HeSuVi
HeSuVi is an open source and free windows application that adds virtual surround sound to your regular stero headphones and earphones. Works pretty well for music lovers and gamers as well. It takes 5.1 or 7.1 audio from the games your play, movies or music and converts it into binaural stereo using HRIR/HRTF processing. So that the sound feels like it is coming from around you instead of left and right.
The GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the HeSuVi is clean and lightweight. It is just a frontend controller and the audio processing is controlled and handled by the Equalizer APO. In fact HeSuVi requires Equalizer APO to function well.
How HeSuVi Works?
The music/sound from your game first goes as 7.1 audio and then to HeSuVi and then it processes the music and delivers the output to your device. It is not as simple as it looks but HeSuVi does the task effortlessly.
Why People Use it?
- 1To Enjoy games with more immersive sound
- 2To watch movies, documentaries, music concerts and enjoy the 8D sound experience.
- 3Enjoy immersive surround sound through headphones
- 4To test different surround profiles before without having to purchase separate hardware (gadgets)
- 5Enjoy immersive surround sound through headphones
- 6To enjoy gaming sounds while playing high-end games like Valorant, CS2, PUBG, BGMI, etc
- 7Becuase it has a huge library of surround profiles
- 8Because it is completely free and lightweight
- 9Becuase it has a huge library of surround profiles
- 10It is highly customizable and it can give you a better sound output than many gaming headsets out there in the market
Note: Setup can be little confusing initiailly but once you start getting used it, you will surely enjoy it. On the other hand, it is available only for Windows pcs and may require VB-Cable or extra configuration for full 7.1 support.
Key Features Of HeSuVi
Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound
HeSuVi converts normal stereo headphones into virtual surround headphones by using the HRTF/HRIR process and it supports 5.1 surround, 7.1 surround and Binaural virtualization for positional audio. Virtual 7.1 surround is popular for FPS Gaming, Movies and Spatial audio immersion.
Gaming Audio Enhancement
Improves positional audio for footsteps, gunshots, and directional awareness. It includes Doly atmos, creative sbx, sennheiser gsx, windows sonic, cmss-3d, waves nx and OpenAL. Users can pick any surround profile according to their needs such as playing games.
1000+ Headphone EQ Presets
It includes built-in headphone correction presets from AutoEq, Oratory1990 and InnerFidelity. You may also select your exact headphone model to flatten frequency respons, improve surround accuracy or reduce muddiness/bass issues. Not just them, just go around and pick each one of them at a time and test things according to your needs.
Speaker Position Customization
Integrates with Equalizer APO for advanced audio tuning and customization. You can adjust front speakers, rear speakers, side channels and center channels as well. This is best used for improving front or back positioning and personal preference tuning and competitive gaming too.
Completely Free & Open Source Software
It is a completely free application and you don't have to pay any money to download and use unlike paid alternative such as Dolby Access and DTS Sound Unbound. On the other hand, it is a community driven software and completely open source.
Clipping Protection & Volume Optimization
HeSuVi helps in reducing clipping caused by the convolution filters. It helps in preventing distortion, crackling and overly loud speakers. It helps you optimize the volume of your own choice. Enhances surround sound immersion for movies, streaming, and music playback.
Lightweight Performance
Runs efficiently in the background without heavily affecting system performance.
Download HeSuVi Latest Version
Download the latest version of HeSuVi from above and get the latest version of Equalizer APO from below. Once it is done, head over to the installation instructions mentioned in the next section.
How To Install HeSuVi on Windows PCs?
Once all the above said configurations are done, you can go ahead and experience a whole new music feel and have fun.
Also Check:
Best HeSuVi Settings for Gaming
Here are some tweaks for you to get immersive cinematic audio which suites best for Role Playing Games and Single Player Games. Just in case if you would like to get directional accuracy also, you can do that with these tweaks.
Recommended HRIR Profiles
gsx+.wav / GSX
- Best for clean directional audio
- Best for accurate sound imaging
- Popular among Rainbow Six, CS2, Valorant and BGMI gamers
sbx33.wav
- This is best for sound balance between immersion and positioning
- This is a wider soundstage
- Many people uses it for it’s versatility
- Good output
cmss_game-.wav
- For brighter sound
- For sharper sound
- Little issues with noise
dobly_atmos.wav
- This is the best HRIR profile among all others
- Not ideal for the ultra competitive play
- Idea for the single player immersion and best suited for multi player games as well.
Recommended Windows + Game Settings
Windows Audio Settings
- Set playback device to 7.1 surround
- Disable Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Spatial Sound
- Use only one surround virtualization layer at once
In-Game Audio
- Use 7.1, Surround or Home Theater
- Avoid Headphones
- Avoid Built-in binaural/HRTF modes
- Try Pure Stereo + Native HRTF (while playing high-end games)
- Compare against HeSuVi GSX (best for RPGs)
Best Overall Competitive Preset
Below are the best settings for universal setup which is ideal for most of the games.
- HRIR: GSX
- Windows: 7.1
- Game Audio: Surround/Home Theater
- Spacial Sound: OFF
- Equalizer
- Slight bass reduction
- small treble boost
- Headphones correction: ON
Low Latency HeSuVi and Equalizer APO Setup Guide
These settings are best for competitive FPS Gaming, lowest possible audio delay, Clean directional imaging and Stable Windows 10/11 performance, etc.
This works as mentioned below:
Note: If you use VB-Cable or VoiceMeeter results in extra delay.
- Install Equalizer APO on your pc and choose only your headphone playback device.
- Reboot your windows pc.
- Download and install HeSuVi on your windows pc.
- Open HeSuVi and go to Actions > Restart Audio Service.
- Set Headphones to 7.1 on your windows pc.
- Disable Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, DTS Spatial Sound.
- Use 24-bit and 48000 Hz for proper sample rate.
- Configure Hesuvi based on recommended order
- GSX
- SBX
- CMSS Game
- Atmos
- For FPS: gsx+
- Spacial Settings in HeSuVi
- Stereo mix: Normal
- Crossfeed: Off
- Reverb: Off
- Ambience: Off
- Optimize equalizer apo
- Configure editor (add “Preamp: -6 dB)
- In Game Settings: Always use 5.1 or 7.1 or Home Theater and never use Headphones, Binaural, HRTF
That’s all from ourside and we recommend you to tweak yourself into settings and check things.
Conclusion
HeSuVi is one of the best virtual surround sound solutions available for windows users. By using it, gamers and headphone enthusiasts will be able to get better positional audio without purchasing expensive hardware or gadgets. It actually combines advanced HRTF/HRIR surround virtualization with the processing capabilities of Equalizer APO and transforms the ordinary stereo headphones into a high quality immersive audio system.