Audio Help

[Novercalis]

Hello everyone, I need help picking out the following:

Headphone with mic (for precision editing and at times gaming)
a 2 speakers + subwoofer (for general music and at times gaming too)
a soundcard.

when I mean editign, I dotn mean audio editing, I do video editign and I like to hear things crisp, clean so I can synch it... dont want no interference noise, hence I will use a headset with the card as well.

other than that, loud music and non FPS games or games requiring me to use a mic to chat w/ teams, I'd like a 3.1 setup.

so what do you all recommend me?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

sennheiser pc160, klipsch 2.1 or swans m200, uh...bluegears x-mystique? maybe a santa cruz montego?

 

[CraKaJaX]

how much are you planning on spending? I would go with a pair of sennheiser headphones - pc-150's or 155's. for the speakers I would get a set of Klipsch speakers, can't go wrong with them. soundcard... you can get an Audigy 2 forcheap now, but there's always the X-Fi too....

 

[Novercalis]

well, my budget is $800 but i dont want to use it all up...
basically under $200-250 unless its a 5.1 setup, I will consider it.
if I can get a wireless 5.1 setup and the quality of the sound is good for the money.. PLS LET ME KNOW...
if not, Its impossible putting a 5.1 setup in my room to utlize it w/ all the junk around.

I do want a very good sound card, for gaming and general music.
whats the different from A2, A-2z, x-fi?

 

[CraKaJaX]

X-Fi is the newest one out, and an awesome card. They have different versions of it like SoundBlaster did with it's "Gamer" version and all of that. I would highly recommend a X-Fi if you want a good card. I'm not sure about wireless 5.1 speakers, but I know Klipsch 2.1's are awesome sound for 2.1. pc-150, 155, or 160 for a headset works great. I'm using pc-155's right now... have had them forever.

 

[Novercalis]

alright so headset and speakers are Klipsch (should I wait for a deal if they are often or just newegg it?)

soundcard is important to know the info before I jump into buying so I'll need people opinion on thier expierence with thier soundcards.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Headset - Sennheiser pc-160's are the newest... pc-150's are cheap. pc-155's are a little more expensive but you get the USB adapater to plug them in, the Pc-150's don't come with the adapter. didn't clarify the brand, the headset is not klipsch
2.1 Speakers - Klipsch for sure
soundcard... I have an Audigy 2 ZS right now and think it's awesome with my Z-5500's. I only listen to music on them though, nothing else really. I have done video editing with sony vegas and permeire with my headset (pc-155's) and they work just fine. I do not know much about the X-Fi though, all I know is that it's the newest one out and expensive as hell.

 

[Novercalis]

aye.. my bad:

sennheiser (busch **couldnt resist*) headset... i'll look into the 150 n 160 since i dont need a usb feature.
alright i might be wrong here, but isnt 3.1 = 2 speaker + subwoofer? i'd like to get that..so I still assume from klip brnad...?

i do hate viewing "manufacture Name" "Series A" "B" "C" etc...when almost the entire thing pretty much looks like the same specs...
gamers, platnium, value.. etc grr... 100-150 on a card I guess will be my budget... than I already know this is gonna end up using my $800 budget due to headset + 2.1 speaker are also up there in price.

 

[Some1ne]

well, my budget is $800

That is more than sufficient. I recommend:

Sound - X-Fi Platinum (unless you want to splurge on the elite-pro...there's no point in getting the "Fata1ity" just for its X-RAM feature), $200

Speakers - Klipsch 5.1 setup, nothing less. With a budget like that there's no reason to not get quality, and there's little point in general of running < 5.1 speakers on a modern sound card. The newegg ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119106 ) ones should be fine, although personally I like the retro THX certified version that has been discontinued but which can still be found floating around sometimes ( http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.asp?s...jumpid=ex_r2910_frooglesmb/accessories ). Either way you're out ~$300 here, although there are probably some good deals on the THX certified setup on e-bay.

Headphones - Whatever you want, with the ~$300 remaining you could even get one of those fancy noice-cancellation models.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

2.1 is two speakers and a sub.

3.1 would be left speaker, center speaker, right speakers, and sub.

Wireless speakers is not a good idea.

You can get an X-Fi from Circuit city for cheaper than usual.

Plat is the better "deal" but music version is $110 and a good deal too.

so, $100 or so for whatever headset you want to get.

That leaves almost $600 max for speakers.

You can easily spend all that if you have the urge to do so.

Ascend 170s + a dayton 12" sub + an Onkyo stereo receiver would be about that much.

Naturally you don't have to spend that much... but just to let you know that there are some options out there other than computer speakers.

In addition to the usual suspects, check out Swan m200s + the dayton sub I linked to above.

 

[Some1ne]

Ascend 170s + a dayton 12" sub + an Onkyo stereo receiver would be about that much.

That's a nice setup, but really, why get that if you're going to run a sound card that can go all the way to 7.1 channels? I have a Yamaha RX-596, a 10" sub, and Infinity RS-8's hooked up to my X-Fi IO-Drive accessory, and they sound very nice together, but for most day to day things, I still use my Klipsch 5.1 speakers instead.

Why pay for channels that you're not even going to use?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Some1ne

Ascend 170s + a dayton 12" sub + an Onkyo stereo receiver would be about that much.

That's a nice setup, but really, why get that if you're going to run a sound card that can go all the way to 7.1 channels? I have a Yamaha RX-596, a 10" sub, and Infinity RS-8's hooked up to my X-Fi IO-Drive accessory, and they sound very nice together, but for most day to day things, I still use my Klipsch 5.1 speakers instead.

Why pay for channels that you're not even going to use?

"Why pay for channels that you're not even going to use?" <-- exactly... why pay for more speakers of lower quality vs a 2.1 set of higher quality. With a 7.1 soundcard he could add a center channel and surround speakers later on if he wanted to.

As for the soundcard, there are some cards that are stereo that are geared more towards music output.

Why get a 7.1 card? Becuase there isn't a 2.1 gaming card out there with nice headphone surround effects afaik. If you could get a 2.1 X-Fi for half the price, I'd say go for it. I don't understand your point.

You're saying why get a multichannel soundcard for a 2.1 speaker set?

If gaming doesn't matter much, sure get a cheaper soundcard or one geared towards music only.

 

[Novercalis]

well i guess im still stuck with 2.1 set (thx for letting me know what 3.1 is)

why wireless 5.1 if able? Becuase in order for me to utlize a 5.1 surround sound I will need very long wires for my room and I have to make shelves to place them properly where I want them to be.... as well I have to fight with the wires... no thx.. to much of a hassle for me.. hence wireles... but if not.. im happy with headset + 2.1 system on a sound card.

=======================================
so basically which X-fi for a 2.1 klip + senn headset card should I get?
gaming/music.. is that circuit city one the best to jump on?

 

[Pariah]

Just because the guy has $800 to spend doesn't mean you have to try and get as close to that total as possible without going over. This isn't The Price is Right.

The X-Fi XtremeMusic is pretty much a no-brainer for the sound card. There is no point at all in getting a higher end version if all you want is 2.1, since you'll never be using the additional connectors, nor will you ever be using digital connections to multimedia speakers.

I don't know anything about headphone/mics headsets, and I'm not about to fake like I do, so I'll leave those recommendations to someone else.

As for speakers, the Swans are a good choice. Klipsch are very popular, though I personally don't like the sound of Klipsch speakers. Too shrill and fatiguing for me. Something a bit above these 2 options, yet still well within your budget would be some higher end Cambridge Soundworks speakers. Something like these:



MegaWorks 215 Amplified Multimedia/Computer Speaker System

Cambridge, who also make the Creative Mega/Gigaworks speakers tend to have a warmer sound (stronger mids) which is more pleasing to my ears at least.

The X-Fi and Megaworks 215 would leave you about $190 for a headset, which shouldn't cost you anywhere near that much. You can save $50 by choosing the slightly lower end MegaWorks 211.

 

[Thezeroone]

I'm also looking for a sound card for 2.0 or 2.1. I figure Audigy 2 value is the way to go. It will do 2 channels at 24bit/192kHz, and can be had for $35.00 ar at ZZF. Any other suggestions?

 

[Novercalis]

x-fi xtrememusic vs x-fi platnium vs Audigy2 ZS platnium????



speakers:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121114

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836116133

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121122

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836113139

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119105

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119101

 

[Novercalis]

any help deciding which speakers to choose from?

 

[Novercalis]

bump

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well... you kind of get what you pay for usually.

Do you have a chance to go to a local computer store and listen to some of these?

 

[Novercalis]

bump.. speaker advice from the links above suggestion?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Novercalis
bump.. speaker advice from the links above suggestion?

x-fi xtrememusic vs x-fi platnium vs Audigy2 ZS platnium????

-I'd say stick with an A2 value for those sets. Hard to recommend a soundcard that costs as much or more than the speakers.

Log z-3 <-- you can get those for cheaper than $70. Check Amazon.com etc. (well pricegrabber too along with reseller ratings.... same goes for all of these I guess)
Decent entry level 2.1 speakers. Logitech sets tend to have exaggerated boomy bass. If you're into that, then Logitech's line could be good for you. Sub turned all the way down sounds pretty good.

Creative L3500 <-- haven't heard these. Creative's cambridge soundworks type sets are nice... I'm more skeptical of their midrange lineup.

Log 2300s <-- z-3s on steroids

Altec MX5021 <-- haven't heard these. Some people seem to love them.

Promedia GMX <-- go with regular Promedias over there

Promedia 2.1 <-- nice time tested solid set.

Out of those, I would put MX5021's and Promedia 2.1 at the top of the pack.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Logitech X 2300s for speakers and a Sound Blaster X-FI Music for soundcard.

 

[Novercalis]

alright thx for that feedback!

I'll wait for the X-fi Music hot deal and same for speaker...
seems my options is:

the promedia 2.1
MX5021
Logi 2300...

Can I get more feedbacks on other AT'er opinions on those 3 please... granted im not in ahurry to buy them yet.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I haven't heard them, but I've read good opinions on those swan m200s I linked to above also.

 

[paulw86]

trust the yoyoyo guy, he's the l33t =)