Gaming with a USB DAC

Anyone using their Clevo with something like an O2+ODAC? Are you able to get the X-Fi MB3 software working? Specifically SBX Pro Studio Surround and Alchemy.

I want to get better sound for my P650SG, but don't want to lose virtual surround sound and EAX in the process. Gaming in stereo sucks. :\

 

Bump. So everyone is using onboard sound with their Clevos?

 

Nah, use a FiiO E17 and a HiFiMAN HM-801 (all laptop speakers are terrible). However, no experience with such software. Could run some testfiles, if you want, but only have IEMs (and a 5.1 set, but that's boxed right now ...).

 

Thanks for the response. Is your E17 connected via USB and are you able to get the Sound Blaster software to work on it while outputting to headphones? I don't have any test files because I only care about the software's simulated surround sound for gaming.

 

Yes, USB. Will give that X-Fi MB3 thingy a try, give me a day or so ...

 

Thanks, much appreciated. Kinda hesitant to drop $300 on an O2+ODAC without knowing whether some features I currently use with the Realtek onboard sound card will carry over.

BTW, I looked at the W230SS driver downloads page and it shows it uses the Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 package instead of the X-Fi MB3 that other Clevo notebooks have. No difference really, they're pretty much the same thing under different names. Just wanted to give you a heads-up because I didn't want you to search X-Fi MB3 on Google and think you have to pay $30 to test it.

 

The software will only work off the integrated audio device, anything else it wont work with.

 

You sure about that?

There's a Windows trick that should allow me to hand off the PC's digitally processed output to any external DAC I like by going into recording devices>stereo mix>listen>listen to this device>playback through this device>selecting my DAC from the dropdown. This way, the laptop's onboard sound card (in conjunction with the Creative software) is being used only as a surround DSP. The actual digital-to-analog conversion and amping happens inside the external box, letting me enjoy much better sound quality on my headphones while still retaining virtual surround for gaming.

But...I need someone with the Creative software and a USB DAC to test this for me in order to confirm.

 

Yes but it must be processed through the internal audio chip as the currently active audio device in windows, if you can trick it after that, then all well and good.

 

Windows' default playback device would be set to X-Fi MB3, not Realtek. But yeah, that's pretty much the point. Surround is done by the PC and the external sound card does everything else.

 

My W870CU does DTS surround with the FiiO over USB (using MPC's audio-switcher); its custom channel mapping works while keeping Realtek HD Audio Manager disabled.

Right, got the damn SB stuff running on the W230SS (it's a work-platform; haven't used it for audio-anything). However, it doesn't seem to recognise the Onkyo 'speakers':

Spoiler: Creative Sound Blaster Cinema - no device

Ah ... yes ... ' Creative' ... unnecessary reminder as to why that word doesn't recall fond memories ... will Google the issue and report back later.

 

Alright, effin' thing's running:

1.) USB DAC accepted, but changing anything in SB 2 makes no difference ... MPC-HC works fine (again).
2.) AUX DAC works straight away (W230SS SB 2 -> headphone out -> DAC -> headphone out

E17 has 3.5mm-in standard, but O2+ODAC can have that as well (customised version).

Now, also made this (crazy) setup work:

Spoiler: W230SS -> USB DAC -> microphone in -> headphone out

This is, though technically working, very much killing the original intent ...

 

This unfortunately won't work for me as digital input to the ODAC is over USB only, not S/PDIF, unlike your E17. I'm guessing you have an S/PDIF out on your W230SS, or the headphone out pulls double duty?

The front 3.5mm input on the O2+ODAC combo unit is designed for amping portable devices or ODAC output to another amp/powered speakers. Digital input to the ODAC is over USB only.

That's not right. Can you please follow this:

1. W230SS USB to E17>E17 to headphone
2. Windows playback devices>set SB Cinema 2 as default>configure>set to 5.1/7.1
3. Open SB Cinema 2>enable Surround and disable Crystallizer, Bass, Smart Volume, and Dialog Plus>set to headphone (make sure Windows stays at the 5.1/7.1 you set in step #1)
4. Windows recording devices>right-click and check both 'show disabled devices' and 'show disconnected devices">stereo mix (you do NOT have to set this as the default recording device)>properties>listen tab>check 'listen to this device'>select your USB DAC from the dropdown under 'playback through this device:'>levels tab>turn up the volume to your desired listening level
5. Fire up a game, set in-game audio setting to surround, and listen for the presence of virtual surround

 

E17 can do both S/PDIF-in coaxial and optical, which the W870CU supports. Unfortunately the SS has neither, so yes; either digital USB or analog AUX (which is useless).

Duh .

Tried something similar already, but SB2 is not listed as a 'Playback device':

Spoiler: SB2 - no device

Neither is 'Stereo mix' available:

Spoiler: recording devices - no stereo mix

Looks like a driver issue, will report back later ...

 

No dice; the VIA VT1802S is stereo only and there's no surround speaker set present. Both ' Stereo mix' and ' SB Cinema 2' refuse to install as playback devices. Needs a platform with native full surround to test this setup. Unless you know of a way to fool the VIA driver; it's an all-in-one, including 10-channel chipsets.

 

It says here VIA VT1802P is 4-channel.

But thank you so much for testing and being patient. +rep. The setup I have is Realtek ALC892 + X-Fi MB3 so I guess it wasn't realistic to expect things to work similarly to VT1802P + SB Cinema 2.

 

im using the audioquest dragonfly 1.2 dac. and yes, xfi wont work with it.

 

So it looks like Razer Surround is the one solution that works on all sound cards