[theOmni]

Hi everyone. I had a Sound Blaster Z card paired to an AKG q701. I wasn't too impressed with the positional acuity and the sound quality of this setup in games like BF4. I have a budget of $225. What is the best way to get the most out of these headphones, primarily for gaming on Battle Field 4? If it can do music and movies well, that is great, but I need this to be primarily for gaming. I'm open to any sound card or DAC/AMP that meets my criteria of being under $225.
 
Thank you!

 

[Arctia]

For gaming, positional audio > everything else. Sound Blaster Z should have something like CMS3D included to give you DSP to emulate position on headphones. Or you can get yourself an Astro Mixamp, which can take in 7.1 Dolby signal and convert to headphone audio. Your audio quality will take a dump by doing this, but positional cues should be amazing.
 
Note that K701 is not a gaming headphone; its left-right soundstage is much larger than depth. So when you have software emulate positional cues, you'll get an ellipse instead of a circle.

 

[theOmni]

Hello. Thank you for your reply! The Sound Blaster Z I don't think has CMSS3D any more. it uses something like SBX, which is really bad. I was looking to either give it to my brother, or sell it, and then upgrade myself to a better solution.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Hello. Thank you for your reply! The Sound Blaster Z I don't think has CMSS3D any more. it uses something like SBX, which is really bad. I was looking to either give it to my brother, or sell it, and then upgrade myself to a better solution.

Did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio? in the BIOS
Delete all other audio driver software?

 

[theOmni]

Yeah, it seems like the SB z cards are just rehashed recon 3d cards. I bought an x-fi titanium sound card just now. I guess all I'm looking for now is the amp.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Yeah, it seems like the SB Z cards are just rehashed recon 3d cards. I bought an X-Fi Titanium sound card just now. I guess all I'm looking for now is the amp.

The Z series uses the same SoundCore3D audio processor as the Recon3D cards.
But the Zs should sound better as they come with an add-on DAC chip.
 
Maybe the Schiit Magni or Bravo Ocean would work with the Titanium and Q701
 
Try asking here.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/582276/q701-appreciation-thread

 

[MaxKohler]

Note that K701 is not a gaming headphone; its left-right soundstage is much larger than depth. So when you have software emulate positional cues, you'll get an ellipse instead of a circle.

Really? They're HIGHLY recommended both here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1014902/ocns-most-recommended-audio-products/0_50 and here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-1-9-2014-shure-srh1840-added
 
What would you recommend as alternatives/superior?