Let's talk gaming audio.

What do you guys have?

Me? I'm upgrading from a 5.1 set up to a 7.2 or 5.2.2, haven't decided yet. Leaning towards the 7.2 because of the size of my gaming room and the fact that I need special speakers for Atmos. I figure more games will use 7.1 than Atmos, which isn't even confirmed to be used for gaming with PS5, just XSX at this point.

What are your thoughts on audio for gaming?

My theater room has a 5.1.2 setup. I also have various gaming headsets and whatever. (Corsair Void Pro, Astro A40, some various Turtle Beach headsets) The home theater setup blows all the headsets away.

What kind of headphones do you use?

I have the Kef LS50 wireless speakers on my desk, and the Sennheiser HD660s hooked up to a JDS Labs element II amp/DAC. It's less of a "gaming" audio setup and more for just general good audio. If I'm playing a game that benefits from the ability to really know where sounds are coming from the HD660s do a good job with that.

For gaming I mostly use headphones. HyperX Cloud for PC and 3D Pulse for PS5.

HyperX Cloud is what I'm currently using. Great set for the price. Looked at the Pulse set but was put off when I found out it has no equalizer support. Astro A20 or Arctic 7P are probably better choices.

Just using my Tv's speakers atm, may get a sound bar and some speakers down the road.

I got a 5.1.2 setup in the living room and a 5.1 setup for the desktop. I also like to use high quality headphones. Audio is very important.

DAC and headphone amp from Schit and a pair of Fostex T50RP headphones.

Speakers are great for the living room, but at my PC I want the intimacy of headphones.

When I need to talk to people I switch to my Arctis 7 Chat, a pretty damn decent wireless headset.

I have the built-in speakers of my TV, the 40$ PC speakers and my Sony 3D pulse headset 😀

I have a Samsung soundbar with two subs for surround sound. I cannot believe how long I was gaming by using the TV speaker audio, it sounded horrible.

I own a hefty, high end stereo system that is intended for listening to music, but sometimes I use it for gaming also. I always use it for atmospheric, scary games like Resident Evil or "soothing" games like Child of Light or Unravel. I occasionally use it for action games also, but I tend to turn it off after a while because it is too intense and my ears tire.

I've had 9.2 for some time. I can't do simple audio anymore

I only use headphones. Can't be blasting speakers late night when i am gaming most of the time. Micca Origen+ amp/dac and the Sennheiser hd58x jubilee is what i've been using for the last 6 months or so. Don't see any worthwhile upgrades on the horizon.

2.1 sound system for the TV. Not sure which brand, but it's good. It's actually 5.1, but can't be arsed with the other speakers.

For the PC, I play with headphones. HyperX Cloud Revolver S, to be exact.

Unfortunately, I live in an apartment... So I mostly use my headphones for my PC gaming & TV experiences. It's a pair of Phillips Fidelio X2's on a Soundblaster X G6 dac/amp. I also have a shitty Polk MagniFi Mini soundbar that I use when I dont use headphones.

Been really wanting to get a new AV receiver setup going.., but I'd probably have to do without the sub or something (apartment). May have to just settle on yet another soundbar..🤢. Also had my eye on the AKG K7XX to use over my Fidelio X2's.

Crappy TV speakers, or my head set (pulse)

I currently have a Sony HT-ST5000. I'm kinda stuck with soundbars due to the layout of my condo, but it really packs a punch as I get a text on the odd occasion from my neighbour. It won't come close to an individual speaker surround, but it is solid.

2.1 soundbar and satisfied with that

I have an old Sony Dolby Digital 5.1 HTIB that has served me well for about 12 years, 4 apartments and 3 TVs. But this summer it will finally be time to upgrade, likely to a 5.1.2 setup.

Got a Samsung soundbar+sub+ back speakers. A low to mid-range 5.1 set, but better than plain ol' TV audio. :P

Used to have the pc and consoles hooked up to the 5.1, but having since moved the gaming pc and consoles into the home office I've been using a Modius DAC and Jotunheim amp and rotating through my headphone collection depending on what mood I'm in (headphones are Sennheiser HD 650, Focal Clear, ZMF Atticus LTD and ZMF Verite Closed LTD.)

I have a 5.1 setup and I was coming from either TV speakers or a sound bar. TO ME the 5.1 upgrade has been one of the best upgrades I have ever done with my gaming setup. More so than my 4K HDR TV

When a game SUPPORTS 5.1.....I mean wow it's amazing. I can't go back to anything less. I wish more games had the feature.

Use £10 headphones.

They make you feel like Mickey Mouse, because they are big.

Which ones?

A pair of Sennheisser HD598s

and a wired Steeleseries Arctis Pro with the game DAC

The Pros definitely have the better range, drivers and spacial audio... but I prefer the open air Sennheissers than the closed cans on the Arctis pro

both slap for gaming tho

Sometime I'd like to own these motherfuckers. Senheiser EPOS GSP 602. Nice looking, awesome sounding and looks super comfy. Pretty fucking pricey at 280 bucks though.

I use a Sony receiver with an XTC 10" sub with 7 speakers .... 2 in the ceiling for Atmos. I want to upgrade to a Denon pretty soon because tech advances and I want more features like built in Alexa and airplay 2.

I'll also get a pair of Xbox wireless cans when they're back in stock....currently using a cheap turtle beach headset which is absolute crap.

@Star67: I think pretty much every game supports surround systems...at least from last gen onwards....but yeah, having 5.1 makes a hell of a difference.

Actually, yours sounds like the only setup worth a ****. People talking about their 5.1 and 7.1 systems and gaming headsets are falling for gimmicks marketed towards gamers, who just so happen to be one of the most gullible group of consumers out there.

I used to use a dedicated DAC though. A 32-bit 768khz capable DAC with one of the cleanest, lowest distortion outputs out there and one of the top rated before you start paying $1000+. But, good quality DACs and amps have come down in price and cheaper systems are able to beat very expensive ones from a few years ago. The DAC in my XLR interface for example sounds as good as any high end dedicated system and it does a good job driving 80-150ohm headphones, so no amp needed.

More gamers need to take those gimmicky surround sound headsets, anything with RGB, anything with an attached mic or from a company with a gimmicky name (such as HyperX and Razer) and toss them in the trash, get a solid interface, get a proper mic, and no, not a fucking Blue Yeti (people who game with those should have them rammed up their asses, doubly so if they put it on their desks next to their mechanical keyboards), and get good quality headphones for playback.

But we don't have to get expensive here. Philips SHP9500 headphones and a $100-$120 interface and a $20 Behringer XM8500 mic will cost less than the amount of money most people are going to dump into crappy gimmick headsets over the next couple years.