Jul 7, 2024 at 3:50 PM Post #48,586 of 48,663
I bought a Steelseries mouse, an Aerox 5 Diablo IV Edition, so I needed their GG software to config things. This got me playing with their Sonar software, and I can now understand why the dev for Redscape decided to stop selling his software. It's hard to justify $40 for something you can get free (GG or Windows Sonics), or you can get Dolby Access / DTS Sound Abound for $10 or less when it's on sale. (Cheapest I've seen is $9)

The GG Sonar software is quite useful, and the VSS if quite effective, since it's Waves NX 2.0. Only feature missing is adjusting the ear distance timing and other head measurements, which the old Waves has, along with Redscape. Otherwise, it's a convincing VSS, better than SBX, and you can tune the distance of the virtual speakers and their position. Nice for when you want to make the fronts L/R separation more pronounced. App also includes a PEQ and multiple virtual audio inputs, which can all have their own settings. The software engine supports 24/96 input, like Dolby Access and Redscape. DTS does not, (I have DVD-A rips of 6ch 96KHz music, so it's an important feature for me)

I believe some additional settings may become unlocked when a SS headphone is detected, but I have no way of confirming this.

I've noticed the GG software has matured since reviewing it over a year ago, tho I would like to see one feature added: I'd like for it to intelligently detect if 2.0 or 5.1/7.1 is being fed to it, and do a passthru w/o applying VSS if 2.0 is detected. This is a feature that Dolby Access does, and I love it for when I am playing a playlist with 2 channel and 6 channel music in it.
Thank you for writing this up, I was wondering what Sonar was like.

That feature you mentioned about detecting multichannel inputs is really interesting to me. I would think, though, that whether you wanted to do that would depend on what kind of content you were listening to. For music sure, that makes sense. For gaming I would want something like a mode select option to do the opposite: for stereo input apply VSS to output virtual 7.1 via stereo, and for multichannel input "downmix" it to virtual 7.1 via stereo.
 
Jul 7, 2024 at 9:47 PM Post #48,587 of 48,663
Thank you for writing this up, I was wondering what Sonar was like.

That feature you mentioned about detecting multichannel inputs is really interesting to me. I would think, though, that whether you wanted to do that would depend on what kind of content you were listening to. For music sure, that makes sense. For gaming I would want something like a mode select option to do the opposite: for stereo input apply VSS to output virtual 7.1 via stereo, and for multichannel input "downmix" it to virtual 7.1 via stereo.
For gaming, it's best to set the game to 7.1 and let the app mix it to HRTF Stereo for headphones. Upmixing stereo source to 7.1 is not very convincing. Unless you are referring to using the GAME's headphone mix, then you want that to passthru untouched, as it is already HRTF embedded.
 
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Jul 10, 2024 at 11:53 AM Post #48,588 of 48,663
So, i've been using Steelseries Sonar these days, like a lot, for Youtube, music, regular 5.1 movies, except for Atmos movies.
It works wonderfully! It sounds great, very convincing.
I can see this now as a Waves and Redscape replacement. Even without the head measurements and all, still really great virtual surround solution.
 
Jul 12, 2024 at 2:58 PM Post #48,589 of 48,663
I played around with Sonar last night and I'm suitably impressed. I've tested a wide range of the VSS products over the years both free and paid and Sonar is for sure in the "good" pile.
 
Aug 10, 2024 at 1:05 AM Post #48,590 of 48,663
Just wanted to mention, and correct myself, that Steelseries bought Nahimic, and not Waves NX as their VSS solution. I can't remember what happened to Waves NX. I know they were coming out with 2.0, and then it never happened. I thought someone bought the product, but I guess I am in error, or I don't know who did.
 
Aug 17, 2024 at 6:44 AM Post #48,592 of 48,663
This may be an unpopular opinion but after a lot of time with my airpods pro 2's....these are incredible for spatial audio. First "wow" feeling in years with these things when I was on a flight and realized they somehow worked headtracking into them too. Couple that with a super accurate soundstage and I am a convert. Not generally an Apple fan but these things are fantastic little bits of tech.
 
Aug 18, 2024 at 3:25 PM Post #48,593 of 48,663
This may be an unpopular opinion but after a lot of time with my airpods pro 2's....these are incredible for spatial audio. First "wow" feeling in years with these things when I was on a flight and realized they somehow worked headtracking into them too. Couple that with a super accurate soundstage and I am a convert. Not generally an Apple fan but these things are fantastic little bits of tech.
Not surprising to me, honestly! They had accelerometers initially so that you could tap to control the AirPods Pro without tactile buttons or capacitive touch surfaces, and a gyroscope, but they added Spatial Audio and head tracking in a firmware update.

Head tracking enhances a Spatial Audio HRFT a lot, to the point where it can even make up for a sound that doesn’t have great soundstage to start with. I would have AirPods Pro myself by now if I wasn’t concerned that my ears might be too small to comfortably fit them.
 
Sep 11, 2024 at 10:14 PM Post #48,595 of 48,663
Went a got myself a Schiit Fulla (E, I think is the current version), after having been without Schiit gear for awhile. This thing rocks for how small it is, and convenient. What would've really made it over the top would've been an included battery for transportable use. Hmm, maybe Schiit can redo the design a little (like recessed knob to not adjust in your pocket), though it's not very device to device friendly (as in the finish and build could damage other devices if say, it was in your bag or pocket loosely.) Still, I've been sorely missing an amp/dac with mic input, and thisn suits me just fine. Hel of course is better, but that has to be tethered to a power adapter, whereas Fulla can run just off the one usb cable straight from whatever it's connected to. My Creative G6 would have been fine as well, but that's permanently placed at my TV setup, and I need a mic input close to me when I chat.

Just waiting on a GX mic cable, to go back to analog headset use. Maxwell is fine and all, but I'm an old man at heart and need my wires and amp/dacs lol. For now Im on a cheap lapel mic which works quite well actually.

As for recent games, you guys should really try Astro Bot with tempest 3D audio, it's a damn fine showcase of what tempest 3D audio can do. Something that has been sorely underutilized on PS5.

Also finished Space Marines II co-op with a friend. That was fun.

I really need to get back into writing some reviews (though it's harder due to work), but I could at least have some impressions on things like the Fulla E, though Ive already reviewed various Fullas from before.
 
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Sep 12, 2024 at 12:21 AM Post #48,596 of 48,663
Went a got myself a Schiit Fulla (E, I think is the current version), after having been without Schiit gear for awhile. This thing rocks for how small it is, and convenient. What would've really made it over the top would've been an included battery for transportable use. Hmm, maybe Schiit can redo the design a little (like recessed knob to not adjust in your pocket), though it's not very device to device friendly (as in the finish and build could damage other devices if say, it was in your bag or pocket loosely.) Still, I've been sorely missing an amp/dac with mic input, and thisn suits me just fine. Hel of course is better, but that has to be tethered to a power adapter, whereas Fulla can run just off the one usb cable straight from whatever it's connected to. My Creative G6 would have been fine as well, but that's permanently placed at my TV setup, and I need a mic input close to me when I chat.

Just waiting on a GX mic cable, to go back to analog headset use. Maxwell is fine and all, but I'm an old man at heart and need my wires and amp/dacs lol. For now Im on a cheap lapel mic which works quite well actually.

As for recent games, you guys should really try Astro Bot with tempest 3D audio, it's a damn fine showcase of what tempest 3D audio can do. Something that has been sorely underutilized on PS5.

Also finished Space Marines II co-op with a friend. That was fun.

I really need to get back into writing some reviews (though it's harder due to work), but I could at least have some impressions on things like the Fulla E, though Ive already reviewed various Fullas from before.
I’ve heard great things about Astro Bot! I loved my lcd-gx through my x7.

I thought you were rocking the x7 at some point? If so, how’s the g6 stack up?

Schiit would be a great option for me if it had console chat mix support… they seem like well built products.
 
Sep 12, 2024 at 2:55 PM Post #48,597 of 48,663
The X7 was a loooong time ago.

The G6 is stuck under my TV doing optical output duties to my Fiio BTA 30 Pro bluetooth transmitter, which then sends apt X low latency to my BT devices like the IfI Go Blue, and Gryphon. That and the BTA 30 Pro also sends optical out to my Fiio K7 which is next to my bed, and coaxial audio to my Edifier S2000 MKIII speakers. It's a rats nest of cables and devices.

My GC7 is on my mother's laptop setup.

PS5 chat mix support is not supported on anything but Sony headsets I think.
 
Sep 15, 2024 at 9:42 PM Post #48,598 of 48,663
And reviews around for the new Beyerdynamic MMX 330 PRO?
 
Sep 18, 2024 at 3:00 AM Post #48,600 of 48,663
I did see them, all 3 are just generic talking points. No real insights or comparisons
 

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