Running headphones off of a Sound Blaster Z card, do you still get positional virtual surround sound?

[maldorf]

I just got my Vive and I am trying to figure out if I am getting positional surrnound sound when running my headphones off of the Sound Blaster jack. It is hard to tell, I think it might just be plain old stereo. I compare to the sound I get from the Vive headphone jack but it is hard to tell.

I have a set of Sennheiser Game Zeros and the power off the Vive headset isnt enough to sufficiently drive them, sound pretty bad. If I run it off the amp in my sound card they come alive. So that is why I am trying to run them that way.

So I assume that the audio signal generated from the Vive game is sent to the audio card and is the same signal that would be getting to the headphones if they were plugged into the Vive headset? Or maybe the audio is run through another processor in the Vive Headset before it gets to the headphones? Am I hearing different audio if I am not running through the jack on the vive headset?

I tried finding some games that had sounds off to one direction but I didnt find anything conclusive. Something with sounds say to the right side and then see if it goes to my left side if I turn the oppositie direction.

On the Sound blaster control panel it just shows 2 channels, which makes sense since there are only 2 speakers on headphones, and there isnt a way for me to test positional sound.

If I lose positional surround sound not running off of the Vive headset then I will want to get some different headphones that have a lower ohms rating than 50 and run it off the headset.

Anyone know how the sound works?

[maldorf]

I do have the settings set to output sound through the Sound Blaster card. Just found in the windows 10 sound settings for the Sound Blaster card I have it set to 5.1 just as if it were my stereo. Pressing each speaker does seem to produce sounds in the correct direction although front and rear sound very similar. Cant test moving closer to something makes it louder ,etc.

[maldorf]

Bump for feedback. Haven't been able to find an answer to my question. I think the directional sound is working but not sure. Don't want to ruin immersion by loosing that, don't want simple stereo sound.

[maldorf]

Dang, nobody knows?! Im trying to decide if I buy an extension cable to run the audio and mic to my pc sound card or if I return the headphones and buy a set with much lower ohms resistance. WIsh i knew if the sound output out of my card is the same signal that comes out of the vive headset.

Cant find a thing on the net.

[Bdbtoys]

The audio connector on the vive acts like it's own USB Sound device. It doesn't use any of the sound settings/effects of your sound card at all.

I haven't looked into the specs of the connector and I already have the Deluxe Audio Strap attached (so not looking to pull apart)... but it could be possible that it's not not driving the speakers adaquately (I know you get a set of earbubs for the Vive... and/or the DAS which are much smaller than what you have)... or you just have to adjust the setting for the vive sound device.

Just want to point out the Deluxe Audio Strap's convenience is awesome. The sound is ok, but having it 'attached' makes it very worth while. Can even give them a flip out to hear the real world.

[chuck]

Audio for the Vive is carried via the HDMI cable and not the usb cable, so the sound card would pretty much function “in parallel” with the Vive audio. In the SteamVR control panel you can select whether you want the Vive, on-board audio, or both functioning at the same time.

[maldorf]

Originally posted by chuck:

Audio for the Vive is carried via the HDMI cable and not the usb cable, so the sound card would pretty much function “in parallel” with the Vive audio. In the SteamVR control panel you can select whether you want the Vive, on-board audio, or both functioning at the same time.

Yep, thats what I did. I ran my Sennheiser Game Zeros to the jack on my sound card. The sound is amazing! So glad i did it. i just have to pick up an extension cable for both the mic and speaker jacks. Two cable extension cords. The mic is in stereo too, i guess one is for the regular mic and the other is for sound cancelation.I used some velcro ties to attach the cords to the Vive's 3 in one cord and it is all one unit. Only downside is that the cable is now heavier, but you really cant feel it much.

These headphones sound great and the directional sound is working very well. The sound tracks all around me.