Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Headset

Manufacturer: CM Storm
Product Name: Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset
Model Number: SGH-6000-KK5R1
Price As Tested: $114.99 (Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master.

Prepare to be blown away,but not by the enemy. Cooler Master proves that it can be good at anything with their new 5.1 surround sound headset dubbed the CM Storm Sirus. This handy hardware is geared towards gamers and audiophiles alike. With 4 speakers per ear, an inline Tactical Mixing Console, and additional software it has the potential to be a phenomenal success. To see how the Sirus truly performs, Benchmark Reviews tested CM Storm model number SGH-6000-KK5R1 with a range of audio tests to gauge the technical performance and overall user experience.

Since this is the first time Cooler Master has attempted audio hardware beyond the front-panel connectors in their cases, it should be interesting to see how the audio quality compares to devices from other companies with more audio experience. If previous products from the CM Storm product line are any indicator then the Sirus will not only stand up to the competition but will even excel or innovate where others have not.

In order for the Sirus to be a success it must perform near perfectly on sound production and ease of use while making advanced options accessible.When it comes to sound quality there is so much debate thatthis article will leave the debate to the audiophile forums and concentrate on the technical aspects of sound production. This includes testing the quality and range of generated tones (noting any distortion), assesing the dynanic range and crossovers, and evaluating the quality of audio from music, movies and games (including surround sound). Testing the ease of use mostly evaluates how easy the Sirus is to install and use out of the box. Finally, advanced options must not only be available, but they must be also be easy to access, intuitive, and hopefully novel.

Closer Look: CM Storm Sirus

CM Storm has generated a strong brand by their postive predictability in performance and presentation. From a visual perspective the Sirus maintains the quality of the CM Storm line. Like the other products the color scheme is gray and shiny black accented by red and silver. My CM Storm products always garner attention from visitors both at home and on the road.

Cooler Master has done a good job with their packaging to inform buyers of the features and specifications on their products. It prevents the miserable experience of buying a product with mystery features hoping it does the one thing that you need. This box also lets you see the product so you can get an estimate on the quality of materials.

The Sirus is composed of a hard plastic body inlaid and partially surrounded by a hard rubber. The ear muffs are labeled right and left with the boom mic attached to the left ear. Both ears pivot vertically to match the contour from your scalp to your jaw, but they rotate only slightly to match the curve from the back of your head to your nose. The logos on both ears light up when the headset is plugged-in.

The Sirus' headband is quite stiff and has hardly any flex for larger heads. Inside the head band a nylon mesh encloses a low-density foam meant to cushion your head from this beast. The foam helps distribute some of the weight and is soft to wear at first, but I suspect it will break down earlier than I want, but it snaps out easily, and I know how to sew in better foam.

The microphone boom is rigid at both ends and can only be adjusted along a 2.5 inch section in the middle. That doesn't provide much customization, but with noise-canceling technology it's not necessary to have the mic right in front of your mouth. Having a mic is nice for multi-purpose use like VOIP, speech-to-text, and gaming. The whole package definitely looks like it's aimed at gamers, but if you can wear jeans to the office you can probably wear a bulky headset without a problem.

The CM Storm Sirus also includes and in-line "Tactical Mixing Control". This convenient control allows you to adjust volume with the knob, mute speakers and microphone at the push of a button, and mix the four basic sound channels on-the-fly. From my testing it appears that the channels are not completely independent, but they contain enough unique sound for the mixing to be valuable, especially for gaming.

The mixing console is superb quality. The adjustment knob is very sturdy and smooth with very slight clicks while turning. The buttons have a hard tactile response and the LED indicators make it clear what I'm adjusting.

Sirus Gaming Headset Detailed Features

The CM Storm Sirus provides real 5.1 surround sound as opposed to virtual surround sound through four drivers by each ear. This allows for a true localization of sound in front and to the rear of the ears providing for a (hopefully) more real experience.

The front, rear and center drivers are all 30 mm in diameter for some decent volume. For a real impact in music and games the sub-woofer is a beefy 40 mm driver. It's not big enough to shake your body (if you're into that sorta thing), but it's big enough for a solid low frequency performance.

Cooler Master was kind enough to include multiple ear muffs with the Sirus. A micro-fiber set of cups makes it easier to hear ambient noise in case you need to be aware of your surroundings. A second set of artificial leather cups is better for excluding the ambient allowing you to focus on your game, music or conversation. The cups slip onto plastic rings which then snap onto the earphones. Although the headset is designated left and right, the ear cups are interchangeable.

Above is a closeup shot of the microphone. There is a red LED at the end which lights up when the mic is live and turns off when the mic is muted. The picture above was taken in dark light and shows just how well the LED lights. It was too dim for practical use. If I was really concerned about my mic getting muted I would rely on the mute button on the Tactical Mixing Console or the position of the mic. The mute button on the Tactical Mixing Console behaves exactly like the LED on the boom. The mic also mutes when the boom aligned with the headband turning off both LED indicators.

One complaint I often have with headsets is that the cord is too short. This usually results in a broken or shorted cord because I have to route the cord through a "high traffic" desk space where it inevitably gets jerked, pulled and/or pinched. Luckily the Sirus comes with a nice long cord. From the headset there is over four feet of cord which ends in a heavy-duty plated connector. This connector plugs into the Tactical Mixing Console or into a TSR cluster that can be plugged into normal 5.1 stereo jacks. Both options include a second run of cable. This means you can route your cable from the PC to your desktop and still have four feet of cable left.

The Tactical Mixing Console has the same braided nylon cord as the headset, but it terminates in dual USB plugs. This means that to get the benefits of the mixing console you'll probably have to dedicate an entire USB controller to running the headset. That's why there's a second cable allowing for a traditional 5.1 connection. Sadly, if you go this route you'll need a decent soundcard and you won't get to use the hardware mixer.

The last trinket included with the CM Storm Sirus is the 5.1 surround sound TRS cable. This allows the traditional 5.1 connection to a soundcard. If you go this route you'll need a soundcard that supports 5.1 surround sound. There is also a single USB cable required to run the headset, and it will still draw alot of power.

Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Features

• True 5.1 Surround Sound
• 8 discrete speaker channel pairs
• 40 mm Sub-woofers
• Inline Tactical Mixing Console
• Retractable, Noise-Canceling Microphone
• LED Mute Indicator Light
• Breathable or Noise-Canceling Ear Cup Options
• Advanced Software Tuning
• Functions without software

Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Software

• Volume Control - Speakers / Mic
• Sample Rate - Speakers / Mic
• Choose Stereo, Quadraphonic or 5.1 Surround
• Equalizer - Presets and Custom
• Environment Effects
• 7.1 Virtual Speaker Shifter
• Flex Bass II
• Xear SingFX -Magic Voice
• Sound Profiles - Preset and Custom

Having a GUI makes advanced settings easy to access. The software can be used to accomplish the same tasks as the Tactical Mixing Console and much more. With audio profiles huge changes can be made with a single button press.

A status bar is available which summarizes the current audio settings. For convenience the software minimizes to system tray, but the Sirus can even be used without software for basic features.

The software was fairly simple to use, but the sample provided did not include instructions. The layout of buttons and options was scattered all-over the page and did not have an intuitive, consistent flow. For this reason it took longer to learn the software than normal, and even still I spend time hunting for little things that could easily be organized into tabbed pages. Once you find the right page the interface is fairly straight forward. It would be nice to have more descriptive tooltips and explanations on each page describing the purpose and instructions of each advanced feature.

SGH-6000-KK5R1 Specifications

Not Yet Released.

Testing & Results

Testing Methodology

In order to measure the technical performance of the Sirus several basic tests were performed. The high and low frequency limits were determined by playing a sweeping tone and determining the exact cutoff frequencies. Then the dynamic range is determined by putting the volume at full and playing wav files with incrementally lowered dB output. Independence of the 5.1 surround sound channels is tested using an AC3 audio source meant for that purpose. Many DVDs contain tools for these types of tests. Finally, the tonal qualities are are evaluated throughout these tests to determine the general quality and quality of the speaker crossovers.

As a more subjective test the Sirus was used to listen to stereo and surround sound movies, games, and music (yes, there are artists who compose in 5.1). These tests are more about the user experience and perceived quality of the headset over a wide range of applications. Multiple test systems were used to find any quality differences that might be due to variables outside of the Sirus.

Tests were repeated on all test systems using both the USB and TSR cables.

Test System 1

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P
• Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE CPU HDZ965FBGIBOX
• System Memory: OCZ Gold 4GB 800MHz DDR2
• Disk Drive: SAMSUNG HD251HJ (232 GB)
• PSU: Antec EA500 EarthWatts 500W PSU
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional

Test System 2

• Motherboard: Foxconn G33M02
• System Memory: 2 x 1GB DDR2-667
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 @ 2.53 GHz
• Video: ATI Radeon X850XT
• Disk Drive: Western Digital WD400BD-75JMAQ
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional

Test Software

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2
• Just Cause 2
• Skype
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Windows Media Player
• VLC Media Player

Results

High Frequency Limit: I first used a wav file that sweeps from 22 kHz downward. With the volume maxed I could hear some very slight aliasing down to 18 kHz. At 18 kHz the aliasing stopped and I could hear the first clean tone. I'm confident I would have heard higher pitches since I can hear frequencies used to repel pests and mosquitoes. Next I played a wav file that sweeps from 10 Hz upward. I could not hear anything until 20 Hz where the first tone is heard and the headset barely vibrates. This gives the Sirus a frequency range from 20-18000 Hz.

Low Frequency Limit: A series of wav files that get progressively quieter were used to determine the low frequency limit. In my office I could distinguish words down to 66 dB below full volume. While my frequency detection is quite good, I'm not good at distinguishing quietly spoken words. So in a quieter environment and for someone with better hearing the Sirus' dynamic range is at least below 66 dB.

Surround Sound Channel Quality: Several 5.1 surround sound system tests to determine the quality of the surround sound channels. One example is the THX Optimizer included on many DVD's. From these tests I found that I could not totally disable the sound from a single channel. Despite muting all but one channel I can still hear the audio from the other channels, though the audio was softer. This was true for both the USB interface through the Tactical Mixing Console and the 5.1 TSR cable. Despite this setback, the channels gave a predictable response to the 5.1 tests.

Tonal Quality: There was one major difference between using the USB versus the TSR interface. The USB interface gave me interference from the mouse, from the hard drive, from the video card, from everything. It was a low thudding or clicking sound. I really like using the Tactical Mixing Console so I was determined to find the root cause. I tried all different combinations of USB ports but kept getting some level of the problem. I switched to my front USB ports and it improved but did not disappear. This only happened on my GigaByte motherboard, so I knew it was not the Sirus. I finally resolved the issue on my Gigabyte mobo by enabling my last unused USB controller on my motherboard. This resolved my interference issue. I'm confident that this could also have been resolved by installing a PCI USB board, a better power supply to USB, or an externally powered USB hub. Once I resolved the interference issue the tonal qualities during the technical tests was superb.

Music: When it came to music, the Sirus performed well. The high pitches sounded clear, but the bass suffered slightly due to the smaller driver compared to a large stereo headset. The tones were still clear and crisp, but it couldn't pound my head if I tried. It was difficult to distinguish much difference between the USB and the TSR setups in sound quality, but I stuck with the Realtek on-board sound card. There may be more difference with a higher quality sound card. Audiophiles will probably want to stick with the 5.1 jacks as opposed to the USB interface.

Gaming: The goal for 5.1 surround sound is to provide an immersive environment. Particularly for FPS games it should be easier to pinpoint the sources of enemy gunfire and footsteps. I frequently get accused of hacking because I pay close attention to enemy sounds, I'm good at predicting behavior, and I have a quick reflex. With stereo sound I find I have to turn frequently to get a better fix on the source of a sound. With the true 5.1 provided by the Sirus I didn't have to turn nearly as much. The improvement in sound localization was obvious. Despite this improvement, I still found it hard to identify the location of sounds from directly behind from those that are just more quiet than normal. I also that the bass seemed to overwhelm many other sounds, especially the high frequency sounds. The Tactical mixing console did a good job of on-the-fly adjustment to improve sound quality. Although the software can get a more natural balance I still preferred the speed and convenience of the knob on the desktop.

Movies: The Sirus provides great improvement over stereo movies, but it doesn't quite compare to a full 5.1 speaker setup. The sound quality is the same as that provided for music, and the surround sound is decent but not as good as speakers.

Misc: The headset performed well for miscellaneous voice applications like Skype. The one problem I experienced was low mic volume. For some reason it seems like the mic doesn't get the same amount of amplification as the speakers and there always seemed to be a mismatch between the two. Noise cancellation worked okay, but it wasn't as good as it could have been because I had to turn the amplification so high in windows.

Sirus Gaming Headset Final Thoughts

This review proved to me that when it comes to an immersive experience, true 5.1 surround sound is superior to stereo. The additional speakers make a difference in detecting the location of sounds in music, movies and games. But simply having speakers in the right places doesn't guarantee a good surround sound experience. This is because the ears determine the location of sounds using both direction and intensity of sound.This is well understood by the makers of virtual surround sound headsets.

There is an interesting tradeoff provided between the two technologies. True surround seems to offer more options when it comes to tuning the channels and frequencies. Even for an imperfect adjustment you can gaurantee that frontal sound are played in front of the ears and rear sounds are played behind the ears. True surround seems to provide a more robust experience even if it's not perfect.

Virtual surround on the other hand gives essentially the same quality of immersiveness but does so with only two drivers. This provides the advantage of size and improved sound quality.Based on my experience with the Sirus I would recommend that audiophiles stick to high quality virtual headsets. But as a gamer I like not having to spend hours fiddling with settings. Just give me something that works quickly and works well without much fuss.

I actually hope CM Storm will try another headset. Add more features to the mixing console and try a high-quality virtual headset with good tunability.

CM Storm Sirus Conclusion

As predicted, the Sirus gave a solid performance. Sound quality was respectable giving clean tones from 20 Hz to 18 kHz. The 40 mm bass drivers provided clean sound without blasting the ears. Sometimes in games the bass was overpowering, but this was easily adjusted using the Tactical Mixing Console. The ease of channel mixing along with four speakers made for a true surround sound experience. The immersion was much better than stereo audio, but not quite as good as a full 5.1 speaker setup. The USB interface requires lots of power and needs to be on a controller with a solid power supply. The USB quality is probably less than nice sound cards, but not much different from an on-board sound card.

With it's gray body, shiny black accents, and glowing red highlights the CM Storm Sirus has a professional look. It's definitely geared for the gamer, but you could pass it off in a casual office. The look is enhanced by the mixing console which provides convenient visual feedback on the volume, mute and mix settings. On the software side, it was difficult to locate adjustment screens. While the pages were there, the navigation was difficult.

The main body of the Sirus is made of a hard plastic which has very little give. The ear cups can pivot vertically, but other than that the headset is rigid and doesn't flex much. It will break before it will bend. This could be an issue for large heads or transportation. The mic is rigid on both ends and bends in the middle for modest adjustments. The most solid piece of the set is the Tactical Mixing Console.It is solid, heavy, and the adjustment wheel has a smooth feel.

There are many different ways to use the Sirus. With the Tactical Console's USB interface adjustments can be made instantly on any computer without software. Alternately, a separate analogue cable is included for a traditional 5.1 surround TSR connection allowing adjustments through the sound card. With both connection methods the software can be used to customize the sound experience. Through the software, equalizer, volume, mixing and other features can be saved into profiles to suit various applications.

For $114.99 (Newegg), the Sirus provides respectable quality, surround sound, versatility and reliability. If you're picky about specific features, like sound quality, you may be able to get more feature for your dollar with another headset. The Sirus was reliable out of the box with minimal adjustment. For quality sound and true surround sound that works and works well, you want a Sirus on your head.

Pros:

+ On-the-fly adjustment with Tactical Mixing Console
+ Respectable sound quality
+ True Surround Sound
+ USB or analogue TSR connectors
+ Highly customizable with software or sound card
+ Works without software

Cons:

- USB interface subject to interference
- USB interface is power hungry
- Limited headband adjustments
- Microphone had low volume
- Software interface not intuitive

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.00
• Construction: 8.50
• Functionality: 9.50
• Value: 8.00

Final Score: 8.8 out of 10.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.

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