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[Sennheiser] Sennheiser releases GSX 1000/1200 PC USB 7.1 Surround sound headphone amplifier

117K views 745 replies 127 participants last post by  Owari 
#1 ·
Introducing the new GSX 1000 and GSX 1200 PRO
Quote:
When you're playing to win, you need to see everything, hear everything and act in an instant. To own the game, you need a winning edge. At Gamescom 2016 held from August 17-21 in Cologne, Germany, Sennheiser will unveil the GSX 1000 and GSX 1200 PRO, for competitive gamers seeking to advance to the next level in audio performance. The audio specialist's new audio amplifiers for PC and Mac are the very first to feature an advanced 7.1 algorithm from Sennheiser that has been developed with the needs of core gamers in mind. It is Surround Sound reborn - the ultimate positional gaming audio, with incredibly precise spatial awareness for the most thrilling immersive experience.
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/news-introducing-the-new-gsx-1000-and-gsx-1200-pro

GSX1200 Product page https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1200-pro $249.95

GSX1000 Product page https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1000 $229.95





What do you guys think? I would be really interested in giving this a try. I think them using their own surround sound algorithm could be really good and a fresh take on the aging Dolby Headphone, and SBX Pro that are currently out there.

EDIT:
Checked the fact sheets on the 1000 and 1200 Pro. Output specs appear to be the same. Only difference between the 1000 and 1200 Pro appears to be the esports communication hard wired linking feature.
 
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#2 ·
This is quite an interesting product for sure. Curious on what the differences between the 1000 and the 1200 are as well as the price on this thing. I've been thinking about getting a DAC/Amp for the HD598SE's i have but haven't seen anything i felt was worth it quite yet.

The feature to link together for lag free communication is really cool, but is a bit more niche to LAN esports as well as requiring everyone to have this system.

If the price is reasonable, i don't see why i wouldn't pick up one of these.
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by IMI4tth3w View Post

This is quite an interesting product for sure. Curious on what the differences between the 1000 and the 1200 are as well as the price on this thing. I've been thinking about getting a DAC/Amp for the HD598SE's i have but haven't seen anything i felt was worth it quite yet.

The feature to link together for lag free communication is really cool, but is a bit more niche to LAN esports as well as requiring everyone to have this system.

If the price is reasonable, i don't see why i wouldn't pick up one of these.
As far as I can tell the only difference is that the 1200 Pro has the linking ability and the 1000 does not.
 
#4 ·
Looks interesting. Can't wait to hear more about it!
Senn is one of the those companies that usually does a pretty bang up job too.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anateus View Post

I somehow doubt Senn can do good products.
I hope this is sarcasm otherwise more ignorant words have never been spoken...
rolleyes.gif
 
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#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by prava View Post

Have they done anything worthwhile besides the HD800 and HD700 in the past years?
Absolutely! HD800S was recently released which is the HD800 re-tuned to actually sound good to most people. They had the HDVD 800 amp come out about 6 years ago, which is a really good top tier amp IMO. They also released the Momentum line and recently refreshed it for the entry to mid tier market of closed headphones. They are also one of the few companies that have reasonably good sounding gaming headsets (puke) as well. The thing is, their other headphones, especially the HD6x0 series, are fantastic headphones. I suppose if they wanted to, they could make them more efficient, but they say "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!" for a very, very good reason. You don't fix what works great.
 
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#14 ·
you don't need 7.1 for games or for positional sound at all. You need developers to actually learn and understand directional sound coding and implement it better. All can be done in a stereo setup. There were huge advances in this field in the late 90s-early 00s I believe but got tossed when graphics started it's advance. Typical Developers in all fields worrying about what we can see first and forgetting quality of sound.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by nzgroller View Post

you don't need 7.1 for games or for positional sound at all. You need developers to actually learn and understand directional sound coding and implement it better. All can be done in a stereo setup. There were huge advances in this field in the late 90s-early 00s I believe but got tossed when graphics started it's advance. Typical Developers in all fields worrying about what we can see first and forgetting quality of sound.
The way I look at it is that lots of modern games actually put out 8 (7.1) channels of sound... In order to get the sound as the game developer intended you have to be using them all in some way. Battlefield 1 is an example of this.... It actually has 8 channels of audio. So in the case of Sennheiser saying this does 7.1 basically all they are saying is they are taking all of the possible channels of the audio and doing their best to put them through your headphones for you. When that's what's being provided by the games even if it is gimicky or whatever I don't see a problem with a company like sennhieser trying to take advantage of it. It's also a good market to bust into because everyone can agree that the current headphone virtualization technologies aren't all that good.... With this being their own new format it might just be the first step in getting good headphone virtualization from a 7.1 source.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by killeraxemannic View Post

The way I look at it is that lots of modern games actually put out 8 (7.1) channels of sound... In order to get the sound as the game developer intended you have to be using them all in some way. Battlefield 1 is an example of this.... It actually has 8 channels of audio. So in the case of Sennheiser saying this does 7.1 basically all they are saying is they are taking all of the possible channels of the audio and doing their best to put them through your headphones for you. When that's what's being provided by the games even if it is gimicky or whatever I don't see a problem with a company like sennhieser trying to take advantage of it. It's also a good market to bust into because everyone can agree that the current headphone virtualization technologies aren't all that good.... With this being their own new format it might just be the first step in getting good headphone virtualization from a 7.1 source.
you do make a good point, using what is there and developing it is good , whether or not I think it should be there in the first place is another story.
 
#17 ·
Ineresting product. Probably not for me but cool nonetheless. Sennheiser makes great products. I listen to my Momentum 2's every day.
 
#19 ·
I am very interested in this. If Sennheiser can make a good DAC/AMP that doesn't break the bank, count me in as one of their first customers.

EDIT: saw the price. That's about what I expected. I might give these a shot.
thumb.gif
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by nzgroller View Post

you don't need 7.1 for games or for positional sound at all. You need developers to actually learn and understand directional sound coding and implement it better. All can be done in a stereo setup. There were huge advances in this field in the late 90s-early 00s I believe but got tossed when graphics started it's advance. Typical Developers in all fields worrying about what we can see first and forgetting quality of sound.
Yeah, it's a shame that any decent effort in this space gets laughed off and fogrotten like AMD's TrueAudio. PS4 can have hardware-accelerated immersive audio, why can't PC?
 
#21 ·
Anything that screams WOOO BUILT FOR PRO ESPORTS GAMING is a turn-off for me. That's the kind of advertising I expect to see from Razer or some other pheriphal company. But Sennheiser? That is a really strange direction for them. Yeah they were already making gaming headsets a while ago, but those were basically HD558/598 built-in with a microphone. This DAC is something else.

Why should someone buy this particular DAC for "gaming surround"? How is it better than software solutions to fake surround? Isn't the soundstage of your headphones a factor? Is stereo music quality compromised in any way?
Quote:
Originally Posted by prava View Post

Have they done anything worthwhile besides the HD800 and HD700 in the past years?
HD500 series was a huge success, extremely good headphones for the price. Also recently Senn launched a refresh for that series, received well so far.

Their IE series earbud lineup has been really good (IMO).

In the audio world things move far slower.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lombardsoup View Post

Give up my open planars and tube amp for '7.1 headphones' silliness? That's a nope. Surround is great...if we're talking speakers. For headphones it makes no sense.
For headphones it makes perfect sense, and your ignorant view on 7.1 and binaural audio is hilarious.

Also, how do you own planars and a tube amp and aren't aware of hooking up things like an iPhone to an amp? Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lombardsoup View Post

And last I checked, that's under $100. Senn is crazy to charge over $200.
The MixAmp is a piece of garbage that has reverb plagued Dolby Headphone, and it doesn't work with PC unless you have a motherboard or soundcard that supports Dolby surround sound.
The noise floor of the MixAmp is high and the quality of it is garbage.

Senn is being completely reasonable when their actual competition is Creative not Astro console garbage.

Go away and read some before you continue making yourself look stupid.
Anyways, my GSX 1000 should be here in a few days. People who have heard SBX surround from Creative are saying good things about this DSP.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunched View Post

For headphones it makes perfect sense, and your ignorant view on 7.1 and binaural audio is hilarious.
You're either packing in tiny drivers, or relying on virtualization. Both sound like crap.

If positional audio is coded correctly, you only need two drivers, one for each ear.

Its amusing that you're defending 7.1 'gaming' headphones though, shows the dudebro Mountain Dew Doritos advertising is very strong indeed. And on that note, I'm very disappointed Sennheiser is going down this road.
 
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