PC Zombie sounds are out of place when using headphones in all versions

[Jugginator]

I'd try what others have already suggested, on my headset I can pinpoint where zombies are to the dime outside walls, above ceilings etc.; I can sometimes even guess how many floors up zombies are by sound (I also don't get the always loud thing, the volume scales with distance for me).

 

[Junuxx]

I just turned on "Windows Sonic for Headphones" in the Spatial Sound tab of my headphones settings, and that made a world of difference! It went from being completely unable to tell where a sound is coming from, not even left vs right, to being able to pinpoint it perfectly.

 

[uncle.heavy]

I have been playing from A14 or A15 on with this setup:

1. varying headsets from various manufacturers, all with jack plugs, so no x.1 virtual whistles and bells

2. an external USB soundcard with actual analog potentiometers that require actual manual rotational action

3. a low-level driver to go with that

Directional and distance awareness have never been an issue at all; I rely on sounds as much as I rely on sight for directional as well as for timing decisions in this game.

So, I cannot offer a solution to make a 5.1, 7.1, 19.1 headset work, though a "less is more" attitude towards activation of enhancements ought to help tons.

What I can reliably offer is: the game's audio output is beautifully helpful; what your specific setup makes of that is another story.

can hear you, 

Uncle

Edit: though my setup has not changed over the years, my "getting used to" certainly has - possibly supported by changes to in-game sound delivery.

So take this reliance on blind tracking with a grain of salt for Alphas prior to A18 or A17.