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X-Fi cards use CMSS-3D Headphone instead. Works on par with Dolby Headphone for software audio games (XAudio2, FMOD Ex), since it's just getting virtual 7.1. The only thing is that they have opposite sound signature colorations: DH favors bass, CMSS-3D favors treble. Fortunately, that's why the EQ is there.
Throw a DirectSound3D or OpenAL game at it, though, and it's no contest. Proper 3D binaural sound beats virtual 7.1 any day, and Dolby Headphone isn't made to use the extra 3DPA information it could get with those APIs. Playing Unreal Tournament or Battlefield 1942/Vietnam/2/2142 with it is like having an aural wallhack.
They both still suffer from having a generic/average HRTF when people have unique HRTFs, though. Rapture3D mitigates it by providing six different HRTFs, but it only works with OpenAL games with no DirectSound3D wrapper. The Smyth Realiser gets around it by using earbud microphones and playing calibration tones through a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system, but then you need access to a good speaker system to make that recording with, and it's still only virtual 7.1, not true 3D binaural audio.
So why does Dolby Headphone get all the hype? I chalk it up to Mad Lust Envy's big thread, and since he's a console-only gamer, he doesn't have CMSS-3D Headphone as a choice anyway (given that it's only relevant to PC gaming). Of course, DH earned that hype by being good at what it does, and I do like it a lot for my console games, but for PC gaming, I just prefer CMSS-3D hands down.
I appreciate you sharing your wealth of knowledge on the subject matter. I value your opinion. I've got a few questions that I've developed based on my needs and from reading the forums. I will be building a gaming computer in the late Fall/Winter and am very dedicated to building it right.
My favorite games are from The Elder Scroll's series and the Fallout series, which I believe I've read (from you) that they use something called DirectSound3D which offers great benefit with the CMSS-3D technology. How so?
I posted this on MLE's thread about my gaming desires.
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I've decided the best scenario that depicts the experience I am desiring is of that demonstrated by sitting in a bar in Fallout 3 (Moriarty's Saloon if you know it) and being able to hear the radio with its old time tunes and static interference (ever so often smacked by Gob when experience more than normal static) with customers and workers alike walking around and participating in drab conversation. I desire to know the location of the radio and people within the room and to hear it as though I were there in those dark times and not as though I am experiencing this situation through a pair of headphones. This may sound like an obvious desire, but it excites me to paint this picture. I want to hear the depth of the Sheriffs voice and feel the impact of grenades and mini-nukes in VATS as raider and mutants scream for their lives in slow motion. I want to roam the wastleland with the Pip Boy's radio dialed into GNR and Three Dog's crazy support to "fighting the good fight". I play other games, but if a headphone fits this bill, it will serve just fine in all likely scenarios I am to experience.
So you can see that directional queues are important, but that I am not competitive. I will enjoy the quality of sound quite a bit as much as directional queues. I come from an analytical music background with speakers. Tonality and natural presentation is important!
It seems there are a notable amount of complaints due to drivers and other unique errors for the CMSS-3D sound cards? Do you see this as an issue, or are there an overwhelming number of people who just don't know what they are doing with the hardware and software?
I plan to use both headphones and speakers for gaming. I am starting with stereo speakers but will very likely progress to a surround sound system of great caliber. What is the ideal technology to use per situation (headphone, stereo speakers, and surround sound speakers)? I get the feeling that once surround sound speakers are in the equation, the sound card's DAC is the only thing that is valuable (if it is any good). Would it be ideal to just send the audio along a digital output to an AV processor of some sort? Also, do stereo speakers benefit from the sound card's technologies, or would those be treated the same as surround sound with an AV processor?
Do you know how these cards and technologies will hold up with Windows 8? When I build the computer, I will very likely be getting Windows 8 for free and would like to use it. Would I find compatibility issues? It sounds like CMSS-3D has its challenges with drivers and I want to know if I will find support for Windows 8.
Based on my needs, do you have any specific recommendations for sound cards? I am willing to throw down some money to grab the better unit if I'm am convinced I will benefit from the additional something. On newegg, I see Asus, Creative, and HT Omega sound cards (very highly rated, but not discussed in these forums). Why is it HT Omega has such great reviews?
I am very curious as to the quality of the headphone amplifiers built into the sound cards as well. I was told that the cards with CMSS-3D don't have the best of amplifiers. Is this correct? Are there any known work arounds with external amplifiers or other devices? I have considered starting with a set of Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO (250 ohm) headphones. I don't want to have to question whether I am driving them well enough.
I really think I laid everything that I can think of out in these questions. I know it is a lot. Any help is greatly appreciated.
