One of the largest problems for severe game players when audio adapters are considered is how well they do 3D audio tasks. This has been difficult by some factors, including following:

• Varying standards for positional audio
• Hardware against software processing of 3D audio
• DirectX support problems

Positional Audio

The fundamental problem common to all 3D sound cards is that of positional audio, which submits to changing features like reverberation; balance; and clear sound "location" to create fantasy of sound coming from in front of, by, or even behind the user. The important component in positional audio is HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function), which refers to how shape of the ear and the angle of listener's head change the perception of sound. Because HRTF factors mean that a "realistic" sound at one listener's head angle might sound fake when listener turns to one side or other, sum of multiple speakers that "surround" user, with sophisticated sound algorithms that include controlled reverberation to mix, are making PC based sound more realistic.

The Environmental Audio Extensions (EAX) has turned de facto regular for 3D audio as end of Aureal's A3D. There are four editions of EAX:

• EAX 1.0
• EAX 2.0
• EAX Advanced HD (also known as EAX 3.0)
• EAX 4.0 Advanced HD

EAX 1.0 begins 26 presets intended to replicate audio effects caused by usual building and natural environments beside with capability to alter volume, reverberation, decay time, and damping. EAX 2.0 includes occlusions and obstructions.

EAX 1.0 and EAX 2.0 are supported together by Creative's Sound Blaster and Audigy series of sound cards but also by latest third-party sound cards and included audio solutions, because of Creative's free of these standards to business.

EAX Advanced HD, initiated by Sound Blaster Audigy, includes support for multienvironment every sound can have its own environmental results. It also includes surroundings morphing, panning, and reflection, three techniques utilized to modify surroundings sounds as player moves throughout game. Environmental filtering fine-tunes how sounds modify from environment to environment. Audigy 2's version of EAX Advanced HD includes capability to alter DirectX 3D audio into 6.1 audio on systems with 6.1 speaker systems. EAX Advanced HD supports up to 32 channels of direct 3D hardware voice acceleration.

The main option to EAX is Sensaura's 3D positional audio technology (3DPA). Most third-party sound cards support Sensaura 3DPA beside with EAX 1.0/2.0. The complete range of Sensaura 3DPA features contain

• Digital Ear. HRTF filters

• Virtual Ear. Customizes Digital Ear for listener's ear size and positioning

• MacroFX. Develops realism of close sound sources, like buzzing insect

• ZoomFX. Develops realism of sounds from different sizes of objects, like
trains against motorcycles

• EnvironmentFX. Preset environments with changeable properties

• XTC and MultiDrive. Crosstalk cancellation for speaker systems up to 7.1

• Headphone Theater. Simulates 5.1 audio for headset users