I can't hear things behind me

Technical Support
1

Started a few weeks ago.

Not the same sound issues others are reporting, I don’t have pops or missing sounds (unless they happen behind me).

here is a video.

All of my computer settings are set to stereo, and overwatch is the only game this happens in.

The only thing that helps is turning on dolby atmos for headphones, which seems to force overwatch into a stereo mode. Unfortunately it makes everything sound like it’s underwater.

5 Likes
2

Double check any headset drivers, graphic card, and audio sound drivers to ensure no 7.1 surround settings are turned on. This can interfere with the Dolby Atmos features.

3

I was certain that I had checked that all settings were for stereo. I double checked and that still appears to be the case. Checked for drivers and they are the most recent.

Note that I do NOT want to use atmos. When not using headphones it just sounds like everything is underwater. However, atmos appears to fix the issue because it forces overwatch into stereo mode.

4

Shame, unfortunately there is not much I can offer to advise otherwise. Is this happening in only Overwatch?

5

Yes, overwatch only, and only as of a few weeks ago.

6

Has there been a solution about this issue? I have the same problem.

The forum has a few of these thread but no solutions about it.

I was in a game where I got kill by a High Noon that was performed behind me and never heard a single decibel relating to McCree.

I’m using a Kingston HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset and tried fiddling with the Realtek HD Audio Manager between 5.1 and 7.1 along with some check boxes.

I can’t keep playing when I am deaf from behind.

Note this started to occur around the “Wrecking Ball” patch.

7

Hello do you still have the same problem if you do i have a solution. You need to go to your sound icon and right click on it then go to spatial sounds and put them to windows sonic for headphones. If you have an other solution please let me know.

Edit: This started happening to me after i installed Windows 10 on my PC.

10 Likes
8

This worked for me on Windows 10, thank you. I was hesitant to start ranked because I couldn’t hear any ults going off behind me.

9

Hey it’s working on windows 10 for me, thanks for the tip.

10

To add to this, I noticed it added extra reverb with my Corsair VOID’s virtual 7.1 surround sound and didn’t quite sound right. To fix this, I did the following:

  1. Right-click the Speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of windows.
  2. Click “Sounds”.
  3. Click the “Playback” tab.
  4. Find your sound device and right-click it; click Properties.
  5. Click the “Spatial Sound” tab.
  6. Uncheck “Turn on 7.1 virtual surround sound”.

This added with Whip’s solution fixed it for me :smiley:

2 Likes
11

A have the same problem. Thx for the tip. I will try, next day