• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Move Over Horse Armor - The New Xbox Wireless Headset Comes With 6 Months Of Dolby Atmos

I guess, this a strategic move by MS to offer a trial software for their headphones, just like Zenimax acquisition is also a strategic move. :/
 
For self research on the codecs. You have some saying one is better than the other, others saying they are equal. Is this going to be a HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision or DTS vs Dolby like scenario?

Last I read WS was limited to 100 sound sources. Other codecs out there like Atmos, are far greater in the thousands.
Yet, can the average consumer tell the difference? Not everyone is an audiophile
 
Why didn’t they just include it in the system itself? They slap the advertising label on the box, unless they just kept the advertising money for themselves and still pass on the purchasing a license for their gamers.
Are you being dense on purpose?

I bought a dolby license on sale for $5 can use that on any headset I attach to the xbox. Why would I want to pay $15 more on this headset to get said license again?

All you act as is having options is some kind of nightmare lol 😆
 
This true? Selling a spec feature as DLC now?

Why is it an issue with Dolby themselves? Why isn’t the platform holder eating the licensing cost for a spec that their marketing is hocking their product around? At one time those licensing costs were included with the price of the product and eaten by the manufacturer.

Especially when they want to PR it as a selling point.

I must be be too old for this shit and came from a time when you put something on the box, and wanted to have that PR, it was actually included and not another DLC paywall. Codecs now piecemeal.

Good lord that takes nickel and diming to a new level.

DeepEnigma DeepEnigma you're shouting into the void here unfortunately.

This is a forum where people happily bend over and take/defend whatever new ways companies can find to extract extra money from people. From horse armour, to on disk DLC, to microtransactions, to Microsoft attempting to make PC gamers pay for online, the list goes on. This is just another one in a long list and before you know it other manufacturers will be joining the club.

FYI, most other headphone manufacturers include the license in the original cost. Not sure how much longer that will last though considering the level of support on display here for purchasing the license separately.

This is pretty dumb, just include it in the purchase or don't even offer it.

Actually, yes.
Licensing costs are usually manufactured inside the product final price. You don't directly pay Unreal Engine fees when you buy a game, and you don't directly pay for other software licenses when buying a console or other products.

Also, licence costs to you and me (final users) and to Microsoft/Sony/etc. (manufacturers) are wildly different.

This is just a cheap way for microsoft to offset costs and increase margins, and yes, it's ridiculous.

Isn't this kind of the stuff the reason Sony said 'no' to Dolby Atmos and made Tempest? Licensing fees and all that crap?

This is unreal if Dolby is pushing this on Microsoft. Are there any barriers to Microsoft doing what Sony did? I mean they have their own dedicated/custom audio silicon on the XSX and XSS, so is it just a matter of creating the software?

This is such garbage. I hope this backfires in Dolby's face.

Why didn’t they just include it in the system itself? They slap the advertising label on the box, unless they just kept the advertising money for themselves and still pass on the purchasing a license for their gamers.

I feel like this deal would be more acceptable is Dolby Atmos came with Gamepass.

But to sell it like this? I would have expected Microsoft to do some deal with Dolby to get atmos for free for its users. Because while this looks bad for Microsoft, it looks very sleazy by Dolby. Even if Dolby legit sell licenses etc, doing this on a console is a faux pas

It's pretty ridiculous to try and turn this into some sort of console war bullshit. Xbox supports Windows Sonic for Headphones(free), Dolby ATMOS for headphones ($$), and DTS:X for Headphones ($$). I've played around with all of them and ended up paying for DTS because I like the way it sounds, but I could be using Windows Sonic for free if I wanted. Only on this forum would you have people mocking a company for giving them options instead of not supporting options. Is it really better to have no options like the PS5?
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Are you being dense on purpose?

I bought a dolby license on sale for $5 can use that on any headset I attach to the xbox. Why would I want to pay $15 more on this headset to get said license again?

All you act as is having options is some kind of nightmare lol 😆
You’re buying additional DLC codec licenses in order for your hardware to be optimal, and you call me dense.

:messenger_weary::messenger_ok:
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
It's pretty ridiculous to try and turn this into some sort of console war bullshit. Xbox supports Windows Sonic for Headphones(free), Dolby ATMOS for headphones ($$), and DTS:X for Headphones ($$). I've played around with all of them and ended up paying for DTS because I like the way it sounds, but I could be using Windows Sonic for free if I wanted. Only on this forum would you have people mocking a company for giving them options instead of not supporting options. Is it really better to have no options like the PS5?
I’ll be okay, do you need a safe space? You can ignore the thread at the top. My criticism would be no different no matter who the manufacturer is.

Can’t wait for the Adolby subs in the not so distant future.
 
Last edited:
I’ll be okay, do you need a safe space? You can ignore the thread at the top. My criticism would be no different no matter who the manufacturer is.

Can’t wait for the Adolby subs in the not so distant future.
Don't worry, I'll be fine!

Dream Corp Llc Fun GIF by Adult Swim
 

Reallink

Member
I don't own the headset so can't speak to sound quality, but reviews have been favorable when comparing to other wireless headsets in the same range. Not sure how that plays into it.

Console accessories are always big money makers, that doesn't change the fact that MS doesn't want to give up their profits to support a third-party codec that isn't required. They provide you with the option to use it if you like (better than not having the option at all) and even give a free trial (although, they probably got paid for this inclusion, so not altruistic). Are you saying you would have preferred they didn't support Atmos for headphones and instead just only supported Windows Sonic for 3D audio?

It's pretty unanimously considered to be boomy and muddy due to wildly overpowering bass and requires rather judicious EQ to sound passable. Your post was implying they could not afford to include Atmos without charging the extra $15, I was just pointing out that's incredibly unlikely. MS is one of the wealthiest companies on the face of the earth, they don't need the extra $5 -$10 profit (a bulk manufacturer license would not be $15) from what is already a big money maker.
 
Last edited:

Jaysen

Banned
Atmos...on a headset...with only 2 sources of sound....lmao. How is anyone falling for this bullshit? It's like those 7.1 headsets.

Until you've actually experienced surround sound in your own home will you realise that atmos is only achievable with multiple speakers...
Yep. That's why I use two channel stereo and my sennheiser 598s.
 

Reallink

Member
Same you?

Same me?

For the headphone component yes, Atmos headphone should be pretty easy to port over to Tempest (and vice versa). For the surround sound Home Theater component, no. The open format Sony will presumably have to use (multichannel PCM) can not access physical height channels like Atmos, it maxes out at 7 channels + sub. PS5's 3D home theater solution is objectively inferior to Series X, and that's assuming they get it working at all. If they've pushed 2.0 well past launch, their 6.1 or 7.1 update is for sure a long ways off.
 
You know i got this crap on windows 10 and it stopped working. It was for my logitech gaming headset. Here it turned out 1000s of other people had the same issue. Windows store apps suck and this thing is a joke. I had it working originally and it didn't really sound any different. Its a scam, imo. Probably just does some EQ settings.

Honestly I haven't heard legit big audio difference since Sound Blaster live and its follow up were a thing. After Vitsa killed 3d hardware sound and EAX, it has never been the same. The realtek sound codec on the motherboard is total crap compared to how sound used to be pre 2006 on Windows. I remember playing theif, splinter cell, silent hill 3, battlefiled vietnam/2 with sblive and it was night and day difference with directional sound and room effects. I really miss having good positional audio.
The only device that I really hear legit good positional audio with is with the quest2 in VR. I wonder why no sound drivers and codecs haven't improved and devs ignore it compared to before.
 

Razvedka

Banned
It's pretty ridiculous to try and turn this into some sort of console war bullshit. Xbox supports Windows Sonic for Headphones(free), Dolby ATMOS for headphones ($$), and DTS:X for Headphones ($$). I've played around with all of them and ended up paying for DTS because I like the way it sounds, but I could be using Windows Sonic for free if I wanted. Only on this forum would you have people mocking a company for giving them options instead of not supporting options. Is it really better to have no options like the PS5?
I didn't turn this into "console war bullshit", I wasn't aware MS had other options on hand out of the box that mitigated the licensing fee to Dolby for Atmos. Essentially that's what my post was inquiring. I'm glad to hear that this isn't a problem, because a sub to Dolby for this is dumb imo.

I already knew MS had the hardware, I was asking if they could make their own Tempest equivalent (because I didn't know they had).

I thought the issue on hand was there were no alternatives for headphone users for quality audio unless Dolby was paid.
 
Last edited:
Weak jokes aside, this isn't a phantom charge but a real-world cost for the manufacturer. $15 would probably be a bit too high percentage wise to absorb in per unit costs without raising the price. So the option is force it on everyone, or let most users just use Windows Sonic, while those that really value Dolby Atmos move forward with that.
You really think MS is going to have to pay 15 a pop? Most likely they have a volume and wholesale discount. It would probably be $.50 to 2.00 a pop, or some other "partnership" deal. Shit ms could probably buy dolby with their so called "pocket change" and offer it for free as incentive. Companies never pay what they dish out to customers.
 
I didn't turn this into "console war bullshit", I wasn't aware MS had other options on hand out of the box that mitigated the licensing fee to Dolby for Atmos. Essentially that's what my post was inquiring. I'm glad to hear that this isn't a problem, because a sub to Dolby for this is dumb imo.

I already knew MS had the hardware, I was asking if they could make their own Tempest equivalent (because I didn't know they had).

I thought the issue on hand was there were no alternatives for headphone users for quality audio unless Dolby was paid.
Wasn't trying to attack! Sorry if it came across that way.
Drew Barrymore Oops GIF by NETFLIX
 

DaGwaphics

Member
You really think MS is going to have to pay 15 a pop? Most likely they have a volume and wholesale discount. It would probably be $.50 to 2.00 a pop, or some other "partnership" deal. Shit ms could probably buy dolby with their so called "pocket change" and offer it for free as incentive. Companies never pay what they dish out to customers.
Doesn't matter if it is $0.50, when you are potentially selling millions of something. Why give that money away when you already have an in-house 3D audio solution that costs you nothing. :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 

DaGwaphics

Member
And then you'd be left with an inferior solution, since both are better than sonic.

I dont see the big deal, you can use them as basic stereo headphones or sonic for free.
If you want atmos, pay the $15. If you want Dolby, pay the $25. They have you a free trail, try it and see if it's worth it to you.

Absolutely. But the OP of this thread was all hot and bothered by that $15 spend. If it's a problem for you, just use Windows Sonic for free.
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
I read Tempest is the equivalent of Atmos, and sonic is inferior to both of them.

Who to believe.

Sonic is the equivalent product to Tempest, both are Spatial Audio solutions designed by platform holders.
Series controller is equivalent to DualSense, both are in-box controller solutions designed by platform holders.
Preference on superiority is irrelevant those are the equivalent products.

Or do you consider the Nacon Revo to be a Elite Controller equivalent even if Sony has little say on how Nacon prices or designs the Revo.

Atmos for Headphone is fully third party......Nacon is fully third party neither mandatory or directly controlled by platform holders even if platform holders might endorse the product.

This is the revo fyi
maxresdefault.jpg


^if its build quality sucks or price is too high do we blame Sony or Nacon?
 

IDappa

Member
Yeah man, I’m the one who’s out of touch. I’m so out of touch because at one time when you plastered labels all over your box the licensing of codecs were included. But hey if the free one is just as good I’ll be sure to note that one down on the sheet when the the spec wars try to use that as a big dick talking point in the never ending war of plastic attrition.

FOR THE BRAAAAANNNND!*

*that’ll be $5.99 and you’ll like it.
Why bring up console warring unless you are doing it yourself? Your complaint is with the third party and yet you wanna pin Microsoft to the wall for it, I wonder why.....

I pointed out that they offer a alternative and that the third party charges for it. All Microsoft do is say they support the option if PlayStation did the same I would say the same I must be bad at "warring" i suppose.

With your blind fanboyism you are also forgetting that Atmos is free if you use a speaker setup which is another reason I do not fault Microsoft for admitting they support the feature.

It's on the side of the box and is tiny, I would hardly say plastered. Seems like you just have a hard on for Microsoft and console warring in general. The fact you label others with an opposite opinion as you says it all.
 

quickwhips

Member
I bought it when I got my turtle beaches and it works on pc and xbox. I could have lived without it and still think headset is good deal.
 
Dlc codecs, what will they think of next. Lol at people who think ms playing the good guy, u think ms would sell this on thire platform if they did not get a cut. Fuck dolby and ms.
 

THE DUCK

voted poster of the decade by bots
Atmos...on a headset...with only 2 sources of sound....lmao. How is anyone falling for this bullshit? It's like those 7.1 headsets.

Until you've actually experienced surround sound in your own home will you realise that atmos is only achievable with multiple speakers...

Lol, last I checked you only have 2 ears.
It's only matter of time before headphones equal or surpass the performance of a true surround sound system, and its getting closer all the time. You sound like someone who hasn't even tried it.
 

EverydayBeast

thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
Speakers through tv is more satisfying headsets on consoles always felt misplaced imagine using a headset on ps1 or n64 plus a lot of people use them the wrong way and get in trouble saying racist shit.
 

killatopak

Member
I kinda get it.

It doesn't have to be as drastic as horse armor but if this paves the way for other products to cut costs and have the customer shoulder the costs then it opens up a can of worms that will ramify in the future.
 
I kinda get it.

It doesn't have to be as drastic as horse armor but if this paves the way for other products to cut costs and have the customer shoulder the costs then it opens up a can of worms that will ramify in the future.
Atmos has been paid on Xbox for like 4 years now. This isn't new. It's not paving the way for anything.
 
Top Bottom