Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
1: I have to update the firmware according to what I've read in the other comments. Is there anything I should really/especially watch out for? Also, where can i get the files?
2: I have on my pc Realtek HD Audio and Razer Surround. should I remove them? Razer Surround was mainly to easily switch audio output between headphone and speakers, and Realtek was just there.
3: There was some conversation about setting pc volume to max and using the Dacport to control the headset volume. Is that what I should do?
Thanks for the helps! Please~
2. Should be OK with them installed.
3. Theoretically it's better. Windows outputs the highest quality at the highest volume, but my ears don't hear any difference.
Another factor is also the use of the internal digital attenuation control of the DACports volume pot of the AKM4490 chip. It is a 256 step .5db internal attenuation. Likely excellent as it is internal in the Dac and not a separate circuit or device but purists might want 100% volume to prevent any effect. (AKM and CEntrance did it right) No boost switch is Unity gain with pot at 100%. Effectively only hearing the DAC pure. So far it has been enough for all headphones I have tried granted I myself run the DACport in high boost for "pro level" active monitors and just turn the volume down in Jriver when I plug in headphones as I do not like flipping the switch as I have to get a tool out to do so.
The simple answer is just bypass "Directsound" with ASIO or WASAPI mode whenever possible when listening to audio and use a Media player with 32bit or greater volume control.
I also got in on the Red/Blk AKG7XX myself. Not really a headphone enthusiast as I prefer a true linear flat frequency playback from balanced loudspeakers in a treated room at around 85db.(20-23khz FR +- 1db - gets real tough below 40-50hz). But from what I gather the AKG7XX is one of the "flatter" sets with great resolution.
Enjoy your combo!
In Windows control panel/hardware and sound/sound: set your sample rate on the "CEntrance USB Audio" properties Default Format to 96khz at 32bit. Also select both boxes under "allow exclusive mode."
The 96khz 24 or 32 bit is the format least effected by Windows Audio API. That setting is what I use for games and just use the volume control on my keyboard.
I recommend getting the media players Foobar for Free or Jriver for music as they both have excellent volume control technology and other cool DSP features, EQs, sound calibration as well as plugins like RTA (real time analyzer).
One approach would be to run the CEntrance at low gain 100% volume (line level) and use the Pc to control volume levels through your chosen Media player program in WASAPI or ASIO mode. (Jriver or Foobar) They are device settings configurable in both programs and you need to enable "internal volume control".
Your second approach would be to put Windows volume at 100% (using 96khz 32bit) and control volume by way of DACport's physical volume dial.
You do not have to remove Realtek or Razer. Just make CEntrance Default sound driver.
Use the approach for what physically works best for you.