Chat headset presence disables HDMI surround

PokeyOaks · Aug 26, 2023

When using a chat headset such as the official Microsoft Xbox chat headset or the Turtle Beach Recon Air (headsets that use the Xbox controller's rectangular accessory port), surround sound over HDMI is disabled and forced to stereo output only. This sometimes happens with headsets using the 3.5mm jack also.

What is needed is a software switch in settings that allows users to set headset audio to Chat Only, in order to eliminate game audio over headset and allow HDMI to operate independently and push surround audio. The Chat mixer function doesn't do this - it only reduces game audio volume down to zero.

Microsoft needs to consider how players outside of Microsoft HQ play games; MS has all of this telemetry from the consoles and yet still isn't recognising how players play.

This was never a problem with the 360. Microsoft messed up.

There is another thread discussing the problem here.

I have reported the problem a few times via the Xbox Insiders app, initially more than a year ago.

:)

TrainedKilla187

I also have had this problem since launch of the SeriesX with the Xbox headset that I used to keep around my neck to muffle the sound of the chat and with the Recon Air. Losing surround sound makes the games difficult to play because you don’t get positional audio (footsteps) when the receiver is forced into Stereo mode. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a 8K Samsung that can do Dolby Atmos Passthrough without any lag or delay to the receiver via HDMI. If you cheapos had not removed the Fiber Optic Audio port this would have been an acceptable workaround because you could still get Dolby Digital at least. It seems like Turtle beach should have thought of this as well with their software telling the controller that this is a CHAT headset and NOT a Gaming Headset.

Super disappointed in MS and Xbox and Turtle Beach on this one.

Kathy A.

Hello PokeyOaks,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

We appreciate your time for bringing this issue to our attention. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We understand that you would like to have a software switch in settings that allows users to set headset audio to Chat Only, in order to eliminate game audio over headset and allow HDMI to operate independently and push surround audio.

We appreciate your feedback and suggestions. We understand that you have submitted a report multiple times in Xbox Insider app. We recommend you use the suggestion link we will share to you so the team that handles suggestion will check on your idea.

Suggestion Link: Xbox Support

In the meantime, we suggest checking for any available updates for your Xbox console and headset, as well as checking the audio settings on your console to ensure that they are properly configured. If you continue to experience this issue, please don't hesitate to contact our live support team for further assistance.

Please use this link: Contact us | Xbox Support
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Select the "Contact Us" button
Select the drop-down menu options that will match your concern.
The next window will provide you with support articles based on your request and we recommend reviewing the relevant articles before selecting the "See contact options" button.
On the final window, you will be presented with multiple options. We suggest selecting either the "Chat online" or the "Request a call" options to speak with someone. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible.
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Thank you for choosing Microsoft.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Community Moderator

sagggas

Hi John,

I've pasted your most recent here and replied in green.

Thank you. And to be clear so that I can make sure I am understanding correctly, the behavior you're expecting is that when plugging in a mono headset it is for not just chat but to pass game and chat audio to the headset? No, ideally, only chat audio goes to headset, but I'm ok if game and chat come thru as long as the current game/chat balance slider is available. I move the slider all the way to chat so no game audio comes thru the headset.

or is the mono headset only meant to pass chat while the surround sound system continues to cast game and console audio and is switching the TV/Surround sound audio from its settings? Like I mentioned above, I'm flexible with how it's implemented. The main requirement is that if any headset is plugged into the controller, it does not automatically turn off audio out via HDMI to my TV/Surround. Plugging in a headset should still allow Dolby Digital, DTS, Atmos, etc. to flow thru HDMI via ARC, eARC, or direct to a receiver.

Thus when unplugging the surround sound system works as intended but does not work as intended when a mono headset is plugged in. I don't understand this comment. The Xbox does not work as expected when a headset is plugged in because surround sound is no longer passed out via HDMI. If no headset is plugged in, the Xbox will pass surround sound out via HDMI as I expect it to.

With the sony headset are you trying to pass all sound through the headset? or through the headset and the surround sound system? I don't use the Sony headset normally. I only tested it so I could provide you an additional data point and to demonstrate that the Xbox turns off HDMI audio out whenever ANY headset is plugged into the controller.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or comments.

WARRIOR I M

Does Turtle beach offer a mono speaker headset to just hear teammates chat- like a Bluetooth cellphone headset or can use the stereo headset adapter and hook up a 360 wireless headset via a 3.5 mm cable? I just want a headset to go over one ear and connect
to the headset adapter to get chat. I have a surround system and will not use a pilot style stero headset like turtle beach offers. So if anyone knows how to hook up a Bluetooth headset with a cable to the stereo headset adapter or a way to make the 360
wireless headset work with the 360 controller via some cable of appreciate it. I can't hook up anything to the optical output on my console since I hsve hdmi going to my reliever for surround. I just want chat via some way other than Turtle beach massive
headphones when I have better surround sound system snd receiver,

XBF John

Thank you. And to be clear so that I can make sure I am understanding correctly, the behavior you're expecting is that when plugging in a mono headset it is for not just chat but to pass game and chat audio to the headset? or is the mono headset only meant to pass chat while the surround sound system continues to cast game and console audio and is switching the TV/Surround sound audio from its settings? Thus when unplugging the surround sound system works as intended but does not work as intended when a mono headset is plugged in.

With the sony headset are you trying to pass all sound through the headset? or through the headset and the surround sound system?

Thanks,

John

Chat headset presence disables HDMI surround