[Gaming Audio] Astro MixAmp presets + Best Audio Gear Guide + Headphone Reviews

[ceebs]

A MUST WATCH
Enjoy!

Absolutely brilliant. Subbed!

[Walle90]

A MUST WATCH

THE BEST GAMING HEADPHONES don't matter by Crinacle

Enjoy!

Nice!! ✌️

[jerrylee]

For you guys that have a Mayflower Arc MK2:

I've finally got my hands in one of those and the sound is fantastic when I plug a SPDIF source in it.

But when I plug a sound source, like my cellphone for example, in the rear input via a P2-P2 cable, the volume knob on the device doesn't work. The volume is the same on max or min.

Is it like this for you too or I have a defective one?

I've got one with the power supply, so I don't need to plug the USB for it to work.

[AMG]

But when I plug a sound source, like my cellphone for example, in the rear input via a P2-P2 cable, the volume knob on the device doesn't work. The volume is the same on max or min.

Yes, that's OK. The rear Aux-In is Analog, not handle by ARC MK2 Amp. Is a pass-through meaning volume knob doesn't work for it, ARC volume control / Amp only works for with its digital inputs: USB or TOSLink. Any external audio source connected to the Aux In has to had its own volume control.

It does something quite unique, tho: mixes this analog input with its digital inputs.

Handy for:
- Voice Feedback: If you have a USB Mic, like Blue Yeti you can connect there Blue Yeti's Headphone out, this way you can hear your voice level on your headphones mixed with gaming console audio.

- Listen to an external audio source while playing: You can plug your phone/tablet and listen to music while playing, your game chat or stream viewers can't hear it.

-Mix Game / Chat Audio.
On PS4 on Optical mode, you can use a USB card/Dongle and set it to Chat Audio, plug there a external mic and use its Headphone out to Aux In, this way you can listen gaming audio from Optical In and Game chat Audio in your headphones, if your team chat goes too loud you can lower its volume or mute them using USB card/Dongle volume control*.

*You can do this too on PS5 and Xbox 1 or Series X/S but you need a HDMI Audio extractor and a Y headphone / mic splitter..

[jerrylee]

On PS4 on Optical mode, you can use a USB card/Dongle and set it to Chat Audio, plug there a external mic and use its Headphone out to Aux In, this way you can listen gaming audio from Optical In and Game chat Audio in your headphones, if your team chat goes too loud you can lower its volume or mute them using USB card/Dongle volume control*.

Thanks for the response Alan.

I tried to do this and the volume is very low.

I've managed to resolve it using a Astro Mixamp instead of a USB card between the PS4/PS5 and the Arc MK2. One device more and more wires, but a least the chat is understandable.

[capsnz2000]

Can someone recommend me a decent but cheap headset for series x?? I’d prefer not NOT to be tethered to my controller if possible. And if wireless, I’d prefer it can charge n play. but if a tethered is far cheaper than I’ll go with that. As long as the mic is good and sound quality is decent I’ll go with that

[ceebs]

Hey Alan. What are your thoughts on the Creative Sound Blaster GC7?

[AMG]

Honestly, I haven't tried ceebs can't say much about its sound performance.

I can see its proposal: small factor, all-around streaming deck + gaming sound card, price seems fair.

One of the first annoyances when setting up a audio stream rig is how easily gets very crowded with cables and devices.
An all-in-one device is a bold move, well received tho.

Seems to me this device is aiming to: serve well to someone who wants to stream causally, entry level, "testing the waters" before going serious and after expensive equipment and complicated setups.

However,  in my opinion one of the most important traits on a good stream, besides to be a charming, funny, engaging broadcaster is to have a good microphone because is the medium that allows you to engage your audience even if your video capture is not that good.

IMO that's the weakest point on this device. Headset microphones are pretty bad, even decent ones like ModMic Uni, ATGM2, VModa Boom might get hinder by Creative aggressive noise gate and mic compression, tweak may be required. But keep in mind you will get way better mic performance by using an USB mic.

If you are willing to do without all the DSP that GC7 offers, or you already have a decent gaming dac. elgato wave 3 is a way better solution for streaming. Good semi pro mic performance, its App gives you 90% Software functionality of a hardware GoXLR which is a pro streamer mixer, small footprint.

Creative Sound Blaster GC7 it seems practical it give you decent DSP if you want something like X3 and the option for casual streaming might GC7 be your best choice.

For someone who want go into Streaming and Broadcasting more seriously, and want to do it right, I will say get elgato wave 3.

[ceebs]

Thanks for your thoughts, Alan. I’m not into streaming, just thought this might be a decent solution for playing on my PC and Series X, but its standout feature seems to be SXFI and my headset isn’t supported.
Really struggling to find a device that gives great positional audio and that works with 4k 120Hz consoles and PCs.

[Au1d Yin]

Thanks for your thoughts, Alan. I’m not into streaming, just thought this might be a decent solution for playing on my PC and Series X, but its standout feature seems to be SXFI and my headset isn’t supported.
Really struggling to find a device that gives great positional audio and that works with 4k 120Hz consoles and PCs.

SXFI is not compatible with xbox ceebs 

[ceebs]

That sucks! Thanks for letting me know, Au1d Yin.

[AMG]

Thanks for your thoughts, Alan. I’m not into streaming, just thought this might be a decent solution for playing on my PC and Series X, but its standout feature seems to be SXFI and my headset isn’t supported.
Really struggling to find a device that gives great positional audio and that works with 4k 120Hz consoles and PCs.

Gotcha.

I confess every now and then going back to the ATH-ADG1X is so comfortable.

Can I suggest some options?

You can use a ADC Converter, like the PORTTA, use it from the headphone out of the controller to feed the SBX7 SPDIF TOSlink input. - I don't quite remember if DSP (SBX) can be apply to the Optical input or is only USB.

If that is not an option, well all you can do at the moment is going to the analog domain, time to upgrade your audio gear.

Meaning, going for proper wide soundstage great stereo imaging HiFi headphones, like HD560S, AKG K702*, or DT990 Pro** both with wider soundstage and precise sound positioning than ADG1X which by the way sounds narrower on X7 DAC. Both more effective and more afforable solution, where Sennheiser HD800S is the endgame gaming headphone, put any source to that thing and it will turn it on a true surround experience.

However these headphones needs amplification to get the best of it, fortunately a $99 usd headphone amp does the job. Schiit Magni Heresy, JDS Atom, Topping L30.

Then as a final tweak you can buy Xbox Dolby Atmos App and use its Equalizer to boost some frequencies that make it easier to distinguish footsteps and other cues, which is pretty much what Creative does with SBX Scout and all that DSP thing that he sells as improvements.

Notice: I'm not on the "fixing issues by throwing money", but on this case seems unavoidable.

Even when the HDMI 2.1 Extractors arrival, XBox is looking to bring HiRes Dolby Atmos in their games and that can't go on SPDIF limited bandwidth. 

*great footsteps decection wide soundstage
**best for soundwhore footsteps detection

[ceebs]

Many thanks for your recommendations, Alan. Looks like like I’ve got a bit of research to do, but if you think there’s a decent solution, then I’m optimistic. 🙂

[AMG]

Is not like any opinion, is a very heavy weight one, he has tested and measured more headphones/IEMs than most human been on its lifetime.

Not saying is a law what he saids, but is pretty accurate and based on experience.

Audio is subjective, as you said some say HD800 is too wide and not very accurate, some say HD600 is useless for gaming, all these are valid, if it works for you.

I can't handle HD800 harsh treble, is pretty amazing headphone with outstanding sound-stage and imaging, but way too much input, gets my ears tired in minutes. HD800S is bit tame but still very detail. When it comes of high end soundstage, precision and imaging I prefer Hifiman Arya. A laid back character of HD660S works better for me or cristal clear DT990 Pro for sweat tryhard gaming.

What ever headphone or headset that disappear on your head (max confort) and allows you to hear clearly what you need to do, it will be the best; you have to find the right match for you.

[Brutalimp]

Is not like any opinion, is a very heavy weight one, he has tested and measured more headphones/IEMs than most human been on its lifetime.

Not saying is a law what he saids, but is pretty accurate and based on experience.

Audio is subjective, as you said some say HD800 is too wide and not very accurate, some say HD600 is useless for gaming, all these are valid, if it works for you.

I can't handle HD800 harsh treble, is pretty amazing headphone with outstanding sound-stage and imaging, but way too much input, gets my ears tired in minutes. HD800S is bit tame but still very detail. When it comes of high end soundstage, precision and imaging I prefer Hifiman Arya. A laid back character of HD660S works better for me or cristal clear DT990 Pro for sweat tryhard gaming.

What ever headphone or headset that disappear on your head (max confort) and allows you to hear clearly what you need to do, it will be the best; you have to find the right match for you.

It is so true that sound can be so subjective.

The best headphones I ever used were these old Ultrasone S-Logic headphones, that were INCREDIBLY uncomfortable. They use a weird design to simulate surround sound that only works for some people's ears and they are rarely talked about in the audiophile community.

I will tell you that their surround sound imaging accuracy was bonkers, I felt like I could hear the enemies on the other side of the map and knew their positions just from that. (This was the original black ops/black ops 2). The only issue is that the headphones were literally painful to wear and I ended up getting rid of them. To this day I have not had any other headphones come close to the positional accuracy in gaming as those old weird headphones nobody talks about.