Ah okay. No app came up when I plugged them in my pc and I searched for an Arctis Series 7x app on Google and didn’t see anything. Guess my Google search skills suck . Maybe I’ll check that out then and see. I’m honestly really happy with the sound they have out of the box tho. Lol
If you use Dolby atmos or DTS:X headphones on Xbox then every game will work with those. Every single game. Ones that are specifically built for atmos will offer a better soundstage but the console will process the virtual surround sound regardless. And personally I’m willing to bet nobody can even tell the difference as to whether the game natively supports it or not.
I’ve owned the Astro A50s and they of course have a powered mix amp that does its own 5.1 Dolby Digital Processing if you choose to use that. But then for example I currently use the wireless A20’s designed for the new gen and they are just stereo since they are built to be used with the console doing the processing. Any wired headset for example without a mix amp will simply be stereo since it has no power to do any processing. Same with most simple WiFi connected headsets but might be the odd exception. All the Arctic headsets are just stereo they don’t do their own processing to my knowledge. There is no need anymore for that given the console options.
Yes but that’s IF you use Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, both of which you need to pay for and are not enabled by default. Those formats will then translate the 5.1 or 7.1 signal into surround sound for a stereo headset when a format like Atmos is not programmed in the game natively. This doesn’t really address my point though. If I buy a LucidSound LS41, that headset will translate the standard 5.1 or 7.1 signal without any need to enable or use Atmos or DTS format in the system. So if you don’t pay for and enable DTS or Atmos, or just enable Windows Sonic, I’m using the native surround sound capabilities of the headset. If I were to enable any of those formats, I need to put the headset into stereo mode so there is no conflict with the native surround sound support and the surround sound provided by Atmos for example. So really, if you need to enable an audio format, it does not support it natively. This of course gets a bit more complicated when you throw in people with actual surround sound theatre systems and don’t primarily rely on headsets for their audio.
As for telling the difference if a game supports a format like Atmos natively or not, it is very clear. When I play a game like Gears 4, Gears 5, RE2, or AC Origins, it’s very obvious those games use Atmos versus a typical game that just uses 7.1 SS. When a format like Atmos translates a 7.1 signal to your headphones, it doesn’t make that signal 3D audio, and lacks the height support we would hear in a game that does support Atmos natively. I’ve personally done the Pepsi challenge with people who aren’t used to or familiar with formats like Atmos, and even they could instantly tell a difference.
I still don’t agree that there is no need for surround sound headsets because of the console options. If you buy a stereo headset and hook it up to your Series X, without enabling a non-default format, you only hear those 7.1 games in stereo.
The thing is your headset (which is a bit unusual) is doing processing to convert the 5.1 signal from the console (I assume it takes 5.1 though not entirely sure how given no optical support…) into a simulated surround sound to play in your stereo headphones. Because headphones by definition are stereo.
Now whilst I agree that for the console to do this you need to select one of the surround sound simulating modes. But given windows sonic is free…not really sure there is much point in headsets doing it, personally.
Interesting that you can tell a difference in native atmos - I can imagine a big difference with a full atmos setup but I can’t tell much difference with headphones personally. I’ve switched to DTS:X as I personally think their headphone implementation is better.
Yeah, headphones by definition are stereo, which is where the simulated aspect comes into play
You don’t need optical support to support a virtual surround sound though. My older turtlebeach PX24 and Playstation Golds supported surround sound. They both also offered a stereo mode where the surround sound was disabled.
As for telling the difference. It’s all trickery obviously but I’d be surprised if you didn’t tell the difference in scenes like the one linked below when switching from standard SS on a SS headset and then listening to the same audio using a stereo headset with Atmos enabled. Doesn’t sound like you have a headset with virtual surround sound, so I’m not sure if I’m able to help show my point there though.
At the end of the day, the head phone manufacturers aren’t all going to assume everyone has a format enabled on their xbox, so there are bound to still be gaming headsets that simulate surround sound without enabling those formats. It’s in this respect that I think Sony’s approach is probably the better of the two.
Yeah sorry by noticing the difference I meant between a game that natively supports atmos and one that doesn’t but has atmos simulated by the OS anyway…I’ve never been able to tell the difference between those through headphones.
So a month ago I decided to check out a much talked about (on other tech forum) headset by Audeze. Called Penrose X. 300 bucks, you expect something very,very good for that price.
My other headset was a Turtle Beach Stealth 700 gen 2, had it since XSX launch. I don’t have much to complain about the TB, other than in some games the max volume is a bit too low, and a annoying issue whenever I enter party chat. Other than that very impressive sound, strong bass, clear treble. I appreciate that the headband is made of metal, not plastic.
Penrose X is plastic and each time I wanted to put it on my head I was afraid it would crack, and sure enough several people on that forum have had it cracking. The warranty (and also outside it) of Audeze is really good though. The sound is definitely nice, I notice that I can hear sounds like footsteps, environmental effects, voices etc a little more clearly than the Turtle Beach, but bass is where the TB just wins everytime. Penrose X doesn’t have a bad bass if you use the right EQ preset, but I found that overall TB just wins this. I’ve been comparing the two a lot and I expected the Penrose to destroy the TB in terms of treble, but even that for me wasn’t the case.
I may hear certain sounds a bit more easier, for some reason they also sounded a little more muddy than the TB. What’s more is that the wheel that should be game/chat balance is actually just for the mic volume, god knows why. To use it as game/chat balance I have to press and hold in the wheel and then spin it, not good at all.
I decided to return the Penrose X. It didn’t provide for me the much better audio experience that I did expect. And the TB was 150 euros while Penrose X is 300, I mean…
Also for those that have been looking for a earpiece like we used to have on 360…
40 bucks
Does anyone own either the Razer Kaira Pro’s or Lucidsound LS35X? I own the Arctis 9X and Xbox Wireless Headset.
Jez Corden seems to love the LS35X and its at a decent price right now. Problem is it seems like firmware updates are only on PC, and it does not come with bluetooth. They look well built and comfortable though. The Kaira Pro’s seem to be solid and they are on sale for 50 dollars off right now.
My nephew has had issues with a few different wireless headphones. They work for at most a month then simply stops connecting to the console. Nothing works in getting them to repair. I think the last one he tried was the Lucid LS35X. It didn’t even last for a day. The first sets were rather expensive too, over $200. I think SteelSeries and TurtleBeach.
He’s going to try the Microsoft wireless set next when the store gets them in stock. I never had lasting issues with my Microsoft wireless headset.
I have both the Official Xbox and Sony headphones and the Offical Xbox wireless headset is s much better with a much better base and sound, the Sony pulse model is just too quiet. For the price, the Xbox wireless headset is amazing value
I can’t really help you with the LucidSound, I’ve never had those. I did read from several comments that the audio is really good, the highs and mids especially but the lows is where according to some it isn’t as good as others. But then there are also people that say the opposite, amazing bass etc.
That’s kinda the problem with headphones, audio in general, it’s so subjective. It’s also unfortunate how some really good headphones out there just lack a very good max volume. I love my TB Stealth 700 gen 2 and for most games they are perfect, but some games like RDR 2 where the max volume just isn’t too great I definitely miss the Penrose X that were able to go really loud.
But that bit of extra volume is not worth that price tag of 250-300 bucks/euros. For me so far the TB 700 gen 2 is just the best, affordable, very impressive sound overall, comfortable, very good build quality, never really any issues like sound cutoffs or distortion.
It’s great value but I personally would always spend the 50 extra bucks to get the TB. I’ve compared both of them and the Xbox headphones always ended up sounding a bit too muffled, very strong bass, but made the other sounds just too muddy compared to TB 700 gen 2.
I also got the LX800, but I find the Xbox wireless one to be the best. Really disappointed with the Sony Pulse headset it’s just too quiet and the bass rubbish
LX800. Which brand is that?
Plantronics
Oooooh, I had that one too, back on One X. I had a problem where my favorite EQ setting in terms of bass and treble would distort game audio when max volume was cranked up more and more, which is something I can’t and won’t deal with. Read on Reddit that this was a issue that more people had, so decided to return it and not try another one.
I had that too, which is why I went with the Xbow own brand ones. I find the SONY Pulse ones to be pretty poor myself
Heads up. Turtle Beach introduces the Stealth 700 gen 2 Max. Biggest difference seems to be the 40 hours battery life which is @ significant improvement , I think my gen 2 is like 20 hours.
200 bucks
still own the stealth 700(gen 1) its fine. I got it mostly for the Horror games.
JBL has a new one called Quantum 910 and I’m reading lots of good things about it.
Sadly, for Xbox it’s not wireless. You need to connect a cable to the controller. This frustrates me so much. Why is this? PS5 has several wireless options for this one, including a USB adapter.
Other brands have done exactly this for Xbox and it works fine. What a shame, because this JBL seems damned good, amazing battery life too.
I don’t get it.