Super confused at Asus Xonar STX settings

[agnes]

Dead simple question, but in the 'audio channel' selection, I've got 2, 4, 6 and 8. Now, in the 'help' it states 8 is good for games, but in my mind, why on earth am I enabling 8 channels for a 2 channel output? It's going to my headphones. I don't use Dolby Headphones as it sounds god awful and messes the sound up too much.

So yea, thoughts?

Oh, I did just test in windows playback devices, listening between 2 and 8 option, and sure, 7.1 sort of works. The rears are a little... Well, it's not real but I can see the sound card is doing something to make it sound like it's behind me.

 

[agnes]

I'd rather avoid the Dolby Heaphones, it's like sticking my head in a tin bucket lol. It's awful.

Why anyone would use it is beyond me, it's a huge step back from the cards capability.

As for the 8 channels, it does change the Windows setting, but interestingly all 8 channels have decent audio positioning when you test using the Windows playback tester. And that's without Dolby Headphones.

I just can't decide on what to leave it set at.

 

[agnes]

What are you using it for? DH2 sounds fine to me for gaming but for music I would choose 2 channel and hit the HF (DSP bypass) button which gives you pure stereo.

Gaming, accepting that 2 channel hifi is the only option really, 8 channel kind of works with hifi.

But the DH2/3 or 1 modes, just sound like ****.

 

[agnes]

There are a few gaming centric binaural algorithms around, DH is just one but there is also SBX (Creative), Razer Surround and the new kid on the block, Sennheiser.

All of these algorithms (and our own brains/ears) use various audio cues to place a sound in space:
1) Difference in sound intensity (left ear vs right ear)
2) Delay between hearing it in one ear and the other
3) Early reflections and reverb wash (all of the echoes as the sounds bounce off objects)
4) Head Related Transfer Function (how your outer ears guide the sound into your inner ears)

Number 4 is the difficult one because that involves the shape of the outside of the ear (pinna) and that is unique to every person on the planet. All the algorithm writers can do is create an algorithm suited to an average pair of ears with generic shaped pinnae. For those people who's ears are shaped relatively closely to this generic pair, the binaural stream will work well, whereas those people who's ear shape falls further from this generic shape will have a poor experience. Problem is, there is no real average pair of ears because every pair is different and even quite small differences can have a noticeable effect.

I have been playing the Skyrim remaster and have been using the "True 3D Sound" mod and find it works better than either DH or SBX for me and is the only algorithm I've used so far that produces convincing positional audio out in front of my head and also for above / below. When I first started using it I kept looking around me because the realism was uncanny and that's coming from someone who has put almost 1350 (DH hours) into original Skyrim. Just goes to show what a difference finding the right algorithm can make.

Indeed, I think I'll leave it to 2 channels and let the games work out what to do with the sound for now. Other than that, I'm super happy with the STX. Damn impressive. Only driving my very old (but recently refurbished) Sennheiser HD595's, but I'm eagerly awaiting my partner to hand me my HD650's she's got me for Christmas. The evil wench (love her really) has sent me pics of them at her office. I'm like a child! I need them now!!!

 

[agnes]

Personally not too keen on the Dolby stuff either, I can notice the surround setting but I rather just leave my settings at this:

6 channels
96KHz
smart volume on (I know I shouldn't be using this but it suits me and my house hold better )
hifi on

This is for mainly games and films/tv shows.

I use the same settings for both my 2.0 eidifier speakers and AKG 612 pro headphones.

Cool, I'm toying between both 6 and 8 channels.

Also, surely 96KHz is a little high? Music is normally 44.1 and games are often 48. Only Blu rays really use anything above? Unless I'm mistaken. Which is more than likely.

 

[agnes]

Mother of god...

Just playing I Feel Fine by the Beatles, remastered version. It sounds amazing coming from the PC!!!

 

[agnes]

yup, the STX has a very good DAC and the amp isn't bad either. I've found that it stands up well against the external DAC and amp competition.

For £100, I can't complain! And I have a decent mic input as well