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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to turn a plain stereo headset into a virtual 7.1 surround rig on your PC, choose ROCCAT Juke; if you need an all-in-one over-ear headset with an inline boom mic that plugs straight into a console controller, choose Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset.
• ROCCAT Juke — biggest strength: It is a USB sound card and headset adapter that outputs 7.1 virtual surround at up to 48 KHz, so it upgrades the stereo headphones you already own.
• ROCCAT Juke — biggest trade-off: It is not a headset. There are no ear cups, no drivers and no microphone in the box, and it is built for Personal Computer use over USB 2.0 rather than consoles.
• Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset — biggest strength: It is a complete wired over-ear headset with 50 mm dynamic drivers, a flexible noise-isolating boom mic and a 3.5 mm jack that reaches consoles, PCs, tablets and phones.
• Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: Its surround effect is simulated from those drivers rather than true multichannel, it is a relatively heavy 300 g on the head, and the older Xbox One controller needs a separate Microsoft adapter that is not included.
• Who each pick is for: The Juke suits PC players who already like their headphones and want surround plus software tuning. The Globalsades suits players who want one cable, one headset and a mic for everything.
The Juke is the odd one out in most "gaming headset" searches, and that is exactly the point. It is a compact USB sound card and adapter that sits between your existing stereo headphones and your PC. Its job is to take a stereo signal and render it as virtual 7.1 surround, with a channel configuration of 7.1 and a maximum sample rate of 48 KHz. If you have a pair of headphones you genuinely like — comfortable, well-built, the right fit — the Juke lets you keep them and add surround processing instead of buying a whole new set.
The second half of the pitch is software. ROCCAT ships a full-featured suite with the Juke for customization, which is where this little adapter earns its keep for tinkerers. You are not locked into one fixed sound profile; the point of the software is that you can shape the output, which matters if you play a mix of competitive shooters, single-player games and general PC audio. It is also genuinely small and robust — about 22.68 g — so it lives on a desk or travels in a laptop bag without drama. Connection is USB 2.0, and it is listed as compatible with Personal Computer, with a two-year limited manufacturer warranty behind it.
Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset: Who It's For
The Globalsades is the opposite approach: one box, everything included. It is a wired over-ear headset with 50 mm dynamic drivers, a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, leather ear pads and an adjustable headband designed for long sessions. The drivers are tuned to deliver a simulated surround effect, which is the key phrase here — the goal is to help you pick out direction, like gunfire, footsteps and scenario cues, rather than to reproduce a discrete multichannel mix.
The microphone is integrated, omnidirectional and noise-cancelling, mounted on a long flexible boom so you can angle it where you want it. Volume sits on a remote inline control with a rotary dial, and the whole thing runs over a single 3.5 mm wired connection. That jack is the real story: it works across PS4, PS Vita, PSP, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, tablets, iPad, PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices. Plug and play, one cable. The catch worth knowing before you buy is that the older Xbox One controller needs a separate Microsoft adapter, which is not included.
Comfort gets deliberate attention here. The ear cushions are thickened for passive noise isolation, and the over-ear fit is meant to reduce heat and sweat over a full day of wear. At 300 g it is a substantial headset rather than a featherweight, so if you are sensitive to weight on your head, that is the number to weigh up. It carries a 12-month warranty.
Who should buy it? Console and multi-device players who want a headset, mic and inline volume in one purchase, and who want to move between an Xbox, a PlayStation, a tablet and a phone without swapping gear. Who should skip it? PC players who already love their headphones, anyone chasing true discrete multichannel audio, and old Xbox One controller owners who do not want to buy an adapter.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for true 7.1 surround processing → ROCCAT Juke. Virtual 7.1 with a 7.1 channel configuration and 48 KHz sample rate, handled in hardware and software.
• Best for simulated surround on a console → Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset. 50 mm drivers tuned for directional cues, delivered over a plain 3.5 mm cable.
• Best if you need a microphone → Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset. The Juke has no mic at all; the Globalsades has a flexible noise-cancelling boom mic.
• Best for multi-platform flexibility → Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset. One 3.5 mm jack covers consoles, PC, Mac, tablets and phones. The Juke is Personal Computer only over USB 2.0.
• Best for desk setup and portability → ROCCAT Juke. At roughly 22.68 g it is the smaller, tougher object to carry; the Globalsades is a 300 g headset.
• Best for tuning and customization → ROCCAT Juke. The bundled software suite is the reason to pick it over a fixed-profile adapter.
• Best for long-wear comfort out of the box → Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset. Thickened leather ear pads and an ergonomic adjustable headband, with the 300 g weight as the trade-off.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you already own headphones you like? If yes, I would buy the ROCCAT Juke. It gives you virtual 7.1 surround, a 48 KHz ceiling and a customization suite for a PC setup, and it does not force you to abandon gear that already fits your head well. If no — if you want a headset, mic and volume control in one purchase that works on a console as easily as a PC — I would buy the Globalsades Xbox Gaming Headset. It is the complete, plug-and-play answer, with the simulated surround and the older-Xbox-One adapter caveat both worth accepting knowingly.
is surround sound headphones good for gaming
Yes, for most players it is genuinely useful. Directional audio helps you place footsteps, gunfire and other cues, which is why both products here lean on it — the Juke with hardware virtual 7.1, the Globalsades with 50 mm drivers tuned for a simulated surround effect.
is surround sound good for gaming headphones
It can be, as long as you know what you are getting. The Juke produces virtual 7.1 over USB at up to 48 KHz on a PC; the Globalsades simulates the effect from stereo drivers over a 3.5 mm cable. Both aim at the same benefit — better positional awareness — through different methods.
is 7.1 surround sound good for gaming headphones
Virtual 7.1 is a common and practical way to get positional audio without a full multichannel speaker setup. The Juke is the clearest example of it here, with a 7.1 channel configuration and a 48 KHz maximum sample rate, and it also brings a software suite for tuning the result.
do gaming headphones have surround sound
Not all of them, and not always the same kind. Some, like the Globalsades, use large drivers to simulate surround from a stereo signal. Others, like the Juke, generate virtual 7.1 in a dedicated USB sound card. Check which approach a product uses before you decide.
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