xbox gamer needing help on pc sound

mellow yellow · 25 Oct 2018 at 13:24

So myself and my son used to play fortnite on xbox with some samsung earbuds, with i then upgraded to a pair of arctis 3 console edition, which did the job for us better sound and a decent mic.
i also have a pair of oldish sennheiser hd228 which i use on the xbox when i dont need a mic.

Anyway we now have a budget gaming pc and mainly have an issue with surround sound on fortnite. I use the arctis 3's with a mic splitter but dont seem to get any directional sound from them. would a Creative Sound Blaster E1 USB Sound Card give me what i need? the windows 10 sonic and dolby dont seem to work on my pc. Should i be looking at a new headset?

I also need a bit of advice on some speakers, i currently have a very cheap set of 2.1's so looking to upgrade them with something that will connect to the pc but also by bluetooth so we can stream music to them with alexa. budget £75ish.

mellow yellow · 25 Oct 2018 at 19:23

Thanks marsman, I'll look into them both. I also like the fact I could mount the e1 or g1 under my desk. Although I think the g1 would need a USB extension.

mellow yellow · 26 Oct 2018 at 15:32

EsaT said:
Have heard that Windows Sonic for Headphones PC implementation is broken.
Which wouldn't be surprise considering how badly MS has treated PC gaming sound aspect after XP.
Though basing on this Windows Sonic for Headphones sucks also in Xbox.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C0G96-g34w

G1 is clear step below Audigy Fx with its bottom quality level components.

E1 is at level of Audigy Fx, but I suspect it can't actually represent itself as 5.1/7.1 device toWindows for getting surround sound input from games.
So really no good for headphone gaming.
(expensive E5 has mention of 7.1 capability)

So in simpler terms for a newbie, which is the cheapest way to get some directional sounds from my headphones for fortnite / CS:GO etc?

mellow yellow · 26 Oct 2018 at 16:49

EsaT said:
CS:GO is actually one of those extremely few games itself capable to producing proper signal for headphones.
HRTF is now apparently under Advanced 3D sound processing setting.
(marketroids clearly can't allow using proper terms)
But nearly all games rely on something else to do binaural sound simulation.

There really aren't more affordable USB sound cards with hardware and features comparable to just Audigy Fx.
And then SB Z isn't that far higher up compared to above bottom level USB sound cards:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search/index/sSearch/sound+blaster+z
While external Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 and Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 are still playing catch up with Audigy Fx.

As one option Creative is actually selling software with their algorithms for use with any sound card.
Though with it you're counting on motherboard's integrated sound card to be decent in analog signal quality.

sorry mate you've really just confused me even more there!

i'm just after something that will help with directional sounds for fortnite without breaking the bank.

mellow yellow · 28 Oct 2018 at 15:04

Thanks for taking the time to explain, really appreciate it. Certainly gives me something to think about.

mellow yellow · 9 Nov 2018 at 15:38

Marsman said:
If an internal sound card is not problem, an Audigy FX is the best choice taking into consideration of quality, features and price.

If you would really rather an external device, then the G1 will get the job done. Judging by what Esat has said previously, to get the quality of the FX or better in an external unit, sounds like you'd be paying double that at least.

sorry just coming back this now as an xmas gift for my son.

I'm looking at an audigy fx low profile, we have some speakers for music or gaming without headphones, i see there is one green output for the headphones and speakers on the sound card, plus rear output and sub output, could i keep the headphones in the green and use the rear out put for the speakers i have (2.1). or could i still use the motherboard green output for the speakers?
The aim is to have both plugged in at all times so i dont have to keep swapping the plugs between headphones and speakers.
Hopefully it will fit as its very tight for space in there already, so i will have to check the dimensions 1st too.

also i presume the drivers can be downloaded as i dont have a cd drive.

mellow yellow · 9 Nov 2018 at 22:20

EsaT said:
Audigy Fx has also front panel audio header, so headphones could be connected to front connectors of case.
But wiring inside case might be sensitive to interference and it likely mutes rear output.
/QUOTE]
OK so if I understand this right? I can have speakers permanently plugged into the sound card at the rear, and if I want to use the headphones I can plug them into the standard front jack which will override the rear output. Both of which will utilise the sbx 5.1?

Or would the front jack revert back to the motherboard sound?

mellow yellow · 13 Nov 2018 at 10:44

brakeinup said:
Worth a look/listen for HRTF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6SDKfHCDm8

interesting video that, my son was amazed by it

its strange though as the effects worked very well on my arctis 3 headset, i'm now confused how it works on these headphones? is the binaural wizardary contained in the video rather than the computers effect processing?

Either way i have ordered an audigy fx card and will see if that helps our current setup, if not i will look into some new earphones also, but as always on a budget, the superlux hd668b get great reviews.