Call of Duty 3 audio problems?

[Gremal]

Let me preface this by saying I have not played the online/multiplayer version of CoD3--still making my way through the missions. The surround sound seems to be problematic. The volume level assigned to each channel seems to make no sense and doesn't provide a convincing, immersive experience.

Nearby loud noises like gunfire or dialog from a friendly next to me will sound distant and quiet if I don't move but simply turn to view a different area, putting the sound in a different channel. I have also noticed a lot of variability in the audio from mission to mission. The sargeant's voice and the foreign commander's voices will vary from very quiet to quite loud coming from the center channel, depending on the sequence that start each mission. It's almost as if different developers were working on these sequences and no standardization was done to ensure the audio was consistent from scene to scene.

My main complaint is that, as I turn to look or fire at different areas and targets, the audio levels in each channel simply do not make sense. Action that is close will sound far and vice versa, depending on where I am looking, not where I am positioned. It's very distracting and not realistic. Call of Duty 2 was better in this regard.

My audio setup is very good, with B&W Nautilus speakers in each channel and I have tweaked the balance to try to compensate for the problems I am perceiving, but no matter how much I boost the channels that seem "quiet", the problems persist.

Anyone had similar observations?

[SundayDuffer]

I too have a 7.1 set up with B&W. Just recently finished the game..while playing it, i had set my AV to ALL CHANNELs STEREO, and all actions sounded great...perhaps you should try that setting.

[Gremal]

Cool...what menu is that <all stereo> in?

FWIW, the sound in Resistence is totally immersive. Awesome surround sound experience. That's the only other game I have. Movies are dialed in nicely. It's just Call of Duty 3 that is giving me problems.

I have a 5.1 setup...could it be that the PS3 is sending audio to two channels that don't exist in my system?

[SundayDuffer]

I highly doubt so that the PS3 nor COD3 are set up to output 7.1 .
On your receiver...play around with your options...etc...prologic, dts, music, cinema, 5.1, neo-6.1, 6-channel Stereo, etc....not so sure if your AV has the ALL Channels Stereo option...it should....try that.

[SundayDuffer]

btw..nice choice of SCD-1..i too have one un-modded..and I also have one SCD-777es top loader modded by Richard Kern from Audiomod. Tube amplification is my passion..I have Mastersound 845 Reference Amp...mixed ICs of KimberKable, Magnan, Purist Audio Design, XLO...VAC Avatar you have? nice amp...although I'm not to fond of EL34...lack of bass i find. Anyhow, it's nice to know someone who has the same interest. Happy Listening.

[Gremal]

Yeah, plus you're just down the road in San Jose...I'm in S'vale. could hook up for a listening session at some point.

[SundayDuffer]

cool..sounds good.