While the mixamp can handle so many different connections and wires, it’s actually a pretty simple device. There are two knobs, and two buttons. There’s a knob for overall volume, and a separate one for voice volume. There’s a button for power, and a button for Dolby Headphone. I say this only to emphasize my initial mistake and confusion.

Dolby vs Dolby…

So, knowing that that the “5.1 sound” in the headset was virtual, and in part due to their documentation, I assumed that the mixamp must have Dolby Headphone enabled to create the 5.1 surround sound. In fact, the very first time to turn on the A40 system, Dolby Headphone is enabled. This however, was a major error for me playing Modern Warfare 2.

As you can see in the picture from the quickstart guide, the button was more simply labeled as Dolby On/Off. Strictly speaking, this is mostly accurate. While the Xbox hooked up via optical cable is outputting Dolby Digital 5.1 sounds, this button enables Dolby Headphone. What’s the difference you ask? In the end quite a bit in certain situations.

As I found out later, Dolby Headphone is the rough equivalent to Dolby Pro Logic. What’s Dolby Pro Logic? Essentially it’s the ability that many receivers have to make a 2 channel (left and right) audio source sound like it’s coming from all around you, even though it is not. This clearly is the problem I was having. Dolby Headphone will also “create” the surround effect even if surround sound is getting piped into the mixamp. So when I said it sounded like the footsteps were all around me all the time, that was actually a much more true statement than I realized.

In short, for a FPS like MW2, make sure this button is off. For a game that’s more cinematic where directional audio is not important, the Dolby Headphone will add a compelling spaciousness to the sound. This is part of the reason why it took me so long to try MW2 with it off. Once you’ve heard Dolby Headphone turned on, the regular and accurate surround sound seems quite flat. In truth, it is vastly more accurate.

Ok, now we’re rolling

So now that I’ve had my “duh!” moment, how does the headset sound?

Very very good.

The audio cues for me are important, and when I had the mixamp running in the wrong mode, my gameplay suffered considerably. Once I had it set up properly, I was right back up to where I left off. I could easily tell where people were running and shooting from. I’m not really sure what else I could say about the sound. Whether it’s a virtual 5.1 or not, the differences to me are extremely minor and make little to no difference. I found the directional sound to only be slightly and momentarily more ambiguous than a regular 5.1 home theatre setup. By this I mean that I felt sometimes I didn’t know exactly where the sound was coming from instantly, but a split second later I would. However, I believe this is made up by the fact that I’m wearing a headset. Footsteps and other directional audio are noticeable much sooner. So any possible delay in interpreting the sound that I perceive is in the end irrelevant.

Comfort

I can also attest to the comfort of the headset. I played for many consecutive hours without any comfort issues whatsoever. The cans are cloth, similar to a felt, and there’s no “heat” issues. Some headphone will make you feel like you have ear warmers on after a while, these do not suffer in the least from this effect.

The downsides

As nearly every review you will read about the astro setup, there are two downsides. The price and the cables. If you know the price, and you’re not immediately turned off by it (I believe a good headset is worth the money), then the cables are you’re only potential downside. I for one prefer aspects of the cables. For one, that means there’s no batteries in the headset. This means less weight, and no batteries that involve charging etc. The cables need to be managed. Once you have a good setup, you probably won’t want to move much. It takes a little getting used to.

The only minor gripe I have is the location of the mic’s mute button. Regular Xbox 360 users know that the mute is on the plug for the headset. Easily within reach when your hands are on the controller for quite muting. I used that a lot. Understandably, since the Astro also function with a PC, this location would make no sense. So the mute is where it needs to be, just not where I’m used to. I will say however, that when people see me with the headset on, they don’t even bother to try to talk to me anyway (I usually can’t hear them while in game), so I haven’t needed a mute button nearly as much.

In the end

In conclusion, if you’re used to a 5.1 setup for your gaming or want to experience quality directional audio, the Astro A40 audio system will not disappoint. You might not want to spend that kind of money on a wired headset, but if the price and cables aren’t deal breakers for you, you will not have buyer’s remorse with this system.

While I know that the Astro A40 audio system is not a “true” 5.1 setup, all the reviews from every source imaginable on the internet said that every sound could be accurately placed in the sound stage, and that their virtualized 5.1 is excellent. So, despite the high cost (especially if you ship to Canada), I decided that I’m spending more than enough hours online play Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360 to justify the cost.

The headset arrived yesterday. The boxes that the product comes in are excellent. They really present the product. Unboxing was genuinely enjoyable. The cable selection is sizable, and the USB cable to power the mixamp is the thickest, heaviest, most beefy USB cable I’ve ever seen by far. I know it shouldn’t matter at all, but I liked that it was so rugged (and slightly rubberized).

Anyway, once setup, I had to “set” the cables, meaning make them usable at my desk. Astro is certainly generous with the cable length of all the cables (I would estimate the USB cable to be at least 10 feet, and the cables from the mixamp to the headset were at least 6 feet also). Since I sit probably 2 feet away from the mixamp, I re-bundled them to a more usable length.

Starting up the Xbox, the headset blew my mind with the regular xbox 360 startup noise. I started to get really excited. So then I fired up Modern Warfare 2.

This is where I feel I should clarify how I play and what I’m used to. I started playing MW2 on my 5.1 setup. I typically like my video games loud. I really like to hear everything, and sound is a huge part of my video game/movie experience, more than most of my friends. I consistently use the sound in MW2 to my advantage. I use the sound to locate enemies, keep track of my team, play stealthily and generally enjoy the whole thing. I probably put in roughly 100 hours on that setup. Then I moved my Xbox to my computer monitor and speakers.

So I lost my 5.1 setup playing the game on my computer monitor. As I said, my AudioEngine 5 speakers (only 2) now became my sound system (I really love these speakers, full balanced sound). At first, I really missed the full 5.1 experience. But over time (the next 100 hours) I’ve started to be able to pinpoint sounds from all around me again. I wouldn’t say I can tell where something is coming from every time, but quite frequently. I’m not sure if this is a testament to excellent sound design on behalf of the developer, or simply me adjusting to the setup. Knowing that I can’t see the sound source by default, suggests that the sounds is either to the side or behind me.

So, back to the headset. The actual in-game sound was basically too good. And I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. When they say you’ll hear footsteps, they’re not kidding. I felt like I could hear the footsteps of the other team from way too far away. If you’re around your own team, you’ll hear 12 separate feet hitting the ground everywhere all the time. I found that I wanted to ditch my teammates more than usual, just so I could make sense of the soundstage that I was presented. It’s not that I couldn’t tell there was footsteps to my left, right, front and back, it’s just that I was given so many that I couldn’t make use of all that information.

I also found the bass to not be the strong suit of the A40 headset. This however, does not differ from the other reviews I had consulted. If there’s a lot of air strikes, grenades, guns whatever going off at once, prepare to feel completely surrounded. This however is what you want I suppose. Again, I think I’ve just gotten really used to my 2 channel setup.

My first few games were very frustrating. I felt that the headset was overwhelming what I could handle. I tried extremely hard to “find” people using the sound. This was to the detriment of my score. To be fair, I was also quite distracted by other people at home and my dogs when I was playing. Once I stopped trying to actually “hear” everything and just started playing, things got better. I, on more than one occasion, pulled a 180 to shoot someone sneaking up on me.

All that said, I need some more time with them to form a valid opinion. My initial reaction would be categorized as good, but not great (as so many others have felt). I also believe, that I personally need some time to get used to this setup. I will continue to use them for the next week or so.

Secondary Weapons Replace Pistols. No more piddly sidearms. Well, not quite true; pistols are still in there if you want them, but you can pass up the lo’ Desert Eagle in favor of tactical shotguns, automatic machine pistols, and other nice gear to augment your primary rifle. All these secondary weapons can take attachments just like the primaries can, so if you want to throw a suppressor or digital camo on your shotgun, more power to ya.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/hands-on-with-modern-warfare-2s-multiplayer/1685/

The blog is really starting to look like a MW2 fan blog… Whatever, I’m excited.

The new iPhone 3G S

I recently picked up an iPhone 3G S 16GB. My three year contract on Telus was up so I was eagerly looking at the iPhone, Palm Pre, and some Android devices. I ruled out Pre mostly because it wasn’t out yet, and their app store would have a lot of ground to make up. I ruled out the Android devices mostly because I heard the battery life was terrible.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on the whole thing.

Purchasing from Apple Store

I initially went to a Fido booth, and talked to the guy staffing the booth. Evidently nobody in the city had any iPhones, but I should keep calling back until they got some. Ok fine. So I walked around the corner to the Apple store where you can now buy the iPhone with a plan (something you HAD to do at either Fido or Rogers before). And what do you know, they proclaim proudly that they are the only retailer in Calgary who has any iPhones. Interesting…

So I said I wanted to get one, lady says I’ll have a iPhone sales guy meet you when someone’s available.

A couple minutes pass, and I’m greeted by a sales person, if you could even call him that. So I said I’m looking at getting an iPhone. He said “ok great”. This is where I paused for his sales spiel, or whatever praise he was going to bestow upon the device and myself. Nothing. He basically leaned on the shelf with one elbow with this arrogant hipster pose. I was already contemplating punching him the face. I really didn’t need him to tell me anything about the phone, but I was shocked at his sales tactics. I knew I was going to get one anyway, but his lack of effort was annoying. I would test him a bit later however.

So asked him to get a 16GB 3G S. He punches his fancy code into the computer to have someone else bring me the phone from the back. Henry Ford would be proud of his assembly line concept adapted so cleanly to retail sales. A little pretentious to say the least, but hey, I am in the Apple Store after all.

So we start going through the plans and the paperwork. This is when I ask him about battery cycles. What’s involved when the built-in battery is no good anymore? Seemed like a legitimate question to me since no cell battery I’ve ever had has lasted more than about 18 months max. Well, how foolish of me! This phone has a built in battery, I’ll “never” have to replace it. And, I can charge it whenever I want. I had no idea Apple had developed the magical rechargeable battery that doesn’t have a limited number of cycles. Strange, because I had read otherwise from what I felt was a reliable source. Clearly he had no idea what I was talking about so I moved along. I figure the geniuses will bail me out later on. Hopefully my faith isn’t misplaced.

The Keyboard

Typing in portrait mode

Coming from a Motorola Q, I liked the physical keyboard. This was basically my biggest knock on the iPhone. And I can say, I can already type basically as fast as I ever could on the physical keyboard. The text prediction/correction is quite good. My biggest gripe about it is when it does make a mistake and you’re already a handful of words ahead of that spot, getting the cursor back there to correct it is a pain.

I know many blackberry users, and they all rail on the on-screen keyboard. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Their heads are in the sand, and they’re hopelessly devoted to an excellent device that’s feeling a little more irrelevant lately. Physical keyboard or not, I don’t really think it’s an issue. I have the biggest, most sausage-like fingers around, and I can navigate that on-screen keyboard in portrait mode without issue. You have to type with a little more care for web page addresses, but taking the time to get those right the first time is no big deal.

The Secret Sauce

So I walked out of the store with the phone, looked at all the icons, and basically felt a little under-whelmed. At this point, I really just have a phone with good internet ability and a flashy screen. But then there’s the app store.

There’s an app for virutally everything. There’s excellent games (check out Flight Control, my favorite thus far), handy tools (urbanspoon/all recipes), good website apps (score mobile, giantbomb.com). There’s something for everyone. And most of the apps seem to be $2 or less. I have my eye on a more expensive golf stats app… but holding off for the time being. Nevertheless, I could track my birdies, driving distance with the GPS, handicap, sand saves, whatever. It’s the app store that makes this baby shine.

The iPod Headset Functionality

I also really like using the headphones with the built in mic. The experience of listening to music, and taking a phone call it unparalleled. So seamless and convenient.

Things That Could Be Better

Probably my biggest suggestion doesn’t go out to Apple, but to iPhone game devs. You all need to start thinking more about the phone as a device and how people use it when creating your games. The first person shooter ports and neat, and I like them, but you need to use the device in unique ways. The Nintendo DS took a few years for devs to really embrace the device properly to create unique experience, iPhone needs the same focus.

The GPS also needs to be improved. It’s neat, but it can’t really be used very well as a GPS without a second person. There’s no automatic re-routing, voice prompts etc. And if you’re on a long car trip, the spottiness of a connection on the Rogers network would lead to some huge map gaps inbetween major centres.

I expected not a lot from the battery. Most of my use on the phone so far has been data. I’d say I get about a day’s worth of battery life. No bad, but not great.

All In All

I’m quite happy with my new iPhone. It’s still really new, and it’s not perfect, but it’s so much better than everything else I’ve ever gotten my hands on. Maybe it doesn’t do email as well as a blackberry for some people, but blackberries lack that “special” quality. When you’re using the iPhone, you feel like you’re really getting treated to some different (more so than a Mac compared to a PC). So far, so good.

…You’ll be inside a space ship, and then briefly outside it. Thrilling stuff. Sadly, he doesn’t make it out alive.

That’s a possibility for the ending of the game, but not the only one. You need to survive this game as Shepard to play the third one… but it’s not going to be easy.

A possibility for ending the game?!?! Awesome. One thing about the first game (and basically all games), whether you go the “good” route or the “bad” one, you come out ahead anyway. Pissing off the wrong dude and him just flat out ending your game? That’s pretty awesome.

The game will also be awesome since it’s going to be darker. Makes me think of The Empire Strikes Back. Totally my favorite of the 6 Star Wars films. This game is going to rock.

Left 4 Dead 2

Halo ODST

Halo Reach

Crysis 2

Crackdown 2

Alan Wake