Hesuvi VS Dolby Home Theater

Best method I've found so far is to use a few free programs in tandem: Equalizer APO as audio controller with LoudMax vst (to compress gunshots) Peace EQ (for headphone optimization and EQ fine tuning—crickets, rain hiss, etc), and HeSuVi with the included wavesnx preset, which will convert your stereo audio into virtualized 7.1 surround (remember to configure speakers in control panel for 7.1), which is the true... Source: 11 months ago

The easiest way to replicate that is Equalizer APO with HeSuVi. You can use whatever surround implementation works best for you and it can be worth to switch them out depending on the application. Source: 11 months ago

Or you could buy a more powerful dongle like Tempotec Sonara II (2V RMS and an ESS chip) or even the Apple dongle in a local electronics store (I use a Samsung one with Sennheiser HD 700 and AKG K702 and get enough volume, even after EQ) and apply virtual surround completely in software (for free), using HeSuVi. Source: about 1 year ago

Also 'virtual surround sound' headphones are snake oil. Don't pay extra for something you can get for free. https://sourceforge.net/projects/hesuvi/ No special hardware required. Source: about 1 year ago

If you really want, you can use a lot of them for free with stuff like HeSuVi. Which makes a lot of sense because again, they all suck in their own way and you kinda have to find the one that sucks the least for every application. Source: about 1 year ago

Lenovo laptops (used to at least) have a few DSP filters in effect. Try disabling any Dolby setting you can find. I know they used to use this https://professional.dolby.com/tv/dolby-home-theater-v4/ during the Win7 era, and it had lots of settings. Source: over 1 year ago