Do you use desktop speakers or headset for gaming?

[Hockster]

Both. Desktop 5.1 system most of the time. Headset only when doing group stuff in whatever MMO I'm playing. I just find headset too uncomfortable to wear very long.

 

[Corduroy_Jr]

I use real "boutique" speakers.

They are superior for offering a flat response, excellent stereo positioning, and tight accurate bass. I've tried nearly every computer speaker out there on the market, and they all sound very thin and "reedy", and those that offer subwoofers, for the most part, lack mid-range punch.

Of course, I also connect my guitar to my PC, and mid-range frequencies are EXACTLY where the guitar sits....so it's very easy to notice a lack of frequency response for me personally.

I have four of these for main speakers(left/right front, left/right rear):

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/products/as-b2-overview/

Plus one of these for a center channel:

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/products/as-c1-overview/

Plus 2 of these subs:

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/products/as-p4000-overview/

And two of these for side surround:

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/products/ws-60-overview/

Plus this 7.2 channel amp:

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audi..._u/?mode=model#list=within&mode=paging&page=1

I think it's pretty obvious to see how my $5k home audio system for my PC is superior to any PC-centric set.

well aren't we just cool

 

[Corduroy_Jr]

i hate show offs or people that are spoiled

 

[Lionheart]

i hate show offs or people that are spoiled

 

[Corduroy_Jr]

hahaha just touching

 

[DannibusX]

I use braille

 

[Capitan Harlock]

for dont have people coming to my room for low the volume i use headphone , my microsoft lx-3000 lifechat ,if i wanna use speakers i have the realtek hd with 5 speakers from bluesky home theater and the subwoofer from my old hercules 5.1 , the second choice is plug the cable from the monitor to my kenwood amplifire with 2 gigantic kenwood stereo speakers xd (i use hdmi and amd hd xd)

 

[erixx]

I am deaf
When I lived in my parents villa, and while they were away, I used to play electric guitar, loud, and the police came.
Now I live in my own apartment and do not play guitar anymore, and headphones for occasional nights and 5.1 computer speakers for daylight are enough.
As I said, I am deaf, well quite deaf and cannot distinguish anything better than low quality. And then we have those that say Mp3 is shite, god knows what ears they have.

 

[Aquinus]

Depends.

If my wife is trying to watch TV in the same room or I'm listening or watching a movie very intently, I will wear my headphones (Sennheiser HD 280 Pro monitor headphones.) However if I'm the only person in the room or I'm just listening to music for background noise, I'll use the surround.

 

[bbmarley]

i use both about the same, desktop speakers and headset that is

no both option??

 

[Patriot]

I use an amp with bookshelf speakers. I don't think I will ever go pack to "computer speakers".

I am with you there...Sub coming shortly...
Polk M30 Series 2...absolutely amazing.

Cans are broken currently otherwise I would use those at night...

 

[Deleted member 3]

External amp via toslink. I mostly game without sound though. Turned it off in most games when watching TV at the sme time, usually can't be bothered to turn it back on.

 

[cadaveca]

well aren't we just cool

i hate show offs or people that are spoiled

I worked hard to pay for that gear, don't be jelly. My wife has no issues with the stuff I buy, neither should you.


I sit here at home in my living room, every day now, testing PC hardware for reviews, playing games, and playing guitar. The only other thing i do is care for my four kids. To me, doing that right means a high-end PC for gaming, and very good quality audio. If I didn't play guitar, and spend a fair bit of time chasing "tone", I probably wouldn't have such a high-end setup, but audio, and "tone", are very importnat things in my life, so I invest a fair bit of cash into what I enjoy.


W1zzard asked:

Why is one superior than the other?

The only valid way to justify my response is to show the equipment I use that validates my opinion. Showing off had nothing to do with it. However, when it comes to reviewing motherboards, and the audio they produce, good equipment is required. The equipment i use lets me hear the differences from board to board, very easily. And when it comes to desktop speakers, I ahve looked for a much smaller set, that could fit on my desk, and not one is even remotely close to being able to produce what I consider decent sound. If I pick up my guitar, paly a song adn record it, the playback better be pitch-perfect, and only decent gear can do that. I can only think of one single PC speakler set that comes close, and still, it's missing a bit of mid-range.

 

[BumbleBee]

mow some lawns.

 

[Disruptor4]

Where is the option for both as if watching a movie I use a hi-fi system. If gaming I use headset. Music is mostly headset, but sometimes hi-fi.

 

[scoutingwraith]

Using a old Logitech x-530 5.1 speaker system for my desktop and using a Turtle Beaches PX5 for my laptop (Bluetooth ftw)

 

[95Viper]

I use a desktop 2.1 setup.
But, I don't use headphones, just find them uncomfortable.

 

[Inceptor]

I use a pair of Bose desktop speakers. A bit pricey, but great sound and plenty of volume headroom if you're really interested in blasting out some loud and clear sound.
I don't play FPS games, so I suppose I'm in the minority here, but I can understand the use of headphones for those. If I'm playing a game, I turn down all the game 'noise' and listen to music or podcasts during play as background.
There are situations where using headphones is a good idea, but for me, I don't need the sound to immerse myself in a game, so headphones aren't needed. The only time I use headphones is when I want to listen to music and be able to turn it up to hear all the little idiosyncratic subtleties in the music that usually don't get heard.

 

[Delta6326]

I use Logitech Z-2300 200 watts 2.1. Though sometimes when its late at night I will use my Sony MDR-EX85 In-Ear.

 

[Mussels]

Desktop speakers, logitech Z-5500.


I also have a bunch of headphones, but i find them too restricting for regular use.

 

[Anisotonic]

still got the old turtle beach hpa2 5.1 set. since I have a auzentech forté, and therefore have 2 channels idling, I've been looking at the razer 7.1 set for a possible upgrade. I wonder how it's like.

I also have z-5500 but they only get used when I'm not alone.

 

[Nordic]

I am not an audiophile at all. I use cheap speakers right 90% of the time. The headphones I use are cheap too, especially since I got them on sale for $7. Rosewill RHTS-11002 3.5mm Gold-Plated Connector Ca.... I would use them more but my ears itch after an hour.

I am thinking about upgrading my audio though. Maybe a soundcard from a asus xonar dg to a azuntech raider. If I got a sound card I would need better speakers to actually use them. I am thinking about getting a nice comfy pair of headphones. I like the idea of wireless too.

 

[Millennium]

I use Logitech X-540 mostly. I don't like headphones for gaming and I do like real 5.1 with positional sound. Then again, I haven't tried any 5.1 headsets and having the mic built in might be cool.

Looks like it's pretty close anyway.

edit: I also have a decent hifi for home cinema but since my TV bit the bullet recently I don't use it much - just for music when I want it loud.

 

[THE_EGG]

I use Bowers and Wilkins CM5's (got them for a bargain second hand and with no damage) with a Denon amp/receiver (I forget the model). I also use the Tannoy 5.1SFX sub along with it too which is great except the speaker cone housing is coming apart D:

Occassionally I'll use Bowers and Wilkins P5 headphones if someone else is in the house so I don't disturb them. I found putting the budget of a decent gaming headset towards my normal headphone budget, I could get myself a very nice set of audiophile headphones.
An Asus Essence ST has all of this hooked up to it.

Yes, as you have probably guessed, I am a HUGE fan of B&W stuff Although it has left me with pretty empty pockets :'(

 

[Redspeed93]

I use both headphones, Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, and a 5.1 system, the Logitech Z5500, both hooked up to a Creative X-Fi Titanium.