Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor

by Turtle Beach

• Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound processor
• Works with any stereo headset or headphones
• Headphone amplifier with variable bass boost
• Digital optical and analog stereo inputs
• Works with XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, PC and Mac

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B003O0KICS
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches ; 8.3 ounces
• Media: Accessory
• Release Date: June 22, 2010
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,581 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #7 in Video Games > PlayStation 3 > Accessories > Cables & Adapters > Adapters
  • #15 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Accessories > Cables & Adapters > Adapters
  • #18 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Game Hardware > Mac Game Hardware

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS - 5.1 | 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor

Overview

The Ear Force DSS works with any set of stereo headphones and is the perfect complement to the Turtle Beach Ear Force series of stereo gaming headsets (X31, X11, XLC, Z1, Z2, and PX21).

The optical digital input easily connects to a game console or media player for Dolby 5.1/7.1 channel surround sound and the analog input can also be used to upgrade analog stereo audio sources to Dolby Pro Logic IIx for virtual surround sound. A bass boost control adds sub-woofer effects for enhanced realism to any audio source.

With the Ear Force DSS, video game and movie fans will be able to hear distinct audio events happening all around them, greatly enhancing the overall experience and rewarding gamers with a newfound competitive edge. DSS users playing games and watching movies on their game consoles will actually hear the 7.1 surround sound from certain 5.1 channel audio tracks via additional hidden channels called Dolby EX.

Dolby 5.1 | 7.1 Channel Surround Sound Technology Click here to enlarge

Dolby 5.1 | 7.1 Channel Surround Sound

The DSS uses immersive Dolby Digital Surround Sound technology to greatly enhance your multimedia experience. Video game and movie fans will be able to hear distinct audio events happening all around them, greatly enhancing the overall experience and rewarding gamers with a newfound competitive edge.

Dolby Pro Logic IIx

With stereo audio sources, the Ear Force DSS Dolby Pro Logic IIx takes over. Using an advanced matrixing technology, the DSS creates an incredibly realistic virtual surround sound environment with greatly improved directionality over standard stereo audio.

Take your audio to the next level. Click here to enlarge

Bass Boost Effect

The Ear Force DSS has a variable Bass Boost feature, which enhances deep-bass effects and makes the audio even more dynamic. This is similar to adding a subwoofer to a home theater system where extra bass introduces additional depth to the overall sound. The Ear Force DSS Bass boost effect will allow you to hear deep audio cues that would otherwise be difficult to hear, resulting in a valuable advantage over your competition.

Multiple Input Options

Convenient digital and analog audio inputs make the Ear Force DSS versatile enough to connect to virtually any gaming or audio set up.

Powered by USB

The Ear Force DSS front panel pass-through connects to other USB devices for power or data transfer, reducing the number of USB ports needed in your gaming or audio set up. To use a wall outlet, an optional USB-to-AC power adapter is available from TurtleBeach.com so the device can be used with a Blu-Ray or DVD player.

The Ear Force DSS is also a full function headphone amplifier. Click here to enlarge

S/PDIF-to-Analog Converter

In Bypass mode, the Ear Force DSS becomes an audio converter that accepts a digital optical input and outputs a decoded analog signal. This allows you to connect a digital source such as a game console or Blu-ray/DVD player to other devices such as a home theater receiver via standard stereo analog audio connections.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple to setup, and does what it's supposed to. June 28, 2010

By csmith400

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

If you are traveling, and you need something that can handle optical 7.1 channel audio, this is a fine item to bring along. It's a little smaller than a pack of smokes and can be run off of a usb to ac adapter. I live in a small apartment in Japan, so I don't have space for a huge sound system. Also, I suffer from insomnia, and sometimes I want to play a game or watch a movie late at night. This gadget allows me to hook up some good headphones and enjoy my movies and games without being a pain to my roommates or neighbors.

It's also worth noting that the surround sound, even on standard headphones, is remarkably well-done. I have been testing it with Metal Gear Solid 4 on my ps3, which I connected to the unit with an optical cable. I'm hearing things I never noticed before in the game, and I really can sense the location of enemies and other things by sound alone with this device.

I think audiophiles would prefer other DACs for listening to cds or lossless music, but if you want a surround sound system that can fit in your pocket or go with you on a trip, or want to be able to listen to surround sound without disturbing your neighbors or flatmates, this is what you've been waiting for.

My only other suggestion is to use good headphones with this unit. It'll work with whatever you hook into it, but better headphones will reveal the high-quality bass, mid, and treble sound that this unit produces.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for movies and gaming September 30, 2010

By James

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Like any self respecting gaming/movie buff college grad, one of my top priorities for survival after graduating was a solid entertainment system. To this end I got myself a PS3, hooked it up to my TV and z-5500 5.1 surround sound speaker set (I know, fancy right?). This set-up was pretty fantastic, especially for the price of entry, and served me well for a couple years.

Then, one stormy night, lightening struck way to close to my apartment complex. Actually, it might have even hit our complex, I don't know as I wasn't actually at home that night. Unfortunately, that managed to fry some of my stuff. I even had one of the Ethernet ports on my PC get zapped, because (and I did a little research on this because I thought it was so weird) the Ethernet cable was so long (coiled up 25' cable) and the lightning struck so close the it acted like an antenna and picked up a ton of EM. FYI, I guess it happens.

Anyway, the z-5500s were also a casualty. I decided that since I had an excuse I should maybe just invest in serious speakers. In the mean time, I definitely needed something to provide sound! TV speakers just don't cut it for gaming. After doing a ton of back and forth on the Astro A-40 mix-amp vs. cans with multiple drivers, I settled on a virtual surround processor with "real" headphones as the answer. Instead of the Astro mix-amp though, I decided to give this new kid a shot. Because this is cheaper. Hah.

The Ear Force DSS itself feels well put together. It doesn't have the heft of a serious gadget, but really it's just a processing chip after all. Actually, it is pretty much feather light. No rough edges on the matte plastic case, and it fits together nice and snug. The volume knob has some nice resistance that gives it a pretty good feel. Overall it still feels like a quality item despite being plastic and light.

Stereo headphones plug in one end, and the optical audio cable in is on the other end. It has a mini-USB port for power on that end as well. I have the power supplied by my PS3 and it works fine, but it does eat up one of my ports (only 2 on those new PS3s). I haven't tried one of those generic AC adapter to mini-usb port plugs, but since usb should have a standard power spec I think this should work if you don't have any other source. As I have it set up, it turns on and off with the PS3. I don't think you can hook a USB mic in through the DSS, but I just use the PS3 Bluetooth so it isn't a big problem.

With AD900s hooked in, the DSS sets up a pretty convincing soundstage. AD's sound pretty open, like the sound is coming from further away than next to your ear (this is a plus, because the point isn't to feel like the sound is in your head) and hooked into 5.1 the effect is pretty phenomenal. Immersive and enveloped in sound. Competitive FPSs like the COD and BFBC series benefit a lot, as general awareness of footsteps and gunshot position gives a huge advantage. Going from a 5.1 speaker set (which worked great for this purpose) to TV speakers back to 5.1 (headphones this time) I could hear a big difference.

I would give a pretty strong recommend to a pair of AD700 headphones (terrific bang for buck there) and this Ear Force DSS for the gamer that:
a) doesn't have room for a full surround sound speaker set
b) needs a night time / quiet time gaming or movie set-up
c) doesn't have the money to buy a full out set ( I would say to get equivalent quality of sound and experience would take significantly more budget.

Actually, I would say that I will probably keep gaming with the headset DSS combo whether I get a full speaker set or not. While I miss having the rumble of a subwoofer, the experience of having the sound stage enveloping my head in this way is probably not something I'll be able to replicate with full speakers for quite a while, given what I'm willing to spend. This isn't even accounting for any weird room acoustics or space issues with setup.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It is good, very good. November 10, 2010

By Simple Shopper

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Well, teamed up with my px21s this little box is a dream. It actually does work, and my game play has gone up by loads on Black Ops.

*
Thought I would update now that I have spent some time with the device. I am still loving everything about it. I took a while to find the perfect balance between the px21 settings and the dss setting, but I have found it and the sound is amazing.
All I have played is Black Ops and as we know the sound with the game still has some issues, but even so it works a treat. I can hear enemy footsteps/rc car engine from afar and also what direction it is coming from. I can not count the amount of times I saved myself from a certain death by knowing which way the enemy is coming from.

My kills have also shot up, where as before I was a very below average player, I end up now in the top three much more often than not. My K/D ratio has gone from .45 in MW2 to 1.25 in B Ops. And all of this changed since the day I started using the headphones and the DSS.

So yes I am 100% convinced this little gadget was worth the buy and I would recommend it 100%.

It works very well with turtle bay headphones.