Reproducing 5.1 audio in such a confined space such as a headset, more often than not results in varying results ranging from at best, mediocre to outright pathetic. The physics involved simply does not afford accurate positional audio to be of much use. That was however until the CM Storm Sirus headset arrived.

While not perfect, the Sirus 5.1 headset is by far the best 5.1 headset we have tested to date. It does 5.1 very well and while it cannot compete with a 'proper' 5.1 speaker setup it does imitate the effect really well. That isn't to say the headset is fake by any stretch of the imagination as it features four drivers per cup and therefore doesn't need to use software effects to emulate 5.1 surround sound. Listening to Saving Private Ryan was nothing short of exceptional considering the Sirus' primary use was gaming and while music reproduction was great, it is outclassed by the Sennheiser HD595 in reproducing crystal clear audio. The Sirus was never aimed at audiophiles though, it is a gaming headset and here is where it has performance by the bucket load.


Both Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 placed the Sirus on the winner’s podium not only because of the 5.1 reproduction but the quality of voices both in-game and through voice communication software. While those two games were used to benchmark the Sirus, I also played the new Elder Scrolls title, Skyrim. Again, the Sirus excelled which goes to show it's not just FPS that the Sirus can accommodate. Starcraft II also performed very well strangely better in 5.1 than stereo despite the game not specific to 5.1 audio. The same could be said for audio where 5.1 simply sounded better in surround than in stereo.

The software used to configure the Sirus is very good while perhaps not being the most user friendly console I have ever used. Coupled with the tactical control unit on the desktop then you have the best of both worlds, quick access to the most needed settings using the dock (including both mic and headset mute buttons) and the software based console for the (much) finer adjustments.

The packaging of the CM Storm is next to perfect. The option of analogue connectivity was a great addition as all too often we find gaming headsets being limited to either analogue or more often than not, USB. Having the option to use a soundcard, which many gamers will be reluctant to forgo, will save a lot of heartbreak. I did test the Sirus with an ASUS Xonar D2 card I had but in truth, it made very little discernible difference to the audio quality of the headset and as I found the tactical console very user friendly, I decided to go with USB. Pretty much everything is included in the package too with one exception; a carry case. Carrying a headset that costs over £100 to and from LAN events will mean the headset quickly starts to show battle scars which is a crying shame as the headset simply looks divine. With no option to fold away or removable cable I fear damage will be inevitable for those transporting the headset on a regular basis.

Other than the issues identified above the CM Storm Sirus 5.1 gaming headset is a fantastic product, even more so when you consider this is CM Storm's first foray into the audio market. The headset does most things very well and the rest...nothing short of exceptional! It really is that good and if you are a gamer who craves amazing audio this headset should be at the very top of your shopping list. For that reason the CM Storm Sirus 5.1 gaming headset is a deserved winner of both our Gold and Elite awards.

Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to CM Storm for providing today’s review sample.