nugz
New Head-Fier
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- Jul 24, 2016
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Hello everyone. I'm not sure if this combination has been discussed on here before, but I would like to talk about my experience using the Earforce DSS2's stereo upmix capabilities, after initial processing via the highly rated CMSS3D.
To start I will say that I own an X-Fi Titanium original (CMSS3D), Xonar DGX (Dolby Headphone), Logitech USB G430 USB DAC (Dolby Headphone), ALC1150 mobo (Dolby Home Theater), Earforce DSS (Dolby Headphone/O through toslink), Earforce DSS2 (Proprietary Dolby Implementation), and a couple of "true 7.1" discrete drive headsets (cringe). The release of Dolby Atmos for Headphone was with Overwatch, and I also have many hours listened to that as well.
Some people like to perfect their overclock, some people like to hear the most accurate reproduction of music, some want the highest refresh rate. I consider myself a connoisseur of game immersion, and sound is a huge part of that in my opinion.
From what I can tell, all of the single-solution headphone surround sound implementations are severely lacking. CMSS3D has unmatched positional accuracy, but really poor resolution when it comes to depth and distance. Everything is in the right place, but it sounds extremely flat. A visual analogy: CMSS3D is like looking at a painting, where hearing the world with your ears is like wearing a Rift.
Dolby Headphone lacks the precise positional clarity of CMSS3D, but projects you positionally into the environment instead of feeling like you are staring at a flat screen. However, even the lowest echo setting of this HRTF is far too strong, making any outside area sound like a concert hall designed to reverberate acoustics.
I've also owned both the Tiamat and the Strix 7.1 (call me a sucker if you like), and, well, they are just sh**t, lets leave it at that.
Enter the DSS2.
After a lot of searching, researching, and money spent, I was ready to just settle on one of the two major technologies and give up my hope for truly immersive surround sound. The DSS2 has actually been slammed for not bringing to the table the same Dolby Headphone technology we all are familiar with. Instead, it offers a 4.1 HRTF that works as an upmixer or downmixer depending upon the input. It has several speaker orientations that change how the sound is processed.
A few months ago I wondered what would happen if I chained together different headphone surround DSPs. Turns out CMSS3D to Dolby Headphone sounds wrong, and vice versa. No kidding, they really sound awful together. Okay, bummer. But what would happen if I fed CMSS3D (as stereo) into this virtual 4.1 upmixer?
Magic.
Two of my favorite test benches for surround sound are Far Cry (Primal), given the extreme amount of environmental noise variety. Also, Assassin's Creed (Unity), given the ambitious goal of accurately reproducing the sounds of a bustling, packed 18th century Paris (in 3rd person!).
The sounds that seemed to be so piercingly directional melted into an appropriate fade according to their distance, and smoothly pan as your turn. The heavy left-right effect of CMSS3D, where the center channel is thin and short, disappeared. And best of all, the virtual upmix adds NO echo.
In my opinion, the final product of this DSP/HRTF combination is a much more realistic and immersive headphone surround sound than any single vendor currently offers
Long time lurker, first time poster, but I've learned alot from Head-Fi. Thanks to @NamelessPFG whetting my appetite for immersive PC surround sound.
To start I will say that I own an X-Fi Titanium original (CMSS3D), Xonar DGX (Dolby Headphone), Logitech USB G430 USB DAC (Dolby Headphone), ALC1150 mobo (Dolby Home Theater), Earforce DSS (Dolby Headphone/O through toslink), Earforce DSS2 (Proprietary Dolby Implementation), and a couple of "true 7.1" discrete drive headsets (cringe). The release of Dolby Atmos for Headphone was with Overwatch, and I also have many hours listened to that as well.
Some people like to perfect their overclock, some people like to hear the most accurate reproduction of music, some want the highest refresh rate. I consider myself a connoisseur of game immersion, and sound is a huge part of that in my opinion.
From what I can tell, all of the single-solution headphone surround sound implementations are severely lacking. CMSS3D has unmatched positional accuracy, but really poor resolution when it comes to depth and distance. Everything is in the right place, but it sounds extremely flat. A visual analogy: CMSS3D is like looking at a painting, where hearing the world with your ears is like wearing a Rift.
Dolby Headphone lacks the precise positional clarity of CMSS3D, but projects you positionally into the environment instead of feeling like you are staring at a flat screen. However, even the lowest echo setting of this HRTF is far too strong, making any outside area sound like a concert hall designed to reverberate acoustics.
I've also owned both the Tiamat and the Strix 7.1 (call me a sucker if you like), and, well, they are just sh**t, lets leave it at that.
Enter the DSS2.
After a lot of searching, researching, and money spent, I was ready to just settle on one of the two major technologies and give up my hope for truly immersive surround sound. The DSS2 has actually been slammed for not bringing to the table the same Dolby Headphone technology we all are familiar with. Instead, it offers a 4.1 HRTF that works as an upmixer or downmixer depending upon the input. It has several speaker orientations that change how the sound is processed.
A few months ago I wondered what would happen if I chained together different headphone surround DSPs. Turns out CMSS3D to Dolby Headphone sounds wrong, and vice versa. No kidding, they really sound awful together. Okay, bummer. But what would happen if I fed CMSS3D (as stereo) into this virtual 4.1 upmixer?
Magic.
Two of my favorite test benches for surround sound are Far Cry (Primal), given the extreme amount of environmental noise variety. Also, Assassin's Creed (Unity), given the ambitious goal of accurately reproducing the sounds of a bustling, packed 18th century Paris (in 3rd person!).
The sounds that seemed to be so piercingly directional melted into an appropriate fade according to their distance, and smoothly pan as your turn. The heavy left-right effect of CMSS3D, where the center channel is thin and short, disappeared. And best of all, the virtual upmix adds NO echo.
In my opinion, the final product of this DSP/HRTF combination is a much more realistic and immersive headphone surround sound than any single vendor currently offers
Long time lurker, first time poster, but I've learned alot from Head-Fi. Thanks to @NamelessPFG whetting my appetite for immersive PC surround sound.
