Have been using a relatively cheap set of Sony (I think) headphones for WOFF - the latest in a long line of cheap headphones.
Never really gave headphones too much thought but I picked up a set of Turtle Beach headphones on sale for $40.00. Not that these are top end (it will probably be a while before I dropped +$300.00(!) on headphones) but they are a step up by the numbers.
Wow. The difference in WOFF is pretty impressive and things, naturally enough, sound a heck of a lot better and it really adds to the experience.
So sound matters. Do a little shopping and you will be glad you did.

a good frequency response and careful set up will get you there. Half the time people have good enough headphones/speakers, but forget to adjust their soundcards to work with them.

I have these headphones (Audio Technica ATH AD700), I noticed a tremendous difference from my cheapo headphones when I got them.

Matt - I have my soundcard software set for headphones and again notice the difference. I'm not sure what you mean by 'a good frequency response and careful setup'. What else can I do apart from choosing headphones in the soundcard software?

On a related note about quality I've just started listening to music on an old ipod I was given. I bought some sennheiser earbuds that were on offer and the improvement in sound quality was very impressive over the cheap earbuds I started with.



RedToo.

Yeah they make a huge difference for all games.

Those even look expensive RedToo.
When I plugged the new headphones in my system noticed (was a little surprised by the pop-up window) but I will go in and double check settings where I can. Yep higher quality paid off in sound quality.

And to echo RedToo...Matt, or anyone, any tricks to getting the best sound beside setting the computer sound to "Headphones"?
If there are any...

My ears are old enough that they no longer have a very good frequency response, so my Sony MDR-XD200 headphones are just fine for me.

Well I would have thought the same after a life of shooting and blowing things up but even my tin ears noticed the difference pretty easily.

Does somebody use a 5.1 or 7.1 game headset??? Can you hear this surround effects.

Yes, you can hear surround effects. Sounds are made to work for 5.1 and 7.1

I confirm for the surrounds effects. I'm using a 7.1 Logitech G430.

Interesting also to explore for stereo headphones : Razer Synapse Virtual Surround software (basic version is free).

Guess if going for something without external speakers, it would be a decent 5.1 or 7.1 game headset and not a stereo headphone!!

the two obvious tweaks are treble/bass, and equalization. If you can play around with the frequencies you can compensate for the weaker responses. Separate amplification control for headphones is also advisable.

If you are using speakers, make use of any room controls you have, to compensate for the environment.

In reply to RedToo, do you plug your headphones straight into your sound card or into your pc headphone socket on your case?

Plugging them straight into your soundcard can make a massive improvement in quality.

I own Audio Technica mh50x headphones and have a Creative zx sound card that has a cool little extension box that can power the headphones without losing the impedance to power the headphones properly.

The headphone and mic sockets on the front of pc cases are not usually the best of quality to power higher end headphones.

Went to the Sound Control area in Win 7 and turned on two settings (and off the top I forget what they are called) and the big difference continues.
Just had an engine failure on my SE and there was little doubt I was in trouble. Sounded like a washing machine filled with scrap metal on the spin cycle. Very cool.

Have you had a chance to check what those settings are? I looked in mine and nothing stood out.