Analog headset question

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odMike

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Oct 26, 2014
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Hey all, I've got a question about making the switch to an analog headset vs a USB. I currently have Sennheiser P363D 7.1 USB headset, but I also want to hook up some 7.1 speakers. I hate the stereo mix that you have to do as it just makes everything sound horrible.

I was thinking about putting a soundcard onto my computer and buying a 7.1 analog headset and having splitters come off the card so they both constantly output sound, but I can turn down the speakers late at night an it won't affect the headset any.

I have a gigabyte aorous 270x k7 Mobo that seems like it has a decent sound card on it, but I don't follow the whole audiophile​ thing, so maybe it's not.

Is it a good idea to buy a soundcard, and if it would work, what's a good 7.1 analog headset that I could put splitters on and avoid the stereo mix?
 
Solution
ssddx
if you are not recording, why are you using stereo mix? there is no need for it.

stereo mix is used for recording basically "what you hear" meaning your mic, game audio, windows sounds.. anything that is making a sound at that time. it is used as a 'device' you can set your recording program to record.

if you are not recording you do not want nor need this enabled. now, what you may or may not want/need enabled is your mic set to 'listen to this device' if you need to hear your own voice and the mic/headset doesnt have live-monitoring built in but this is completely seperate.

i dont see how a splitter is going to help things. are you trying to get speakers and headset audio simultaneously? you could try virtual audio cable or similar...
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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the 363d is already an analog headset. the usb portion is just an external low end soundcard. you can use it with any soundcard just fine.

now, the 363d is a stereo headset so any surround sound will be virtual however this is the case with 90% of all so-called surround sound headsets.

there are some true 5.1/7.1 multiple driver per ear headsets out on the market, but to be honest they are not as great as they seem. multiple drivers means cheaper drivers which often means lower sound quality. also, the surround effect is not seamless at all.

neither are true recreations of surround sound and both 2.0->virtual and true 5.1/7.1 have known pro/con.

even the very best onboard audio is about equal to low end soundcards. onboard is generally not bad and is good enough for most people but i wouldnt call it high quality.

is buying a new headset necessary? depends on if you absolutely need true (and i use that term loosely) 5.1/7.1 audio. if not, keep what you have.. while it is a bit bass light the 363d is not a bad headset (comparable to game zero, 373d)

now, the whole stereo mix situation...

i take it that you are recording audio and want to record game sounds and voice at the same time for youtube, etc but hate using stereo mix? is this correct.

while i'm not big into the recording scene, i do have a few thoughts.
-some programs do not require stereo mix in effect to record audio. audacity has the option i believe, there may be more.
-i believe using an audio interface would work as well although chances are you will lose virtual surround
-running audio/video through a capture card would likely work

there may be a few other options i have not thought of.
 
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odMike

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Oct 26, 2014
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No, I'm not big into recording. It's just that I've noticed with Stereo Mix that when I turn it on it lowers the quality of the sound in general. I think it turns off the virtual 7.1. While that may not seem like a big deal, I've used virtual 7.1 for years and I can't stand listening to just a normal non-directional type sound. Like even using a VOIP it even sounds different. That's why I was looking for something I could plug into a splitter along with my speakers, and get rid of using the stereo mix.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

Titan
May 27, 2009
17,054
5
74,965
if you are not recording, why are you using stereo mix? there is no need for it.

stereo mix is used for recording basically "what you hear" meaning your mic, game audio, windows sounds.. anything that is making a sound at that time. it is used as a 'device' you can set your recording program to record.

if you are not recording you do not want nor need this enabled. now, what you may or may not want/need enabled is your mic set to 'listen to this device' if you need to hear your own voice and the mic/headset doesnt have live-monitoring built in but this is completely seperate.

i dont see how a splitter is going to help things. are you trying to get speakers and headset audio simultaneously? you could try virtual audio cable or similar programs if you're trying to get two audio out sources at once but i dont see what that would have to do with stereo mix at all.
 
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Solution
O

odMike

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Oct 26, 2014
14
0
4,510


Yes, I was trying to get 2 audio sources playing at once (Speakers and Headset) so I can keep them plugged in, and then when it's later in the evening I can just turn down the speaker volume and my headset audio will still play. Using Virtual Audio Cable can get 2 sources to play at once without a quality loss? I know the simple answer would be to just unplug and plug them in each time, but that will get repetitive and annoying very quickly.
 
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