Console soundcard?

[Critical50]

Right now I have the Recon 3D usb by Creative. For $200, Im honestly not impressed.

Surprisingly Ive heard that the DSS2 by Turtle Beach is good. Or was the DSS good, but DSS2 is worse?

Are there any other options? Besides Astro. Nothing against them, but the only options I know for console is the recon 3D, DSS, and Mixamp Pro.

 

[cdsa35000]

Whats wrong with the recon3d usb?
I'm about to buy it for multiple use on PC/PS3/bluray.

I have Creative HQ-2300D Dolby Headphones and it sounds/emulate as surround speakers in a (studio) room DH1 reverb environment.
Not so good for (FPS) gaming as it add too much room reverb in sounds like you hearing from a room instead from the game environment.

I think THX trustudio pro is more neutral/natural/dry/LIVE AS IS sounding.
The problem with other surround tech. dolby headphone, silent cinema, turtle beach etc. for standard stereoheadphones is that they emulate the wall reverberation from surr. speakers inside a sized room/theater and that's not 3D LIVE sounding.

Virtual surround is just to emulate the 5.1/7.1 setup in the 2.0 headphone speakers.
------
So I think THX trustudio pro has better and tweakable surround emulation above the others.

I assume you use the PS3 dolby 5.1 optical output into the recon3d and enable only THX?

Did you finetuned the THX settings with your PC thx software?
Probably enable only THX surround at 80 to 100% 'll give the immersive 3D sound.

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

 

[Critical50]

I cant download the app. Everytime I try downloading it, it stops at like 4 MB. And says interrupted. Every. Single. Time. The CD only gives me the auto updater software. Not the app. I tried downloading off the auto updater, and the website. Neither worked. So, yeah, maybe I haven't had access to the true potential, but I cant get access to it.

Also, when I was looking up reviews for this, reviewers said you can hook up your phone to the device while you game and stream audio off your phone and game. I thought "Cool!" when I get it, I find out that the port for that function is also the port for the optical cable. So that function is useless. People on console have the most use for it, on PC that function is useless since you can play music in the background. Unless the game has problems with being minimized like Skyrim.

One last thing I hate, there is no way to balance chat and game audio. On Dead Space 3 I have to deal with my friends sounding drowned out, and I have to pause a lot to hear them. When I had the adapter from my Sharkoon headset I was using for my Razer, I could hear everything fine. I play multiplayer a lot, so that option is kind of a must.

The bass is however, amped up. On GTA a car exploding sounded godly. Maybe Im just imagining it, but I really dont remember it sounding like that.

Considering this is $200, I think my complaints are fair. It wouldnt really matter to me about the phone thing, but why advertise that feature if its practically useless.

 

[cdsa35000]

I don't have problems download, javascript and cookies must be enabled and you can get those software from other source like softpedia.
I have upload for you the latest recon3D software and firmware. Dont update the FW, first test the software and options longtime, no problems than no need to update FW.
---
Recon3D Software
SBR3_PC_CD_L13_1_01_13.exe
http://www.sendspace.com/file/jvfh7c

Latest FW
SBR3_PC_Firmware_EA_13_07_01.exe
http://www.sendspace.com/file/moieq8

recoveryFW
SBR3_PCFW_1_1_6017_30811.exe
https://www.sendspace.com/file/9bjwz0
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/FIRMWARE/Creative/Creative-Sound-Blaster-Recon3D-Firmware-11601730811.shtml

In case of problem: Sound Blaster Recon3D no power
-Best solution post-
Sneeuwpoeper
July 6, 2013 7:22:41 AM
Well im searching for a solution also now but i my Recond 3D Finally responds now not sure if it works but atleast the lights glow
TRY THIS: http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/FIRMWARE/Creative/Crea...
download one of the previous Firmwares and install then probally your lights will glow then try the newest firmware to finish him

http://www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-1723323/sound-blaster-recon3d-power.html
---

I think this recon3D usb with own hw core3D processor is mainly aimed at PC users, there many options adjustable within recon3D software.
Benefit this core3D is sound lag free, where else the newer usb SBX cards without core3D use Software emulation and there will be soundlag if the PC CPU is not powerfull enough.

Only 1 profile settings can be saved into recon3D as standalone and not much extra soundoptions for use as standalone, so its like just a bonus for console/ext. use.

Default settings out of the box are crap as THX, Bass boost, crystralizer, smart volume etc. are enabled and set too high/low.
Thats why Fine tuning with the PC is a must, you should switching between PS3 and PC to check/tweak the sound settings.
---
They meant to use the microphone input for phone music when on PS3 and obviously with the lose of the actually mic.

If you can't handle the PC Masterrace, stick to specific PS3 headsets like Turtlebeach etc.

 

[Critical50]

I own a gaming PC. Pretty powerful. my past experience with TB has been pretty bad. I buy a $160 headset, and the headband has pretty much no padding. After only 3 days it broke on me. When I played music through the dual streaming function, my phones audio was hollow and sounded far away, and would often cut out.

But Im pretty sure I tried the microphone input, I dont know. I'll try again, see what happens.

 

[Critical50]

So the software is up and running, thanks for that.

Although, when I start the software it tells me the soundcard is in a mode not supported by the app. I reset my PC, made sure the slider is on PC and not PS3, then started up the app. Told me the same thing.

 

[cdsa35000]

Did you install the driver first under the Program folder?
Windows should detect an USB audio device automatic.

Otherwise update the FW.

Are you a PC novice?

---
I don't use any ready made gaming headsets, they're all crap.

I use dolby headphone decoder> Muscial Fidelity X-CAN V3 tube headamp> Sony SA5000 and CD3000.
Best sounds, only crappy is DH emulate speakers revrerbs in a room, sounds hollowish/echo, thats why i need the recon3d.

---
In monitor audio through mic is implemented after FW SBR3_PC_Firmware_EA_12_08_08.
You should read the update details at Creative website..

 

[Critical50]

Actually I just replugged the Recon 3D. Software worked fine.

But now Dolby Digital isnt turning on..I know PCs dont come with Dolby, so how do I get Dolby? Just download?

 

[Critical50]

And yeah, Im pretty new to all this.

 

[cdsa35000]

Actually I just replugged the Recon 3D. Software worked fine.

But now Dolby Digital isnt turning on..I know PCs dont come with Dolby, so how do I get Dolby? Just download?

You won't get Dolby Digital on PC unless you have software DVD player with the Dolby decoding or games with Dolby sound support only.

Only some soundcard or onboard Realtek AL889 etc. have Dolby Digital Live (DDL) can passthru DD or convert the Game's 5.1 non Dolby sounds into the DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 STREAM through the OPTICAL OUT into an external Dolby digital DECODER or Receiver! hence your PS3 dolby can work!

The source content movies/games etc. must have the Dolby sound first.
You can try http://www.ac3filter.net/ for software Dolby decoding.

 

[Critical50]

So..whats the easiest way to get Dolby Digital onto my PC? Pretty sure my mobo doesnt have a good soundcard, just standard stuff. No one ever mentions this stuff with soundcards.

 

[cdsa35000]

Guide how to make 5.1 / DD work through digital optical connection (Toslink, SPDIF)
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=509795

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/unlocked-realtek-hd-audio-drivers-with-dolby-digital-live-and-dts-interactive.193148/

setup
http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+sound+card+output

----
recon3d DD
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+enable+recon3d+dolby

Media Players DD etc.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Media_Player_Classic_Home_Cinema.htm

 

[Critical50]

Alright so...I have the Realtek HD drivers, Realtek HD is now in my sound devices. I made sure Dolby is on in the options. Still not getting any other option other than stereo in the recon 3D control panel.

 

[cdsa35000]

Recon3D don't have other options in Win Speakeroutput Control panel because it can only output 1 jackplug STEREO speakers/headphones.
Onboard Realtek has nothing to do with Recon3d usb and should be disabled each other when using one of each other.
If the mobo Realtek have 3 jackoutputs 1.Front L/R 2.C/Sub 3.Rear L/R, then can have other Speakers configuration 5.1 than stereo speakers out..
Windows can only use 1 default audio output device and the list of devices in Windows Sound controlpanel playback tab, all works independant!

1) On PC you'll only get Dolby Digital to USB Recon3D when playing DD contents/movies with DD mediaplayers or few DD games that are DD 5.1 (logo) encoded.audio
2) Recon3D will automatically decode this DD stream into THX trustudio/SBX virt.surround as it don't have Dolby Headphone DH1/2/3.
3) It's possible that Recon3D's DD Dolby Digital Status LED indicator won't even work in PC-mode as it's maybe only detecting at the aux/OPTICAL INPUT.
3) Recon3D's DD options is in the software tab: CINEMATIC, set DRC to Full if you don't want volume fluctations.

4) If the mobo have Realtek Digital Output = Optical/Coax SPDIF, then it's possible to select at the Advanced tab/output format to Dolby Digital Live 5.1 surround. If not have than use the hack UNLOCK DLL.
This means it will convert/compress any 5.1 audio or bypass DD into compressed audio Dolby Digital 5.1 bitstream through the Optical spdif output.
DD/DTS 5.1 Surround through digital SPDIF cable is only in Compressed audio bitstream, because max. Uncompressed audio is 2.0 PCM datastream.

On PC It doesn't make sense to use DDL unless you use ext. DD receiver amp.
Onboard Realtek/USB audio will output the 5.1 Game/PC audio Uncompressed through those Analog audio jacks!

So if you insist DD from PC, connect this mobo Optical Output into Recon3d's Optical Input and set to PS3 mode!

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/USB-Speakers-READ-ONLY-ARCHIVE/How-to-set-up-USB-Audio-in-Windows-Vista-and-Windows-7/td-p/292853

Realtek UNLOCK DDL, DONT DO IT IF YOU YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WINDOWS SIGNATURE PROCEDURE :

Every onboard Realtek HD Audio (excluding ALC1150 and ALC2xx under Windows 7) with digital output can encode the surround audio to DTS or Dolby Digital you just have to install unlocked drivers. Here is newest unlocked driver R2.75 with install instructions inside.
http://www33.zippyshare.com/v/72729438/file.html

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=391553
---
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/unlocked-realtek-hd-audio-drivers-with-dolby-digital-live-and-dts-interactive.193148/page-16
---