Sennheiser GSX 1000 / 1200 Impressions

[gcmfishin]

Im in the market to upgrade my sound solution. I currently have a pretty dated sound card. It doesnt seem to be getting great driver support anymore. Its the Asus ROG Xonar Phoebus. I just came across this gsx today and was wondering if i should get one or opt for something else. What do you guys think? 
 
 
My system specs
 
windows 10 pro x64
I7 6700k
asus maximus viii formula alpha
corsair 16 ram
m.2 drive 512gb
980ti
phoebus sound card
 
PC 363d headset
logitech z5500 speakers.

 

[pietcux]

Im in the market to upgrade my sound solution. I currently have a pretty dated sound card. It doesnt seem to be getting great driver support anymore. Its the Asus ROG Xonar Phoebus. I just came across this gsx today and was wondering if i should get one or opt for something else. What do you guys think? 



My system specs


windows 10 pro x64
I7 6700k

asus maximus viii formula alpha

corsair 16 ram
m.2 drive 512gb
980ti
phoebus sound card

PC 363d headset
logitech z5500 speakers.

Honestly Asus is famous for a lack in driver support, but the card you own is a high end one so there should be a solution. I still use my 7 year old Xonar STX with W10/64. There must be a driver. But yes the GTX1000 can replace that card and is driverless, so it should be future proof for very long.

 

[overhaze]

  Im in the market to upgrade my sound solution. I currently have a pretty dated sound card. It doesnt seem to be getting great driver support anymore. Its the Asus ROG Xonar Phoebus. I just came across this gsx today and was wondering if i should get one or opt for something else. What do you guys think? 
 
 
My system specs
 
windows 10 pro x64
I7 6700k
asus maximus viii formula alpha
corsair 16 ram
m.2 drive 512gb
980ti
phoebus sound card
 
PC 363d headset
logitech z5500 speakers.

If I remember Asus once had a thriving custom driver community. No idea if its still active, Windows 10 might have killed it but its worth having a google (though install custom drivers at your own risk!). I haven't heard the Xonar so I can't compare sound, I have no idea what amp or dac is in the GSX-1000 so I can't compare on specs. I know the GSX-1000 has the best virtual surround sound I personally have ever heard and I know I think it sounds great for music. Most people agree on the first point lots of reviewers seem to disagree with me on the last. If at all possible this is something you should really demo before buying.

 

[gcmfishin]

  If I remember Asus once had a thriving custom driver community. No idea if its still active, Windows 10 might have killed it but its worth having a google (though install custom drivers at your own risk!). I haven't heard the Xonar so I can't compare sound, I have no idea what amp or dac is in the GSX-1000 so I can't compare on specs. I know the GSX-1000 has the best virtual surround sound I personally have ever heard and I know I think it sounds great for music. Most people agree on the first point lots of reviewers seem to disagree with me on the last. If at all possible this is something you should really demo before buying.

 
 

Honestly Asus is famous for a lack in driver support, but the card you own is a high end one so there should be a solution. I still use my 7 year old Xonar STX with W10/64. There must be a driver. But yes the GTX1000 can replace that card and is driverless, so it should be future proof for very long.

 
I'll just buy one and if i dont like it. Ill just return it. Any one else with an opinion is more than welcome to shine in. ill order tomorrow 

 

[lampuiho]

  lampuiho I got usb isolator and it doesnt change hiss in any way :/

depending on the quality of the isolator, it should reduces it somewhat. If it doesn't do anything, you should return it. 

 

[rudyae86]

Didn't know there was a thread just for the GSX 1000. Good to know. I owned it but returned it. $200 for a device like this was too much IMO but the DSP is top notch compared to others. I have not read through any of the pages yet so I will see what I can help with my experience with the GSX 1000.

 

[gcmfishin]

Didn't know there was a thread just for the GSX 1000. Good to know. I owned it but returned it. $200 for a device like this was too much IMO but the DSP is top notch compared to others. I have not read through any of the pages yet so I will see what I can help with my experience with the GSX 1000.

Why did you return? What fits you choose to use instead?

 

[rudyae86]

Why did you return? What fits you choose to use instead?

$200 for a device like this is a bit too much. Don't get me wrong it is a great device but it does lacks a proper amp to power some of those hungry headphones out there. I am surprised Sennheiser didn't add a more powerful amp. My AkG K7XX don't sound the same compared to my current set up.

Also, the bit rate for the mic output is kind of low and many say they heard me a bit muffled.

The 4 presets that are touch response were annoying at time because sometimes I would change the volume but accidentally hit one of them and change my audio options.

There are other little things that I dont like but those are the top ones for me.

If the GSX 1000 sold for 120, then I would have kept it because it is similar to the Recon3D, in terms of amount of features even though features are different for both devices.

I think I will wait on a revision from them or the nezt upgrade they will bring...maybe GSX 2100/2200 later this year?

 

[Thekarma]

£ 167 ($200) for a device like this is a bit too much. Don't get me wrong it is a great device but it does lacks a proper amp to power some of those hungry headphones out there. I am surprised Sennheiser didn't add a more powerful amp. My AkG K7XX don't sound the same compared to my current set up.

Also, the bit rate for the mic output is kind of low and many say they heard me a bit muffled.

The 4 presets that are touch response were annoying at time because sometimes I would change the volume but accidentally hit one of them and change my audio options.

There are other little things that I dont like but those are the top ones for me.

If the GSX 1000 sold for 120, then I would have kept it because it is similar to the Recon3D, in terms of amount of features even though features are different for both devices.

I think I will wait on a revision from them or the nezt upgrade they will bring...maybe GSX 2100/2200 later this year?

 
I agree, the GSX 1000 is a step in the right direction and had potential, but has too many problems for me to keep it. I'm also crossing my fingers for a v2/GSX2000. Because I like the idea, but the actual product just is not quite good enough. For the price you would think they could have put a hight quality mic input, considering how good sennheiser's mics are!

 

[VooDooScythe]

I need some help from the user of GSX1000
I use HD 599 with GSX1000 and i think the volume output is so low, actually the level of GSX 1000 is equal to my realtek onboard soubdcard except the sound quality of GSX1000 is very good
On Rainbow Six Siege Witcher 3 i have to raise the volume to 80-90 to get the satisfy volume   while my previous soundcard the Creative X G1 i only use 40-50% volume.
 
My question is :
1. is it normal that GSX 1000 have low output volume to drive  HD599 50 ohm ?
2. How many volume level you use withHD598/599 with GSX 1000      
 
Thanks          

 

[pietcux]

I need some help from the user of GSX1000
I use HD 599 with GSX1000 and i think the volume output is so low, actually the level of GSX 1000 is equal to my realtek onboard soubdcard except the sound quality of GSX1000 is very good
On Rainbow Six Siege Witcher 3 i have to raise the volume to 80-90 to get the satisfy volume   while my previous soundcard the Creative X G1 i only use 40-50% volume.

My question is :
1. is it normal that GSX 1000 have low output volume to drive  HD599 50 ohm ?
2. How many volume level you use withHD598/599 with GSX 1000      

Thanks          

I use 20 to 40

 

[gcmfishin]

I need some help from the user of GSX1000
I use HD 599 with GSX1000 and i think the volume output is so low, actually the level of GSX 1000 is equal to my realtek onboard soubdcard except the sound quality of GSX1000 is very good
On Rainbow Six Siege Witcher 3 i have to raise the volume to 80-90 to get the satisfy volume   while my previous soundcard the Creative X G1 i only use 40-50% volume.

My question is :
1. is it normal that GSX 1000 have low output volume to drive  HD599 50 ohm ?
2. How many volume level you use withHD598/599 with GSX 1000      

Thanks          

I play siege too. And I have always had to put my sound up really loud with this game too. My sound setup is Asus Rog pheobus paired with pc363d and I play at 90 in siege. Other games are way louder so I play those at like 40ish. I just received the gsx1000 and it was the same. I played siege at 90 on the volume level. I will be playing some other titles over the weekend. But so far I'm thinking it's not an upgrade for me. It doesn't sound anywhere near as good as my Asus card. But does have great surround sound for gaming.

 

[Dataday]

Any thoughts on the GSX 1000 + Schiit Fulla 2?  Just got the GSX 1000 today and am not entirely impressed (well in relation to price point vs expectations). The only thing I can compare it to is motherboard audio and an older recon3d Sound Card.

Quote:

  I need some help from the user of GSX1000
I use HD 599 with GSX1000 and i think the volume output is so low, actually the level of GSX 1000 is equal to my realtek onboard soubdcard except the sound quality of GSX1000 is very good
On Rainbow Six Siege Witcher 3 i have to raise the volume to 80-90 to get the satisfy volume   while my previous soundcard the Creative X G1 i only use 40-50% volume.
 
My question is :
1. is it normal that GSX 1000 have low output volume to drive  HD599 50 ohm ?
2. How many volume level you use withHD598/599 with GSX 1000      
 
Thanks          

I noticed the same problem, the volume output is just way too low...especially when using a pair of HD700s (tested it with both that and a pair of HD598s). That said, make sure under sound properties (windows), you have the GSX 1000 set to speaker and not headphone. I don't know why but for some reason it drastically alters the quality (and volume) of the GSX when on Speaker Mode.

 

[VooDooScythe]

I sent the question about volume to Sennheiser and here is the answer
 
"The GSX 1000 is using the computers volume output when you adjust the dial. When you adjust the volume dial, you will see the computer master volume increasing accordingly. What the amplifier is doing is matching the output impedance to properly power the drivers."

Hopefully this helps, and have a good afternoon.

John Rust

 

[overhaze]

Finally found somewhere that mentions the GSX 1000s SNR. According to this its 104db. Respectable if true.
 
http://www.gamezoom.net/artikel/Sennheiser_GSX_1000_Test_Review-37759