Footstep audio problems, need help

to start this post/rant with my specs/setup:

i'm using Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro open back headphones (250 ohms, fresh pads too fwiw) connected to a Behringer UMC204HD amp/dac audio interface.
systemwide equalizer with autoeq using equalizerapo.
windows 11 pro 23H2 reinstalled about a year ago.
no loudness equalization in windows (option missing for me).
no spatial sound, fake surround settings enabled or anything like that. only stereo 24 bit 44.1khz in windows. (if that even matters for pubg nowadays, probs did like 6+ years ago lol)
applications taking exclusive control over device checked, if that matters.
pubg reinstalled, HRTF on, windows volume at 100 and pubg gameplay volume at 100

i feel like i never can hear footsteps in this game. i can be playing with my friend who uses razer kraken headphones straight to his pc front 3.5mm jack and he somehow hears footsteps from literally 2x the distance and loudness.

over discord he's saying "do you hear this dude clearly walking in the next building over" when spectating me and i can never ever hear anything. then when i check the death cam i can obviously hear my own footsteps from the enemy's perspective clear as daylight. i just don't understand it's lowkey driving me mad lmao. 1800+ hours and i'm so tired of not hearing any steps and losing fights to it.

i don't think i'm playing with game audio too low, since guns/grenades/redzone/plane/cars are all loud as hell, so much so that i almost always use the instant volume reducer when driving or in the plane.

also tried to use voicemeeter, different compressors, audio limiters (loudmax, sound lock), all that etc but it just doesn't make a difference tbh, or even makes sound quality worse.

how can this be, and does anyone please please have any tips/advice or faced the same issue? or is my hearing just trash lol...

i feel like it can't be my hardware, since my headphones and audio interface are pretty good. maybe a driver/windows issue somewhere deep down, but i doubt it since all music, videos, whatever sounds very good/crisp and clear and with distinctive details.

i read some people use earbuds/iems under noise cancelling headphones, is this setup good and would it be worth trying over regular headphones? (i wouldn't mind spending 50-60€ on a pair to test, so shoot recommendations)