Ossic X - True 3D Headset

[Vivoune]

Hi guys,

 

Here's a cool product that's about to close a very successful kickstarter campaign

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Their marketing seems to be so overselling in its pitch yet so generic in its execution that I think it actually does them a disservice so here are a few feedbacks for the skepticals (I know I was):

 

http://wccftech.com/future-audio-ossic/

http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/ossic-x-is-the-3d-headset-the-htc-vive-needs

 

[ame]

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Here's to ED supporting that product, the immersion would be epic. :)

 

Cheers!

[Nooch]

This guy is playing CS GO, I'm out! :lol: No just kidding.

[metalnwood]

I didnt watch. Did the guy dare take off his fedora to try them?

[Hadwell]

our noise cancelling headphones now cancel 50% more noise... still stereo... yay for more "audio enhancer" software...

 

man it's too bad that EAX and the like don't work anymore... hardware accelerated spatial audio in games rocks.

 

so far the best 3d audio i've had is just hooking up 4 of the same speakers around me, and a smaller speaker in front, and I just used an old computer surround setup subwoofer...

 

as for headsets, I own a 5.1 setup with 3 speakers in each ear, it works, but the distance between the channels is so small, you don't get a true sense of direction, to the point where you could just reach back without looking, and grab whatever's behind you... just that there is something behind or beside you...

Edited April 18, 2016 by Hadwell

[Vivoune]

I haven't tried any true specialized audio headphones personally but from what I understand they're really weak on the top, bottom and rear aspect. Not to mention everything is still quite "close" to the head, not the kind of presence you'd expect to meet VR headsets. That Ossic should correct that.

 

They claim life-like quality audio with a few degrees precision anywhere, so unlimited 3D. I'm still skeptical, but I'm also optimistic considering the various 3d party previews so far that are as excited and impressed by it as they were with the OR when it first was demoed.

 

It would be so immersive to be seated in the cockpit and correctly hear (i.e feel) the engines running on your back, the pump on the bottom, oxygen ventilation on the side, alarms from the front, the rain atop us hitting the canopy etc. It would really bring a cockpit alive, closing your eyes and believe you're really there. Then for the lucky few, opening them and actually being there in VR. :D

 

It would be so incredibly immersive.

Edited April 19, 2016 by Vivoune

[Necroscope]

Ok, I've read all that advertising crap and funky-videos.

 

Can somebody please explain me - what is the point here? Why this cost $400?

If main idea in software - why do I need to buy headphones?

If main idea in headphones - why this one better then any other multi-driver headphones?

 

And the main question - why should I spend $400 for some software-hardware combo doing some magic with sound if my sound source will be exactly the same? Where do they expect to get 3D sound in stereo-mp3 or SoundBlaster with half-dead EAX and without Aurial buried by Creative?

[Vivoune]

About Stereo, simulated surround sound has been a thing for a long time, so they'll use that with their own algorithm. But all current surround headsets (5.1 or 7.1) have a resolution of 30° at best with weaker spots on the top, bottom and rear. The better the source the better the headset will work though, so it's not made to shine with simple stereo.

 

In a nutshell the point of it is to have several speakers in each ear angled differently so that their algorithm can beam sound the way it needs to, to create true specialized sound for your specific anatomy that it measured previously (thanks to in-house algorithms and on-board measuring tools). That should offer unlimited surround with great sound quality. At least that's the promesse.

 

Games would have to not compress their sound output to 5.1 or 7.1 though, but according to Ossic it's not hard to do at all since 3D engines are already set up to have unlimited sound sources coming from the right sources. If itreally works like they say it does, it'll be to stereo headphones what VR is to 2D screens.

Edited April 19, 2016 by Vivoune

[Necroscope]

About Stereo, simulated surround sound has been a thing for a long time, so they'll use that with their own algorithm. But all current surround headsets (5.1 or 7.1) have a resolution of 30° at best with weaker spots on the top, bottom and rear. The better the source the better the headset will work though, so it's not made to shine with simple stereo.

 

In a nutshell the point of it is to have several speakers in each ear angled differently so that their algorithm can beam sound the way it needs to, to create true specialized sound for your specific anatomy that it measured previously (thanks to in-house algorithms and on-board measuring tools). That should offer unlimited surround with great sound quality. At least that's the promesse.

 

Games would have to not compress their sound output to 5.1 or 7.1 though, but according to Ossic it's not hard to do at all since 3D engines are already set up to have unlimited sound sources coming from the right sources. If itreally works like they say it does, it'll be to stereo headphones what VR is to 2D screens.

 

For surround Stereo - they promise to make my pure stereo not the surrounding but 3D aligned. So the I believe this possible only by faking sound with some "we-think-this-is-like-that" voodoo.

Just because up-sampling 2 channels in to 5.1 it's just of matter of delays and arranging sounds by frequencies (like bass redirection to subwoofer). And advertised 3D arrangement is something to deal with sound sources on the scene. But there no way to manage sound sources position using stereo input. Especially keeping in mind that almost all music currently recorded per-instrument and arranged in post-production.

So only way to 3D-allocate sound is pure "guessing". "We sure that drums always in the center and far behind guitars. So be it". Wrong!

 

For 3D games and sounds - If I got you properly - they just selling us the software with "just bit different drivers placement" headphones under the sauce "this is like Oculus, but in sound. That's why it cost almost the same."

 

In fact you can got 3D in your own favorite stereo headphones just using proper sound phasing. Actually you can't because Creative kill Aureal, but in general - you can. Just check Aureal demos on YouTube to got the taste. :)

 

P.S. No offense and nothing personal. But it looks like ADV crap for me and they already got ~$2.5 donation for nothing and nice videos.

[SharpeXB]

I'm using some Logitech 7.1 headphones and the improvement over stereo 2.0 headphones is amazing. I didn't think it would make a difference since you only have two ears. But wow it sure does. Many games are mastered in surround, probably all of them are. The only thing I miss on the PC compared to a console was how I had that thing hooked up to a home theater. Really amazing sound in most games. There aren't too many 5.1 speaker systems for the PC in fact I only see one from Logitech. But 7.1 headphones really put you in the cockpit.

[Necroscope]

I'm using some Logitech 7.1 headphones and the improvement over stereo 2.0 headphones is amazing. I didn't think it would make a difference since you only have two ears. But wow it sure does. Many games are mastered in surround, probably all of them are. The only thing I miss on the PC compared to a console was how I had that thing hooked up to a home theater. Really amazing sound in most games. There aren't too many 5.1 speaker systems for the PC in fact I only see one from Logitech. But 7.1 headphones really put you in the cockpit.

 

You are definitely right. But it not cost you $400 and Logitech do not promise you to change any sound experience in you life, right?

 

P.S. Logitech is awesome at any pieces!

P.P.S. Except G930 headphones.

[Vivoune]

And a very successful campaign ended with about 2.7 millions dollars out of the $100 000 target. #36 in most funded projects ever on Kickstarter with 27 times the funds they asked.