Surround sound possible with headphone through the XBOX 360?

[nightrider1470]

Ok so I have the PC side of things covered with my Asus DG doing dolby headphones with my Q701 headphones.....

I would like to be able to use my Q701 headphones and some how get surround sound through them for fps shooter games.

I have my 360 connected to my av reciever via HDMI so ak guessing I would need to use the optical out on the xbox to a device to get virtual surround sound?

Can you recommend a device that can do such a thing? Or should I just buy a xbox 7.1 headset?

 

[joeyjojo]

The only convincing way to get surround sound is exactly that - 5 or more speakers arranged around your head. A stereo pair of speakers right next to your ears are physically unable to create the same soundwaves.

That said clever processing can give the illusion of surround sound. The DG has EAX (2.0), so a stereo pair of headphones and a game with EAX (and click the GX button in the control panel IIRC) should emulate surround sound.

Xbox to receiver.. not sure what the best thing to do is there. Your best bet probably is to put your headphones direct into the receiver and hope it downmixes in a convincing way.

I wouldn't recommend "surround" headphones - they usually sound carp.

 

[Marsman]

The only way that is possible and still use your AKG headphones to get surround sound from the 360, is to use an Astro Mixamp. You need something that will take the Dolby Digital from the 360, and apply Dolby Headphone to it. That is exactly what a Mixamp does.

Connecting the Xbox to the PC is not an option. A lot of people are baffled why when they connect their console to their sound card SPDIF input, they don't get surround sound out through their 5.1 speakers, or headphones. Sound cards now do not take Dolby Digital coming in. The X-Fi Elite can, but that can only be bought used now. Was an expensive card at the time.

Some receivers do have a Dolby Headphone like feature for headphones. Not really sure how good it is though. I'd say unless your AV receiver is a few hundred £ worth, a Mixamp will do a considerably better job.