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The audio component works as advertised: the sound is crisp, and in the right games the sense of immersion and space is simply awesome ... but to get best surround sound experience, you're simply going to have to shell out extra cash for a 7.1-surround capable sound card.

What I will unequivocally say is that for those of you with sound cards that do currently support the 7.1 audio standard, this is a gaming headset that I would recommend.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 is an excellent-sounding gaming headset with plenty of bass, and while it's pricey for a wired headset, it's one of the best we've seen yet.

If you listen to a lot of music, you’re probably not going to be thrilled with the audio fidelity. But if you’re really into gaming, this is one of the more desirable headset options out there, and that's just how Razer wants it.

Some may also balk at the $179.99 price tag. I'd say this is a case of getting what you paid for. Hell, I'm shopping for sound cards now, convinced more hidden audio treasures are waiting to be uncovered by these inexperienced ears.

Some people may not see the value in individual drivers compared to the savings a virtual surround setup can provide, but the 7.1 Tiamat sounds great and the individual drivers more effective at reproducing and manipulating a 7.1-enabled soundscape than traditional virtual solutions.

These 7.1 surround-sound headphones pack a whopping 10 drivers; five times more than every other set. The aim is to deliver the best directional audio on the market, but it comes at a severe cost of sound quality.

The Tiamat 7.1 edge goes beyond its audio quality: it’s the industrial design – the whole package ... I’m not convinced that the Tiamat 7.1 can give you that big if an edge when enemies come from behind, but it does make the games more immersive.

The creation of the Tiamat is an achievement in and of itself, but the overall effectiveness of true 7.1 surround sound is lost when tightly placed inside the small confines of a headset.

If there's a downside to the Razer Tiamat 7.1, it's that they cost $179.99. Other than that, any respectable PC gamer will no doubt be happy with this headset.

Well built and aesthetically pleasing, pair the Razer Tiamat 7.1 with a good quality gaming soundcard and it offers an excellent surround sound experience which enhances gameplay and movies on PC. This headset is especially great for those who love a lot of volume and power to their sound.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 is pricey but, if you are looking for the best 7.1 channel gaming experience possible without a desktop speaker system, you simply won’t find better at this time.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 Gaming Headset is far from entry-level. It’s not even moderate to mainstream. This units sits at the bleeding edge of uber-enthusiast with a familiar price point, handsome feature set and absolutely canorous performance.

I was impressed by what the Tiamat does for immersion, and the fact that Razer managed to fit ten drivers into a single headset is absurd ... If you do have all the stuff you need and either the games or the movies to back the purchase, then the 7.1 set comes with my full recommendation.