Sound Upgrade

[Karol3]

After getting my 570gtx I now want sound to rival the graphics. I am getting the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD Internal Sound Card. I read its the top dog for gaming, I looked at the ASUS and it is comparable but not in games. Now I need a solid head set. And I have some questions.

I wanted to get a pair of Sharkoon x-tatic 5.1 True 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Gaming Headset since it has 5.1 surround sound and it will help in games. Now other people say that Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 are the best and I could get a clip on mic. Now which is better for sound quality and audio positioning? I am leaning toward the x-tatic since it has 5.1 and the AD700 don't, which is better? I am a audio noob.

http://www.amazon.com/Sharkoon-x-tatic-Digital-Surround-Headset/dp/B00325NOMG

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blas...1270/dp/B0041OUA38/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826402014

 

[Forceman]

Get a good set of stereo headphones. Most (all?) 5.1 headsets are junk, and stereo headphones can do positional audio just fine using Dolby headphone or CMSS-3D, while sounding tons better in music/movies.

 

[Almighty ODST]

No point in buying the titanium HD if you're not going to use its gaming features. Buy the AD-700 with Zalman mic then use the CMSS-3D.

 

[Karol3]

What do u mean its gaming features? I want to use em since I'm buying the card so my best bet is ad700+ the titanium then?

 

[Almighty ODST]

Most people think that the HD is good for gaming because of the CMSS-3D and standard EAX support. CMSS-3D converts a stereo signal to surround sound which is great for a good, wide-soundstage set like the ad700s.

Some people love it because it actually does work well (I use it with my headset). Other audio purists hate it because it makes the sound somewhat tinny. I've heard 5.1 headsets are already tinny though so if you're going to buy the titanium HD just use CMSS-3D with AD-700. You'll get way better sound outside of games too (over a 5.1 set) so you won't need dedicated headphones and a headset.

 

[Forceman]

CMSS-3D is more about positioning - it allows the positioning data you'd get from 5.1 speakers to be translated into stereo headphones. It may also upconvert stereo to surround (I'm not sure), but its greatest benefit is the positioning.

 

[SirMaster]

EAX support is useless. They deprecated the EAX APIs back in 2006 so no games that came out after then or possibly 2007 will ever use EAX. I guess if you still play lots of old games then maybe you might use it a bit. OpenAL or a custom in-house audio engine is the future and has been for a few years already.

 

[spaceman]

Most people think that the HD is good for gaming because of the CMSS-3D and standard EAX support. CMSS-3D converts a stereo signal to surround sound which is great for a good, wide-soundstage set like the ad700s.

Some people love it because it actually does work well (I use it with my headset). Other audio purists hate it because it makes the sound somewhat tinny. I've heard 5.1 headsets are already tinny though so if you're going to buy the titanium HD just use CMSS-3D with AD-700. You'll get way better sound outside of games too (over a 5.1 set) so you won't need dedicated headphones and a headset.

X2

That is the best pc gaming sound going imo. 3Dcmss just works better. It is great in BFBC2. It is accurate and the higher end your sound the more accurate it gets. I can hear distances clearly. Not just near/far but in terms of feet and if they are in a building etc.

 

[Karol3]

so the consensus is get the AD700S? or are there any good headsets?