Reddit reviews EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier / External Sound Card, with 7.1 Surround Sound, Side Tone, Gaming DAC and EQ, Headphone amp Compatible with Windows, Mac, Laptops and Desktops.

You will not be able to use the mic through the stack and I would use the split cable it came with before plugging into the stack. I went down this route and I think the best solution is to use a standalone mic like the yeti(usb) or Rhode micro if your computer can power a little mic. If that's not your jam, see below.

If you try to use the headphones through the stack and plug the microphone from the headset into your computer, you will encounter ground loop. This is a noise you'll hear because the mic/headphones share the same ground wire and you are splitting that into two separate devices. If you want to use both, you need to use a device that accepts a mic input and also powers your headphones. Like this: ARC Gaming Amplifier & DAC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078GSLFNW/ or this: Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LDTP484/

Don't go with internal sound cards. Your PC is hell when it comes to audio because of all the electricity going around to all the components. Internal solutions are completely outdated and will be noisier with lots of static.

If you have no need for any professional inputs (XLR, MIDI, etc.) I recommend either the Syba Sonic DAC-Amp on the cheaper end, or the Sennheiser GSX 1000 on the pricier end which does a lot the more "premium" settings other cards do on-board (no drivers needed) which is largely just EQ anyway.

4 pound more expensive on Amazon but you have closure that you can easily return it if you dont like it

You're looking for a USB DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter), also called an external soundcard, or some combination of those.

Ones that are a desktop "box" rather than a large dongle tend to be more expensive, however here's one from Asus that a quick Amazon search turned up. Creative is also a name worth looking out for, there's this one and this smaller one There are also higher end ones more suitable if you're doing music or video production, which have high-quality inputs for microphones and instruments.

Don't worry if you find ones that take a 6.25mm (1/4") headphone cable as you can get converters easily. You can certainly get more expensive.

Edit: The Razer box probably does some simulated surround sound processing, I believe the Asus and Creative products should have simulated surround sound (and probably do a better job of it) in addition to enough speaker outputs to have true surround sound. Simulated surround isn't for everyone, and can be turned off.
Worth mentioning is the Sennheiser GSX 1000, which got a great review from HardwareCanucks, especially the simulated surround sound. Very expensive though.

TL;DR
It's a type of USB Soundcard, the Razer one has the wires fixed in. Only some of them are boxes with volume controls on them, so shop around.

some higher end headphones (like the ones I am using) have a different impedance 50ohm in my case, vs the 32ohm of your Astro a10's. The difference is not 1/2 volume, but I would say close to 1/4 or 1/3 less volume than your a10's from the xbox controller itself. I eventually plan to get a pair of headphones that run at 150 ohm and will definitely need amplification to use (which i have an amplifier for my PC, but it is not portable, nor does it accept any output the xbox can provide).

Speakers: Edifier R1280DB.

Go with 2.0 bookshelf speakers, not 2.1 computer speakers. These have Bluetooth, optical, and coax. Oh, and they sound amazing.

Headphones are tricker. Will you also be using them with a console or a phone at any point? Want to keep them on while running to get a cup of tea or take a leak? Do you play FPS's?

You have few different options:

Convenience be damned you want awesome audio quality above all else.

• Get a DAC. Sennheiser GSX 1000. Modern, slick gaming features, solid DAC. Little Dot MKII. Because toooobs.
  
  
• Open back headphones. There are a million suggestions at dozens of different price points. I recommend prioritizing comfort, spatial positioning, and a warm sound that won't cause listening fatigue.
  
  
• Modular attachable boom mic. Antlion Audio ModMic 5 or Minimic. Don't underestimate these mics. They sound amazing, you have little-to-no background noise, don't need any additional acoustic treatment, and you don't have to worry about boom arms and the like.
  
  
• Blue Yeti. You just couldn't imagine not having a huge mic like you see streamers using. It's the defacto go-to mic for a reason. Keep in mind everyone will hear your mouse and keyboard and that guy diving by and your dog sneezing and...
  
  Wireless PC and PS4.
  
  
• SteelSeries Arctis 7. Wireless for PC and PS4, wired for Xbox (blame Microsoft).
  
  
  
  
  
  Gaming headphones.
  
  
• Wired. HyperX Cloud Alpha or HyperX II
  
  
• Wireless. Corsair Void
  

> GSX 1000

Which happens to have its lowest price in the UK at the moment with Argos & Amazon https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier-Black-Red/product/B01LDTP484

If you want portability, the the Cyrus Soundkey or Audioquest Dragonfly red are your options. I use the Soundkey, and it's brilliant. The soundstage and clarity is vastly improved. Then again my daily drivers are the Audio-Technica ATH M40X. For a DAC + amp, then the Teac AI-101DA. It's a bit pricy, but however it's a good DAC amp. I don't have it, but I have heard mostly positive reviews on it, also Zeos, our legend, has reviewed it himself. If you are on a tight budget, well the FiiO - E10K Olympus, has got you covered. It's a really good amp+DAC for the money. A lot of positive reviews. If you are gaming, the Senhiser GSX 1000 is there. What I she said in here are the best in each section.

Links:

Cyrus Soundkey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B073RFVHVY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720112&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cyrus+soundkey

Audioquest Dragonfly red: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DFMV4NQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720178&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cyrus+soundkey&dpPl=1&dpID=41JaKxrUrfL&ref=plSrch

Senhiser GSX 1000: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LDTP484/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720216&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=gsx+100&dpPl=1&dpID=41ermQbCqAL&ref=plSrch

Teac AI-101DA: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UGYFWQC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720282&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=teac+ai-101da&dpPl=1&dpID=41dClv7EX-L&ref=plSrch

FiiO E10K Olympus: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LP3AMC2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720327&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fiio+e10k&dpPl=1&dpID=41Taa5DTsKL&ref=plSrch

By the way. If you want, buy a fucking pair of Audio-Technica ATH M40X: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HVLUR54/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720404&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=audio+technica&dpPl=1&dpID=41gFqXe5oBL&ref=plSrch

Zeos found the M40X'S brilliant.

I hope I helped you out, if you have any queries, reply to this comment. Good luck in finding what you want.

HE400i Sound Distortion :(

Hi everyone, first my setup:

Windows desktop to Senheisser GSX 1000 that goes into a Bravo AUDIO V2 Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier. I then connect the HE400i to the amp.

Now the issue is that on some tracks the sound gets distorted if I increase the volume. I tried lowering the source sound (which links to Windows sound) and controlling the volume from the amp (and vice versa) and to no avail. The same audio tracks sound clear and smooth with no distortion on the PSB M4U1 Headphones! Not sure what to do here. I think its the HE400i but not sure why as its a rather premium set of cans :/ any ideas?

Products:

Bravo AUDIO V2 Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ADR2DTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Senheisser GSX 1000: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/qvf/Sennheiser-GSX-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier-Black/B01LDTP484/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1500636639&sr=1-1&keywords=gsx1000

Handful of quick questions:

1. Given that I care a lot about comfort, build quality, and sound, what purchase makes the most sense:
   
   DT-880/990 250/600Ω, HD-600, HD-650.
   
   Budget is flexible but I don't want to throw a lot of minor at a minor upgrade. Will any of them sound "better" than my current PXC-450 noise cancelling headphones? I don't travel or live in the loud city anymore, so I no longer need the noise cancelling and would like a more open back design. I listen to a lot of EDM, a lot of songs with vocals, and a lot of songs with bass, which is why I'm not sure how I feel about if I should go with a more neutral or V-shaped sound. I'm leaning neutral though as I don't want to risk anything sounding bad.
   
   
2. How bad of an idea of it would it be to run an amp through the audio controller on the Companion 3 Bose Speakers that were given to me years ago. Otherwise, could I get a recommendation for a DAC/AMP that will allow me to easily switch between speakers/headphones, adjust volume, and quickly mute?
   
   
3. I know these can't handle the 600Ω headphones, but how legitimate is the digital 7.1 surround on the GSX-1000 or similar products. I ask because the technology sounds incredible in this video by HardwareCanucks. If so, can I get a recommendation for one that fits the desires listed in the previous questions.

This is what I have.

It's not a music DAC, so if that's what you're looking for, maybe look at something else. However, it does do an alright job and it can certainly be tuned a bit to your tastes. What it does do very, very well is emulate 7.1. This means you can take your favorite pair of stereo headphones and get a fantastic gaming headset as well. I really dig the customizeable presets too.

I just went through similar research on this to upgrade from my on-board audio (Realtek ALC892) as I was getting some interference through the front panel audio.

I typically use Sennheiser HD579 open-back headphones and narrowed my search to the following two products:

Schiit Fulla 2

Sennheiser GSX 1000

I'm not super competitive although I do enjoy shooters occasionally so accurate positional audio is a plus for me but not an absolute necessity. I could not decide between these two, so I did was every irresponsible adult would do and picked up both.

The Schiit is definitely more on the audiophile end of the spectrum but did give a good boost to my 579s. Any interference is gone and while my on-board was enough to drive my headphones, my subjective testing does prefer the sound from the Fulla 2. There is not a huge difference there but I do get a bit more clarity and the soundstage feels a bit more open.

As for the GSX 1000, the positional audio is great. I've tried Windows Sonic and Atmos for Headphones and the GSX 1000 is definitely more accurate to my ears. That said, it doesn't completely eliminate the slight echo you get from other software surround virtualization.

I've put enough time into both to realize that they are two different products with two different use cases. I'll be keeping both. The Schiit Fulla 2 is definitely the higher end audio device for clarity and quality. I've been using this for music and certain games. However, the GSX 1000 beats it for positional accuracy and I've used this for BF1 and other shooters. It honestly comes down to what you value more. If you put a lot of time into esports or competitive shooters and value positional audio the GSX 1000 might be the better buy, but make sure you wait for a sale. It is grossly overpriced at MSRP.

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484 Review this only for gaming and maybe compare it to the $15 dolby atmos for headphones you can buy through windows 10 creators pack, it is a 30 day trial so you dont have to buy it.

If you're gaming and already have a headset with a mic, you may want to look into buying a PCIe sound card or a USB DAC intended for gaming use (most arent cheap).

$:

• https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ/
  
  -
  
  $$:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/
  
  -
  
  $$$:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484/
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/BlasterX-External-Headphone-Surround-Sidetone/dp/B018JUPY3A/
  
  
  Otherwise you may get some lag between you listening to your audio output from one device, and your mic input going through another device (your motherboard).
  
  
  The other suggestion of a Fiio d03k won't work for you - thats strictly a cheap one way SPDIF dac, no headphone output, no volume, no input!
  
  You should probably ask this in one of the headphone or gaming subs (/r/pcgaming/ perhaps?). You have a different scenario than most of the readers here.

well I use a Fiio E10K but that doesn't take a mic input. I also have a Sennheiser GSX 1000 which is very good IMO, takes a mic and headphone input. expensive though!

If you do want something for separate mic/headphone jacks, a small USB card may be your best bet but I haven't used anything like that.

If you're after convenience, the Arctis 7 is a good quality unit. It's wireless with its own DAC so you wouldn't have to worry about that, while it also comes with a cable to use with a console. Definitely an easier option as you don't have to buy any extras to get going, though the quality isn't as good as a similarly priced pair of headphones.

Alright, Ill look into those headsets and see which one fits well. Just so I know, is this the mixamp?

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https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539661907&sr=8-1&keywords=GSX1000

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And if so, how does it work (as in its controls and settings to let me change chat and game audio separately) and how do I set it up?

If you're concerned about audio quality, check out the Sennheiser GSX 1000 Made specifically with gaming in mind, but a bit pricier than other options

If you want one with a mic input, your options are fairly limited. On the budget side you're looking at something like the Syba Sonic. More money gets you a Creative G6 or a GSX1000. Mayflower ARC is the spendy one.

It's a Sennheiser GSX 1000. USB amp/dac that improves audio quality and adds high quality binaural surround sound to games.

I've been having the same debate as you for a while. I think the answer is to get both (if you can) because they're built for different things, but do them excellently.

What I did was buy the PC37X, because I'll mainly be using them for gaming, and since they provide a more open soundstage, more base and have an excellent mic, I think that they'll work better for me.

I'm going to try pairing them with a cheap DAC/amp, I'm going to be testing them this week with either the Fiio BTR3 connected through USB C (which I can also use wirelessly with my iPhone over Bluetooth and other headphones). So they're convenient but may be lacking a bit in power.

I'll also be testing it with Syba Sonic's UBS 24 bit 96 KHz DAC/Amp (For under $40 it's hard to argue with)

I also considered the Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier, but will only test it out if the other options don't perform well for me.

I'll let you know how it goes. What option did you end up going with u/HasHooves?

Most people will use some kind of AMP or DAC. That gets plugged into the PS4's USB slot and then you connect the headset into the DAC. It can also be done using the PS4's optical audio IIRC, and depending on the DAC.


It's an added cost, but on the upside can really increase sound quality and max volume compared to the DS4. An (expensive) example would be the Sennheiser GSX Game Amps, but there's cheaper options available;

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543192545&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+dac


Of course you could just go with the Game Ones and try them out on the DS4 hookup. If it gets the job and you don't care, then have at it. You could always get a DAC later.
But your first post made it sound like you're concerned with quality and performance, so it's just worth keeping all the information in mind.

A little of my research so far. It looks like if I bought this at the start I wouldn't be in this pickle:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484

Buuuuuttt. I think it won't play so well my with headset which are 300 ohms. As states my hardware canucks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGX069Zo8kE

The desk itself is a weird form factor for PC use but other than that, it's a great setup. Lots of desk space to go around.

If you're interested in high-end audio, I suggest some great quality open-back headphones for extra immersion in games, plus they are also great for listening to music. You would have to get a separate mic but the quality of both will be much greater than most headsets can offer. The Astro A40S dac is not very good at all and the surround it offers is kind of a scam marketing feature. There are many options to go here but based on your setup I would recommend the Sennheiser GSX 1000. It provides great quality sound, it is beautiful to look at and packed with amazing features.

I came across this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier-Black-Red/dp/B01LDTP484

What would the difference from this and the little 7.1 adapter I already own?

If I was looking for gaming primarily, I think this thing is great from a functionality/quality/usability standpoint vs. a music oriented DAC/AMP.

Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LDTP484/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z2hyDbESCH9WN

This is my rig:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-GSP-600-Professional-Headset/dp/B078VM929R/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=sennheiser+headphones+gsp+600&qid=1563294412&s=gateway&sr=8-2

with this

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-1000-Gaming-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B01LDTP484/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=sennheiser+headphones+gsp+600&qid=1563294457&s=gateway&sr=8-4

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I also bought the same rig for my fiance. It's the best i've ever tried, and i've tried ALOT of headsets. This is the only surround sound i've ever heard that's worth using.

Hello headphone people!

Long post, so here's a TL;DR: What soundcard, DAC or AMP do I need that greatly enhances my virtual surround experience in Sennheiser Game One headset?

After a long research on gaming headsets, I went ahead and purchased Sennheiser Game One headset. I know I could have gone different routes but that one was the best I could have done with my budget. Going separate headphones and mic was a bit too expensive since I wanted claritiy in mic also (which would require investing in a good mic). This Sennie was kinda was the bang for my buck.

When I plugged the headset to my motherboard, the sound was a bit low (at which point I thought maybe I need an AMP). However some tweaking in Windows 10 (such tweaking being turning on "Loudness Equalization" in "Enhancements" tab in playback device settings) made the sound too high and introduced a background hiss (permanent noise). Fiddling around the equalizer did help a little bit but the sound felt super artificial and bloated, also considering the fact that I am not the best person to understand what each equalizer column actually does. The end result is drowned out footsteps which is totally undesirable.

Other than this, I noticed almost no difference to my directional audio (i.e. where the footsteps or gunshots are coming from) compared to my old Steelseries not-so-very-good headset. I feel like there absolutely needs to be some sort of hardware that does this virtual surround processing. I tried the software route first; dolby atmos, Windows sonic for headphones etc, did not change things one bit. I think those things are nothing but fancy gimmicks. Feel free to correct me here.

Today I plugged the headset to my iPhone 7 via 3.5mm adapter and boy the sound was awesome. Which led me to think that my on-board motherboard audio (RealTek) is not that great. I feel like I need a sound card, a DAC or an Amp of some sorts.

Which brings me to my question and TL;DR: What soundcard, DAC or AMP do I need that greatly enhances my virtual surround experience in Sennheiser Game One headset? Now that I have made the investment, I can save up for something and get it if it will enhance my experience.

I have found Sennheiser GSX 1000 and Creative SoundBlaster Z which may quench my thirst. Anyone had any experiences with these?

I appreciate any input from you knowledgeable audio people.

Thanks!!