Audio in GTAV Enhanced.

[Whippin]

EDIT: 12/10/2025... THEY FIXED IT, AT LEAST PARTIALLY!!

SINCE - GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills

 

I'm happy but honestly, I don't understand Rockstar Games. I don't know if the tickets we've sent from here, and those that other people have sent to report the audio problem, have been of any use, but I want to think that they have, if they've received a certain number of complaints. I just don't understand the behavior of "technical support" (they seem like AI, like the ones in the mansions), implying that the problem is with our game, instead of saying, "Yes, we are aware of the problem and are working on a solution." You can immediately put an end to endless tickets and avoid frustrating your customers. Obviously, we were right, and no one with a voice on social media echoed this problem. It's curious how in the patch notes, there isn't a single line or sad mention. It's all very confusing, but the good thing is that we have an fix. I don't know if it's 1:1 with respect to Legacy, but it seems that way.

 

This DLC It's okay although I was expecting more content (partly due to the aggressive drip feed), but we're in luck, thanks to everyone for participating. I think we can consider the matter closed. I'll pin this message at #1.

 

Happy audio-video gaming, everyone!

 

---

 

Hi all.

 

I don't see anyone talking about this and for me it is a key point. In my opinion, they have partially "broke" the audio of the game, specifically the immersion that existed before with the entities in the distances. I think it has been clear that it has been a "semi-port" of what was seen in PS5/XBX (those who have played there will know what I mean with the audio) with things like disabling the Text Chat in online sessions, but the audio issue for me is the critical point.

 

To see this in an easy way, have the police chase you and notice how the sirens of police cars or even the sound of traffic in general does not come "gradually", you can not measure with the same accuracy where the police come and it also occurs in more situations. The audio options are simple, but even if you try the default Stereo mode in GTAV Legacy and then you do it in Enhanced you will notice, it is very annoying because in general the sound is like very poorly balanced.

 

It would be fine if this version had been the first one, but when you have listened for so many thousands of hours to the game in one way, it bothers me.

I don't know what they tried to do with the new version, but for me it didn't do any good the technical section of sound and it is strange to see that it has not been given the importance it deserves.

 

EDIT: Please, tell me that you also notice these things. Although I understand that there are people who downplay its importance, not for me because from Rockstar Games I always expect the best quality or at least the same.

 

---

 

EXAMPLES, TESTS and TESTING:

 

-Dolby Atmos would fix absolutely nothing used in compatible devices. (Windows Store software that in theory matches the supposed technology used by GTA E&E).

 

 

-One of the many evidences by one of our users:

 

 

 

-A compilation and quick look at Reddit links:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/GTAV/comments/1j3guxb/sound_problem_gta_v_enhanced/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GTA/comments/1j3a43i/gta_5_enhanced_no_dialogue_sound/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GTA/comments/1j3vrfq/experiencing_audio_issues_with_gta_v_enhanced_on/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gtaonline/comments/1j3cxpp/enhanced_edition_pc_has_low_audio/

 

 

The following user provided some tests of how the steering behaves in how the radios stations play compared to Legacy. He opened a ticket to R* but you can imagine the results of doing so:

 

 

 

-This user has shown to go a step further with his comments on the game or basic computing in general. He recommends testing a command that has had the desired effect on some users, although not 100%.

 

 

-Based on the command provided by another user, some tests of the differences. They are pleasantly surprising, echo or reverberation returns, but with a problem.

A certain sound that should come centered comes from one side, a price perhaps too high to pay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2025 by Whippin

[greyishgoose]

Yep, there is something different about audio after playing briefly in single player.

Inside LSC, mechanic's voice sound like he's in a recording studio, sitting next to you rather than the cavernous/echo sound he used to have before. Even the garage door closing sounded different and louder, which made it more noticeable than what I remember in Legacy.

Another instance where audio was off was in the subway tunnels. Randomly used the horn and it also lacked the situational echo effect to the sound.

Didn't play online since I'm also having the same issue not being able to transfer/copy character from Legacy to Enhanced, but my guess is the same audio issues are there.

Edited March 4, 2025 by greyishgoose

[Agent Edward]

What you said is true, I have the PS5 version of GTA5 and its audio doesn't work properly in some cases, like the cop car sirens example you mentioned.

 

Now it sounds like there's a cop car right around the corner when it actually is considerably away from us, deceiving our environmental awareness.

 

Edited March 4, 2025 by Agent Edward

[BS_BlackScout]

I hope they didn't lock such effects behind "Dolby Atmos" TM.

Such a scam...

[Whippin]

Thank you all for your feedback, any comment is welcome and useful.

 

And sorry to the staff for the mistake of placing the post where it was not, I thought in GTAO when it is a basic problem of GTAV. Thanks for moving it.

[Whippin]

 

Soource image seen on X (Twitter) of the famous @videotechuk_

 

So let me get this straight: 

 

• Dolby Atmos mean that if I don't have a headset or sound card I can't handle the audio properly?
• What about the console versions that suffer the same problem?
• We depend on an enthusiast device to listen to the game as we did until now?

 

This doesn't make any kind of sense, and hopefully Rockstar Games will echo or give more information about it, because a fix would be too much to ask for.

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[Agent Edward]

Y'know... the PS5 got that 3D audio thing that's also supported in GTA5, I don't use it because I didn't like the result (in my TV at least), but maybe I'll test the cop car sirens thing and see if it works properly with it enabled.

 

But as you said, the fact that we have to use a enthusiast thing to be able to enjoy something that everyone always had before sucks a big one.

[Whippin]

1 minute ago, Agent Edward said:

Y'know... the PS5 got that 3D audio thing that's also supported in GTA5, I don't use it because I didn't like the result (in my TV at least), but maybe I'll test the cop car sirens thing and see if it works properly with it enabled.

 

But as you said, the fact that we have to use a enthusiast thing to be able to enjoy something that everyone always had before sucks a big one.

 

At the time I played GTA E&E on PS5 with headphones (although they are not top of the range) and the result was the same as I have had now on PC, some change but the problem was still there.

[Agent Edward]

Just now, Whippin said:

 

At the time I played GTA E&E on PS5 with headphones (although they are not top of the range) and the result was the same as I have had now on PC, some change but the problem was still there.

Even with the 3D audio thing enabled?

[Whippin]

5 minutes ago, Agent Edward said:

Even with the 3D audio thing enabled?

 

Yes, in fact it made it worse. I mean, by not forcing the console to use 3D audio, maybe I could notice that some nearby sounds didn't sound exaggeratedly loud (like crashing into another car or something like that) but the problem of the sirens and the environment in general because of how the sound arrives. I was so disappointed that I didn't want to play anymore in E&E. Now I find the same problem on PC and the crossroads that obviously I don't want to play Legacy.

 

The version E&E in general for me has been very good, but this problem that never was before, somehow destroys the experience in a very important way for me.

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[Agent Edward]

12 minutes ago, Whippin said:

 

Yes, in fact it made it worse. I mean, by not forcing the console to use 3D audio, maybe I could notice that some nearby sounds didn't sound exaggeratedly loud (like crashing into another car or something like that) but the problem of the sirens and the environment in general because of how the sound arrives. I was so disappointed that I didn't want to play anymore in E&E. Now I find the same problem on PC and the crossroads that obviously I don't want to play Legacy.

 

The version E&E in general for me has been very good, but this problem that never was before, somehow destroys the experience in a very important way for me.

I just tested the 3D audio here, yeah, it's the same sh*t, I can hear the cop cars cleary even inside the undergound subway stations.

[BS_BlackScout]

49 minutes ago, Agent Edward said:

I just tested the 3D audio here, yeah, it's the same sh*t, I can hear the cop cars cleary even inside the undergound subway stations.

Sounds like the game isn't properly applying "occlusion" or damping/dampening to the audio. Strange that they'd break something like that.

[Agent Edward]

6 minutes ago, BS_BlackScout said:

Sounds like the game isn't properly applying "occlusion" or damping/dampening to the audio. Strange that they'd break something like that.

I don't know if E&E always been like this or if some update broke its audio, since I only started playing it last year, but updates came and went and nothing changed since then.

[Whippin]

I'm a bit confused.

 

I've been talking to a more enthusiastic "friend" with a much more powerful PC than me, (he has his own audio card and a good headset to match, I guess) and he says he thinks it's my equipment or my peripherals. Now, if this were true (which I still don't think it is, because on PS5 I experienced the same feeling with and without headphones). In other words, I have told him that I simply believe that he has not appreciated the differences.

 

Are there really only a few of us affected by this problem? Take a look around the internet, almost nobody talks about it.

Or have only a few of us really seen the differences and where there are problems?

How are you going to break a fundamental factor in the immersion of the video game for the benefit of a few? Wouldn't it be very unbecoming of Rockstar?

 

I swear this topic is making me wander, I'm going to try other headphones, but in my head I keep thinking that I'm right and something is broken.

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[BS_BlackScout]

I don't normally play this game with headphones but I was under the impression that a specific sound effect (can't remember now) sounded lower quality. But at the same time the Jester engine sounded crisp. 

 

So I don't know if something is up or not.

Edited March 5, 2025 by BS_BlackScout

[Whippin]

25 minutes ago, BS_BlackScout said:

I don't normally play this game with headphones but I was under the impression that a specific sound effect (can't remember now) sounded lower quality. But at the same time the Jester engine sounded crisp.

 

So I don't know if something is up or not.

 

Yes, that's the point. I've been playing around for a while and there are cars that now sound less than before (the radio stations almost mute them) like the Fusilade or the Felon GT.

 

However, you hit a trash can and your ears go off. Everything is in constant discordance, it doesn't make sense.

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[MrsRackman]

I’ve absolutely noticed the same issues as well, the audio seems quiter now and the game tends to mostly output mono to me? Be it interactive soundtrack or radio tracks, it’s all screwed up. Sound effects are too loud, music is all centre, heck, even Wasted sounds sh*tty now.
 

Weirdly, there are no ways to change the settings for game’s output options either, so I can’t fake up a surround setup and check it out. My guess is that they’ve broken audio engine in this build somehow, extracting radio tracks using OpenIV revealed they’re still, in fact, stereo

[TomilovSenya]

Yes, definitely some audio related issues in this version. Specifically, Radio (even Self Radio tracks) and Score being mono.

[Rented]

Yeah, people were complaining about this back when it released for Series X and PS5 and I honestly noticed it myself.

However, after purchasing Dolby Atmos and it makes such a difference. You can hear music bouncing off the walls in a nightclub, to the extent that you could pretty much navigate with your eyes closed. Not to mention it actually sounds like you're in a nightclub now, though that’s just a testament of R* attention to detail and future proofing.

In PVP modes you'll have laser accuracy when acquiring targets, and I'm not talking about the rubbish footstep sounds you'd hear in COD. Natural sounds where you can easily tell the distance and ultimately the direction of a player.

And the most obvious difference will of course be those police sirens, which will essentially become your minimap when it comes to police chases, you could plan your escape route as you'll essentially be able to tell what street the police car is on.

Dolby Atmos is as much of an audio upgrade is as ray tracing is for visuals, if not more. It truly brings the audio to life.

[Whippin]

5 hours ago, Rented said:

Yeah, people were complaining about this back when it released for Series X and PS5 and I honestly noticed it myself.

However, after purchasing Dolby Atmos and it makes such a difference. You can hear music bouncing off the walls in a nightclub, to the extent that you could pretty much navigate with your eyes closed. Not to mention it actually sounds like you're in a nightclub now, though that’s just a testament of R* attention to detail and future proofing.

In PVP modes you'll have laser accuracy when acquiring targets, and I'm not talking about the rubbish footstep sounds you'd hear in COD. Natural sounds where you can easily tell the distance and ultimately the direction of a player.

And the most obvious difference will of course be those police sirens, which will essentially become your minimap when it comes to police chases, you could plan your escape route as you'll essentially be able to tell what street the police car is on.

Dolby Atmos is as much of an audio upgrade is as ray tracing is for visuals, if not more. It truly brings the audio to life.

 

The question is that the problem and the seriousness of this, Rockstar Games can not make these decisions and leave thousands and thousands of users stranded with the sound. It is something so unfeasible that is not understood, it's like (to understand the difference) that everyone will be forced with RTX without being able to disable it whether they are compatible or not, or something like that, I think you understand where I want to go.

 

As being a company of the caliber of Rockstar Games, you leave a function as important as audio, at the mercy of a few?

 

---

 

Can you say what you mean by buying Dolby Atmos? It has to be a suitable headset or some amplifier that goes through fiber optics if you use PC, since PS5/XBX do not have this configuration (PS4 had it at least).

[NightmanCometh96]

45 minutes ago, Whippin said:

Can you say what you mean by buying Dolby Atmos? It has to be a suitable headset or some amplifier that goes through fiber optics if you use PC, since PS5/XBX do not have this configuration (PS4 had it at least).

The headphone version of Dolby Atmos works on all headsets (as it’s a software-based solution for Spatial Audio, like Windows Sonic  or PS5’s 3D Audio). But to use it, you need to purchase a $15 license through the Dolby Access app (there was a free trial at one point, but I’m not sure if it’s still offered). IIRC, the license is tied to your Microsoft account, so it should also carry over to your Xbox if you own one.

 

It’s “Dolby Atmos for Home Theater” that requires a compatible receiver, upfiring speakers, etc..

[Whippin]

12 minutes ago, NightmanCometh96 said:

The headphone version of Dolby Atmos works on all headsets (as it’s a software-based solution for Spatial Audio, like Windows Sonic or PS5’s 3D Audio). But to use it, you need to purchase a $15 license through the Dolby Access app (there was a free trial at one point, but I’m not sure if it’s still offered). IIRC, the license is tied to your Microsoft account, so it should also carry over to your Xbox if you own one.

 

It’s “Dolby Atmos for Home Theater” that requires a compatible receiver, upfiring speakers, etc..

 

My brain is exploding, I can't believe that everything goes through a subscription to work, I understand that as you say, without the right equipment, it doesn't matter what licenses you have or don't have.

I used my same headset for PS5 (testing with and without 3D audio) and got the same sensations although perhaps less exaggerated. But it is still a latent problem for the vast majority of users, another thing is that they are aware of it.

 

Thank you for providing this information.

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[zanesix]

So something that was just integrated into the game before is now tied to some paid software I didn't even know existed? lmao, some upgrade...

[Spider-Vice]

R* also have Windows Sonic support in the requirements, I wonder if enabling Windows Sonic for Headphones improves things - but IIRC the quality isn't great in games like Cyberpunk that also support it. They definitely have done something weird with/broke the base audio processing and mixing, but it has nothing to do with implementing Dolby Atmos specifically because although yes Atmos and Sonic do improve spatial audio in supported media, they're not supposed to be replacements for the existing solutions. I don't know how they broke this across all Gen9 platforms. Not PC only, people highlighted a lot of these oddities all the way back in 2022.

 

I haven't noticed a couple of the issues that people reported here because I disable literally everything in my Windows audio processing settings, as I've had issues with other games' spatial audio with Device Default Effects turned on, but the audio is definitely wonky in terms of mixing and processing vs. the Legacy version, it doesn't sound right all the time. It's not the audio files either as I just checked, the radio stations aren't mixed in mono but they do kinda sound it in-game.

 

R* are usually quite good at audio but something went weird with the Gen9 versions, some of the "far distance effects"/processing seem to be gone, like ambulance sounds in the distance sounding much closer and unprocessed. Dolby Atmos is best enjoyed with some proper good sound hardware, wouldn't go off buying it because of this game, because as I said it's not really supposed to be a replacement for a stock spatial audio solution.

[Whippin]

26 minutes ago, Spider-Vice said:

R* also have Windows Sonic support in the requirements, I wonder if enabling Windows Sonic for Headphones improves things - but IIRC the quality isn't great in games like Cyberpunk that also support it. They definitely have done something weird with/broke the base audio processing and mixing, but it has nothing to do with implementing Dolby Atmos specifically because although yes Atmos and Sonic do improve spatial audio in supported media, they're not supposed to be replacements for the existing solutions. I don't know how they broke this across all Gen9 platforms. Not PC only, people highlighted a lot of these oddities all the way back in 2022.

 

I haven't noticed a couple of the issues that people reported here because I disable literally everything in my Windows audio processing settings, as I've had issues with other games' spatial audio with Device Default Effects turned on, but the audio is definitely wonky in terms of mixing and processing vs. the Legacy version, it doesn't sound right all the time. It's not the audio files either as I just checked, the radio stations aren't mixed in mono but they do kinda sound it in-game.

 

R* are usually quite good at audio but something went weird with the Gen9 versions, some of the "far distance effects" seem to be gone, like ambulance sounds in the distance sounding much closer and unprocessed. Dolby Atmos is best enjoyed with some proper good sound hardware, wouldn't go off buying it because of this game, because as I said it's not really supposed to be a replacement for a stock spatial audio solution.

 

Great point, good commentary. Thanks for stopping by to leave your opinion.

 

Definitely don't understand anything, and this problem has been 3 years or as long as E&E has been on consoles. I wish it was a bug, because it could be fixed, but it is not. It's a disaster and it has broken my immersion experience. And of course I'm obviously not able to go back to Legacy because all the improvements in general are going incredibly well, also I was looking forward to all the new content on PC.

 

And while I understand the decision, it has divided the GTA Online community and ergo our friendships.

 

36 minutes ago, zanesix said:

So something that was just integrated into the game before is now tied to some paid software I didn't even know existed? lmao, some upgrade...

 

I have been showing on Discord some friends the sound problem comparing Legacy with Enhanced and they were amazed to the part that suddenly a storm started to fall and I couldn't even hear my car. It doesn't make sense

Edited March 5, 2025 by Whippin

[Los Santos citizen]

The audio in the new version is pretty broken. I tried using both Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos for headphones and I noticed that Windows Sonic sounds completely flat. Like there's no dynamic range. Everything sounds like its right next to you (no matter the distance from the camera) and audio doesn't seem accurate at all.

Dolby Atmos sounds better but is still inferior to the old version of the game. Also, did anyone else notice how certain audio effects are missing? For example, in Franklin and Lamar (when Simeon is selling Jimmy his car), the showroom doesn't echo anymore,

[breathe3asy]

Would you judge me if I said I heard something was wrong on the splash screen of my first load? 
 

The quality is much much lower. 
 

Stuttering, no text chat and bad audio has me considering whether DLSS (& RT) is worth staying for and not going back to Legacy. 

[Whippin]

1 hour ago, Los Santos citizen said:

The audio in the new version is pretty broken. I tried using both Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos for headphones and I noticed that Windows Sonic sounds completely flat. Like there's no dynamic range. Everything sounds like its right next to you (no matter the distance from the camera) and audio doesn't seem accurate at all.

Dolby Atmos sounds better but is still inferior to the old version of the game. Also, did anyone else notice how certain audio effects are missing? For example, in Franklin and Lamar (when Simeon is selling Jimmy his car), the showroom doesn't echo anymore,

 

Thanks for your feedback, I honestly don't know how years ago on consoles there wasn't a big echo of all this.

[RG_MK5]

i think its on me fixed 

Game updated from 810.0 to 811.0

Edited March 6, 2025 by RG_MK5

[Whippin]

1 hour ago, RG_MK5 said:

i think its on me fixed 

Game updated from 810.0 to 811.0

 

What?