Subjective Listening tests - Games

Subjective Testing: Games

Although the Essence isnt really aimed at the gamer market it is aimed at providing great sound for all audio tasks so I wanted to play my current favorite games and see how the card handles them.  These games were not chosen for any specific audio engine they are just games I enjoy playing and know the audio tracks and sound effects very well.

Call of Duty 2

The card was set for GX gaming mode and the game was tested with both headphone set and the monitors.  This game sounded very good with the Essence STX using both the Miles Positional Audio Engine and EAX 2.0 the games audio control panel would not lock into EAX 3.0 mode.

This game is one of my favorite and I have modified the audio tracks and in game sounds with updated version of effects that are arguably better then the stock set.  The Essence STX sounded spectacular using both Dolby Headphone mode and with stereo monitors.  All the weapon sounds have a realistic snap and crack to them and the bullets whizzing by my head were very cool.  Explosions and loud action sequences remained articulate with no instances of bottoming out or smearing.  The Essence STX made the game very enjoyable and realistic with the busy in game sequences and yells and cues coming from all directions.

Call of Duty 4

Call of Duty 4 always seems to find its way into my testing regimen as this game has a great sound engine and very realistic sounds. The Essence STX offered spectacular sound when gaming on the test headphones with Dolby Headphone or using stereo sound over our reference monitors.  Firearms had a realistic quality and a powerful sound not just a flat snap or pop. Bullets whizzed by the side of the head adding to the in game action.  Large explosions and heavy actions sequences played out without any smearing allowing each sound to be located within the image.

Assassins Creed

Assassins creed has found its way into my test regimen also.  The large open environments, Narrow Street and alleyway give quite a varying sonic image.  The guards yelling at thieves and other criminals could easily help locate where this action was taking place.  The Xonar Essence STX sounded excellent in this game and there were no noted anomalies in the sound.

I tested a few other games quickly during my testing regimens, games such as Bioshock, Thief: Dark shadows, infernal and others to tests for in game anomalies for EAX effects. 

There were some noted anomalies in some of the quicker game tests on larger environments.  Certain sounds seemed out of place or missing and certain environments seemed to be a bit too reflective. 

Other then this all gaming tests were really exceptional and although this card is not aimed at gaming it can holds its own offering up GX 2.5 gaming effects and just excellent overall sound quality.  Lets move on to something a little closer to my heartmusic