Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows issues with DTS/Atmos/Sonic spatial audio

Do you have any spatial audio like Atmos, windows sonic or dts enabled?

Hi d0x360,

Out of curiosity did the the customer by chance give the brand/model of headset they purchased? I am linking a few resources concerning Dolby Atmos for Xbox Experience Your Games in Full Audio Immersion with Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos Spatial Sound - Xbox Wire and Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X headset settings on Xbox | Xbox Support . I usually recommend to players that once they have installed the Atmos app on their console or pc that they use the app to test the differences in sound rather than using a game to test the audio.

Seems MS is carefully wording their product pages to make it ambiguous if Dolby Atmos is to be supported or not on Windows. Can't find a clear statement on any product page on whether Dolby Atmos is supported or unsupported by the Wireless Adapter. Given that Wireless Dolby Atmos for Headphones works on actual Xbox hardware, I think it is fair to expect any special requirement for windows to be noted when using the PC adapter, otherwise, MS is just straight-up misleading people.

Xbox Wireless Adapter for windows site reads:

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows

[table][tr][td]With the new and improved Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10, you can play your favourite PC games using any Xbox Wireless Controller. Features a 66% smaller design, wireless stereo sound support, and the ability to connect up to eight controllers at once[/td][/tr][/table]

Xbox Wireless Headset site reads:

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/headsets/xbox-wireless-headset

[table][tr]Audio untetheredGame loud and clear with the Xbox Wireless Headset, compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices with Bluetooth®.Supports Spatial Sound technologies like Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One *For use with Xbox X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10 devices. Windows 10 use requires Bluetooth 4.2+, Xbox Wireless adapter or compatible USB-C cable.[/tr][/table]

Dolby page on the Xbox Wireless Headphone page reads:

https://www.dolby.com/experience/headphones/xbox-wireless-headset/#gref

[table][tr]Supports spatial sound technologies including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X**Audio customization available via the Xbox Accessories app for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 Devices. Windows 10 app support available after installing the latest Windows updates. Use a compatible USB-C cable to configure audio settings on the Xbox Accessories App when using a Windows 10 PC. Some voice chat features require Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (memberships sold separately). Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: may require additional purchases, app downloads, and supported hardware. [/tr][/table]

While Dolby does point out that USB-C connection is required to set up the headset, they also say that "supported hardware" may be required for Atmos to work. This seems to be on Microsoft end not making their adapter a "Dolby Atmos supported hardware" probably due to them saving some bucks on the licensing. From their wording on their products page, they never acknowledge the adapter to support Atmos, while they also say that the headphone supports atmos only on Xbox consoles while at the same time acknowledging that W10 requires either Bluetooth 4.2, Xbox wireless adapter or an USB-C cable.

If it is indeed unsupported, it is EXTREMELY misleading and MS should clarify on this.

Are you using the onboard speakers or something else? Do you have anything like Dolby Atmos or DTS installed? Do you have windows spatial, audio enabled?

Hi
My name is Rishabh, I hope you are doing great out there. I’m happy to help you with your question.

The Starfield Limited Edition headset is designed to support spatial audio and provide an immersive gaming experience, so if you're not getting spatial audio and the audio sounds like it's coming from the center of your head, there might be some settings or compatibility issues to address:

Driver Installation:
Make sure you have installed any necessary drivers or software provided by the headset manufacturer. Some headsets require specific drivers to enable spatial audio features.

Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos for Headphones:
Spatial audio in Windows can be enabled through technologies like Windows Sonic for Headphones or Dolby Atmos for Headphones. You need to enable one of these spatial audio solutions to experience 3D audio. You can activate them by right-clicking the sound icon in the system tray, selecting "Spatial sound," and choosing either Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos.

Game Compatibility:
Not all games support spatial audio, and some may require specific settings to be configured within the game itself. Make sure you're playing a game that supports spatial audio and check its settings to enable it if necessary.

Headset Compatibility:
While the Starfield Limited Edition headset is designed for spatial audio, it's possible that there could be compatibility issues with certain systems or setups. Check the manufacturer's website or support resources to ensure the headset is compatible with your specific setup.

Audio Output Settings:
Confirm that the audio output settings on your PC are correctly set to use the Starfield Limited Edition headset as the default audio device. Sometimes, incorrect settings can affect spatial audio performance.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks and regards
Rishabh Sohal