9 replies to this topic

[TexAce]

Since the search is borked (whatever I search for - no results) I wanna ask about surround sound in MWO.

Is surround supported? Or THX even?
Meaning when buying a 7.1 surround headset, do I benefit in a way comparing to a stereo headset?

Or is it not implemented yet? if so, is it planned?

On a second note: Which headset would you recommened?
I ordered a Sennheiser PC 320 (stereo) and a Corsair Vengange 1500 (7.1 surround) for trying out but would like to know your opinions.

Stereo headsets are cool because you can plug them in in mp3 players and what not, while the others have an USB port and can't be used with MP3 players.
I heard there are some with adapters for USB headsets so you can use them on MP3 players but couldn't find any.

[Catamount]

Hands down, I'd recommend the Vengeance 1500 (as a few others around here would). It's one of the best headsets you can get in that price range for gaming, and one the few "gaming headsets" out there with actual decent sound The Lows are a tad bit lacking, but considering the feature set of the headset, it's easy enough to live with for the price, especially in gaming.

Edited by Catamount, 08 April 2013 - 06:43 AM.

[Santarine]

try to search for "microUSB/miniUSB/USB to 2.5mm/3.5mm headset adapter"

There are 1000s links available

[TexAce]

Santarine, on 08 April 2013 - 06:44 AM, said:

try to search for "microUSB/miniUSB/USB to 2.5mm/3.5mm headset adapter"

There are 1000s links available

I don't get how this would work. The vengance has a built-in soundcard. Means it needs power to run, which it gets through the USB port. If I plug in an adapter to the usb-port which has a 3,5mm on the other side going into my MP3, it can't get any juice -> doesn't work. Or am I wrong?

Catamount, on 08 April 2013 - 06:42 AM, said:

Hands down, I'd recommend the Vengeance 1500 (as a few others around here would). It's one of the best headsets you can get in that price range for gaming, and one the few "gaming headsets" out there with actual decent sound The Lows are a tad bit lacking, but considering the feature set of the headset, it's easy enough to live with for the price, especially in gaming.

Thanks. Does this mean that surround works with MWO?

Edited by TexAss, 08 April 2013 - 07:25 AM.

[Catamount]

TexAss, on 08 April 2013 - 07:22 AM, said:

Thanks. Does this mean that surround works with MWO?

Truth be told, it's difficult to say. If the effect is there then it needs tweaking, but I'm inclined to think the engine has that function built-in without needing much work from PGI. It might well be disabled in MWO, currently.

What I can almost guarantee is that it will come in. The surround effect is very pronounced on the Vengeance 1500 in other games. Not all headsets handle the expanded sound stage well, even some mid-range headsets like the Sennheiser HD280s (they're miserable for surround); this one does.

I notice it very stongly in games as far and wide as Star Trek Online to Battlefield 3. The entire reason I doubt it's in MWO is because I don't constantly notice it. Still, surround support is ubiquitous these days, and the headset is very good for what you get in terms of what you pay, so I wouldn't hesitate to purchase even if this one game is lagging on implementation.


I'd like to note that there is an option #3 here. I don't know how well the PC320 works with surround, but it's a decent overall headset, so I'd guess fairly well. You could buy a Dobly-Headphone capable sound card, like a Xonar DG (only $30), and then you'd get the same surround capability of the Vengeance 1500s on your Sennheiser set.

Edited by Catamount, 08 April 2013 - 08:03 AM.

[TexAce]

Catamount, on 08 April 2013 - 07:58 AM, said:

Truth be told, it's difficult to say. If the effect is there then it needs tweaking, but I'm inclined to think the engine has that function built-in without needing much work from PGI. It might well be disabled in MWO, currently.

What I can almost guarantee is that it will come in. The surround effect is very pronounced on the Vengeance 1500 in other games. Not all headsets handle the expanded sound stage well, even some mid-range headsets like the Sennheiser HD280s (they're miserable for surround); this one does.

I notice it very stongly in games as far and wide as Star Trek Online to Battlefield 3. The entire reason I doubt it's in MWO is because I don't constantly notice it. Still, surround support is ubiquitous these days, and the headset is very good for what you get in terms of what you pay, so I wouldn't hesitate to purchase even if this one game is lagging on implementation.


I'd like to note that there is an option #3 here. I don't know how well the PC320 works with surround, but it's a decent overall headset, so I'd guess fairly well. You could buy a Dobly-Headphone capable sound card, like a Xonar DG (only $30), and then you'd get the same surround capability of the Vengeance 1500s on your Sennheiser set.

Thanks for the input.

I got a Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer card in my desktop. I think it can handle 5.1 only. But my Mainboard in my new desktop is a new Gigabyte i7 z77 series mainboard with onboard sound which should go up to 7.1 so I have to see.
I ordered both on amazon and will try to compare them.
I got Metro 2033 and Dead Space 2 on my desktop installed. probably I can test them for surround since as you say MWO's surround is pretty much non-existant.

Edited by TexAss, 08 April 2013 - 08:18 AM.

[Santarine]

TexAss, on 08 April 2013 - 07:22 AM, said:

I don't get how this would work. The vengance has a built-in soundcard. Means it needs power to run, which it gets through the USB port. If I plug in an adapter to the usb-port which has a 3,5mm on the other side going into my MP3, it can't get any juice -> doesn't work. Or am I wrong?

TexAss, seems I misunderstood your question. I thought you want to get a headset with USB connector and be able to plug it into MP3 players 2.5mm/3.5mm socket using some kind of adapter. Thus my advice to search for USB to 2.5/3.5 adapter

[Catamount]

TexAss, on 08 April 2013 - 08:13 AM, said:

Thanks for the input.

I got a Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer card in my desktop. I think it can handle 5.1 only. But my Mainboard in my new desktop is a new Gigabyte i7 z77 series mainboard with onboard sound which should go up to 7.1 so I have to see.
I ordered both on amazon and will try to compare them.
I got Metro 2033 and Dead Space 2 on my desktop installed. probably I can test them for surround since as you say MWO's surround is pretty much non-existant.

It's not enough to support multi-channel surround; the soundcard has to support simulated surround over stereo, using something like Dolby Headphone or Creative CMSS3D, of which I think DH is vastly superior (CMSS3D isn't limited to Dolby speaker locations, and attempts to simulate the entire environment, including reverb effects, but in practice it just makes you sound like you're at the bottom of a well).

Your Creative card probably at least supports CMSS3D, but the motherboard sound will support no surround features over a stereo headset.

[TexAce]

Catamount, on 08 April 2013 - 09:39 AM, said:

It's not enough to support multi-channel surround; the soundcard has to support simulated surround over stereo, using something like Dolby Headphone or Creative CMSS3D, of which I think DH is vastly superior (CMSS3D isn't limited to Dolby speaker locations, and attempts to simulate the entire environment, including reverb effects, but in practice it just makes you sound like you're at the bottom of a well).

Your Creative card probably at least supports CMSS3D, but the motherboard sound will support no surround features over a stereo headset.

Got it, so its better to use the built-in soundcard in the Vengance 1500 which supports Dolby Headphone and go straight over USB.

Thanks for the input!

[Hammer RLG]

you might look at a Astro Mixamp if your onboard sound has optical out. it has dolby headphone and dolby live onboard (the mixamp) so does the surround simulation with regular headphones.