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[Acrylic7]

My friend prefers crappy $10 speakers vs good Headphones. He says "Why would I pay that much when everything sounds the same". In his defense he says that he likes to hear things because of the kids and stuff. But yeesh. He wont even attempt to purchase good speakers with his $1000 rig.
I cant de-friend him because we go way back since diapers so yeah

So I got to thinking. What audio devices do you use at your PC while gaming or any other reason and why?

I had a pair of Sony V6's and just now purchased the 7506's after the V6's bit the dust. They sound super crisp right now listening to Schubert-Ave Maria the and RZA.
The V6's broke right after I build my first gaming rig a month ago so while gaming I was using the Turtle Beach P11 but I cant go back unless I need to actually chat. Going to get a mic later.
Also if anyone is looking for Headphones I highly recommend the Sony-7506's.

Spoiler

never noticed polls were gone

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Headphones are nice at night. During the day I use crappy $40 Logitech speakers so I can hear the environment around me.

 

[FirmBizBws]

I heavily used my over the ear Sony wireless or Audio Technica headphones, but now that I wear glasses, it's pretty hard to use over the ear headphones and them together, so I use my apple headphones for gaming.

I used to be into speakers, but these days I just like keeping my audio go myself and I think the sound I get from my combination of headphones is pretty good.

So I game on mute and just use headphones now.

Prior I used to just use the TV's natural speakers.

In the future I may just upgrade to some more expensive headphones, I don't think I'll ever go back to speaker, it sort of breaks emersion for me.

 

[Daria]

wearing headphones gets uncomfortable after a while, I'd much prefer to have the room full of sound if that makes sense even if it's shitty sounding

 

[FoxhoundNL]

Audioengine A5+ for solo games. Apple Earpods for online competitive. The fact that they have no real oompf in the lower frequencies makes them perfect for shooters imo. I can localize enemies immediately if the game allows.

 

[rtcn63]

Some people just have a preference for one or the other. Headphones can offer intimacy and positioning not found in cheaper speakers, and good speakers offer a presentation that can't really be found in cheaper headphones. Or not.

And most people don't care. Who cares? You can have both.

 

[Fbh]

Headphones for sure. Much better immersion IMO and does a better job at blocking outside noises.

Also, your friend migh have hearing issues if he can't tell the difference between $10 speakers and a good pair of headphones

 

[SunBroDave]

Headphones all the way. Ever watch a movie on living room speakers where the dynamics of the audio are such that you're always turning the volume up for dialogue and down for explosions? Same thing with games, and headphones don't have that problem. Having said that, iPod earbuds are never the optimal way to listen to anything. Get some real headphones like my M4Us.

 

[KarasuEXE]

I get headaches too easily, so I prefer speakers (or I just put the volume way down when using headphones.)

 

[Despera]

It depends. If a game requires kb/m controls I prefer playing in front of the PC monitor and use this combination

VISO HP50

+

Fiio E10k amp/dac

Ideally though I'd hook up everything to my tv+surround system and just play from my couch. No matter how good headphones are they can never measure up to a halfway decent surround system.

 

[Psykotik]

headphones are useless for me since im deaf in my left ear. sucks really.

i use a sony bdv n9200w with my PS4.

 

[Acrylic7]

Headphones all the way. Ever watch a movie on living room speakers where the dynamics of the audio are such that you're always turning the volume up for dialogue and down for explosions? Same thing with games, and headphones don't have that problem. Having said that, iPod earbuds are never the optimal way to listen to anything. Get some real headphones like my M4Us.

Heck yeah. Watching Blurays with the Turtle Beach p11 was way better than what my TV was doing. I just cant go back to that mess.

 

[Vbrasa]

It really depends to me. If I'm playing console games, I usually am listening to them through speakers, but if I'm playing on my computer I have my headphones on.

 

[Zafir]

I don't have the space for a speaker system, so I've got some decent quality headphones. Sennheiser HD 558's to be precise. I have them hooked up to a Astro Mixamp when using my consoles.

I have some cheapish speakers in case I don't want to use my headphones, but they aren't used very often at all.

 

[EBE]

ive got tinnitus so speakers for me.
dont fuck up your ears, people. you'll wish you hadnt.

 

[Joey Ravn]

Headphones all the way, all the time. I don't even have speakers connected to my PC.

 

[Gnilres]

Good headphones are worth it.

Bad speakers are better than bad headphones.

 

[Superflat]

Got one of these Marshall Hanwells for about half price (they are ridiculously expensive), and I use it much more than my Sennheiser headphones now. I've lived most of my life with shitty speakers and never knew what I was missing out on. Now it's impossible to go back to subpar speakers.

With hifi speakers, I use my headphones only when I want to completely shut out the world. A surround system would be the next step but I don't really like having multiple speakers situated around the room.

 

[greyskull]

Been using the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 set for something like 6 years now. They sound really great for the price (bought mine around $120 or so I think). When I play CS:GO or just need to keep quiet, I'll throw on my Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro cans. They're hooked up to a Creative Sound Blaster Z, which I really only got so I can hook up a console with optical in; otherwise I'd be all over an external DAC.

 

[SunBroDave]

Bad speakers are better than bad headphones.

^^^^ As long as you've got some kind of sub then really any speakers are better than shite headphones

 

[M.D]

There's stuff I can't hear withoout headphones no matter how loud the sound is, so I generally prefer headphones

 

[ATXAlchemy]

I cant de-friend him because we go way back since diapers so yeah.

You would have "defriend" him because he doesn't want to use a high-cost audio option? If he can't tell the difference, then yes, having good audio options would only be a waste for him.

IEM for me, but at my current money flow, I am very reluctant in buying expensive phones when I can't have them last more than 3 years. :/

 

[Duxxy3]

Speakers during the day, headphones at night.

 

[shinobi602]

Been using my 5.1 system the last couple years. Started using headphones about 6 months ago, not sure I'll ever go back to speakers. Headphones immerse me so well.

 

[Darryl M R]

Mostly earphone since my SO normally is in the same room when I'm playing. I want to switch to headphones but I'm extremely disappointed that bluetooth headphones are not supported by PS4 or X1.

 

[Corpekata]

Mainly speakers for practical reasons. Good headphones for games I expect will take advantage of them like Alien Isolation.

 

[Acrylic7]

Mostly earphone since my SO normally is in the same room when I'm playing. I want to switch to headphones but I'm extremely disappointed that bluetooth headphones are not supported by PS4 or X1.

Really? Doesn't the ps3 have blutooth headphones?

 

[Nastrodamous]

I use sennheiser hd 650, they are p great.

 

[diggmcbadass]

I have my PC hooked up to my stereo, but they also output to my headphones so I can switch between them by pushing one button. Most of the time I keep sound on my speakers, but if I want to get more immersed in games/movies/music I will put on the headphones.

I also have secondary headset that I use exclusively for voice chat, but they are on-ear wireless and I keep all the other sound on my speakers when using them.

 

[MetalSlug]

ive got tinnitus so speakers for me.
dont fuck up your ears, people. you'll wish you hadnt.

Same. My tinnitus start in October last year

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

You were gonna unfriend him over speakers?

Anyway, headphones are essential for competitive games, most other times I use speakers plus subtitles.

 

[Drama Zed Nod]

Philips Fidelio X2 for my PC:

 

[CadetMahoney]

headphones >speakers

I use genuine samsung in-ear headphones - about 5 dolla. The white ones.

Used to use big cumbersome over-head headphones, but these work just fine.

 

[Mr-Joker]

I am profoundly deaf in both ears so speakers as headphones just play havoc with my hearing aids and earphones don't work as well.

 

[Acrylic7]

You would have "defriend" him because he doesn't want to use a high-cost audio option?

You were gonna unfriend him over speakers?

I probably should put a smiley face at the end of that joke?

 

[adamantypants]

If you don't live with someone who hates the noise or have close neighbors, get good speakers. Otherwise get some good cans.

I wear my Audio Technica M50Xs for hours on end.

 

[dmr87]

Pair of open headphones.

 

[LlamaJohnson]

Good headphones for games I expect will take advantage of them like Alien Isolation.

This is the ONLY reason that i would wear headphones. My system crushes any headphones that I've ever used (I've never tried those very high end audiophile ones). I like having my entire body immersed in the world, not just my head.

 

[Darryl M R]

Really? Doesn't the ps3 have blutooth headphones?

I think there are sony specific bluetooth headphones but I'm not a fan of buying headphones that can only be used with one type of machine. And for whatever reason the X1 does not recognize microphones if they are formatted in the more common Apple/iOS compatibility so that's another issue I have to figure out soon.

 

[Skyzard]

Headphones for quality in a noise considerate environment, or otherwise for me (grado rs2 with a soundcard I forget). Speakers when I'm lazy and want to be more comfortable. I don't even hook up my HM soundsticks 2 ...I should, been using my monitor's inbuilt speakers that I didn't even know it came with.

 

[GoldenCrow]

When they weren't broken a pair of Shure SE535 earbuds (got them for free), by far the best audio equipment I have had the pleasure to play with that wasn't in the thousands. I need to get them fixed sharpish though but I have been contemplating getting them re-shelled to custom monitors. I personally prefer audio equipment that has a focus on mid and high end rather than bass, bass is nice but only good when coming through a sub otherwise it is that nasty simulated stuff, having a low profile is a must as well. I have been using my old Shure SCL3 which are still brilliant.

 

[5taquitos]

Headphones + Counter-Strike = I know exactly where everyone is.

 

[Mozendo]

I use headphones because I like hearing the faintest sounds. If I had a speaker system I would have to turn up the volume due to the distance.
Plus I don't like disturbing my neighbors.

 

[Zomba13]

I've used headphones almost exclusively for years now. Only time I don't use them is when there are other people around, then I use the shitty built in TV speakers. I like to get immersed in my games and movies while also not disturbing others around the house. This way I can get the thing at a nice volume which drowns out outside noise (others around the house, kids and idiots in the street screaming because this neighbourhood is shit etc).

I use these at the moment. Got them from a sale a while back. Best headphones I've ever owned.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AODGGL0/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Skelter]

I prefer headphones especially during the summer. Holy hell does it start irritate me. I mostly play single player games so I don't need to hear footsteps/direction of gunfire in Counter Strike.

Now, would someone give me some suggestions for speakers? I've been using my friends old Logitech x-540 but they're dying on me. I don't need $500 speakers but any info would help.

 

[Steel]

I use bluetooth earbuds for the most part. They're nice because they insert comfortably into your ear like ear plugs::

Work with my nvidia shield, my T.V., my computer, my vita, but for some strange reason they don't work with my PS4.

 

[rtcn63]

I prefer headphones especially during the summer. Holy hell does it start irritate me. I mostly play single player games so I don't need to hear footsteps/direction of gunfire in Counter Strike.

Now, would someone give me some suggestions for speakers? I've been using my friends old Logitech x-540 but they're dying on me. I don't need $500 speakers but any info would help.

Audioengines. A2. A5.

If you're capable of DIY, there are speaker kits that are significantly better bangs for your buck.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/

 

[Handy Fake]

I wouldn't trust anyone in my family not to sneak up and scare the unholy screaming shit out of me while I was wearing headphones, so speakers. And a hammer.

 

[Acrylic7]

I use bluetooth earbuds for the most part. They're nice because they insert comfortably into your ear like ear plugs::


Work with my nvidia shield, my T.V., my computer, my vita, but for some strange reason they don't work with my PS4.

whats the quality like on these?
I need a pair for my phone. Music purposes.

 

[kamineko]

I have a low-end sony 5.1 theatre system that I love. A lot.

I have a hard time being comfortable in headphones. Not physically, but it bothers me when I can't hear what's going on in the world around me. Less safe, somehow.

Yeah, I know, weird. I can get over it, but speakers are my ideal setup, particularly for extended periods.