Sound card needed?

[mart1985]

I have been attempting, and failing, to improve my in game audio for Warzone for a while now.

My most recent efforts have seen me purchase Dolby Access and a set of Astro A40s with mix amp, as I have seen numerous good reviews. Despite these, and having played with several audio setups, I still fail to hear anything in game.

Interestingly friends say they can hear audio when spectating me, that I cannot. I generally have decent hearing in real life, so I don't think it is due to that.

My question is whether a sound card would make a difference? I know the audio is notoriously bad in game, but I feel like I should be getting more out of my setup than I am.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[EsaT]

That Astro Mixamp uses bass bloaty Dolby Headphone, which is bad thing for distinguishing details like foot steps.
You'll want to have bass neutral HRTF to keep details.

Also for accurate sound you should avoid gaming trinkets.
Heck, you can get headphone of actual audio makers for less!
That should give a hint about profit margins of those gaming products, if everyone and their pet dog wanting own gaming brand doesn't do it.


Also games audio settings could be bad.

 

[mrk]

Not needed at all really. Having had them in years gone by, a good quality stereo USB DAC/Amp is all you need paired with good headphones and/or speakers. Stereo, when paired right with decent source and output kit, can sound absolutely sublime and positional audio will feel natural in games. When a game has the options for it now I just set the speaker type to home theatre or full range - The DAC/Amp does the rest and have never looked back. You will also end up typical with superior quality audio than these "gaming" audio products and actually enjoy sound in other things outside of gaming too.

As EsaT says too really.

If you give a max budget, it is fairly simple to price up some quality components within that budget.

 

[Timber]

That Astro Mixamp uses bass bloaty Dolby Headphone, which is bad thing for distinguishing details like foot steps

Don't disagree here, but I understood the Astro Mix Amp only uses Dolby Digital processing on Optical. And even then requires a source which is outputting Dolby Digital. I believe their newer Mix Amps (Gen4) are targeting using Windows 10/Xbox spatial audio (i.e. Windows Sonic etc.) or PS5 Tempest 3D audio. Or at least it seems that way when reading their support staff on Reddit.

If using the Mix Amp with Windows Spatial Audio all other processing on the Mix Amp should be turned off (if relevant). Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos for Headphone or DTS Headphone:X should be doing the processing.

Although it's been years since I have owned an Astro set (owned the 5.8 during my 360 days) I did ditch the included A40 headset very quickly for a set of Sennheiser HD 598 headphones, which worked much better with the Mix Amp as they provided a cleaner sound. Also the Mix Amp was a very bad AMP. So I echo the thoughts of others about a good set of stereo headphones (Although gaming headsets have got better and often just can be more convenient (i.e. Wireless, or include QOL features like simultaneous Bluetooth audio)). I would also lean towards a DAC/AMP too over a Soundcard these days if only because it can be used with other devices, although I've owned some good soundcards in the past so would be my preference over on-board motherboard audio.

I do use Dolby Atmos for Headphones (sometimes DTS:X) with my Fiio K5 Pro (sometimes my SB G6) with my Xbox & PC. And really rate it where the game support it (Warzone is one of these). If you have already purchased a Dolby Atmos for Headphones license then the great thing is that is will work with any stereo headphones or headset no matter how it's connected to your PC (or Xbox). So it should be easy to test Warzone with Dolby Atmos on/off, via on-board audio or via the Mix Amp.

 

[EsaT]

Don't disagree here, but I understood the Astro Mix Amp only uses Dolby Digital processing on Optical. And even then requires a source which is outputting Dolby Digital.

Dolby Headphone has nothing to do with Dolby Digital, except that Dolby overhype in name.
Dolby Laboratories didn't even develop HRTF algorithm, but licensed it and later bought developer company.
Also it works as usual upmix/crossfeed from stereo source to minimize very artificial "sound in left ear/right ear/in center of head" feelnig with speaker stereo mix on headphones.

You recognize Dolby Headphone using products from Dolby Headphone logo:
https://avgadgets.com/dolby-headphone/

 

[Timber]

@EsaT We've done this dance before and yes I'm aware of that Apologies I should have been clearer but it was early hours of the morning - in my defence!

To get the best from a Mix Amp it needs 5.1 Dolby Digital Live input to do it's down mixing (or certainly always used to). I think the Op is referring to having bought a license for Dolby Atmos for Headphones - which is going to be impacted if any other processing is being done. Over USB as long as the Astro Mix Amp behaves as a stereo DAC/AMP it won't be using Dolby Headphone at all. That's what it sounds like is happening on the latest Gen4 Mix Amps (but I don't know if that relevant here).