[c64]

But utterly lifeless gritty even what I'd call tinny at times under stereo mode ?
 
doesn't matter what I listen to I prefer dolby headphone 6 or 8 channels livlier room setting and jazz EQ
 
It's night and day to my ears ? whats going on my sound is rich and warm and smooth with great impact under DH
 
But straight out of a stereo source even sansa clip + amp it's utterly lifeless compared to out of a xonar dx + DH + amp ?
 
Am I deaf ? do top end amps produce the rich warm powerful immersive sound like the xonar with dolby headphone on too ?
 
Does anyone else much prefer dolby headphone compared to setting it to 2 speaker

 

[Chodi]

Dolby Headphone alters the frequency response. Among other things it increases the bass. I guess with your equipment you just prefer the frequency response through DH. There is a whole thread on that in the forum if you search.
 
Here is one very long thread on the subject: http://www.head-fi.org/t/555263/foobar2000-dolby-headphone-config-comment-discuss

 

[c64]

Yes but is that as good sounding as dolby headphone via a soundcard ? is the xonars DH hardware and software based or just software emulation ? exactly the same as the foobar one ?

 

[Seegs108]

It sounds similar to Beats Audio processing. Like Chodi said, it increases the bass and I'm sure it has some patented EQ that they've researched and decided gives "better" sounding audio.

 

[c64]

As far as I cxan hear it increases not just the bass but clarity smoothness details as well

 

[Morph91]

I completely feel the same with Dolby Headphone. I listen without Dolby Heaphone on my Fiio E18 and it's ok but then i listen through my STX with Dolby Headphone and it just sounds amazing.