Alienware 17 R3 and HyperX Cloud Revolver S with USB - Recording tab doesn't matter

So I got the HyperX Cloud Revolver S to replace a Plantronics wireless headset when gaming. Right away I could tell where gun shot were coming from in PUBG *SO* much better. So the headphones are working great.

And overall, the mic works well too. I can't hear myself, so I asked others how I sound... and they said it was good. Didn't think I needed to adjust the mic up or down. They said leave it as is.

But I'm distracted by the fact that I can't hear myself speak in my headset. It's like I'm in a void, and I only hear other people and sounds through the headset, but not myself. So I sat down to try and fix that this afternoon.

I quickly realized that while the Revolver S has it's own device listed in Playback and Recording, and I can set stereo or 7.1 virtual surround in the Playback settings, use the Dolby Atmos with the button on the USB device, after installing the driver for $15 through the MS store, etc... something was wrong under the Recording tab.

I look at my recording options, and I see four devices. HyperX Cloud Revolver S, Microphone - Sound Blaster Recon3Di, Microphone Array - Sound Blaster Recon3Di, and What you hear - Sound Blaster Recon3Di. I can set the Cloud Revolver S to be the recording device, but the "Microphone Array" is the only thing that "shows" audio levels. It's like whatever I do, that device is the "default" for the computer... despite my changing it. I've tried disabling the other devices, uninstalling the Sound Blaster Recon3Di "Extras" from the Alienware site, and the Recon3Di driver itself (it reinstalls the driver after a reboot), and I'm right back to the same problem - even without the "extras". It's not life or death, but for a computer tech to have these sorts of issues, I'm more than a little frustrated.

I guess I could disable the on-board soundcard completely in device manager, see if that makes everything else go away in the mixer, and if the HyperX headset will work as intended doing so. But that's a hell of a work around.

Anyone dealt with audio issues caused by the onboard soundcard on a Alienware 17 R3. Their site seems to think my 2016 driver is the latest and greatest, and I hardly think that's true. Any help is appreciated!!!

 

So took my own device, disabled the onboard sound card, and then looked at my recording properties. At that point, I could go to the Listen tab, select "Listen to this device", and while it's a little quiet (despite being set to max level)... I can now hear myself with nearly no delay. So I guess the Recon3Di drivers are probably the issue, and maybe I can find newer ones that work with the laptop and resolve the problem without having to disable the driver. I switch between the headset when gaming, and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's when just working on the PC and listening to audio or watching videos. So it would be nice NOT to have to disable the onboard all the time.

 

Get open ear headphones, generally more appreciated for spatial sound anyways.

I guess you could also look into Virtual Audio Cable but I wouldnt be chasing to hear myself if I got closed ear headphones to begin with.

 

Okay... so after a lot more testing, I figured some things out.

I tried disabling the Creative sound card, and plugging in a stereo USB device to use in it's place. Plugged my computer speakers into that, and tested for stereo sound that worked fine. But when I tried to go to "Recording", selected "Listen to this device", and clicked ok... I got errors about resources. Thought maybe the USB device was causing the issue, but removing it didn't help. So I went to device manager, showed hidden devices, uninstalled it, rebooted, same problem. So I uninstalled the Creative sound card, rebooted, let it reinstall, same problem.

Eventually I realized the headset was setup for 7.1 sound. Put it back in stereo, enabled "Listen to this device", and it's quiet... but it works fine. I just either have to:

1) Turn my headset volume all the way up, which blows out my ears with all other sounds but I can hear myself better.

or

2) Turn down the main volume, and live with the "recording" level being kinda quiet... even though it's at 100%.

But at least I've found a way to get it working.

Fact is, I like the 7.1 sound, even if PUBG isn't fully supporting it. So I'll probably live with not being able to hear myself when I play. But it's definitely gonna take some getting used to.

Hope this might help someone else!

 

Or get open ear headphones.