How are YOU getting in-game surround sound w/your G73?

Question... How are YOU getting in-game surround sound w/your G73?

Lots of people have sound questions right now so I figure this will help all of them.

I am NOT interested talking about which headphones are better or if virtual surround or multi-driver headset really work (there are plenty of threads on that).

What I would like to hear is....
What you are using, why you like it, and what would like to use (if you aren't already doing so).

I ask this because I've been shopping for almost a month and every week I change my mind on what the best solution is, I figure asking for advice is the best solution. For me, portability is must, so hooking up to my Yamaha RX-V18000 receiver via HDMI is not an option.

One of my concerns is that in order to really have Surround Sound in your headphones, you need 5.1 source material. Many games allow you to enable 5.1 in the "in-game" menus, so that is easy. Other games go to the default of Windows 7 (Crysis for example) or will only let you enable options available in hardware. Since the G73 doesn't have multichannel hardware (except for digital output), any virtual surround sound is going to only have Stereo as it's source material, so before you even start your sound is not going to be as good as possible. Is this true?

Here are some solutions I've looked at & the Pros/Cons of each from my point of view.

1) Use a USB Virtual Surround Headset like Logitech G35 or Razer Megalogon
PROS: Simple&Easy. Virtual surround is pretty good according to most reviews. Windows 7 is supposed to recognize these headsets as multi-channel outputs, so you can enable 5.1/7.1 in your games.
CONS: You can only use this headset w/a PC. You can get better headphones for the same $$$ if you buy non-gaming headphones like the ones in #2

2) Buy some excellent headphones like ATH-A700s or HD555s and use CMSS-3D in Audigy or X-Fi MB along with a clip on Zalman Microphone
PROS: Best headphones for the $$$=best sound hypothetically. CMSS-3D is free.
CONS: Probably need an external DAC to use headphones to full potential.

Here is my real question... if I go this route... how can CMSS-3D emulate surround sound if my games will not output 5.1 since there is no TRUE 5.1 device actually connected to the G73. As I see it, CMSS-3D will just upmix stereo into virtual surround, rather than downmix 5.1 into virtual surround. Is there a difference?

3) Get external USB soundcard w/5.1 analog output (X-Fi USB or Zalman ZM-RSSC) and buy a multi-driver headset like Tritton AX51 Pro or Turtle Bearch HPA2
PROS: This is the only true 5.1 solution as I see it. The only way to get some games to output 5.1 is to have a 5.1 device and this does it.
CONS: A huge mess of wires. Expensive to buy card and headphones. Multi-driver headsets are huge and ugly, I would be embarrassed if my co-workers saw me in them :O Irronically I just bought some New Tritton AX51 Pros because the Black Ops version comes with a cool travel case and the price was right ($67), but I think I might sell them on craigslist.

4) Get external sound processor like Mixamp or Turtle Beach EarForceDSS and hook up any headphones to it
PROS: Versatility, you can use these devices with PC/PS3/Xbox360. Any headphones will work. If you are on a budget, like I am, you can buy this and upgrade your headphones at a later date when you have more $$$.
CONS: If you use the optical output on the G73, you only get stereo source materiel... unless there is a way to get Dolby Digital Live to work on the G73 (any one know?). The reason for this is apparently the optical output can only bitsteam DD/DTS, OR output Stereo PCM. Since PC games don't come in DD or DTS, you need Dolby Digital Live, right?

5) Portable Surround Sound is a joke, just use stereo headphones

6) Something else

 

Me personally?

G73 -> HDMI -> 7.1 Receiver -> HDMI -> Big Screen.

I like it because the sound is amazing and kicks the crap out of headphones. As for headphones, they do the job. I've used 5.1 headphones when I console game sometimes and they do what they need to do. I say you're better off just buying a 5.1 headset like Turtle Beach or Trittons and calling it a day. Simple, easy, very portable and they do the job.

 

I totally agree with you that a receiver is the best solution, but my 44 lb receiver isn't portable, neither are my speakers. You are right the Trittons and Beaches are one of the easy solutions, I may go that route. I know Chastity and ViciousXUSMC have some creative solutions I'd like to hear though, plus everyone else.

BUMP.... can't believe no one wants boast about how great there setup is...

.....I guess everyone is busy playing whatever they bought on the steam sale!

 

I have the Asus G73 and are looking to get the Logitech G35 (Usb connector) as it is on special here in the UK.
What is your guys' opinion, would it work on 7.1 (or only 5.1), and how, do you only change the ingame settings?

I have looked on other gaming headsets and this one seems to be the best so far.

You mean laptop/pc (and not Xbox)?

BTW nice thread and useful info

 

Good thread. Ive never paid much attention to my PC's (and now laptop's) sound capabilities as ive never invested much in the sound hardware to care enough.

As ive recently been given a 5.1 system, i am now finding myself baffled by most of the terminology i used to ignore.

Although you are focusing on headphones, i would add the mini-toslink adapter as you mentioned in my thread to the OP if it indeed does have the ability to provide 5.1 for dvds/blurays.

 

The G35 supports 7.1 emulation, so it takes whatever you give it and turns it into 7.1. Correct it will work with a laptop/pc but not an xbox. I don't have this headset (but I just bought it online (bestbuy has it for $65 right now)), but I understand windows recognizes at a multi-channel device, so you will change your game settings and games that go off windows should default to multi-channel (hopefully).

 

I got the world of warcraft wireless headset by creative for x-mass and they are awsome with the downloaded software it comes with, it updated the current creative software on the g73jh. So far no issues and like I said the sound is truly something to hear. The surround sound is crisp and clean. Music and movies are very nice with that you are right there sound in the movies. You can use toslink phone jack connector and the hdmi plug to tv, sound system also play 5.1. I use toslink to my logitech Z-5500 desktop sound system and it works great. For movie night we hook the hdmi plug to our LG 50" tv and play sound through the tv optical out to the sony surround sound system (this also works for gaming).

 

What I use for the G73 on a normal basis is my Nuforce uDAC-2 as a DAC/AMP and connect that to my Logitech Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10's

These two thing are ultra small and fit into one pocket on my G73 bag.

If I am planning a trip I would bring my Ultrasone Hfi 2400's along since they collapse and have a carry bag.

I do not know if this passes as "surround sound" however. A game that uses a 3D engine like a FPS game will automatically send the correct sound to your ears to give you surround and positioning.

The best way I can put it is the fact you only have 2 ears, that means 2 places to receive sound data.

No matter how many speakers you have be it 7.1 or 2 you still only get sound in 2 places in your head.

So I consider all those multi speaker headphones a gimmick and waist of money. Going with 2 speaker stuff will give you a higher quality sound and also be good for things like music and not just games.

 

I am still looking for input on this matter. Chastity, if you read this, what do you think the chances of getting a Dolby Digital Live program to run on the G73 are?

Today I am testing the Logitech G35s. So far I am very impressed. Good sound, but I just started. Most importantly, they are detected as 7.1 sound device by windows 7, this should enable all games to run in full multi-channel mode (specifically games that go of the default windows setting).

See for yourself. The best part is, when you test the audio in Windows 7, it actually does sound like the speakers are sort of behind you, at least as much Tritton AX51s do (and they have multiple drivers). For those who are interested, Bestbuy has the G35s for $65 right now, an excellent price considering there is no rebate hassle!

 

Slim to none. I tried that a long while back. I was playing around with the SRS Audio Sandbox, but that didn't work out well. The Kernel stream to Realtek Speakers bypasses the subwoofer.

The trick to getting the surround audio over headphones is to get the game in 5.1 audio, and Windows/Creative in Headphone. (Creative a long time ago had a Sync/De-Sync option) Then CMSS-3D would work like a Dolby Headphone and map out the HTRF cues over stereo, giving an eerie 3D audiostage. I just haven't figured out how to do it here.

 

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, but it is the proper place for my question. I was wondering if the X-FI Surround 5.1 allows for optical audio for games in 5.1. I can't seem to get it to work.

 

I believe the x-fi USB 1090 offers Dolby Digital Live so it should work. You just have to get the software working. Chastity if you are there can you confirm this? During the brief time I owned the x-fi I couldn't get the software to install, probably due to a conflict with my X-fi motherboard software (which I didn't want to uninstall), but I didn't try very hard either.

If that doesn't work and your receiver support analog 5.1 you could use that too with the proper splitters.

 

My receiver only has optical audio in...

PS. I got true 5.1 to work on DVDs, but games still show up as LPCM.

PSS. I tried downloading the DDL and DTS Connect Pack, but it still doesn't allow me to install. Just for your information.

 

The X-Fi Surround 5.1 PRO (SB 1095) supports Dolby Digital Live, not the SB1090.

 

There we have it. Problem solved. Ive been considering getting as Asus Xonar U1, maybe the 1095 is the way to go though. Still the U1 supports dolby headphone though.

 

Wait, is there a way to get audio out through the HDMI plug without setting it up as another display? I'm a bit of an HDMI noob, I guess.

 

I bought a set of G35s but eventually returned them- they were just so dang heavy.

Plus, personally, I was underwhelmed with the virtual surround sound.

 

YesIf you want audio out HDMI you can just plug into your receiver or tv and it is multichannel. Unfortunately the optical isn't so easy.

 

Stupid question. Can I use HDMI from my laptop to my HDTV, then optical audio out from the TV to my receiver? Is there a way to make it output in 5.1?

 

No, since the optical out will not encode it to Dolby Digital or DTS. It's not an encoder. You'll only get stereo. If Asus flipped for SRS support, the Realtek drivers would do DD Live. Shame they did not.

 

So they created a gaming machine that cannot conveniently use surround sound... lol Oh well :/

 

Hey guys! sorry for resurreting this thread from the dead, but I found it and I think that those you contributed to it miaght be able to help me!

Im going to go for the 1st option of getting PC headsets with virtual surround, and I've chosen the Logitech G930

I would like to know a couple of things

1) how do you guys like those headsets. I really like the wireless feature. do you recommend any other 5.1/7.1 wireless headsets over those?

and 2) do you guys know any online shop to buy them for a good price (preferable US shop to pay in $dollars$ hehehe) that would ship internationally (as in to Spain!)

 

I dont know anything about the 930s, the G35s are good but aren't wireless, but I would think they are the same except for that. Check the "accessories" forum, they have this discussion there all the time. If you want wireless, the 930s are pretty much your only good choice. I don't know where the best price is, especially since it has to be shipped to Spain.