It, actually, supports only 4 channels (not 7.1), but in WASAPI all channels work as well.P. ASIO supports only 2 channels here.I also tested VB cable that I was using before. It shows 5.1 channels tho, so most likely will be like DirectSound. Probably, if music player has channels volume control, it's possible to test. In WASAPI exclusive test can't be done because. In WASAPI all channels work and you can control their sound. They're replaced by center and front channels. In DirectSound, despite being "7.1", side channels don't work and their volume doesn't matter.
![waves nx vs sound blaster waves nx vs sound blaster](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9uGkceFtel8/maxresdefault.jpg)
HeSuVi has an option to control channels volume. What Creative can say about this fact? Where is virtual 7.1 sound for headphones on AE-5?ħ.1 virtual sound test for headphones implemented in Sound Blaster Command is clearly incorrect, moreover it's a fake and sounds very odd on AE-5. So, on AE-5 in stereo headphones virtual side channels (side left, side right) are emulated correctly, but rear channels (rear left, rear right) are not present at all. ASIO AE-5 device just cut out 2 channels from 8 to make 6 channels audio, how nice.
#Waves nx vs sound blaster driver#
I tried to play Fraunhofer's 7.1 sound test in Foobar2000 via WASAPI AE-5 device and I've got error message because AE-5 driver even can't process 8 channels audio, only 6 channels! If I play this test via Direct Sound device then it just downmix 7.1 -> 5.1 with no difference between side and rear channels: rear channels sounds like side.
![waves nx vs sound blaster waves nx vs sound blaster](https://www.prosoundweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20190611waves2.jpg)
![waves nx vs sound blaster waves nx vs sound blaster](https://cdn.head-fi.org/a/10367533.png)
In your Sound Blaster X3 recordings there is clear difference between side and rear channels and it sounds absolutely correct. I listened your SBX_7.1_100.flac and SBX_7.1_50.flac recordings and found that my AE-5 have no 7.1 sound even in virtual surround mode for stereo headphones, only 5.1 in fact. Just a perfect comparison of virtual surround techniques!