[Impulse]

I'd probably suggest a cheap full size hp (RX700, Samson SR850) + the DGX before spending $35 on two pairs of Koss... Not that it isn't worth it, but not everyone enjoys clip ons as much as you. I actually find them more uncomfortable over time than IEM even. I still use mine a lot outdoors and I'd easily pay $20 for them tho they're usually cheaper. That's neither here nor there tho.

Frankly I think people are pushed way too much towards the AD700, if gaming's ALL they're gonna be used for and it's within budget then sure... But something like the SR850 might be preferable overall to many on a budget (if they're not treble sensitive, or the JVC RX700 if positioning isn't the biggest priority). Heck, you can often get used HD558's for what the AD700 cost...

 

[Don Tonberry]

Quote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-23gKZYsH-E - For those of you looking at the Cross Platform Audio Mixer from Steelseries, here's a little more info. 9ft long headphone cable and 3ft long usb. Go to the 3min mark to learn about the Mixer. Seems to be pretty awesome!

Also, no one answered my question. I'm guessing I don't need anything besides my receiver with the Annies. 

Thanks for the link to the Audio mixer vid. I was looking for some more info on it. However I also found the Nox Audio Negotiator
 
http://www.amazon.com/Negotiator-Gaming-Adaptor-Pc/dp/B003XG6I0O/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1364792728&sr=1-1&keywords=Nox+Audio+Negotiator
 
These are the only 2 items I've seen that have chat and game sound mixing for a low budget.  Are there any other options out there that are good for stereo gaming? I don't really want to spend the money for a surround sound decoder (like the Mixamp or Recond3D).  I found the Xbox version of the audio mixer for $7.  Would it be worth it to get the Nox Audio Negotiator over the Steelseries for digital stereo over the Steelseries analog stereo?

 

[NamelessPFG]

Quote:

anyone have any input on which usb soundcard might be best to hook up a laptop to a astro mixamp?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Creative-Labs-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Surround-5-1-Pro-24-bit-USB-External-Sound-/160727974036?pt=US_Sound_Cards_Internal_&hash=item256c224094
 
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Recon3D-External-Enhancer/dp/B005FKT70O
 
my two options as of now...

 
First off, the Mixamp is a console gaming device. PCs have alternatives at lower cost.
 
For a laptop, you're limited to USB devices, but that still leaves the Xonar U3 and the devices you linked, among others, which will provide surround processing like the Mixamp by themselves.
 
Quote:

I had the Recon3D USB, it's the better gaming option and does everything the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro does for movies and music. You wouldn't connect the Recon3D USB to the Mixamp because it's essentially the same type of device (DAC and surround processor with volume controls) and the Recon3D USB only has a headphone jack for output with the virtual surround already baked in, same as the Mixamp. Both could benefit from a nice headphone amp when using nicer headphones.
The Surround 5.1 Pro apparently has an optical-out (SPDIF/TOSLINK), but it also wouldn't need to connect to a Mixamp for virtual surround to a headphone. I don't know if the Surround 5.1 Pro could output Dolby Digital Live through it's optical-out anyway, which the Mixamp needs for it's surround processing.

Thing is... The Recon3D USB is a compromise that does an admirable job providing surround + chat for a laptop, desktop PC, or gaming console. IMO, the X-Fi Go Pro is the best portable option with a laptop, a flagship soundcard provides the best sound quality for a desktop, and a HT receiver with virtual surround (as an option when you can't use speakers) is the most convenient option for a game console. If your budget or living space prevents you from having all three options, the Recon3D USB covers all that for you. In your case, if you just have a laptop & already have a Mixamp, I'd say just get the X-Fi Go Pro.

 
I've heard some...rather unpleasant opinions about the X-Fi Go! Pro, to say the least. It's the older X-Fi Go! revision that seems to be favored.
 
For that matter, any of the newer "Pro" X-Fi USB devices with the THX TruStudio suite tend to have my skepticism just for not having CMSS-3D Headphone.
 
Quote:

Thanks for the link to the Audio mixer vid. I was looking for some more info on it. However I also found the Nox Audio Negotiator
 
http://www.amazon.com/Negotiator-Gaming-Adaptor-Pc/dp/B003XG6I0O/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1364792728&sr=1-1&keywords=Nox+Audio+Negotiator
 
These are the only 2 items I've seen that have chat and game sound mixing for a low budget.  Are there any other options out there that are good for stereo gaming? I don't really want to spend the money for a surround sound decoder (like the Mixamp or Recond3D).  I found the Xbox version of the audio mixer for $7.  Would it be worth it to get the Nox Audio Negotiator over the Steelseries for digital stereo over the Steelseries analog stereo?

 
Seems like the chat mixer doesn't support virtual surround AND has the DAC integrated into it. I really would suggest just saving up for a week or two and opting for something with virtual surround, if at all possible, just for the positional audio advantage.
 
As for comparing those two stereo DAC/mixer devices, most of us aren't in the position to judge that when we generally go straight for Recon3D or Mixamp-tier devices anyway.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NamelessPFG /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Seems like the chat mixer doesn't support virtual surround AND has the DAC integrated into it. I really would suggest just saving up for a week or two and opting for something with virtual surround, if at all possible, just for the positional audio advantage.
 
As for comparing those two stereo DAC/mixer devices, most of us aren't in the position to judge that when we generally go straight for Recon3D or Mixamp-tier devices anyway.

What if I were to get a used Earforce DSS and use the Steelseries mixer for the microphone capabilities?

 

[SoAmusing777]

Quote:

Thanks for the link to the Audio mixer vid. I was looking for some more info on it. However I also found the Nox Audio Negotiator
 
My pleasure! I read somewhere that the thing was crap, but maybe I'm mistaken.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Negotiator-Gaming-Adaptor-Pc/dp/B003XG6I0O/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1364792728&sr=1-1&keywords=Nox+Audio+Negotiator
 
These are the only 2 items I've seen that have chat and game sound mixing for a low budget.  Are there any other options out there that are good for stereo gaming? I don't really want to spend the money for a surround sound decoder (like the Mixamp or Recond3D).  I found the Xbox version of the audio mixer for $7.  Would it be worth it to get the Nox Audio Negotiator over the Steelseries for digital stereo over the Steelseries analog stereo?
 
I use a receiver for virtual surround, so the Nox wouldn't do it. Nameless is giving you great advice. I have my various reasons why I wanna use it. 

 

[Evshrug]

For a laptop, you're limited to USB devices, but that still leaves the Xonar U3 and the devices you linked, among others, which will provide surround processing like the Mixamp by themselves.

I've heard some...rather unpleasant opinions about the X-Fi Go! Pro, to say the least. It's the older X-Fi Go! revision that seems to be favored.

For that matter, any of the newer "Pro" X-Fi USB devices with the THX TruStudio suite tend to have my skepticism just for not having CMSS-3D Headphone.

Sorry, I didn't realize they changed them. Creative really seems to be trying to move on from CMSS-3D for some reason.

 

[Ljanmi]

Bioshock Infinite on PC with DH has great positional cues, I'm playing it right now on Asus Xonar DX + MMX 300 

 

[kellte2]

Quote:

Bioshock Infinite on PC with DH has great positional cues, I'm playing it right now on Asus Xonar DX + MMX 300 

 
Same with the xbox 360 version.

 

[Ljanmi]

Bioshock Infinite  single player - I forgot to mention 

 

[jorgevelez666]

Ok thx Impulse and Mad Lust Envy, i'm gonna get the soundcard first, but since this is my first soundcard ever i don't know which one should i get. Of course the most expensive one is usually the best, but i'm only gonna use it to play battlefield so i'm not sure if i ever gonna use all the features from the DSX, these are my options:
 
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-XONAR-Headphone-Audio-Card/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=pd_cp_pc_0
 
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DGX-PCI-E-GX2-5-Engine/dp/B007TMZ1BK/ref=pd_sim_e_3
 
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DSX-Engine-Playback-Support/dp/B007TMZ1MY/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1364819447&sr=1-4&keywords=xonar+dgx
 
PD: Yes, the reason why i'm doing this upgrade is positional audio and hopefully get rid of the knifing bastards

 

[Ljanmi]

Quote:

Ok thx Impulse and Mad Lust Envy, i'm gonna get the soundcard first, but since this is my first soundcard ever i don't know which one should i get. Of course the most expensive one is usually the best, but i'm only gonna use it to play battlefield so i'm not sure if i ever gonna use all the features from the DSX, these are my options:
 
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-XONAR-Headphone-Audio-Card/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=pd_cp_pc_0
 
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DGX-PCI-E-GX2-5-Engine/dp/B007TMZ1BK/ref=pd_sim_e_3
 
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DSX-Engine-Playback-Support/dp/B007TMZ1MY/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1364819447&sr=1-4&keywords=xonar+dgx
 
PD: Yes, the reason why i'm doing this upgrade is positional audio and hopefully get rid of the knifing bastards

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/07/09/asus_dgx_dsx_xonar_rog_phoebus_sound_cards/8#.UVmpgBxTCQo  Xonar DS doesn't have DH, Asus DGX or DX should be just fine for DH, but Xonar DS/DSX is also very good as they say with its NEO PC 5.1 or something like that.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'd like to know which soundcard does DH through it's line out (RCA out)?

 

[jorgevelez666]

Quote:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/07/09/asus_dgx_dsx_xonar_rog_phoebus_sound_cards/8#.UVmpgBxTCQo  Xonar DS doesn't have DH, Asus DGX or DX should be just fine for DH, but Xonar DS/DSX is also very good as they say with its NEO PC 5.1 or something like that.

mmmm ok then DGX it's, thx a lot Ljanmi, Impulse and Mad Lust Envy. As for the headset, well i'll get those later ;D

 

[kellte2]

Upon RazorDog Audio restocking the K702 Anniversaries, I finally bit the bullet.  $399 new was a great price and while my DT990s are fine with gaming, the treble peaks have become bothersome during music sessions.  I have never owned any quality audio gear that didn't have a v-curve, so I'm not sure what to expect!

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Much better mids, and non-fatiguing treble. Not DT990 bass, but accurate and rich when called for.

I'm having seller's remorse.

I'm here with my LCD2, loving it's sound signature...NOT loving the leather pads and heft... :rolleyes:

Might have to do something sooner or later. I kinda wanna wait for the X1, but the Annie may find itself back at home in the future.

BTW, got my M17x R4, my 8gb 1600mhz memory sticks, and my SSD! Now I need a damn mini screwdriver to pop out the bay to install all this before actually turning the laptop on. :rolleyes: