Best sound system for VR

KospY · Apr 24, 2015

As everyone know, the sound design of Elite is awesome. However, I'm a bit disapointed about audio with the rift.
I'm using a wireless headphone and I have a lot of difficulties to find where some sounds come from (ship computer voice, engines).
Some sounds seem also difficult to notice for me, but It's maybe related to the quality of my headphones.

It's really break immersion for me, and I feel that I'm missing a lot from the wonderfull work of the audio design team.

Anyway, after searching on internet, I found this article where David Braben say that it use 5.1 speaker set-up rather than headphones, because that way the sound rotates with your ship rather than “with your head”.
I now wonder what is the best sound system to use, to get the best immersion ? Can people with 5.1 speakers can confirm that is better than headphones ? If we use headphones, what is the best settings to use ? Do we need an audio card for best result ? Stereo headphone are better than 7.1/5.1 ? Wireless or not ?

I will be really happy if we can have an answer from FD about this, also that will be good to know if the oculus audio SDK will be implemented at some point, it bring a binaural sound system, I think that will definitly enchance the experience without a lot of work, using 5.1 speaker are not possible for everyone.

Khyber GT · Apr 24, 2015

i use both. 5.1 and headset at night when kids are asleep with razer's surround software that turns any headset into 7.1. works very well...

Raptoyd · Apr 24, 2015

I am using wireless Logitech G930 headset and I think it sounds pretty good.

atlas974 · Apr 24, 2015

Hello i'm using a 5.1 non usb headset with the nightime settings in game. All is perfect, you can try oculus headphone mode to have the sound moving when you move your head with the rift.

Alovnek · Apr 24, 2015

I have a Beyerdynamic DT990 (600ohm version) headset and also have a logitech Z-5500 5.1 speaker set (it's a pretty old set but is still highly praised by a lot of people). But when playing ED I always use my headset no questions asked (Rift headphones mode). For me it just sounds so much better and I can hear every little thing around me.
Also the headphones block out a lot of sounds from my room and outside which speakers won't do giving me a much better immersion.

KospY · Apr 24, 2015

Ok, so it seem I have a problem with my headphones...

Did you use a dedicated sound card ? Also, if I need to buy a new headphones, a 5.1 or 7.1 headphones is really better for ED ?

grodenglaive · Apr 25, 2015

It's a bit pricey, but adding a Buttkicker Gamer to your chair adds a lot to the immersion - you really feel the engines! You just plug it into the subwoofer outlet of any 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 audio. It doesn't play well with USB headphones though. A dedicated sound card is not needed.

Alovnek · Apr 25, 2015

I do you have dedicated sound card which is a soundblaster ZxR (you can easily use a cheaper version but I needed this one because of the very high resistance of my headphones).
And for me I prefer stereo headphones because the quality of the speakers themself are generally better then in the 5.1 or 7.1 headphones and you will still have amazing surround sounds (as long as the original source as the surround information). Just listen to this video with your current headphones to see (listen) what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA (if you can't hear the surround correctly then there is indeed something wrong with your headphones).

ranix · Apr 25, 2015

I use an Audiobox USB for sound output. It's convenient and good quality. It also has two outputs (headphones and monitor speakers) with independent volume control which would probably work well with a ButtKicker without any additional hardware if you have the right cables and stuff.

Khaldur · Apr 26, 2015

Actually when you use headphones together with the rift the sound does turn with the ship, not your head. Apparently the information about the head rotation is calculated into the sound.
At least that's my impression, the sound of the booster always seems to come from the back of the ship, even if you turn your head around.

If spatial definiton is important for you then you should take care to avoid headphones that emphasize bass too much. Especially "gaming" branded headsets tend to do that a lot.

cherbert · Apr 26, 2015

I use a G930 Surround Headset. I would never not use a headset while in the Rift. This is fundamental in achieving the immersion levels by blocking out outside noise. I have an amazing sound system but I would never use it with the Rift.

And as the above poster has said.. the sound is designed to react to you moving your head so in fact you get a far better experience with a headset (assuming you set the options to Oculus (Headphone) mode!).