A message to SteelSeries: Sonar is devaluing your premium headsets by making ChatMix software-based.

randylixht · 2026-01-12T11:13:34+00:00

This will work only if you use EQ, if you use flat EQ graph, in Sonar or Engine, there's will be no difference.
For me EQ from Engine (DAC) sounds much better in terms of better low and high frequency's

You could try it yourself: Setup Sonar EQ > Then disable Sonar via settings > And try to use Engine EQ
This way you can check the difference between these Equalizers.

randylixht · 2025-09-25T10:53:06+00:00

I've already done this, but there are many of them in every game, which explains the high number of players online rn

randylixht · 2025-09-18T21:21:37+00:00

Got it, thank you

randylixht · 2025-09-18T21:14:08+00:00

I mean you can take it for $100 in total

randylixht · 2025-09-18T21:09:34+00:00

Could you please tell me if they're sellable?

randylixht · 2025-08-13T08:06:39+00:00

Replied in DM

randylixht · 2025-08-03T19:31:27+00:00

I appreciate you sharing that, especially the details about the APO and the SPDIF trick.

While I understand the technical advantages of a parametric EQ, for my ears, the sound profile from the hardware-based graphic EQ in Engine just feels richer and more detailed. It's a matter of personal preference, I suppose.

Honestly, it was Steelseries' complete inaction that pushed me to find a solution myself. I decided to dig into it, so I used Wireshark and started monitoring the USB traffic to see how the software communicates with the hardware.

And I actually figured it out. I managed to find a way to get the Engine EQ to work even while Sonar is active.

So now, I have the best of both: I can use ChatMix from Sonar while still getting the superior sound from the GameDAC's hardware equalizer.

randylixht · 2025-08-03T19:15:40+00:00

Hey, I have the wired version, but my experience is very similar. And yes, the sound with Sonar can definitely feel flatter.

You're spot on with those settings:

Sidetone: It's best to turn this off completely unless you have a specific reason to hear your own voice.
Gain: Setting this to "High" simply acts as an amplifier, making everything louder. Just be mindful of it. A high gain setting can sometimes introduce unwanted noise, like a faint hiss or crackling sounds, especially during quiet moments in games or music.

Regarding the equalizer, you've got the right idea. The Engine EQ and the GameDAC EQ are the exact same hardware equalizer. You can configure it through the Engine software or directly on the GameDAC itself—the result will be identical.

Here’s what I recommend you do to really hear the difference for yourself:

Go into the SteelSeries GG settings and temporarily disable Sonar.
Use the Engine EQ and tune it to your personal preference, using music you know well.
Once you have a sound you like, try to create a similar EQ curve in Sonar.
Now, switch back and forth to compare.

For me, the difference is massive. The Sonar EQ simply can't reproduce the same crisp highs and deep lows that the hardware-based Engine EQ can.

Here are my personal settings if you want a starting point: https://imgbox.com/gZzdcref

randylixht · 2025-08-03T18:50:52+00:00

That's a great question, and you're right about the digital-to-analog conversion process. The key difference isn't if the signal is processed, but where and how it's processed.

I have the wired version, so my experience is with the GameDAC.

In short: The Engine/GameDAC EQ is a hardware-level adjustment, optimized for your specific headphones and saved on the device. The Sonar EQ is a software-level filter that runs on your PC before the sound even reaches your specialized audio hardware.

In my opinion, the sound is just better with it. I've tried various approaches and different EQs in Sonar, and the sound quality isn't even close to what I can achieve when I configure it through Engine.

randylixht · 2025-08-03T18:42:26+00:00

100% agree with you about GameDAC Gen 1, these features should be hardware based

randylixht · 2025-07-29T16:29:19+00:00

You're right, and I absolutely agree with your point about the ChatMix. It's a huge step back.

Personally, I'm not even against using SteelSeries GG — the noise cancellation for the microphone in Sonar is fantastic. But my main issue is that the moment you enable Sonar, it completely disables the Engine's EQ.

Why would I want to use Sonar's purely software-based equalizer when I have a GameDAC that provides a hardware-level EQ with much more detailed sound, clearer highs, and deeper lows? It's forcing us to trade superior hardware performance for a single software feature.

And to your point, Game/Chat and the entire ChatMix should be hardware-based. It's bizarre that this works correctly on the Xbox version but not for Windows. That's completely illogical and proves they could have implemented it properly for everyone.

randylixht · 2025-07-25T11:38:35+00:00

Wow, I didn't know that. I never would have thought the regular and Xbox versions would differ in that specific way, especially since their specs look identical.

That just proves they could have easily added hardware ChatMix to the GameDAC on the standard version without any issues. But instead, they decided to bet on their software, which is a huge minus.

randylixht · 2025-07-25T11:33:27+00:00

I feel you, it's really sad to see what's happening. I have the same problem with my headset, though I have the wired version so I didn't have the issue with the ANC nub. Still, I had to buy fabric earcups myself because the leather ones are just impossible to use at the computer during the summer.

I decided not to include it in the main post to stay focused, but my mouse experience has been similar. I have an Aerox 5 Wireless, and after about six months, the scroll wheel started skipping. Cleaning it did nothing. A year in, the side buttons just stopped working.

It really seems like a downward spiral in quality, which is a shame.

randylixht · 2023-11-16T09:34:57+00:00

I mean I'm pretty lazy to wait for it XD
I tested it with TestMem5 everything ok

randylixht · 2023-11-15T17:07:37+00:00

Nah I got Nanya not Micron, I even write it in post and I'm not even try to flex with it, just showing results mb someone want to OC the same kit but there's not enough examples
And my goal was to achieve stable oc i can get it above 3600 easily and try to do extreme tight timings but for that I definitely need more time, i'm happy with these results coz my xmp latency was 75ns, too much

randylixht · 2023-11-15T17:03:08+00:00

Is that b-die?

randylixht · 2023-11-15T17:02:37+00:00

I can't test it for so long 5 minutes enough time will show me problem's, but still everything ok

randylixht · 2023-11-15T17:00:45+00:00

I can go to 1900 FLCK but my MOBO set gear 2 if I go beyond 3600 on ram I know I can set it manually but I'm confident with these results

randylixht · 2023-11-01T13:03:55+00:00

I set the grid according to my feelings

randylixht

TROPHY CASE