Speakers or Headphones?

[Jumpem]

Headphones if I need sound, so I won't bother my wife or kids trying to watch tv int he same room. Most of the time though I will game with sound off.

 

[Maleficus]

Headphones for sure. Bought Sennheiser HD555s a couple of years ago and have never been happier. Very comfortable and the sound is great.

I hate playing MP with people that are using speakers; every time they talk you can hear yourself coming through if they speak too quickly and hear everything else going on. Very distracting.

KT

Do yourself a favor, pop those babies open and remove the Sennheiser Douchebaggery that their little black strip of air blocking badness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8PzBrHXE

 

[KeithTalent]

Do yourself a favor, pop those babies open and remove the Sennheiser Douchebaggery that their little black strip of air blocking badness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8PzBrHXE

No.

KT

 

[Soundmanred]

5.1 analog for games, optical digital for movies, etc.
HDMI to 42", sound to receiver (Yamaha/Paradigm setup), wireless KB/M, PS3 controller.

 

[Maleficus]

No.

KT

Ok! glad I could help.

For reference, I have a pair of these myself and you can tell a difference.

 

[sash1]

headset, always. rockin' an Astro A40. only use speakers when i'm just watching anime or movies on my computer.

 

[ibex333]

Since there is already a thread on this, can someone recommend me a good set of headphones for gaming and general computer usage? These must have GOOD quality for music listening too. I am looking to spend about $100. Give or take.

I listen to a lot of rock and heavy metal mostly.

 

[mmntech]

I've got a 5.1 setup. Soundblaster X-FI hooked up via analogue to my Pioneer AV receiver.

 

[Maleficus]

Since there is already a thread on this, can someone recommend me a good set of headphones for gaming and general computer usage? These must have GOOD quality for music listening too. I am looking to spend about $100. Give or take.

I listen to a lot of rock and heavy metal mostly.

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-80i.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-60i.php

for that price range, I'd grab a pair of one of those.

 

[ibex333]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-80i.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-60i.php

for that price range, I'd grab a pair of one of those.

Thanks! I'll take a look.

 

[Exterous]

Depends. Usually I use my Bose computer speakers but sometimes I use my Bose headphones when I dont want to disturb the wife

 

[potato28]

If I'm just messing around in GTA or listening to music I'll use the speakers, but I use the headphones for everything else.

 

[Pia]

If playing a game like Starcraft where positional sound doesn't really matter, I might use speakers. Otherwise I use headphones. There's no way to position surround speakers around where my PC is and the cost of upgrading my 2.1 to surround would be obscene.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Using speakers is more comfortable and convenient, but headphones deliver better sound quality for the price, so I use headphones. I have some cheap 2.1 Creative speakers too but don't use them much.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Using speakers is more comfortable and convenient, but headphones deliver better sound quality for the price, so I use headphones. I have some cheap 2.1 Creative speakers too but don't use them much.

I've never seen a pair of headphones that sounds anywhere near as good as a good set of speakers.

 

[Soundmanred]

I've never seen a pair of headphones that sounds anywhere near as good as a good set of speakers.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PieIsAwesome
Using speakers is more comfortable and convenient, but headphones deliver better sound quality for the price, so I use headphones.

 

[IGemini]

Quote:
Originally Posted by PieIsAwesome
Using speakers is more comfortable and convenient, but headphones deliver better sound quality for the price, so I use headphones.

In addition, if all a person cares about is low-end (and being able to feel it), then speakers will always beat headphones since a subwoofer is the only way to get that effect. Otherwise, they're just not looking hard enough for good headphones.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-80i.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-60i.php

for that price range, I'd grab a pair of one of those.

Grado's are good for rock and metal. Terrible for gaming. Audio Technica AD700's and nothing else. Best gaming headphones you can get under $150. Maybe not as musical as the Sennheiser hd555/595(same headphone), but better positional audio cues.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-80i.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-60i.php

for that price range, I'd grab a pair of one of those.

Grado's are good for rock and metal. Terrible for gaming. Audio Technica AD700's and nothing else. Best gaming headphones you can get under $150. Maybe not as musical as the Sennheiser hd555/595(same headphone), but better positional audio cues.

Headphones all come down to your desired usage, and price range. Headphones can get you big sound, but it won't shake your whole body like speakers are able to do. Also, what some people think sounds good for speakers is absolutely atrocious from and audiophile's perspective. If you want good speakers that are comparable to good headphones in terms of sound quality be prepared to spend a LOT more money.

 

[smackababy]

Technically I use both. I have game sound coming through speakers and vent / mumble in my headset.

 

[Pia]

Just bought a pair of barely used Audio-Technica ATH-M50s, they aren't in my hands yet. These are my first "real" headphones, and will replace a Sennheiser headset.

If I was buying new I'd have gotten the AD700s, but everything where I live is expensive (read: importing is cheaper), and the price on these M50s was right. For initial satisfaction, maybe the AD700s would have been better, but closed phones I can use at work. And I have this urge to get Beyerdynamic DT880s - if I do that, then I feel the AD700s would be redundant.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i prefer speakers, currently running headphones. old speakers are going out (constant volume level changes that apparently are hardware related - switching over to the headphones and i have yet to have volume fluctuation)

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Just bought a pair of barely used Audio-Technica ATH-M50s, they aren't in my hands yet. These are my first "real" headphones, and will replace a Sennheiser headset.

If I was buying new I'd have gotten the AD700s, but everything where I live is expensive (read: importing is cheaper), and the price on these M50s was right. For initial satisfaction, maybe the AD700s would have been better, but closed phones I can use at work. And I have this urge to get Beyerdynamic DT880s - if I do that, then I feel the AD700s would be redundant.

m50's are OK for music, but I find them horrible for gaming. The soundstage is inside your head, and it totally kills any sense of immersion headphones can provide.

 

[Mike Gayner]

To those people using headphones, do you use a separate amp? I don't see how headphones could possibly sound very good running straight off the line-out.

 

[zerocool84]

To those people using headphones, do you use a separate amp? I don't see how headphones could possibly sound very good running straight off the line-out.

Mine are USB and use a ton of sound processing to make stuff sound better plus fake surround.