- Mar 11, 2017
- 34
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- 4,530
For the past few years whenever I mention I use a 5.1 gaming headset with multiple drivers in each ear cup I get told, "snake oil!, you're better off with a decent pair of stereo headphones and some kind of virtual surround software", so now that my Roccat's have died on me I decided to see what all the Stereo headphone fuss is about.
At first I was told in order to use DTS headphoneX I need to set it up like this:
OPTICAL OUT out on motherboard to DAC (via optical cable)
DAC to headphone AMP (via 3.5mm cable)
AMP to headphones
And then enable the DTS HeadphoneX software.
BUT
With it setup like that the DTS HeadphoneX software will not enable, it gives an error message about DTS not being available for that audio source (which totally makes sense, why would you need virtual surround on an optical output right?)
So, I've now set it up like this:
Motherboard LEFT & RIGHT channel 3.5mm output to headphone AMP (Fiio A3) (via 3.5mm cable)
AMP to headphones (Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro)
And voila, the DTS HeadphoneX software will now enable just fine and I now see this:
So now I have a couple of questions:
1. Am I right in how I've set it up now by not using the optical output and not using the DAC?
2. How on Earth do you test DTS HeadphoneX? There is no test button or anything so I don't even know if it's emulating surround sound properly or not?
3. I've tested it gaming and in a blind test I can definitely tell if a sound source is FRONT LEFT, FRONT RIGHT, REAR LEFT or REAR RIGHT etc BUT if its dead in front of me or dead behind me it sounds the same, why is this? Is this just a limitation of DTS HeadphoneX?
4. Apart from the free Razer virtual surround software (it didn't impress me at all but maybe I'll give it another chance and test properly), is there any other virtual surround software available that's similar to HeadphoneX but maybe has a test button or some way of turning up or down the different emulate surround channels in order to fine tune it so I at least know it's working as it should?
At first I was told in order to use DTS headphoneX I need to set it up like this:
OPTICAL OUT out on motherboard to DAC (via optical cable)
DAC to headphone AMP (via 3.5mm cable)
AMP to headphones
And then enable the DTS HeadphoneX software.
BUT
With it setup like that the DTS HeadphoneX software will not enable, it gives an error message about DTS not being available for that audio source (which totally makes sense, why would you need virtual surround on an optical output right?)
So, I've now set it up like this:
Motherboard LEFT & RIGHT channel 3.5mm output to headphone AMP (Fiio A3) (via 3.5mm cable)
AMP to headphones (Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro)
And voila, the DTS HeadphoneX software will now enable just fine and I now see this:
So now I have a couple of questions:
1. Am I right in how I've set it up now by not using the optical output and not using the DAC?
2. How on Earth do you test DTS HeadphoneX? There is no test button or anything so I don't even know if it's emulating surround sound properly or not?
3. I've tested it gaming and in a blind test I can definitely tell if a sound source is FRONT LEFT, FRONT RIGHT, REAR LEFT or REAR RIGHT etc BUT if its dead in front of me or dead behind me it sounds the same, why is this? Is this just a limitation of DTS HeadphoneX?
4. Apart from the free Razer virtual surround software (it didn't impress me at all but maybe I'll give it another chance and test properly), is there any other virtual surround software available that's similar to HeadphoneX but maybe has a test button or some way of turning up or down the different emulate surround channels in order to fine tune it so I at least know it's working as it should?
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