Windows 10: Sound Issue - Can't disable Windows Sonic for Headphones

I'm a serious gamer, and use a Schiit Jotunheim headphone amp for audio - it has a Realtek chipset inside, connected via USB to my PC. My issues is that my virtual surround is stuck on Windows Sonic - I can't even disable this terrible codec! If I go to change the sound codec to off, it stays stuck on Windows Sonic. And even though I have Atmos for Headphones and DTS installed, I can't select either when I right click the speaker icon. It's only if I run the sound troubleshooter that I can even see Atmos or DTS - but selecting them does nothing, it just goes straight back to Sonic.


Everything was working perfectly until I recently used the Windows Mixed Reality software with a VR headset, which makes the default HMD sound use Windows Sonic. I've since unplugged the HMD, uninstalled WMR, and then done clean installs of my audio drivers, the Dolby Atmos software, and the DTS software. But I'm stuck on Windows Sonic!


Please help, as I've spent a LOT of money on my headphone + amp, only to have it ruined by a bug with Windows.

:)

 

Windows Sonic doesn't work in applications unless realtek is set to 7.1, which disables windows sonic.

Hi Dorklingshot,

I would like to know what device you were trying to work with Windows Sonic. If you're trying to set up Windows Sonic for Headphones, then follow these steps:

1. Connect your headphones to your computer.
2. Once done, right-click on the Speaker icon on the system tray, and select
   Spatial sound. If you have a drop-down option, then select
   Windows Sonic for Headphones. If you don't, then proceed with the next step.
3. On the Speaker Properties window, click the Spatial sound.
4. Under Spatial sound format, click the drop-down arrow, and select Windows Sonic for Headphones.
5. Tick the box for Turn on 7.1 virtual surround sound.
6. Click Apply, then OK.

Please update this thread with the result so I can assist you further if needed.

Regards.

 

Headphone Sound Issue

Hello,

This issue could be related to the drivers on your computer or there's a problem with the headphones itself. For us to effectively assist you, we would like to ask a few questions:

• Could you tell us when did the issue start?
• Are you referring to brand new headphones?
• Have you tried updating the sound card drivers on your computer by checking the latest driver that is available from the manufacturer's website?
• Have you tried all the troubleshooting steps provided in this article? If not, we advise that you try to perform
  the steps in the article and see if it helps.
  

Meanwhile, if you haven't tried downloading and installing the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, we suggest that you try it and check if you will experience the same issue.

Do get back to us so that we can further help.

 

Spatial Sound (windows sonic for headphones, Dolby Atoms for Headphones/ with Astro A50 wireless headset)

Microsoft has its own spatial sound, but it works only with headphones. It's called Windows Sonic for Headphones. try that.