You have heard the story “I have moved to Linux (arch btw).”, well… this is also my story. Anyways I have problems with my headset’s virtual surround. I realized that almost all of the drivers are just simply not working on Linux, but also that there are a bunch of alternatives. I have a HyperX cloud 2 (it was cheap), it’s 5.1 by default and 7.1 if toggled. Since I switched to Linux it has been stereo only. And I also feel like the sound quality is worse.
I heard somewhere that any headset can be virtual surround if configured correctly. And they sell “gaming junk” because people don’t know of this. I’m writing this so that hopefully some of you can teach me how to make any headset surround. I feel like I also must learn how to do this if I’m planning on gaming on Linux.
PS: I tough about buying an actual good headphone, but if it’s not capable of surround than that’s kind of a deal-breaker. I don’t play that much, but I remember playing shooters on stereo and they were unplayable, I wouldn’t like to lock myself out of those kinds of games.
So yeah, people have gotten hrtf surround sound stuff going with pulse audio, some searching around that should get you where you want.
Butt your last statement about games being “unplayable” in stereo is pretty silly, too, so I want to call that out. Don’t be silly. They aren’t “unplayable”, you aren’t “locked out,” thats silly. 99% of people that have ever played that game played in stereo.
I mean when i switched from stereo to surround it was like a whole new chapter. I got pseudo wallhacks I’m never going back. But I agree it’d be pretty silly to play RTS or city builders with it. Anyways thanks for the lead!