5.1 vs 7.1

[MultiDJRoni]

Hello 

 

I want tu buy a soundcard for Surround Sound. But im wondering if you can actually notice a difference between Virtual 5.1 vs Virtual 7.1 Surround?

Is it more marketing than anything else, or is it noticable?

 

Thanks!

[johnt]

3 minutes ago, MultiDJRoni said:

Hello 

 

I want tu buy a soundcard for Surround Sound. But im wondering if you can actually notice a difference between Virtual 5.1 vs Virtual 7.1 Surround?

Is it more marketing than anything else, or is it noticable?

 

Thanks!

All virtual surround sound is marketing. Most motherboards are surround sound compatible, so make sure you study your own gear first before buying a sound card. Virtual surround sound doesn't really require more than one output anyway because it's mostly driven by software.

[MultiDJRoni]

Just now, JohnT said:

All virtual surround sound is marketing. Most motherboards are surround sound compatible, so make sure you study your own gear first before buying a sound card. Virtual surround sound doesn't really require more than one output anyway because it's mostly driven by software.

The main reason i want to get one is that the OnBoard sound on my Motherboard has some background noise. 

But since the 7.1 options are more expensive i was wondering if there is actually a difference between them

[Tz000]

1 hour ago, MultiDJRoni said:

The main reason i want to get one is that the OnBoard sound on my Motherboard has some background noise. 

But since the 7.1 options are more expensive i was wondering if there is actually a difference between them

DO NOT bother spending your hard earned cash on some gimmicky software based 5.1 or 7.1 virtual surround BS.   If you actually want an improvement in your sound quality and output levels what you should buy is a DAC+AMP combo unit such as the one I will list below.   This will take all the audio processing off your MOBO which will clear up any background noise.  

 

Did I mention NOT TO BUY any 5.1/7.1 sound card its just not worth it... there are tons of downloadable software options if you really want to try some "surround" sound  such as Razer Surround, Dolby Atmos for headphones etc.  

 

If the AMP/DAC I suggested below is out of your price range then I would just go with a $10.00 USB "Soundcard" and call it a day this will clear up your distortion your hearing and keep ya goin!

 

Links:

 

$65.00 FX-Audio Dac X6  ( I personally own one of these units and its fantastic, very versatile can be used with your TV, PVR, DVD, XBOX , PS4, COMPUTER etc  you cant really beat it for the price..)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JJT7SF/ref=twister_B01HERNVCA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

$25.00 Sound blaster USB DAC/Soundcard

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ/ref=sr_1_7?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701295&sr=1-7&keywords=USB+sound+card

 

$12.00 Startech USB Stereo Audio Adapter ( I have also tried this out on my Lenovo T40 Laptop and it actually improved the sound clarity slightly and still works great )

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Stereo-Adapter-External-ICUSBAUDIOB/dp/B001EHG7DM/ref=sr_1_26?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701403&sr=1-26&keywords=USB+soundcard

 

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Oh and once more DO NOT BUY anything 5.1 / 7.1 its all just software based and NOT Worth it.  I have been playing FPS games for 15+ years and have never ONCE used "surround sound" ALWAYS STEREO and IMO I can hear footsteps etc a lot better with regular stereo...   These rules carry over into the realm of headphones and headsets as well it is always worth getting a GOOD pair of stereo headphones + external mic over a prebuilt 7.1 headset..

 

Have a nice day!

 

Cheers.

 

 

[MultiDJRoni]

10 hours ago, Tz000 said:

DO NOT bother spending your hard earned cash on some gimmicky software based 5.1 or 7.1 virtual surround BS.   If you actually want an improvement in your sound quality and output levels what you should buy is a DAC+AMP combo unit such as the one I will list below.   This will take all the audio processing off your MOBO which will clear up any background noise.  

 

Did I mention NOT TO BUY any 5.1/7.1 sound card its just not worth it... there are tons of downloadable software options if you really want to try some "surround" sound  such as Razer Surround, Dolby Atmos for headphones etc.  

 

If the AMP/DAC I suggested below is out of your price range then I would just go with a $10.00 USB "Soundcard" and call it a day this will clear up your distortion your hearing and keep ya goin!

 

Links:

 

$65.00 FX-Audio Dac X6  ( I personally own one of these units and its fantastic, very versatile can be used with your TV, PVR, DVD, XBOX , PS4, COMPUTER etc  you cant really beat it for the price..)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JJT7SF/ref=twister_B01HERNVCA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

$25.00 Sound blaster USB DAC/Soundcard

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ/ref=sr_1_7?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701295&sr=1-7&keywords=USB+sound+card

 

$12.00 Startech USB Stereo Audio Adapter ( I have also tried this out on my Lenovo T40 Laptop and it actually improved the sound clarity slightly and still works great )

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Stereo-Adapter-External-ICUSBAUDIOB/dp/B001EHG7DM/ref=sr_1_26?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701403&sr=1-26&keywords=USB+soundcard

 

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Oh and once more DO NOT BUY anything 5.1 / 7.1 its all just software based and NOT Worth it.  I have been playing FPS games for 15+ years and have never ONCE used "surround sound" ALWAYS STEREO and IMO I can hear footsteps etc a lot better with regular stereo...   These rules carry over into the realm of headphones and headsets as well it is always worth getting a GOOD pair of stereo headphones + external mic over a prebuilt 7.1 headset..

 

Have a nice day!

 

Cheers.

 

 

Thanks for the detailed Answer! I really appreciate it

[an actual squirrel]

Well, 7.1 ensures that you have rear channels, so i'd prefer 7.1 for that reason. What are these products you are considering where this dilemma comes up?

[MultiDJRoni]

 

1 hour ago, an actual squirrel said:

Well, 7.1 ensures that you have rear channels, so i'd prefer 7.1 for that reason. What are these products you are considering where this dilemma comes up?

I was wondering if it was worth almost twice the money

 

https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/creative-sound-blaster-z-pci-e-x1-soundkarte-375490 5.1

https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/creative-sound-blaster-ae-5-pci-e-x1-soundkarte-6497947 7.1

[Max_Settings]

Don’t buy a sound card or use virtual surround. It is nothing more than marketing and ruins positional audio. You have you have 7 drivers for 7.1 surround and headphones have 2.

[an actual squirrel]

2 hours ago, MultiDJRoni said:

 

I was wondering if it was worth almost twice the money

 

https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/creative-sound-blaster-z-pci-e-x1-soundkarte-375490 5.1

https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/creative-sound-blaster-ae-5-pci-e-x1-soundkarte-6497947 7.1

 

I'm pretty sure both of these support virtual 7.1. The ae5 costs more because the board has more expensive components on it.

[pas008]

On 4/2/2018 at 2:00 PM, JohnT said:

All virtual surround sound is marketing. Most motherboards are surround sound compatible, so make sure you study your own gear first before buying a sound card. Virtual surround sound doesn't really require more than one output anyway because it's mostly driven by software.

 

On 4/2/2018 at 3:42 PM, Tz000 said:

DO NOT bother spending your hard earned cash on some gimmicky software based 5.1 or 7.1 virtual surround BS.   If you actually want an improvement in your sound quality and output levels what you should buy is a DAC+AMP combo unit such as the one I will list below.   This will take all the audio processing off your MOBO which will clear up any background noise.  

 

Did I mention NOT TO BUY any 5.1/7.1 sound card its just not worth it... there are tons of downloadable software options if you really want to try some "surround" sound  such as Razer Surround, Dolby Atmos for headphones etc.  

 

If the AMP/DAC I suggested below is out of your price range then I would just go with a $10.00 USB "Soundcard" and call it a day this will clear up your distortion your hearing and keep ya goin!

 

Links:

 

$65.00 FX-Audio Dac X6  ( I personally own one of these units and its fantastic, very versatile can be used with your TV, PVR, DVD, XBOX , PS4, COMPUTER etc  you cant really beat it for the price..)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JJT7SF/ref=twister_B01HERNVCA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

$25.00 Sound blaster USB DAC/Soundcard

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ/ref=sr_1_7?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701295&sr=1-7&keywords=USB+sound+card

 

$12.00 Startech USB Stereo Audio Adapter ( I have also tried this out on my Lenovo T40 Laptop and it actually improved the sound clarity slightly and still works great )

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Stereo-Adapter-External-ICUSBAUDIOB/dp/B001EHG7DM/ref=sr_1_26?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1522701403&sr=1-26&keywords=USB+soundcard

 

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Oh and once more DO NOT BUY anything 5.1 / 7.1 its all just software based and NOT Worth it.  I have been playing FPS games for 15+ years and have never ONCE used "surround sound" ALWAYS STEREO and IMO I can hear footsteps etc a lot better with regular stereo...   These rules carry over into the realm of headphones and headsets as well it is always worth getting a GOOD pair of stereo headphones + external mic over a prebuilt 7.1 headset..

 

Have a nice day!

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Max_Settings said:

Don’t buy a sound card or use virtual surround. It is nothing more than marketing and ruins positional audio. You have you have 7 drivers for 7.1 surround and headphones have 2.

gimmick?

But obviously a difference here

Gimmicks make things sound different

Many other audio forums talk about it in preference just like sound signatures lol

Mind you all digital media is algorithms

And all surround are using a different algorithm from each company because they own that algorithm

Even receivers use surround algorithms

 

Keep your close minded audiophile elitist attitude

 

 

[Kalm_Traveler]

I'm using a Soundblaster Z I think... Only because i needed the sound to go to my AVR over optical to keep it separate from the video signal, and i like listening to music with the artificial surround that Creative software generates, rather than only using the front L and R channels. 

 

If your source on the computer is multi channel already, hdmi from your graphics card will pass that to a receiver, so games with positional audio will sound correct etc.