GSX 1000, bad sound?

Samhfx

Samhfx

Samhfx

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21 Mar 2016
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465
Long story short just p[purchased the gsx 1000 and got it today. I have the HD 599s headphones.
The problem I'm facing is when I disable every option and leave the 7.1 on everything sounds.... echoey. Hard to explain.

My old headset 7.1 dongle seems to sound better than the gsx 1000, whats happening? When I turn the reverb off everything sounds low quality. When I turn the reverb on everything sounds really echoey, I don't understand whats happening.

Anyone else own the gsx 1000? whats wrong with mine. :c
 
Well, that's sure weird if disabling those articial sound screw up echoes makes sound quality bad.
Any better sound in stereo mode?
Or are you trying to set it for games?
Have you tried changing bit depth/sample rate in Windows Playback device properties?
(Advanced -tab)

Though have no idea why anyone would want to add echo on purpose to sound so no clue what Sennheiser was thinking with that reverb crap...
Well, actually we know, making snake oil level profits:
Cheap ass Audigy Fx/Xonar DGX have better DAC and as beefy output.
That's how bad for price and overhyped it is.
 
EsaT said:
Well, that's sure weird if disabling those articial sound screw up echoes makes sound quality bad.
Any better sound in stereo mode?
Or are you trying to set it for games?
Have you tried changing bit depth/sample rate in Windows Playback device properties?
(Advanced -tab)

Though have no idea why anyone would want to add echo on purpose to sound so no clue what Sennheiser was thinking with that reverb crap...
Well, actually we know, making snake oil level profits:
Cheap ass Audigy Fx/Xonar DGX have better DAC and as beefy output.
That's how bad for price and overhyped it is.
Click to expand...

whenever i attempt to use stereo by plugging my headphones straight into my pc raw it sounds very bad for some reason. whether it's because i'm not used to the sound coming from the 7.1 dolby adapter or something is wrong.
when i use stereo it sounds like it goes through the left earrcup then to the right randomly, is that what stereo is suppose to sound like?

also my pc isn't that old. did i need to download anything sound related for my motherboard?
 
Make sure you have headphone output or whatever selected - its documented in the main thread for the GSX here - the other output doesn't work or sounds bad or something in some setups.

Try changing USB port its connected to - some people have had problems with it working at all or compromised sound quality for some reason on USB3 provided by certain manufacturers.
 
Samhfx said:
whenever i attempt to use stereo by plugging my headphones straight into my pc raw it sounds very bad for some reason...
when i use stereo it sounds like it goes through the left earrcup then to the right randomly, is that what stereo is suppose to sound like?
Click to expand...
Except for randomness that's what stereo gaming sounds with headphones.
In left ear- in center of head - in right ear:
https://youtu.be/d1_20T8x_OI?t=12m56s

Again most music should work without problems, including using integrated sound card.
Assumnig it's properly implemented on motherboard.
 
HD59X need a fair bit of power so I'm not surprised that they sound flat and boring with your motherboard audio. As far as the GSX sounding bad, it's actually a terrible product, and I throw shade in the direction of Sennheiser for putting it out. As was mentioned, there are cheap internal soundcards that have better components.

You'll never get good 7.1 sound out of stereo headphones/headset. It will be "pseudo surround". To get 7.1 sound out of headphones they actually need to have several drivers per earcup to properly do 7.1. One in front of your ear, one slightly behind, and one blasting directly into the ear hole, as well, I assume, as possibly an additional driver for bass.

It's a real shame to have headphones that are as nice as, and scale as nicely as the ones you have, and to hook them up to garbage, whether that garbage be a soundcard or a snake oil external device like you have there.

If you spent $198 USD on the schiit stack from schiit audio (*UK dealers exist) you would have 1000X fuller, better sound. Sure, no 7.1, but you don't want that garbage anyways. Especially for music.
If the schiit stack is too much bulk for your desk, you can get the still very competent, albeit not as beefy Audioquest Dragonfly Red, for about the same price. These are devices that the broke audiophiles use. They're good.
 
mistersprinkles said:
HD59X need a fair bit of power so I'm not surprised that they sound flat and boring with your motherboard audio. As far as the GSX sounding bad, it's actually a terrible product, and I throw shade in the direction of Sennheiser for putting it out. As was mentioned, there are cheap internal soundcards that have better components.

You'll never get good 7.1 sound out of stereo headphones/headset. It will be "pseudo surround". To get 7.1 sound out of headphones they actually need to have several drivers per earcup to properly do 7.1. One in front of your ear, one slightly behind, and one blasting directly into the ear hole, as well, I assume, as possibly an additional driver for bass.

It's a real shame to have headphones that are as nice as, and scale as nicely as the ones you have, and to hook them up to garbage, whether that garbage be a soundcard or a snake oil external device like you have there.

If you spent $198 USD on the schiit stack from schiit audio (*UK dealers exist) you would have 1000X fuller, better sound. Sure, no 7.1, but you don't want that garbage anyways. Especially for music.
If the schiit stack is too much bulk for your desk, you can get the still very competent, albeit not as beefy Audioquest Dragonfly Red, for about the same price. These are devices that the broke audiophiles use. They're good.
Click to expand...

I bought the FiiO and it sounds the same as if I was to plug the headphones into my motherboard.
Is it safe to say I hate how stereo sounds?
 
mistersprinkles said:
HD59X need a fair bit of power so I'm not surprised that they sound flat and boring with your motherboard audio. As far as the GSX sounding bad, it's actually a terrible product, and I throw shade in the direction of Sennheiser for putting it out. As was mentioned, there are cheap internal soundcards that have better components.
Click to expand...

Not sure I agree - the DAC used is more aimed at tablets, etc. but isn't totally terrible in most respects except harmonic distortion which is right on the border of acceptable and isn't comparable with portable devices really due to the dedicated board without having to try and isolate it from interference from an SoC, etc. and the lack of decent power on the output seems a poorly thought out decision but at the end of the day it is focused on providing a leading surround sound in headphones reproduction for gaming purposes which it does achieve. It could also have been better thought out in respect to things like console gaming, etc.

I wouldn't call it a terrible product - it does what it primarily set out to achieve but its certainly something that Sennheiser could improve on a lot especially at the price point - its a £100 product at best when you break it down.
 
Drives my 599s fine have to have it set 99 volume in games like overwatch and pubg but positioning audio is 2nd to none and I've had stx 2 and SB zxr.. but that was with my old 558s

Gsx 1000 is decent for what it does.i have everything turned off other then movie setting and 7.1
 
mistersprinkles said:
You'll never get good 7.1 sound out of stereo headphones/headset. It will be "pseudo surround". To get 7.1 sound out of headphones they actually need to have several drivers per earcup to properly do 7.1. One in front of your ear, one slightly behind, and one blasting directly into the ear hole, as well, I assume, as possibly an additional driver for bass.
Click to expand...
You've been scammed by Chinese garbage marketroids.
It's the entirely other way around with "5.1/7.1" headphones being fake/pseudo surround ones.

5.1/7.1 surround sound is made for speakers.
With speakers sound from every channel reaches also opposite ear, with sound waves behaving like in nature from real source to create 360 degree sound.
And that just doesn't happen in headphones with sounds locked to left or right ear and without natural source direction.
So there can never be true "signature" of sound coming from behind or full smooth 360 degree directionality in them.
Not to mention that cramming more and even cheaper drivers into headphone breaks any chances of balancing sound, which is already bad enough in cheap junk.
So even if there's some directionality good soundstage requiring distance sensing is likely at worser side of total garbage.

Because human has only two "receivers" it's perfectly possible to imitate 3D sound with just two playback channels.
http://berkeleybside.com/sound-dimensions-of-binaural-recording/
https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/12/...ural-immersive-vr-sound-times-square-new-york

Binaural sound is just way more unforgiving to overal sound quality and soundstage of headphones than any music.
So don't wonder any if it doesn't work well with typical closed cans and gaming garbage
(though also head/ear size&shape being far from average can mess it)
 
My gsx 1000 sounds like crap if my Hyper x Cloud USB is plugged in at same time.

Also the 7.1 on this thing sounds spectacular contrary to what someone else ranted. I also have HD599s in mine.
 
yep its very good for overwatch and pubg which are my main 2 games... amount of times ive heard things in pubg when my squad think im lying and saved there asses because they are 2 of them using stereo headphones and other one is using 650s with a STX II and cant hear for **** is unreal.. can pinpoint footsteps and gunshots/distance very quickly.
 
Saw a video of PUBG discussing something like that - one of the guys in their squad was calling out the positions where enemy were sniping at them from and the other couldn't tell.
 
So tempted by this.

But I wonder if it's crap dressed up...considering the cost.

I have an asus rampage IV formula. Not sure I get the best out of the sound any more because the drivers for the supreme iii are no longer supported. Not sure if it's a different chip onboard to the realtek one I'm having it use.

I'd love to try before you buy on this lol.
 
The GSX uses a Conexant DAC - its OK but more designed for mobile devices than PC audio - specs are OK for most things and benefits from being isolated from SoC noise in a mobile device and/or mainboard/CPU noise but the THD (distortion) figures are borderline on acceptable and not terribly great.

The actual surround encoding is the real deal and one of the better implementations so depends on how important that is to you.
 
Thanks for the info Rroff. I think I'll hold on.

I'm due an upgrade to the PC, but that won't be until the new intel chips are out. I typically buy mid high range boards, so sound usually is good enough.

I'd love to try this binaural audio stuff..but 159 is a bit rich for me after buying the game ones, and they are already a reasonable step up from my 6 year old razer carchaias.
 
lnoton said:
So tempted by this.

But I wonder if it's crap dressed up...considering the cost.
Click to expand...
GSX has worser DAC than budget level Audigy Fx/Xonar DGX, not to mention Sound Blaster Z having completely superior D/A converter.
And also headphone output isn't any better than that of Realtek chips.
That's why Sennheiser proudly hides max output into PDF fact sheet instead of telling it in product page.
Then it also seriously lacks normal connectivity expected from even cheaper sound cards, not to mention mid level/high end cards.
Which are even cheaper than it...

So pretty much typical gaming product.
Lots of hype, little real stuff for the price.

If Creative gave £200 MSRP for Audigy Fx it would be torches and pitchforks.
When Sennheiser does same people are drooling like rabid dogs...


lnoton said:
I have an asus rampage IV formula. Not sure I get the best out of the sound any more because the drivers for the supreme iii are no longer supported. Not sure if it's a different chip onboard to the realtek one I'm having it use.
Click to expand...
I don't think there are even other makers than Realtek nowadays.
Or at least ones making better sound codecs.
For mobile devices there are others made for cheap price and minimized power consumption chips like those Conexant El Cheapos.

That 110dB SNR advertised by Asus would fit to ALC898... Though not very realistic to claim full theoretical quality.
(Audigy Fx uses that because no sense to reinvent wheel)

But why should not getting new drivers make it stop working?
If Microsoft doesn't break... err, improve things by OS updates it keeps functioning.
 
hi Esat.

Yeah. I don't really understand myself, the Asus drivers page never had the SB utility for download for windows 10.

People had it working by using really old dirver versions and a registry hack.

I don't think I ever really used it...but just install the basic realtek package and left it at that.

If I wanted better sound which card would you go for? Based on my mobo..and the fact I'll upgrade my mobo in less than 12 months.

Is there a card worth getting?
 
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