Hardware & Technical Windows Sonic For Headphones vs DTS Headphone:X

[nanite2000]

Windows 10 Creators update introduced a new virtual surround sound feature for headphones called 'Windows Sonic For Headphones' (https://www.techrepublic.com/articl...ws-sonic-for-headphones-spatial-sound-format/).

Elite Dangerous already includes a similar (identical?) feature in it's audio settings called 'DTS Headphone:X'.

For best results, which one should I use? What would happen if I enabled both?

 

[furrycat]

I don't know which sounds better but you certainly should not enable both. For virtual surround to work it has to output to two channels ie left and right. If you were to set the Windows surround mode on your headset the game's output would end up going to the virtual front/left and front/right speakers so if the Windows software is any good you would get the sense that the action is all in front of you.

 

[Para Handy]

Although I remain firmly attached to W7, I find this interesting and look forward to reading reviews of it. I find all the "virtual surround" in headphones somewhat lacking, I do wish we had proper "binaural audio" surround though, that is really effective.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I find all the "virtual surround" in headphones somewhat lacking, I do wish we had proper "binaural audio" surround though, that is really effective.

They're effectively the same.

 

[Para Handy]

They're effectively the same.

I wish.


Binaural recordings really do have spatial positioning to me - no "virtual surround" comes even close to my hearing. I often think my perception from headphones is not the same as others - the only time I get a sound-stage apparently in front of me is with binaural recordings, normal stereo the sound stage is either inside my head or at the back of my head, virtual surround is the same - located in-plane or behind, never in front. (Probably a function of my psychology?)