Question about Speaker and Headphone imputs.

Hi, I'm wondering if I plug in my headphones in back input of my pc(speaker input) the sound is different from a headphone input(front)? My front input isnt attached to my motherboard and I'm using the back of my PC to use my headphones(the light green one). When I plug my headphones my pc see's em like i'm using speakers. I turn the ''Headphone'' setting ''on'' on my Asus Xonar DG but windows still see's as ''speakers''. Will the sound come out worse because i'm using my speaker input? Thanks.

No it's not different. The front jack is to add conveience for thos who constantly unplug their headphones. However, in cards like your's, there is a difference and thats because the headphone jack on the card has additional shielding, the headphone amp, and additional SnR. The front audio jack on PCs is really meant for people who use onboard.

I know with Creative and Auzentech drivers that the speaker selection (headphone, 2.1, 5.1, ect) will synch with Windows to change it also. Unless you're talking about the description when you click on the volume icon on the taskbar and it says "Speakers - (Insert audio card here,)" then no that's perfectly normal. Mine does that too.

No it's not different. The front jack is to add conveience for thos who constantly unplug their headphones. However, in cards like your's, there is a difference and thats because the headphone jack on the card has additional shielding, the headphone amp, and additional SnR. The front audio jack on PCs is really meant for people who use onboard.

I know with Creative and Auzentech drivers that the speaker selection (headphone, 2.1, 5.1, ect) will synch with Windows to change it also. Unless you're talking about the description when you click on the volume icon on the taskbar and it says "Speakers - (Insert audio card here,)" then no that's perfectly normal. Mine does that too.

ChubbyGuy40

So I guess the back input of my pc (green) is the main ''headphone jack'' that you're talking about. Because when I change the HP advance settings in the Xonar driver software( 32-64 ohms etc) I can hear the volume getting louder.orrytur

Wouldn't touch the ohms setting. That determines how much power to send out. Higher end headphones have a higher ohm rating so it needs more power.

I know with Creative and Auzentech drivers that the speaker selection (headphone, 2.1, 5.1, ect) will synch with Windows to change it also.ChubbyGuy40

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]I know with Creative and Auzentech drivers that the speaker selection (headphone, 2.1, 5.1, ect) will synch with Windows to change it also.NamelessPlayer

That's odd, because my Forte changes it.

I'm still not a fan of CMSS-3D. I get headaches when I turn it on which is incredibly weird. When games incorporate HRTF headphone sound naturally though, without Dolby Headphone/ect, it sounds perfectly fine and I get no headaches.

The front audio jack on PCs is really meant for people who use onboard.ChubbyGuy40

If you're not sure whether your headphone cable is plugged directly into your Xonar DG, open the side of your case and look to see if anything is plugged into the card. If not, remove the audio cable from the pins on your motherboard and plug it into the sound card.

Voila: expansion card audio headphone access on the front of your case.

Happy gaming,

Boz

This is not true.

Bozanimal

I didn't mean it was for onboard only. From what I understand, they build additional upgrades around the headphone jack on their sound card, such as the integrated amp and improved SnR. ASUS does it and so does Auzentech.

I didn't mean it was for onboard only. From what I understand, they build additional upgrades around the headphone jack on their sound card, such as the integrated amp and improved SnR. ASUS does it and so does Auzentech.ChubbyGuy40

[QUOTE="NamelessPlayer"][QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]I know with Creative and Auzentech drivers that the speaker selection (headphone, 2.1, 5.1, ect) will synch with Windows to change it also.ChubbyGuy40

That's odd, because my Forte changes it.

I'm still not a fan of CMSS-3D. I get headaches when I turn it on which is incredibly weird. When games incorporate HRTF headphone sound naturally though, without Dolby Headphone/ect, it sounds perfectly fine and I get no headaches.

That said, I'd like a list of these games that provide in-game HRTF settings without the sound card having to do it. If I happen to have one, I'll give it a try with CMSS-3D Headphone off.NamelessPlayer

Off the top of my head I don't really know much. I know Rainbow Six 3 has it. The Codemaster games have it I think but I only know that DiRT 2 and DiRT 3 have it for sure since they have their own software for it. WoW has an option but it sounds much better, even surround queues, without it on IMO. With some Googling, Painkiller has it also. Think Bad Company 2 uses it for sure also. Neverwinter Nights supports it, and pretty much any Tom Clancy game does too.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]The front audio jack on PCs is really meant for people who use onboard.Bozanimal

If you're not sure whether your headphone cable is plugged directly into your Xonar DG, open the side of your case and look to see if anything is plugged into the card. If not, remove the audio cable from the pins on your motherboard and plug it into the sound card.

Voila: expansion card audio headphone access on the front of your case.

Happy gaming,

Boz

You said, there are sensors that detect if I plug in headphones or speakers but when I plug in my headphones it always see's as ''speaker'' in windows(speaker logo,etc). In my Xonar DG software I change the setting to ''Headphones'' though. Also when I go to Control panel, Sound and right click on the speaker's logo, it says ''configure'' I click on it and ''7.1'' surround speakers is selected. Is this normal if I'm using headphones? Thanks.orrytur

Off the top of my head I don't really know much. I know Rainbow Six 3 has it. The Codemaster games have it I think but I only know that DiRT 2 and DiRT 3 have it for sure since they have their own software for it. WoW has an option but it sounds much better, even surround queues, without it on IMO. With some Googling, Painkiller has it also. Think Bad Company 2 uses it for sure also. Neverwinter Nights supports it, and pretty much any Tom Clancy game does too.ChubbyGuy40

I tried BF:BC2 in Audio Creation Mode, where I can't use CMSS-3D Headphone and it's just pure stereo output, and set the game to Headphones. It wasn't really convincing. Switching back to Game Mode with CMSS-3D Headphone on and setting BF:BF2's sound settings to the other options ended up a lot more convincing in terms of imaging. DiRT 2 and 3 use OpenAL, so CMSS-3D Headphone can work at its very best (OpenAL provides 3D coordinates for every sound and supports full hardware acceleration). For everyone else without an X-Fi card, there's the Rapture3D software OpenAL driver, which I have yet to test. I can't seem to set the thing to headphones in its control panel no matter what! Painkiller is DirectSound3D and needs ALchemy to have full functionality restored under Vista and Win7, but works great when you do. Still, using DirectSound3D would suggest that any surround sound processing is done in hardware; maybe there's a software mode with a decent HRTF, but I doubt it. I don't have anything else mentioned.NamelessPlayer

Really? It sounds quite fine to me. I use entertainment mode, crystallizer (Too lazy to turn it off,) and headphone mode. I use War Tapes as it by far sounds the best. Other settings don't have enough depth to the sound.

DiRT 2 and DiRT 3 have that Rapture 3D software with it, that's what I meant. I finally got the headphone mode working. Didn't notice the compatibility mode for headphones and I guess you need it since Windows 7 killed the headphone option XP used to have. Also learned I've been running 5.1 downmixed to stereo this whole time. Whenever I was switching back from using my surround sytem to headphones, it stayed in 5.1 Apparently it was because Windows 7 has no headphone option so it couldn't switch :P Have to manually set it now which is BS IMO.

Really? It sounds quite fine to me. I use entertainment mode, crystallizer (Too lazy to turn it off,) and headphone mode. I use War Tapes as it by far sounds the best. Other settings don't have enough depth to the sound.

DiRT 2 and DiRT 3 have that Rapture 3D software with it, that's what I meant. I finally got the headphone mode working. Didn't notice the compatibility mode for headphones and I guess you need it since Windows 7 killed the headphone option XP used to have. Also learned I've been running 5.1 downmixed to stereo this whole time. Whenever I was switching back from using my surround sytem to headphones, it stayed in 5.1 Apparently it was because Windows 7 has no headphone option so it couldn't switch :P Have to manually set it now which is BS IMO.

ChubbyGuy40

I found Audio-Creation to be too much of a PITA to use. Game mode when I'm using games that have EAX as that's the only way to get them working under ALchemy.

I'm still not a fan of CMSS-3D. Tried it again and I still get headaches listening to it. It sounds more wide, but spacial cues sound the same and SQ takes a bit hit.

I switched it to stereo under Windows 7 and then switched to headphone stereo (comp.) Rapture3D doesn't have the rights to switch audio modes I guess.

That's actually one of the reasons why I love War Tapes. It makes it that much easier to hear people. Outside is where it really shines and where everything else sounds way too flat. Inside buildings definitely sounds like your in some big warehouse when in fact you inside some small 2-story shack.