Xonar U3 Mixamp problems

Mason-

Mason-

Mason-

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I have an Astro Mixamp and want to use it for PC gaming.

It has an optical in, and needs Dolby Digital Live to get the 5.1 surround sound out of it. Now as I have a laptop a PCI(-E) soundcard isn't possible so I was looking at USB ones that can do optical out DDL. The Asus Xonar U3 does this. However I was looking at it and thought, if the Xonar U3 is a USB surround device why don't I just plug my headphones into that rather than going U3 -> Mixamp -> headphones.

Or will the Mixamp be better than the U3?

advice please, thanks.
 
The Mixamp will be better, I would imagine. You could just use headphones with a U3 though, as it essentially does the same the Mixamp, and that is provide headphones with Dolby Headphone.

I think it really depends on the quality of your headphones. If they are relatively cheap, I'd just get a U3. If they are around the £100 mark, then a Mixamp as well would probably be worthwhile.
 
I have a Fiio e7+e9 for music listening but it's just straight out stereo. For gaming I need something with virtual surround. The sound quality out of the mixamp with the HD650 is fine.
 
Ah, I misunderstood your OP a little. I failed to noticed you already have a Mixamp. Given what headphones you have, the U3 will not do a good enough job of driving the HD650's alone. It will work, but not half as well as they would by using the Mixamp as well.
 
Mason- said:
I know I can, just don't feel it's necessary and it's just the endless amount of cables too...
Click to expand...

Well if you can't hear a difference fine, but it's not actually possible for them to be driven sufficiently with that setup so it's a waste of headphone... They're also not really a set that's well suited to this sort of use anyway, wrong soundstage for it.

If you're not really getting much from the HD650's then there a lot of alternatives to look at which would be better for games. Some good discussion Here.
I use a <£30 pair of Samson SR850's for gaming over my over headphones, don't know what they're like for fake surround though.
 
AbsenceJam said:
Well if you can't hear a difference fine, but it's not actually possible for them to be driven sufficiently with that setup so it's a waste of headphone... They're also not really a set that's well suited to this sort of use anyway, wrong soundstage for it.

If you're not really getting much from the HD650's then there a lot of alternatives to look at which would be better for games. Some good discussion Here.
I use a <£30 pair of Samson SR850's for gaming over my over headphones, don't know what they're like for fake surround though.
Click to expand...

It's not a waste of a headphone at all. I don't use my HD650s primarily for gaming. I use them for music they are not wasted because they are driven just fine by my E9. I just want to be able to use them for gaming too as it saves getting a separate pair of headphones. I don't care if they're not driven to their full potential. The Mixamp is not completely rubbish and will be fine.
 
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