I've recently invested in a new audiophile standard audio set up to primarily focus on footsteps, directional audio imaging and soundstaging for FPS games and I'm blown away. It's literally like having wall hacks. I'd be interested to find out more about what people are using for audio on this forum and what settings in game you feel are best. I'm will to share my setup to anyone interested.

@I_DYN4MO_IGot the Sennheiser HD560s last night, am very pleased with them. I do seem to hear more footsteps if that's possible. The soundstage on them is incredible and they are very comfortable, thanks for the recommendation!

These threads always remind me of how much I miss my Shure IEMs which were stolen. They were so good.

@sk1lld I use a hifi-dac and a pair of Beierdynamic DT1770 pro and have the same issues as you.The directional audio is sometimes ok (mostly in large open areas), but sounds behind you, inside buildings or above/below are often totally off and sounds weird (low, muddy, muffled). The game also seems to have the old Frostbite-issue of some sounds not being played at all.I have tried all in-game settings (stereo, surround, wartapes, nightmode etc), and used Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone X, Boom3D, Windows sonic etc.Using surround, wartapes and DTS Headphone X seems best to me, but only by a small margin compared to the other options.

@cso7777My experience also.I am always amazed by people saying their sound is good. I mean tanks sneaking right up on you from behind without a single sound is infuriating. Missing sounds, footsteps missing close but you can hear them when their far away!?Not good.

@I_DYN4MO_I In general the sound is bad. Better than when it started, but still bad. I have a Sennheiser GSP350, a mid level set of headphones but Sennheiser includes in their codecs a setting for esports. It’s made a huge difference in reducing the blast sounds and improving footsteps. I recently bought the Dolby Atmos for headphones from the MS Store, and have been pretty happy with it. It has a gaming setting that is similar to the Sennheiser set up. They’re both Dolby based so seem to work really well together. It’s literally saved my life in game a bunch, as people underestimate how noisy they are in full sprint. I can hear someone coming up a ladder and already be ADS as they breach the top. It’s hilarious for me, not so much for them. I’ve never bought anything or used the Sennheiser software for other games, 2042 really needs the help.

Directional audio, footsteps, soundstage

30 Replies

Lady_One
New Ace
2 years ago
@I_DYN4MO_I I don't think you need a particularly special setup, just some decent headphones will be enough. 2042's footstep sounds are THAT good.

I am using the M50x, which are just barely into audiophile territory, but they're closed headphones. I'm pretty sure if I were using any other decent headphones, I'd still be able to hear them.
sk1lld
Legend
2 years ago
Using the ATH M50x here also a G6 USB DAC and find BF2042 sounds about the worst I have ever heard. The sound stage is awful and the footsteps muddy. What setting are you running because I can't find a good mixture.
cso7777
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@sk1lld I use a hifi-dac and a pair of Beierdynamic DT1770 pro and have the same issues as you.

The directional audio is sometimes ok (mostly in large open areas), but sounds behind you, inside buildings or above/below are often totally off and sounds weird (low, muddy, muffled). The game also seems to have the old Frostbite-issue of some sounds not being played at all.

I have tried all in-game settings (stereo, surround, wartapes, nightmode etc), and used Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone X, Boom3D, Windows sonic etc.

Using surround, wartapes and DTS Headphone X seems best to me, but only by a small margin compared to the other options.
sk1lld
Legend
2 years ago
@cso7777

My experience also.

I am always amazed by people saying their sound is good. I mean tanks sneaking right up on you from behind without a single sound is infuriating. Missing sounds, footsteps missing close but you can hear them when their far away!?

Not good.
ATFGunr
Legend
2 years ago
@I_DYN4MO_I In general the sound is bad. Better than when it started, but still bad. I have a Sennheiser GSP350, a mid level set of headphones but Sennheiser includes in their codecs a setting for esports. It’s made a huge difference in reducing the blast sounds and improving footsteps. I recently bought the Dolby Atmos for headphones from the MS Store, and have been pretty happy with it. It has a gaming setting that is similar to the Sennheiser set up. They’re both Dolby based so seem to work really well together. It’s literally saved my life in game a bunch, as people underestimate how noisy they are in full sprint. I can hear someone coming up a ladder and already be ADS as they breach the top. It’s hilarious for me, not so much for them. I’ve never bought anything or used the Sennheiser software for other games, 2042 really needs the help.
Doo-Doo-Draws
Rising Veteran
2 years ago
Others and I have posted about this long ago, and it's still happening often. I've been playing BF 2042 a little over a year now, and I'm still dying a lot because I can't pinpoint where the sound is coming from most of the time, or I won't hear any approaching enemy sound at all. No approaching enemy footsteps, or vehicle sounds. Vehicles and soldiers can just appear out of nowhere without making a sound. I hear all other game sounds going on, though. You'd think they would've fixed this by now, but here we are still dealing with it.
My hearing is excellent, by the way. And music and everything else sound awesome with my setup. Just an issue with BF 2042. My sound setup is listed below.
Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X Open-Back Studio Headphones
Using on-board motherboard sound of the ASUS B650E-F with high-resolution audio.

I've tried the various in-game audio settings, and currently sticking with the headphone setting. No matter the setting, I still have the issue.
May try the following apps. DTS Unbound Sound comes free with my motherboard.
DTS Sound Unbound
SteelSeries Sonar Audio Suite
There are other audio apps out there, but if the game is bugged, I doubt any app will be able to help much, if at all.
What setup (hardware & software) are y'all using, and do you have the same in-game audio issues? Might be helpful to others if listed.
ElliotLH
Hero+
2 years ago
These threads always remind me of how much I miss my Shure IEMs which were stolen. They were so good.
Lady_One
New Ace
2 years ago
I haven't had any issues with the footstep sounds specifically, though I do have plenty of issues with vehicles and the sound does often feel underwhelming especially compared to BFV, which isn't really a headphones/amp/etc. issue, just a game issue...

If you walk, you don't produce ANY sound. Are you guys sure the enemies aren't simply walking? I do this quite often when I know someone's around, to throw them off.
I_DYN4MO_I
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
Some great responses in here and some great setups!
I have a pair of sennheiser HD560's open backed 120 OHM headphones that are literally perfection for FPS games and dont break the bank, a Sennheiser HD560 compatible boom mic cable from amazon that transforms headphones into a headset with a mic and to give them juice I bought a Schiit Hel 2 DAC/amp with a mic and headphone input at the front.
I don't run any EQ although steelseries have some great eq software with ready set audio presets for bf2042.
I'm with ATFgunr! It's hilarious the advantage I have compared to the average Joe when it comes to environmental awareness. IMO it's a game changer and I've had tons of different gaming headsets over the years that are nowhere near as good as these Sennheisers.
Some other "end game" headphones worth a shout out-
Bayerdynamic DT1990 pro's (enders uses these)
Sennheiser HD490 pro's,
And the holy grail of FPS headsets the Sennheiser HD800s.
sk1lld
Legend
2 years ago
@I_DYN4MO_I

On your recommendation I ordered the Sennheiser HD560s Headphones. I was looking for open back anyways.

Will see myself what all the fuss is about.