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External sound card on consoles...is it worth it?
- Thread starter adamy
- Start date
RowdyReverb
Member
I used a Turtle Beach DSS for a while if that counts. It provides simulated surround sound. It can sometimes be helpful in online FPS games, but if you're looking for immersion, it really doesn't add much
Doesn't Astro bundle an external sound card with their higher end headphones marketed for consoles?
KneehighPark
Member
I would only consider these useful if you are plugging headphones directly into the external sound card.
Iorv3th
Member
It's not really a soundcard. It's more for being able to power the headphones as well as mix game audio and chat audio and tune them to your liking (have chat louder or quieter). You can boost certain sounds with it (has like 3 modes) but it's really just an adjustable equalizer for that.
There is also no other way to use headphones with direct audio from a console without one of these type of devices.
You can use the ds4 but it is going to sound like shit.
Yeah they price matched due to Slickdeals, the deal made front page
No, don't get that sound blaster for consoles.
I have it, and it works great on my PC. It does not have a Dolby decoder (or whatever it's called) so you won't get the 7.1 simulated surround (just to clarify, you will get simulated surround on PC, just not on consoles).
I got an Astro mixamp more recently to use with my Xbox One. Sounds much batter for console use (I think you can use any mixamp for any console, but the PS3/4 one will only do chat for those and the Xbox One will only do voice chat for that).
If you get the Astro PS4 version, you plug it into your console, the headphones into the mixamp and you can still use it for chat. (edit: you may have to dick around with some settings and make sure you like... assign it to your profile first)
I have it, and it works great on my PC. It does not have a Dolby decoder (or whatever it's called) so you won't get the 7.1 simulated surround (just to clarify, you will get simulated surround on PC, just not on consoles).
I got an Astro mixamp more recently to use with my Xbox One. Sounds much batter for console use (I think you can use any mixamp for any console, but the PS3/4 one will only do chat for those and the Xbox One will only do voice chat for that).
If you get the Astro PS4 version, you plug it into your console, the headphones into the mixamp and you can still use it for chat. (edit: you may have to dick around with some settings and make sure you like... assign it to your profile first)
super-famicom
Member
That was my first thought.
Jessie.Bristol
Member
I still use an original model of Turtle Beach Dolby Surround Sound Processor (the 7.1 channel model). When you enable the Surround Sound setting in the Xbox One's audio setting for Digital Optical Audio, it makes a massive difference. I remember when the feature first rolled out on Xbox One, I was going through Thief. I remember thinking "Holy shit! This sounds way better!"
Eh, actually I think it'll work out fine for you. It'll definitely sound better and louder than if you were to like... plug in your headphones to you tv and you can set up profiles after you hook it up to your pc and install the software.
Also, I just hooked it up to my PS4 using a usb and optical cable (it comes with what you need) and put on Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition and it sounded like there was actually some separation when I was spinning around near a table fan in Wei Shen's apartment. The product page, keep in mind, says "the G5 delivers a best-in-class stereo experience for gaming consoles," though. At least the microphone will work too.
I have this and would not recommend it for consoles. I haven't tried it on my PS4 but was underwhelmed on Xbox one. It does sound good on PC though.
For consoles I also have an Astro mix amp, which I really like. It also allows you to,dynamically adjust the mix between chat and game sound, which is a major key for PS4, especially.
For consoles I also have an Astro mix amp, which I really like. It also allows you to,dynamically adjust the mix between chat and game sound, which is a major key for PS4, especially.
Yeah, I wasn't even able to get my Xbox one to "see it" with an optical connection and I wasn't getting any audio with it at all that way. I had to jerry rig it to my television's headphone jack, so maybe that's why it sounded so poor. I did sound better on the PS4 and the mic even worked, but yeah I agree an Astro TR mixamp would be a better option for consoles (I didn't even think about the voice/game audio mixer). There are used listings in that link I posted go as low as 45ish dollars, but you'd have to get a USB cord and TosLink cable if you didn't have one sitting around.
joeygreco1985
Member
An internal sound card with a headphone amp would work. I'm using a Xonar DG and it sounds great
The Lamonster
Member
Yeah, look at Schiit products, like the Modi DAC and Magni amp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32-X4sDzLXw
I love my 'Schiit stack'
well i really want the audio control knobs to be on my desk or else i'd be more inclined to try an interna solution
joeygreco1985
Member
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
not ashamed to say I got this mostly to have the dial thingy on my desk.