Headset vs speakers.What do you prefer for gaming?

I have bought some $15 headset and on one side i really think that this is a very imersive way of playing and on the other hand the sound quality is so pathetic especially the gunfire and effects that it makes me wonder than even the better headsets have inferior sound quality.

Can you get a more than decent headset for gaming around $40-50 that will have better or on par sound quality to my logitech X-540 speakers using realtek HD audio?I mean my current headset is pretty decent for music but it's just pathetic while gaming.

Who hear owns both a good speakers and a good headset and what do you prefer for gaming?

You buy a headset for $15 and except good sound quality?

I got used to headphones when I played 500 hours of Counter-Strike: Source and now headphones are all that I use. Both have their pros and cons. For example headphones are better for competitive first person shooters because you can hear where your enemies are. On the other hand speakers and subwoofer have better bass.

At the moment I'm using my old Sennheiser HD-497 headphones. I had the chance to use Sony MDR-700 for a couple months but they are very uncomfortable.

P.S. This belongs in hardware discussion.

I use good old fashioned pair of headphones, not a headset with mic. I've got an old pair of DJ style closed-cup headphones with rich base (IXOS DJ1003) and they're great for gaming. I bought a supposedly good headset once (Sennheiser, can't remember the model) and they were just useless and made my ears ache (they didn't surround the ear but pressed on them).

Unless you desperately need a mic attached, don't bother with a headset. Just get a decent pair of headphones with a good bass range, and add a standalone mic if you have to. Of course, expect to pay more for a good set of phones...

Is this a good headset?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826159227

I use good old fashioned pair of headphones, not a headset with mic. I've got an old pair of DJ style closed-cup headphones with rich base (IXOS DJ1003) and they're great for gaming. I bought a supposedly good headset once (Sennheiser, can't remember the model) and they were just useless and made my ears ache (they didn't surround the ear but pressed on them).

Unless you desperately need a mic attached, don't bother with a headset. Just get a decent pair of headphones with a good bass range, and add a standalone mic if you have to. Of course, expect to pay more for a good set of phones...

RobertBowen

[QUOTE="RobertBowen"]

I use good old fashioned pair of headphones, not a headset with mic. I've got an old pair of DJ style closed-cup headphones with rich base (IXOS DJ1003) and they're great for gaming. I bought a supposedly good headset once (Sennheiser, can't remember the model) and they were just useless and made my ears ache (they didn't surround the ear but pressed on them).

Unless you desperately need a mic attached, don't bother with a headset. Just get a decent pair of headphones with a good bass range, and add a standalone mic if you have to. Of course, expect to pay more for a good set of phones...

Musacircuit_2

A headset includes a microphone.

Headphones don't.

[QUOTE="Musacircuit_2"][QUOTE="RobertBowen"]

I use good old fashioned pair of headphones, not a headset with mic. I've got an old pair of DJ style closed-cup headphones with rich base (IXOS DJ1003) and they're great for gaming. I bought a supposedly good headset once (Sennheiser, can't remember the model) and they were just useless and made my ears ache (they didn't surround the ear but pressed on them).

Unless you desperately need a mic attached, don't bother with a headset. Just get a decent pair of headphones with a good bass range, and add a standalone mic if you have to. Of course, expect to pay more for a good set of phones...

RobertBowen

A headset includes a microphone.

Headphones don't.

And ya i dont want one with a mic.

My headset:

Razr Barracuda HP-1 5.1 surround sound headset w/ mic.

http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_16&products_id=38

My speakers:

Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 System

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/promedia-4-1.aspx

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Over all I prefer my speakers, much more immersive when cranked up. :D

Especially with a sweet sound card like the Creative Fatal1ty Xf-i extreme gamer.

Headset for multiplayer/late at night, surround sound speakers for single play.pieatorium

I agree on that. As I own good speakers and a headset.

My headset:

Razr Barracuda HP-1 5.1 surround sound headset w/ mic.

http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_16&products_id=38

My speakers:

Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 System

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/promedia-4-1.aspx

------

Over all I prefer my speakers, much more immersive when cranked up. :D

Especially with a sweet sound card like the Creative Fatal1ty Xf-i extreme gamer.

OkuLaris

Heh, we've nearly the same set-up, except that I have Klipsch 2.1. I find that sounds seem to "run together" with the speakers a lot, so I prefer the headset.

EDIT: I'd use surround sound speakers if my computer wasn't in front of the door to my room. That's why I opted for the headset.

If you like top reflexes and are very competitive while playing online FPS then buy a headset, since you'll more likely hear where your enemy is coming from. But if you're like me who likes to turn the room into an Apocalyptic warfare then turn hail the 5.1 speakers. I especially like to turn them up when playing BF2, it just puts me right on the virtual battlefield and I get pumped up with the sounds. Although a sound card will defenitely help in sound quality over integrated sound. I have the x-fi xtreme music and it rocks BF2 so hard that words can't describe it.

Remember...

Competitive top-notch reflexes = Headset.

Room turned into battlefield = 5.1 speakers.

If money is not an issue, speakers. A great 5.1 or 7.1 speaker setup just can't be beat - buuut your average set of medium range headphones will do more for most games than your average 2.1 or 4.1 speaker setup will.

I use headphones for gaming - mostly for the mic - but I have some pretty good speakers that I like to break out every now and then when I'm playing music.

I use both, at the same time. My headset is for voice chat and speakers for surround sound. Wouldn't play any other way (unless I don't need voice chat... then it's speakers only).

My speakers are the logitech z-5500's and it doesn't get much better for PC gaming sound.

You buy a headset for $15 and except good sound quality?

I got used to headphones when I played 500 hours of Counter-Strike: Source and now headphones are all that I use. Both have their pros and cons. For example headphones are better for competitive first person shooters because you can hear where your enemies are. On the other hand speakers and subwoofer have better bass.

At the moment I'm using my old Sennheiser HD-497 headphones. I had the chance to use Sony MDR-700 for a couple months but they are very uncomfortable.

P.S. This belongs in hardware discussion.

RK-Mara

I use Sennheiser headphones too, payed 3000 NOK for them (about 600 $) so they pretty much rule when it comes to sound and immersiveness. Trust me, the bass is excellent. And they are awesome when it comes to movies and music too.

If i could use my speakers at high volume all the time then i wouldnt even bother with a headphone but the problem is that i live in an apartment with my parents and i can almost never play with satisfactory volume level and in the night i sometime cant even listen to the speech in games properly.

This is the reason why i am looking for a quality headset as playing with high volume really rocks and you enjoy so much more.