Can i use a 2.0 headset on a 5.1 or 7.1 soundcard?

[killerskulls636]

i am looking onto getting a sound card, but im not sure if i need a headset matching the channel of the sound card

 

[Pavel Horniak]

Yes, you can still use stereo/mono headset. But first turn off 5.1 and select used port as headset output, otherwise you will hear only part of 5.1. (rear speakers part for example)

 

[SinxarKnights]

If your case has a front panel audio connector (headphones and mic), most sound cards have a plug for that. So instead of plugging into the rear of the PC you can use the front jacks.

In this case, any modern soundcard will automatically output stereo sound though the front panel jacks. It is unnecessary to switch the surround options. Also you don't need to have a 5.1 or 7.1 setup to use a soundcard with these options. For example you can use the common 2.1 setup that only has one green plug and then you just set the card to output stereo.

What card are you looking at specifically and what case do you have?

 

[ssddx]

any 5.1 or 7.1 card is backwards compatible with 2.0 headphone if all you wanted is them to work.

if you are looking to make your 2.0 headphones into surround then you want to look into virtual surround sound which comes on certain cards.