Windows Settings "Headphones" Or "7.1"?

[ElliottG]

ATTENTION: GAMERS OF HEAD-FI! 

 
I've had Siberia headsets for 8 years now, and finally switched to the Superlux 668B's yesterday. 
 
My setup is simple and as follows: PC -> Soundblaster Audigy SE -> Superlux 668B's 
 
For some reason, my Audigy card (Soundblaster settings) defaults to 7.1, and not headphones. For this reason, every time I turn it on I need to change it to headphones...
 
My question is for my usage, which is better for my use. I play CS:GO, and also listen to music. I was hoping that I would enjoy some better sound quality with these headphones, but am concerned my settings are not set properly for the best sound possible.
 
Am I correct in my understanding that :
 
1) "Headphones" setting in Windows is best for music listening
2) "7.1" is best for gaming? 
 
I tried using the "headphones" setting in Windows and played CS:GO briefly yesterday and the positional audio was really bad...couldn't tell where people were at all, and considering I bought these headphones because of the large soundstage, it was clear to me that something was definitely wrong.
 
For the Head-Fi gamers out there, which setting do you personally use, and is it worth it to leave it on 7.1 all the time?
 
Thanks,
Elliott

 

[whaletail935]

I've been meaning to ask the same for awhile now!
 
Similarly, do Windows sound settings (playback) even matter, if I've already adjusted my soundcard settings.  I think I've setup my ASUS Xonar STX driver properly, and have always assumed my Windows sound configuration settings would be overwritten (for lack of a better word), but perhaps not.
 
Henk

 

[manbear]

Your headphones dont have 7.1 channels. They have 2. Try setting it to stereo. I dont know what the headphone setting is but if it applies extra sound processing its probably not what you want.

Otherwise Id suggest trying all the settings and picking the one you like best.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  ATTENTION: GAMERS OF HEAD-FI! 

 
I've had Siberia headsets for 8 years now, and finally switched to the Superlux 668B's yesterday. 
My setup is simple and as follows: PC -> Soundblaster Audigy SE -> Superlux 668B's 
For some reason, my Audigy card (Soundblaster settings) defaults to 7.1, and not headphones. For this reason, every time I turn it on I need to change it to headphones...
My question is for my usage, which is better for my use. I play CS:GO, and also listen to music. I was hoping that I would enjoy some better sound quality with these headphones, but am concerned my settings are not set properly for the best sound possible.
Am I correct in my understanding that :
1) "Headphones" setting in Windows is best for music listening
2) "7.1" is best for gaming? 
I tried using the "headphones" setting in Windows and played CS:GO briefly yesterday and the positional audio was really bad...couldn't tell where people were at all, and considering I bought these headphones because of the large soundstage, it was clear to me that something was definitely wrong.
For the Head-Fi gamers out there, which setting do you personally use, and is it worth it to leave it on 7.1 all the time?

 
When you installed the sound card, did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS?
 
For surround sound gaming, you want the audio input for the card to be set to 5.1 (6-channel) or 7.1 (8-channel).
and the output set to Headphones.
 
Might also try asking questions about Creative Lab's sound cards on this forum.
http://forums.creative.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6

 

[ElliottG]

   
When you installed the sound card, did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS?
 
For surround sound gaming, you want the audio input for the card to be set to 5.1 (6-channel) or 7.1 (8-channel).
and the output set to Headphones.
 
Might also try asking questions about Creative Lab's sound cards on this forum.
http://forums.creative.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6

 
Yes I did.
 
I don't know what you mean by setting the input to 5.1 or 7.1...not sure how I would set that?

 

[mindbomb]

You have the opportunity to downmix the channels at 3 points - the application itself, the windows operating system, and through the sound card. The path of the audio is from the application, to windows, to the sound card. So knowing this, you want to keep as many channels as possible until the final sound card mix, since that one is gonna be superior for gaming purposes, since it can use tech like dolby headphone, cmss3d headphone, or sbx surround.
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wFdQPGxKIQ 
 
This is a demonstration of a dolby headphone downmix vs a standard stereo downmix.
 
So in other words, you want the game set to 7.1, windows set to 7.1 (in control panel, sound, configure speakers), and sound card set to headphone with the associated headphone technology enabled.

 

[nimaina]

Here is the way I do it:
 
I set the soundcard in Windows to 7.1 caused I have surround speakers.  I use a little software called DFX Audio Enhancer to change between surround speakers and headphones. Just one click (the software always open when Windows starts up). Surround sound still come through the headphones quite nicely. I use this setting for every sound coming out of my computer except for when I want a serious music listening, then I used foobar and bypass the windows setting (I use external DAC/Amp for this, but you can still use your soundcard). This way my windows settings are always the same and I don't have to keep changing them.