Sennheiser gsx 1000 thread?

[shankly1985]

Ordered this yesterday, got a dispatch email earlier today. Will try running my AKG K712 pro direct, if they don't work/sound crap will try double amping, got a FiiO E17 and a Schiit Magni to try

Sweet look forward to the results.

 

[shankly1985]

Overwatch GSX vs Dolby - GSX really shows its worth in this title I feel.

 

[shankly1985]

GSX beats the **** out of Dolby Atmos there - I really like the eSport mode though - sure it sounds horrid but the positional separation of every sound atleast for me is bang on so for competitive stuff it would be really good.

Yeah I do agree with you, for what it is ment for its perfectly well done. But for me personally I would much rather have decent quality even if it did give me an advantage.

 

[shankly1985]

Someone posted this on Headfi, I have given my view on this do any of you agree with me? Its best to open this video in two tabs and get to the point on each and play it in parts together.

Here is my view on this comparison.
For me the GSX gives better surround sound, I dont like the echo effect the SBX gives Perfect example of this is the nade on Rainbow six.
Yeah on RB6 the nade on SBX sounds much further away than it really is, where the GSX plays the sound much closer.
Even the first window breach you do, the GSX explosion sound and gun sounds have more of a punch to it. The SBX loose its punch effect.

Witcher 3 not sure if its just me but I hear the rear sound more clear and for longer? The man sawing is good part when you walk to the river.

 

[shankly1985]

Just bought this from the rainforest, hopefully this will remove the noise from not using Line-In
YINGLUN Analog to Digital Audio Converter Convert Analog L/R Audio Signal to Coaxial Toslink Digital Audio signal

 

[shankly1985]

Got mine today so will be testing tonight, can I just disable everything to do with my SB-Z in the control panel and plug and play the GSX?

Yeah the only reason am still using the sound card is for recording the GSX.
I also disabled everything from the Soundblaster Z when not using.

 

[shankly1985]

Ok installed with headphones and a few questions:

Windows Volume control options - I have to set this to "Speakers (Main Audio)" for any touch settings to work on device, is this normal Earphone headset sounds crap so guessing so.

What settings should I use for games like BF1, do I need any sidetone or reverb?

Bit underwhelmed by the Bass but that could be my HD555 headphone, though with my SB-Z the bass can be very good indeed so doubtful.

Do I need to set 7.1 in games or stereo headphones?

Correct make sure speaker main audio is selected, then go into configuration and select 7.1 and full speaker. Apply setting.

The earphone setting is for teamspeak etc make sure within them applications you select this has the default output.

For games you want to select surround or 5.1 or 7.1 option when available.
For battlefield 1 I use headphones with surround sound enabled.

The presets on the unit is personal preference tbh
If you enjoy the reverb setting I personally don't.

The only settings you have natural, esports, music and story. Use story if you want added base, use natural if you want just normal base, use esports if you want zero base etc

 

[shankly1985]

Config is ghosted out, maybe I've defaulted headset in control panel I'll check

You should be able to configure speakers, the earphones you can't.
The earphones is only for communication, it separate the game audio and communication audio into two different channels.

The great thing about this is you can now higher and lower people in say teamspeak without effecting the game audio. Or another great use is recording, if you choose a program that can record multiple devices you can now record game audio and voice audio separately or choose not to record teamspeak at all.

No more friends shouting at the wrong times while recording

 

[shankly1985]

Thanks for your help got it all setup right now, the surround sound is insane, never heard such distance or detail, when sniping in a windmill top floor I can hear some-one enter the wooden flooring downstairs with a diagnal downwards footstep. Would have liked a bit more bass, use to more with my SB-Z finely tune but the sound quality is nice and perhaps I did overkill the bass before a bit. Looking forward to getting my upgrade on headphones next to the HD599's.

Sweet I used to have the sound blaster z on balanced so my base wasn't over done, I hated the base setting on the SBz I feel it was way of the top.

Were on the GSX I feel the base is just right.
The surround sound on the GSX is super good.

 

[shankly1985]

Would an 80ohm set of DT770's suit this?

Don't see why not it's rated max 150ohm

 

[shankly1985]

Analog to Digital just made it worst No sound at all just a hum

 

[shankly1985]

Sent mine back for credit too many problems with BF1, so bought a Sound Blaster ZX instead.

What problems? Mine has worked perfectly, apart from the issue I had with USB ports when first got the unit. that was a simple fix though I just needed to install the GSX USB on to a USB hub away from my Snowball mic

 

[shankly1985]

Do you have a DAC you can connect to the ADC to check it's working?

Hard to know what the problem might be without some troubleshooting.

If the ADC is working, then the problem must be on the SB Z side.

Have you tried using the SB Z optical in with anything else? Console for example.

Yeah used the optical in with ps4, sadly I not sure what else I can use for testing?
Maybe my phone 3.5 jack?

 

[shankly1985]

Well that rules out the SB Z optical in being at fault, if you can get sound by connecting a PS4. Still could be something to do with that, not so much a fault, just some incompatibility somewhere.

You could try a smartphone or anything else that has analogue audio output, instead of the GSX. Can't really see why the ADC wouldn't work with the GSX audio out, as it's just analogue as it would be from anything else with analogue audio out. Another thing to rule out though.

Without a DAC to connect to the ADC though, there's no way of knowing if it's actually working. The problem could lie with that.

Will do more testing tomorrow and report back

 

[shankly1985]

Ok more testing and its not looking good.
First off I got this to work fine with phone, so I tested again with the GSX and this time it works. But here is the problem sending 7.1 from the GSX into Optical messes up the right and left, when a speaker test is played from the left it comes out of the right etc
They is also some noise on the output at 100% it sounds like wind not has bad has Line-In mind you and I could lower the volume down to 70% remove this.

But I cant fix the channels playing wrong side

So it looks like you cant take a virtual 7.1 3.5 jack into optical 2.0 and have it play correctly 7.1

 

[shankly1985]

Great stuff nice feedback.
Did double amping have any added noise effects?

 

[shankly1985]

Anyone know of the GSX works with consoles for surround sound?

PC only

 

[shankly1985]

No, can't say it did. The daft thing is I only run GSX at 18 on volume and its loud enough for me so there's plenty of volume there, it just couldn't drive the AKG's effectively.

I did back to back tests at the weekend with the HD599 plugged into the GSX and the AKG K712's in the Schiit Magni connected to the GSX and the AKG's sounded no where near as good, all the intricate detail was missing.

Man I game at 70% I must be going def

 

[shankly1985]

That sucks. Sennheiser really missed a window here..

They really could have built an eco-system around it with options for different headphone demands, consoles, etc.

Guess it all comes down to price to market, I have no doubt if this does well they will bring a GSX 2000 for example with added features.
Price alone on the GSX is already high, adding in more features will bring it even higher to the point would people even look at it?

 

[shankly1985]

Don't have a GSX yet... but only been and done it

Spoiler

Surprisingly performance is pretty epic so will be interesting to see if it makes any difference for surround audio over a normal unbalanced amp.

Looks like you been bizzy what is it?