Best 3d positioning...EAX or not?!

[Jodiuh]

Hello! Silvie, my woman, is currently spitting out info using an M-Audio Revolution 5.1. It is based on the Via EnvyGT chipset and uses the Sensaura algorithms to emulate EAX. Recently, I've played through FarCry with the following configs:

1. Headphones (sensaura) - Doppler, HW, and EAX
2. Headphones - nothing
3. Quadraphonic (sensuar) - Doppler, HW, and EAX
4. Quadraphonic - nothing

Because of the isolation, the headphones made it much easier to hear footsteps and distinguish enemy fire positioning cues. The odd thing was the very minimal difference I noted in sound qualtiy and positioning whether or not I enabled sensaura! As far as the Quadraphonic positioning was concerned I noticed absolutely NO difference when a grenade was tossed and I spun the mouse around.

So my questions are:

1. Does sensaura really do anything worthy?
2. If anyone with an Audigy can comment on the differences in the relative modes used.

I love the way my tunes sound from M-Audio Revolution-->CHA-47 (altoid)amp-->Beyerdynamic DT 770-250 Pros, but I'm wondering just how much I'm missing in games that support EAX. I'd hate to give into Creative, but with games like FarCry, HALO pc, and now DooM 3 supporting EAX, I'm curious as to whether or not I'm getting the short end of the stick with the emulated EAX. I mean...I'm not that good at FPS' to begin with, I need every possible audio cue I can get my ears on!

Thanks aforehand!

Jod ;-)

 

[SockMan!]

EAX is used mainly to add enviromental audio effects like echos and such. It probably won't help for positioning cues unless the effects were advanced enough (like if you can tell an enemy is behind a wall because of the sound was 'muffled'). Mostly it's just to make sound more immersive.

I haven't compared quad or 5.1 systems to headphones, so I don't know which one is best for positional audio. One one hand, headphones are stereo so it makes sense that it can't reproduce real surround sound. On the other hand, we only have two ears, so adding some surround sound processing to headphones might yield good positioning. I'm no master of acoustics though, so I'm in no position to make theories or judgements based on my limited knowledge; even when applied with my logic.

Basically, let your ears be the judge.

 

[Jodiuh]

Sockman,

Thanks for your comments. I had thought originally that EAX was only for "environment" too, but the whole "HD Audio" thing brings my question back again. If you can truly tell if an enemy is behind a wall by hearing a "muffled" version of it, then you may be able to gauge his distance and pace. This would allow you to better time your grenade tosses at the soldiers in DooM 3, not to mention help locate folks in CS Source.

Well, just as an update, I've been playing through DooM 3 and the positioning through a headphone is excellent. The sounds cues are very directional and the quality is of course wonderful. As long as I stick to stereo things seem to be ok. Maybe I should just give up on surround sound...seeing as my Klipsch 4.1's pale in comparision to my Beyerdynamic DT770-250 Pro's...

 

[GodsMadClown]

Where's the real-time DTS encoding option?

 

[SJetski71]

Actually i'd been researching OP's question myself for a long time, ever since Aureal went into the dustbin of history and WDM drivers became necessary. Since then I've bought a ton of different sound cards (though i gave up about 2 years ago, and after a good 8 or 9 soundcards) and came to the conclusion that: There's no soundcard that even comes close to Aureal A3D 1.0 / 2.0 with 3D positioning imho. It didn't matter what headphones or speakers i was using, the results were exactly the same: shitty 3D positioning.

All the Sensaura revisions didn't cut it for me, nor did any EAX version, Nor whatever cmedia used, i've been spoiled by Aureal's A3D 1.0 / 2.0.

If Aureal would have been around just a few months longer, we would have had WDM drivers but alas..............

Who else here agrees?

Edit: i haven't tried EAX 4 though, hope it works better than the older ones.

 

[Jodiuh]

GodsManClown,

Encoding? DTS? Isn't that just for movies? I know there's DD for some like DooM 3...


SJetski71,

I can still hear the buzzing bee demo on my Diamond MX200 Yeah, I'm even considering sellin' my klipsch 4.1's and just hangin' with stereo...it sounds sooo much better and makes my life a heck of a lot easier. Isn't X-Fi supposed to incorporate some of the Aureal tech? At least the dang creative site talks about some grand positioning scheme they developed...they even mentioned some of the employees were phd's...lmao!!! I don't care about there qualifications, I just want my bees and helicopters going in circles back!!!

 

[wtf]

i switched to a laptop from a desktop with an audigy, and i dont hear any big differences in games

 

[Terra]

i switched to a laptop from a desktop with an audigy, and i dont hear any big differences in games

Did you remember to select EAX in the game settings?
And what games?
And what is you speaker setup?

Terra...

 

[deathBOB]

I find EAX to be wasteful at best. For example, BFV went to hell when it was enabled and it did little to make the sound better. If its properly implemented its ok, but thats not always the case.

 

[Terra]

I find EAX to be wasteful at best. For example, BFV went to hell when it was enabled and it did little to make the sound better. If its properly implemented its ok, but thats not always the case.

EAX, EAX 2.0, EAX 3.0 or EAX 4.0 HD?

Terra - Those are not the same...