[nicholars]

Which of these is the best for virtual surround in gaming and is it a big difference? I have a Xonar STX at the moment and the dolby headphone is pretty good but if I got a card with the creative core 3D or onboard sound with ALC1150 and whatever virtual surround that has through the creative xfi3 audio centre what would the gaming virtual surround be like between the different chipsets?

 

[cdsa35000]

If you like dolby headphone reverberation now, no point for others.
Core3D has hardware THX trustudio/SBX studio codec so soundlag free, Creative THX/SBX cards without core3d use software CPU codec, can have soundlag due cpu load.
You can buy SBX studio pro surround Software for 20dollar at Creative webshop will be the same as core3dless cards.

Discussions:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-10-15-2014-beyerdynamic-t51i-added/7560
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-10-15-2014-beyerdynamic-t51i-added/15150

You can compare these surrounds on youtube, btw SBX is the new renamed THX for Creative:
THX vs. Dolby vs. CMSS-3D headphone sound in Battlefield 3 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NirHR5l9AU
SBX vs. CMSS-3D vs. Razer vs. Dolby vs. Realtek - headphone game sound test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BxO9cd-sYA

Thread: Console soundcard?
http://www.head-fi.org/t/740385/console-soundcard

 

[nicholars]

Thanks for the reply, so is dolby HP on STX pretty much the best one?

 

[cdsa35000]

Yes, if you're happy with/like the (home) theater soundfield/feel, watch DD movies/ DD games, than DH theater is the best.

But if want you realworld/openfield sounds as intended in the games without added DH room reverberation than the core3D is better.

I just ordered the recon3d usb, will 've it by the end of the week, so i can test it all weekend hehe.

Btw The new DTS Headphone X simulate 7.1 surround is probably more immersive than DH if using with a proper headamp/hifi headphone.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/09/turtle-beach-ear-force-z60-review

http://www.turtlebeach.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=20850

 

[cdsa35000]

Which of these is the best for virtual surround in gaming and is it a big difference? I have a Xonar STX at the moment and the dolby headphone is pretty good but if I got a card with the creative core 3D or onboard sound with ALC1150 and whatever virtual surround that has through the creative xfi3 audio centre what would the gaming virtual surround be like between the different chipsets?

Which of these is the best for virtual surround in gaming and is it a big difference? I have a Xonar STX at the moment and the dolby headphone is pretty good but if I got a card with the creative core 3D or onboard sound with ALC1150 and whatever virtual surround that has through the creative xfi3 audio centre what would the gaming virtual surround be like between the different chipsets?

Ok, got my Recon3D USB (also as standalone for DD5.1 (optical input) surround decoder for PS3 etc.) and my verdict is: Core3D THX truStudio Pro/SBX Pro Studio is the best for Virtual Surround Gaming.
My test/soundgear: Musical Fidelity X-CAN V3 hybrid mosfet tube headamp (modded powersupply/caps/directline solder/tube rolling) with perfect synergy to SONY SA5000 (modded repaired with pair sa3000 drivers/vinyl piece to closed back/inside dampening).

You were asking because you know DH doesn't sound right with games i.e. when the game figure's walking in the grass/grind/openfield and you hear footsteps with DH reverberations is just NOT Live like or game intended, its colored with DH roomsized reverberations.
DH is only good/designed for DD movies, it can be good if there was an option to just disable the reveberations.

Some prefer DH is because if using crappy headsets that can't deliver the subtile/fine details/ambience sound reproduction.
ref: http://www.overclock.net/t/1335554/asus-xonar-stx-fps-game-settings
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/asus_xonar_essence_stx/8.htm
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/asus_xonar_essence_stx/9.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/557826/question-about-dolby-headphone-in-essence-stx-and-how-it-works-with-headphone
---
What we need is just the simulation of 5.1/7.1 speakers setup into the headphone with adjustable/variable on/off effects. And the Core3D can deliver it.

I test it with Wolfenstein 2009 set game audio option to 7.1 and Windows audio device speakers config to 7.1 surround.
Because above and without enabling THX surround Core3D 'll standard simulate/convert game 7.1 as "source direct/bypass" without additional reverberations/effects etc. into Virtual 7.1 HRTF headphone. not true it's just stereo but since SA5000/X-CAN sounded so good it almost seems like surround but the front/back cue was missing, so I use now THX surround at 60% to have 7.1 surround.

If desired there many sound (overproccesed) tweaks possible.

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=99203
---
As I prefer natural Live-like sounding and as intended, I play Wolfenstein without any THX effects and it sounds perfect!
Ofcource the distinctive simulation of distance from the Front and the Back sounds is not as distinguish as from real 7.1 speakers, but close and satisfying.

Headphone surround sounds much better/louder/more details/more immersive like you were inside the game and without disturbing noises from neighbors/outside is just perfect!

My search for the Best Virtual Surround Headphones is Completed!

 

[nicholars]

Hmm I was thinking to myself after years of buying the more expensive dacs and soundcards... meh they are all similar as long as they are transparent and have good specs, but this was because the dacs and soundcards I was comparing were all good in the first place so the differences were small.... I got a new motherboard last week and was using the onboard sound for a few days (which is supposed to be shielded, use high quality capcacitors and parts etc.) and it is seriously crap compared to my Xonar STX... I was not expecting it to be that different but comparing it to the STX, the STX is literally about 10x better. So I will be sticking with the STX and forgetting the idea of "meh onboard sound should be good enough these days"... Compared to an STX it is not even remotely close on sound quality.

 

[cdsa35000]

Yes, your blindly gear hopping is just waste of time/money/frustrations!
First do research/study what you're aiming for (Audiophile) headphone surround sound?
Onboard sound is designed for 5.1/7.1 LINE OUTPUTS to be connected to ext. amplifier/amplied speakers, UNLESS there's a dedicated headphones output like the STX!
Ofcourse it sounds crap when the LINE/SPEAKER OUT is not meant to drive headphones!

What Does It Take To Turn The PC Into A Hi-Fi Audio Platform?
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733.html
http://www.head-fi.org/t/593050/the-nameless-guide-to-pc-gaming-audio-with-binaural-headphone-surround-sound/3165
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-10-15-2014-beyerdynamic-t51i-added

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/headphone-measurements-explained-square-wave-response-page-2

If you want Audiophile headphone sound than first 2 gears is necessary:
1) Audiophile Headphones with high impedance above 60+ Ohms, due its electronics/electromagnetic's characteristics will have in general less harmonic distortions, better Frequency Response/vibration response control, less clipping overdrive etc. than 32 Ohms or lower headphones/buds these are meant for portable audio.
http://www.innerfidelity.com/headphone-data-sheet-downloads
2) A dedicated external Audiophile headamp, since it's specialized/designed to drive high impedance headphones.
http://www.innerfidelity.com/category/vacuum-tube-home-headphone-amplifier-reviews
http://www.innerfidelity.com/category/solid-state-home-headphone-amplifier-reviews
---
I don't like the DH added reverberations to simulate SPEAKERS in a room/theater, now with my THX/SBX surround at 60%-80% even with 5.1/7.1 movies/games/music it sounds as good as SQ what is recorded LIVE as I m hearíng it LIVE as meant to.
I'm happy now and no need for any new gear hopping.

 

[nicholars]

Not "midlessly" gear hopping, I was trying to downgrade to save money thinking that modern onboard sound might be good enough that there is not difference, but there is actually a big sound quality difference between the STX and my new onboard sound.