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    External sound card for gaming headset

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by pewpewbangbang, Dec 3, 2012.

  1. pewpewbangbang

    pewpewbangbang Notebook Guru

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    I've been looking around and have seen a lot of mixed reviews on external sound cards be it USB or Expresscard(a lot rarer/limited)

    I recently just got a pair of Astro A30's for really cheap without a mixamp. Since a lot of magic comes from the mixamp and getting the virtual surround sound, I'm looking at PC alternatives because the M15x isn't able to emulate virtual surround if I'm not mistaken. It has true 5.1 but only if your headset/speaker is true 5.1 using the 3 3.5mm slots.

    So is there any recommended expresscard or USB sound card for the astro A30's to play games/watch movies on? I also have M-audio BX5 speakers just for music.

    There apparently used to be Expresscard sound cards that did the audio processing on them to relieve the CPU? but the new one by creative is different and I've read some reviews saying it's good/some that say it's bad. Same goes for the USB sound blaster options, mixed reviews. The asus xonar U3 seemed the most consistent in terms of reviews. Either way, became a bit confused as to what I should get and would like some opinions.

    Edit: I guess another option would be to just get the mixamp or Tritton Decoder box or Turtle Beach DSS or something similar and hook it up to the M15x? but that seems difficult as there is no optical audio on the M15x. Would a 3.5mm to TOSLINK optical audio cable work flawlessly and give the surround sound?

    I kind of just want a simple solution that doesn't cost much and is good/worth it. I'll probably be looking around eBay or something to buy them cheaper.
     
    pewpewbangbang, Dec 3, 2012
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  2. chrisjohnharden

    chrisjohnharden Notebook Geek

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    The mic port on the M15X can be turned into a third speaker port if you use the IDT software which came with the computer. The soundcard in the computer is perfectly capable for running 5.1 surround sound.
     
    chrisjohnharden, Dec 3, 2012
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  3. pewpewbangbang

    pewpewbangbang Notebook Guru

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    Yes I know that, but you need a real true 5.1 audio setup. I'm asking how I can get the virtualization with just the Astro A30's which are stereo headsets and famous for being used with the Mixamp which has the dolby digital headphone virtualization to give great 3D positioning.
     
    pewpewbangbang, Dec 3, 2012
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  4. pewpewbangbang

    pewpewbangbang Notebook Guru

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    This is what I'm thinking so far, getting the Xonar U3 which apparently also does optical TOSLINK and comes with an adapter. Then I can use it with the Astro A30, and down the line possibly get a mixamp or something though I highly doubt it's needed as the Xonar U3 should do exactly the same thing on it's own with Doly headphone and all that.
     
    pewpewbangbang, Dec 3, 2012
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  5. pewpewbangbang

    pewpewbangbang Notebook Guru

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    Getting the Xonar U3 for Christmas.

    Is there a difference in Dolby headphone and Dolby Digital Live? Don't they both just encode/virtualize surround sound live/instantly? I only know that to be able to use Dolby Digital Live, you would need to do Optical out to something like the Astro Mixamp. But what's the difference? Doesn't the Dolby headphone do the same thing during games etc...when it's set in settings.
     
    pewpewbangbang, Dec 4, 2012
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  6. STiHiaL

    STiHiaL Notebook Consultant

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    Maby SteelSeries Siberia V2 with USB soundcard will be ok ...
     
    STiHiaL, Dec 5, 2012
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  7. pewpewbangbang

    pewpewbangbang Notebook Guru

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    I got the Astro A30 lol....and I heard the steelseries USB sound card sucks. I actually have the original siberia and they're good, but I need closed headphones right now so I don't disturb anyone else.
     
    pewpewbangbang, Dec 5, 2012
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