Razer Tiamat 7.1 Audio Headset Has 10 Drivers

Headphones and headsets rely on those things called drivers (not the software) to transmit sound, and Razer created the first product of this sort to pack 5 of them in each ear.

Speaker systems must have a number of satellites and a subwoofer if they are are to properly render surround sound.

This is harder to pull of in headphones, because of the simple fact that spacial positioning is an element that does not apply very well in such small confines.

Still, this did not stop companies from looking for ways to surmount the issue and deliver 'true' surround sound directly to the ear.

Razer may have just cracked the dilemma, although it did have to make liberal use of sound drivers, beyond anything done before.

More specifically, the Razer Tiamat 7.1 headset, set to be priced at $180 or 180 Euro when it begins to sell (during the fourth quarter of 2011), has 10 drivers in total, five in each ear cup

Seven of them are surround sound channels, while three are dedicated to carrying out the tasks of a subwoofer. A control unit lets one adjust the position and volume of each channel individually.

"The Razer Tiamat headset range is the pride of our audio engineering, the world's first 10 driver headset, built to deliver the most powerful, clear and accurately produced positional audio gamers will ever need for the competitive edge," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer USA.

"Surprise the enemy trying to creep up for a stealth kill, when you can hear their footsteps loud and clear behind you."

The Tiamat 7.1 has a noise-filtering, retractable microphone and a braided fiber cable, plus the ability to switch between the 7.1 and 2.0 stereo modes, although one might be better off buying a Tiamat 2.2 (with just four drivers, two for bass, and in-line volume control) if they prefer the latter option (the price is $100).