria 2 is built around.
• Pick ENHANCE Scoria 2 if you game at a desk on PC, PS5 or PS4 and want directional audio and always-on RGB without charging anything.
• Pick ATK N9 if you want one headset for a console, a laptop and a phone, and you'd rather not be tethered.
The Scoria 2 is a desk headset in the purest sense. It connects over a USB cable to a gaming PC, laptop, PS5 or PS4, and the headline feature is 7.1 virtual surround sound — directional audio processing meant to help you place footsteps, reloads and gunfire around you rather than just left and right. If your main complaint with cheap headsets is that everything sounds like it's happening in a flat line in front of your face, that's exactly the problem this design targets. In my opinion, it's the more interesting pick of the two specifically for competitive shooters where audio cues matter.
Who should buy it: PC and PlayStation players who sit at a desk, want 7.1 surround, and prefer controls on the headset itself. Who should skip it: anyone who games on an Xbox, a phone, or a Switch in handheld mode, because the USB-only wired connection is the limiting factor. If you want to know what it costs today, check the current price on Amazon — the button is right on this page.
ATK N9: Who It's For
The ATK N9 is the flexibility play. It supports three connection types — 3.5 mm wired, 2.4G wireless, and Bluetooth — so the same headset can serve an Xbox Series X|S, a PS5, a PC, a Switch and your phone. That matters more than it sounds. Most people don't game in one place: you might play on a console in the living room, take a call on your phone, and join a PC lobby later. The N9 is designed to be swapped between those without you owning three headsets.
Audio-wise, it's honest about what it is: stereo-tuned dynamic drivers with a balanced profile that highlights in-game cues like footsteps, gunfire and environmental effects. That's a stereo presentation rather than the labeled 7.1 surround processing on the Scoria 2. The detachable noise-canceling boom mic helps on team chat and calls, and the fact that it detaches is a real quality-of-life detail — you can pull it off for music or single-player and it stops being in your way. Around 270 g with soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband puts it in comfortable territory for long sessions, and the battery rating is listed at up to 130 hours, which is a lot of wireless play between charges. You also get a 6-month warranty, plus an adapter, cable and manual in the box.
Who should buy it: multi-device players who want wireless freedom and Bluetooth for phone use, and anyone who wants a mic they can remove. Who should skip it: players who specifically want virtual surround processing and don't care about wireless or Bluetooth.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for 7.1 virtual surround sound → ENHANCE Scoria 2. It's the whole point of the design.
• Best if you hate charging → ENHANCE Scoria 2. It's USB-powered, so there's no battery to manage.
• Best for long wireless sessions → ATK N9. The listed battery life is up to 130 hours.
• Best for a detachable mic → ATK N9. Pull it off when you don't need voice chat.
• Best for on-headset controls → ENHANCE Scoria 2. Volume and mute sit on the back of an earcup.
• Best for console + phone in one → ATK N9. Xbox, PS5, Switch and cellphones are all listed as compatible.
• Best for a metal-reinforced, desk-bound build → ENHANCE Scoria 2. Metal construction, adjustable metal headband, matte scratch-resistant finish.
If I were buying for myself, I'd go with the ENHANCE Scoria 2. My reasoning is simple: my gaming happens at a desk, on a PC or a PlayStation, and 7.1 virtual surround sound plus on-earcup controls is exactly the combination I want for shooters. I don't need Bluetooth or a battery. But if your gaming is spread across an Xbox, a laptop and your phone — or you just hate cables — the ATK N9 is the smarter buy, and I'd recommend it without hesitation for that lifestyle.
is surround sound headphones good for gaming
Yes, for the right kind of game. Virtual 7.1 surround like the Scoria 2's is designed to make directional cues — footsteps, gunfire, movement behind you — easier to place, which helps in competitive shooters. For cinematic or casual games the difference is smaller, but it rarely hurts.
is 7.1 surround sound good for gaming headphones
It's a genuine advantage when it's implemented well, and the Scoria 2 is built around it over USB. The catch is that it only applies to devices that can feed it that signal, which here means PC, laptop, PS5 or PS4 — not an Xbox or a phone.
do gaming headphones have surround sound
Not all of them. Some, like the ATK N9, focus on clear stereo tuning instead, which still surfaces footsteps and effects but without a labeled surround mode. Others, like the Scoria 2, advertise 7.1 virtual surround as their core feature.
is surround sound good for gaming headphones
In my opinion yes, if you play titles where knowing direction wins fights. If you mostly play single-player or chat on Discord while gaming, a well-tuned stereo set like the ATK N9 covers you fine — and it brings wireless and Bluetooth that the surround-focused Scoria 2 doesn't.
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