Asus Xonar Essence STX vs Sound Blaster x-fi Titanium (non HD)

[cirwin2010]

My current set up for audio is Sound Blaster x-fi Titanium (non HD)
 http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-XFi-Titanium-PCI/M/B001E25KDK.htm
 
and a Razer Carcharias 
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-carcharias
 
I decided to move away from my current headset with something more high end and bought a Sennheiser HD 518 along with a Zalman clip-on mic. I have yet to receive these products. My question is would it be worth getting the Asus Xonar Essence or should I stick with what I currently have. If it helps at all I play a lot of games such as counter strike global offensive.

 

[cirwin2010]

Also what are your thoughts on the Creative Sound Blaster Z-Series 

 

[Fegefeuer]

I don't see a reason to upgrade. The Titanium will run your new headphones fine enough and you won't lose the superior CMSS-3D which even in "basic mode" renders with higher accuracy than Dolby Headphone and all the rest. 
 
Since CS:GO uses the Source Engine you can even reap a good chunk of the benefits of CMSS-3D and make use of Creative Alchemy. 

 

[cirwin2010]

Thanks for your input. Should I be running the software in headphone mode or 2/2.1 speaker. If I use the 2/2.1 speaker I think it sounds better but cmss-3d positioning is off. Do the new creative sound blaster z series have cmss-3d?

 

[Fegefeuer]

The more information CMSS-3D gets, the better. Use Headphone Mode, Windows Speaker Settings to 5.1.
Some games let you choose 5.1/2.0 etc. but most games of late read directly from your windows settings so keep 5.1. 
 
The new Z series use SBX which most likely is a THX Tru Studio Pro relabel. Kinda sad but some even like it.
 
As for Alchemy and CS GO. I need to check my PC later to help with the settings or you could ask NamelessPFG in the binaural gaming thread in this subforum. 

 

[cirwin2010]

So if I set creative to headphones and windows to 5.1 what should I set cs:go to? If I set it to 5.1 would it mess with audio positioning?

Also for games should I use base boost or. Crystalizer?

 

[cirwin2010]

So I just tried cs:go with creative set to headphones and cs:go audio set to 5.1. 3D positioning is better in some ways like if there is someone behind me shooting it is easier to tell. However, sound coming from in front of me doesn't sound right and everything else just sounds muffled. 

 

[NamelessPFG]

Point ALchemy to the base CS:GO folder (or just copy dsound.dll and dsound.ini there), then go into the console and type "snd_legacy_surround 1".
 
That might make things sound better for you.

 

[cirwin2010]

I don't know what that was supposed to do but everything sounded terrible. It was all staticy and echoed.

 

[NamelessPFG]

That is most certainly NOT how I recall CS:GO sounding back during its free weekend...or any Source engine game configured that way, for that matter. Strange.
 
I wonder what driver set you're running on that X-Fi Titanium...probably not Daniel_K's X-Fi Support Pack 2.5 for all I know.

 

[cirwin2010]

Idk but I think I will see how my HD 518 sounds and then maybe get a sonar stx