Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship review

Surround sound, straight in your ears

Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship
Surround sound without all the speakers

TechRadar Verdict

Ideal for playing computer games or watching movies without annoying the neighbours.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent surround sound effect

  • +

    Inline remote for adjusting levels on the fly

  • +

    Comfortable to wear

  • +

    Excellent software for configuring the sound

Cons

  • -

    Bass can be a little overwhelming

  • -

    Won't replace a 5.1 speaker setup

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If you're serious about PC gaming then a decent 5.1 surround sound setup is essential.

It doesn't just help with immersion - although being surrounded by ambient noise certainly helps draw you into the game world - but it helps you pin point enemies as they hide around corners or sneak up behind you.

Most sets of 5.1 headphones can be hit or miss, but the Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship works really well.

The eight individual drivers in these headphones give much better audio placement that other sets that reply on virtually recreating surround sound effects though stereo speakers.

You can alter the levels with the inline remote control, or use the supplied software for greater control over each speaker.

Using this software is recommended to calibrate each surround speaker to get the best possible effect. It's also a good demonstration of how well the surround sound works.

The bass is particularly strong with these headphones, and explosions can leave you feeling like you've hit your head. Luckily the headphones themselves are very comfortable to wear, so any discomfort you might experience is more likely to be down to volume, not ergonomics.

It's a very impressive experience, and while it's still no match for a full 5.1 speaker arrangement, it comes close.

Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.