Gamers, What's Your Audio Set Up?

Regarding the above I've raised the question on NeoGAF. I don't have a account for Resetera because I don't use a professional or ISP domain email. I also tried raising on r/playstation and r/ps5 but both times the post is autodeleted. The later community sees it as a technical question which they don't allow. Contacting the mod teams has resulted in no reply.

My only other thought is the 12th September update to PS5 has also changed something (PS Blog link).
 
An update on this (and apologies for turning this into a PS5 themed thread). No response on the main forum thread here, or on NeoGAF forums. However I did manage to get a post up on r/ps5 with this reddit thread here: link. Essentially I had to really shorten and change the tone of the question to get around the really aggressive auto-moderation so it didn't appear I was asking for technical help which doesn't help when trying to get detailed responses.

Most replies are not relevant to the question, but there is one poster who suggest the audio is louder for them too. No-one has come back to say the PS5 Pro isn't louder with a USB DAC/AMP.

I said in that reddit thread but my thinking is that one of the 3 options below is true:
  1. Technically the PS5 Pro IS doing something different, i.e. maybe a new USB controller chip, or the milliamp power on the USB ports is able to go higher, i.e. no longer restricted to 5V/500ma for example.
  2. A software change has been made, maybe the 12th Sept update is the likely candidate as it did make a number of audio changes. But this would have meant the issue was potentially resolved on the OG PS5 & PS5 Slim too (something I didn't notice on my old PS5 after the update, only the first time I plugged the Pro into the GC7, although I immediately noticed the difference).
  3. The PS5 Pro doesn't have a software limit imposed which is a mistake and might get patched in the future.
Based on how my OG 2022 PS5 behaved I'm leaning toward options 1, or 3 being true.
 
Edifier S350 DB - bookshelf speakers, with a hefty subwoofer. I live in a paper thin walled terrace and so it's pretty much perfect, gets loud and also very clear
 
An update on this (and apologies for turning this into a PS5 themed thread). No response on the main forum thread here, or on NeoGAF forums. However I did manage to get a post up on r/ps5 with this reddit thread here: link. Essentially I had to really shorten and change the tone of the question to get around the really aggressive auto-moderation so it didn't appear I was asking for technical help which doesn't help when trying to get detailed responses.

Most replies are not relevant to the question, but there is one poster who suggest the audio is louder for them too. No-one has come back to say the PS5 Pro isn't louder with a USB DAC/AMP.

I said in that reddit thread but my thinking is that one of the 3 options below is true:
  1. Technically the PS5 Pro IS doing something different, i.e. maybe a new USB controller chip, or the milliamp power on the USB ports is able to go higher, i.e. no longer restricted to 5V/500ma for example.
  2. A software change has been made, maybe the 12th Sept update is the likely candidate as it did make a number of audio changes. But this would have meant the issue was potentially resolved on the OG PS5 & PS5 Slim too (something I didn't notice on my old PS5 after the update, only the first time I plugged the Pro into the GC7, although I immediately noticed the difference).
  3. The PS5 Pro doesn't have a software limit imposed which is a mistake and might get patched in the future.
Based on how my OG 2022 PS5 behaved I'm leaning toward options 1, or 3 being true.
PS5 jesus doing all the work!
 
Would be good to hear what has actually changed then.

Yea it would. Unfortunately I'm not sure that will ever happen. I don't think Sony have ever officially communicated anything related to the long-standing lack of UAC 2.0 support or 50% volume issue.

The bit that is missing is whether the Slim has also been improved. That would determine if the improvement is for the PS5 Pro only and therefore whether it was a hardware or a software constraint.
 
Yea it would. Unfortunately I'm not sure that will ever happen. I don't think Sony have ever officially communicated anything related to the long-standing lack of UAC 2.0 support or 50% volume issue.

The bit that is missing is whether the Slim has also been improved. That would determine if the improvement is for the PS5 Pro only and therefore whether it was a hardware or a software constraint.
Interesting. You off to buy a slim now haha? I don't know anyone that has one either. It's all OG owners that I know of.
 
Interesting. You off to buy a slim now haha? I don't know anyone that has one either. It's all OG owners that I know of.
No haha. Pro was expensive enough and I've spent more time A-B testing audio than actually playing games on the PS5 Pro so far!

Although my suspicion remains that the Slim has the same issue as the OG. There are similar characteristics of low volume in Hardware Canucks video which was based on the Slim. So I still veer on the side of the Pro being different somehow.
 
Noticed there is a review from GadgetryTech for the Sound Blaster G8 - which is basically the first proper review from any known outlet that I can see. Does cover off the USB2 problems with volume as mentioned by @WhiteHartMart. I would say the review seems to dwell on the microphone input and the software, which is fine, but doesn't really go over the sound quality in any detail. Although the review is positive on this front comparing it to an iFi Zen Air DAC.

I'm kind of tempted as an upgrade from the GC7 but the absence of bluetooth app support, no power switch and lack of on board controls for treble, bass, mic gain etc. do put me off a tad. I sense the G8 is a better overall but for gaming only use with the PS5 I'm not sure how much difference that is really going to make.

 
Noticed there is a review from GadgetryTech for the Sound Blaster G8 - which is basically the first proper review from any known outlet that I can see. Does cover off the USB2 problems with volume as mentioned by @WhiteHartMart. I would say the review seems to dwell on the microphone input and the software, which is fine, but doesn't really go over the sound quality in any detail. Although the review is positive on this front comparing it to an iFi Zen Air DAC.

I'm kind of tempted as an upgrade from the GC7 but the absence of bluetooth app support, no power switch and lack of on board controls for treble, bass, mic gain etc. do put me off a tad. I sense the G8 is a better overall but for gaming only use with the PS5 I'm not sure how much difference that is really going to make.

Still have mine but not convinced of it's worth as a console only device - the lack of mobile access to tweak eq on the go etc is a real pain. Still think the Qudelix 5k is a better option (if you don't mind not having a rotary volume control and don't need game/chat mix (which isn't ideal on the G8 anyway).
 
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