Vortex III audio question

[ccalum07]

Can it be used in standard form (Intel 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio + SPDIF/MIC/Headphone Jack) with the http://www.astrogaming.co.uk/a40/wir...em-mlg-edition ?

I'm looking to be able to watch movies with virtual surround and play games with excellent sound quality - thoughts?

Obviously I don't feel like buying a headset for £190 that will only work in stereo

[HonestFlames]

I think you would benefit much better from a quality stereo headset from Sennheiser. Such as: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/sennh...s-xxl-ear-cups

The Astro headset is one of those types of devices that sucks people in with glitzy bullet point marketing. You are not going to get a convincing 7.1 surround experience from stereo speakers. Nor are you going to avoid a whole *bunch* of audio latency due to both the wireless transfer and heavy processing required to downmix 7.1 surround to stereo and then filter it for pseudo-surround.

Sennheiser have been in the earphones/headphones game for a very long time, producing top DJ performance gear as well as pro-sumer and audiophile listening gear.

[ccalum07]

Hi HonestFlames, thank you for your input. I've check them out and they seem to be extremely good, the one thing that worries me is that most reviews say you should steer clear of them if you do not have an audiophile quality of sound card, apparently a laptop card is definately not suitable..

I could buy the mixamp and plug it into that, doubt that would make a lot of difference though as it's not really carrying out any signal improvements - plus it would work out at £200 anyway for the pair. If I get the A40 and mixamp then at least it would be cheaper.

A note on the comment about latency though, the a40 I linked is not wireless so I guess the latency wouldn't be as noticeable as you suggest?

[nipplepie]

Sorry thread steal
I have an Astro A40 with 5.1 Doby Mixamp (not wireless), so far I've being using it on my Vortex 3 without the Mixamp, so as only analog signal.

If I get this http://www.nexxia.co.uk/pics/NX-OPT-131.jpg will I be able to use have access to the surround sound 5.1 the Mixamp can provide the headset with? I have an optical cable, but is the other end of that SPDIF for an optical connection?

[ccalum07]

Well that's interesting actually, so you have the a40 but don't use the mixamp.. What would you say about the sound quality in general even though it's just stereo? If it's good enough for games/music/movies without the surround?

Looks to be like that cable is the SPDIF to optical that you'd need for the mixamp, sadly as I'm not getting my laptop till tomorrow I can't check the output but I believe that the SPDIF is a 5.1 optical output. Which should in theory mean that the mixamp will provide the headset with the surround sound.
Sadly I think that you need a Dolby Digital Live sound card output to make the a40 setup (even with the mixamp) work. The laptop does not have that capability, but this seems to have it - Asus Xonar U1 http://uk.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_...specifications

The question then is, since the Xonar U1 can output dolby headset (basically what the mixamp does anyway) - Do you need to use the mixamp at all?

/confused !!

[nipplepie]

Damn, good question lol My impression was that with the Mixamp you don't even need to have a sound card. It is the sound card, is it not? V3 comes with the Intel 5.1, but unless you have a USB (or SPDIF) headset you will only get the Stereo analog signal, two channel output.

I'm going to get competitively into CS:GO, http://blog.counter-strike.net/index...patialization/ and as you can see here they are really working hard to bring true realistic 5.1 which is why I want to start using my MixAmp again to deliver me with the 5.1 What is the best way to do this?

[Jay5]

Unless the Vortex 3 has an optical out (which i don't think it does?) You can't use the 5.1 surround sound on Astro headsets. I own a pair of A30's myself with a wired mixamp. I still think there's a way to use the mix amp without an optical out.. but i couldn't tell you how... there seems to be a 3.5mm jack at the front of the mixamp.. maybe that's how... But you still won't be able to produce v 5.1 surround without that optical out.

As for Astros' headsets.. I only have the A30 and it's a great headset, i've had no problems with it thus far and the mixamp is a great bit of kit.. although the combination is a pricey one.. i've got no complaints. I was also worried at first that the Astro headsets just look "pretty" But this was not the case.
I mean... there must be SOME reason to why they use the A40 as the official MLG headset.

[ccalum07]

After much confusion and eventually speaking to the IT guy at my work, which still wasn't conclusive.. I ordered this setup on next day delivery (so should arrive today with the Vortex 3) -

I'll let you know how I get on.

Product Quantity
----------------------------------------------------------
Sennheiser PC 350 Gaming Headset wi 1
Asus Xonar U3 Headphone AMP Soundca 1
----------------------------------------------------------

Total £169.76

[nipplepie]

Unless the Vortex 3 has an optical out (which i don't think it does?)

The Vortex 3 has a SPDIF. I can get a SPDIF to Optical cable connector. Would that now work? I mean the sound card is Intel 5.1...how do I use the 5.1 lol?

If I get a new sound card (external) which is 5.1 and connect it via firewire or usb3.0 and then connect my mixamp, would I get 5.1 sound? Or if I get a new sound card I wouldnt need the mix amp?

[Jay5]

It may work. I think the 5.1 refers to the fact that the vortex 3, 17.3" has 5.1 built on. Im pretty sure the 5.1 you experience with most headsets will only be virtual surround rather then true 5.1. I couldn't tell you the difference, but the button on the mixamp let's me switch between the two, and it is noticeable and does sound better when the 5.1 is on. All I know is that I have a USB and optical going into my pc (USB for microphone and optical for audio) from my mixamp and this works fine.

Ps - after reading up about it, it would seem a spdif is the same as optical. You can grab an optical cable for fairly cheap, so it will be worth a shot. I can't comment until I get my laptop I'm afraid, but if you do get a cable, it will defiantly sound better!
It may be wise to have a quick search yourself.

Regards,
Jay.