Speakers vs Headset

[Zulthus]

Which do you prefer? I personally use a Turtle Beach headset, but it ends up giving me an earache after about an hour of playing. They both have their pros and cons.

[Artimus]

Turtle beach headset all day. I'm sorry but I don't see any cons. They take me away, completely immerse myself.

[NCLynx]

While gaming? Headset. Gamecom 777 atm

Not playing any games and I'm not on a VoiP server? Speakers.

[Rbstr]

I prefer speakers. It's the way you can feel it compared to just hearing it. Especially listening to music or playing something with explosions.

They're also more comfortable and don't really wear out: Every headset I've ever owned has gone bad on me.

[Vancha]

As you say, both have their cons.

Honestly, I don't think this is a fair fight until holophonic/binaural (or at least a simulation of the effect) becomes standard for headsets.

For gaming though, there's already no contest.

[Graywolves]

Razer Carcharias

http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169415800

[Neurotoxin]

Ideally, speakers for music, headset for voice and game audio...

[Immigrant]

Headset. I see no cons. I don't bother anyone with my music or games that way and no external noises bother me.

[Sentrosi]

Right now I've got an old surround sound receiver hooked up to my PC via optical cable and the surround is hit or miss. I used this setup because of the kids. I thought that with a headset on I would not hear their cries via the baby monitor. Now that they are grown up (well, at least not crying all the time) I figured it was time for me to get a set of decent surround sound headsets. Looking around for the last couple of months I found a deal on the Logitech G35s for $70. If the G35 works out I'm going to ditch the speakers and just hook up my old Logitech 2.1 speakers. Plus it'll clean up the wires that are back there and give me a chance to properly tie up and get the wires back there nice and neat. I hate seeing a rats nest of wires and cables.

[Naz The Eternal]

Personally I own both, it is just a matter of using them at appropriate times.

Speakers: Listening to music/watching movie

Headset: Gaming and on voice chat (so as not to cause echo, most annoying thing on any VOIP Server)

[waldizzo]

I normally use speakers unless I'm on a VOIP service. I am looking for a good headset though. The padding on my current set is falling apart and leaving little pieces of headphone everywhere. Very annoying.

[Naz The Eternal]

I normally use speakers unless I'm on a VOIP service. I am looking for a good headset though. The padding on my current set is falling apart and leaving little pieces of headphone everywhere. Very annoying.

Best headset I've invested in and several outfit members have it as well

The G930 (wireless) or the G35 (wired version)

Amazing 7.1 and the wireless has a battery time of 10 hours, I just walk around with it on and no problems

[Ale]

Both.

Surround setup:
Logitech z5500 (96/24kbz, THX. Xbox via optical and PC via 5.1)
Technics center channel speaker.
Creative External X-fi 5.1 sound card.
450$

Headsets:
Creative Tactic Alphas (PC)
Creative Tactic Sigmas (Xbox)
headsets are interchangable at the dongle.
120$

Which ones I play my games through depends on time of day and whether I'm on coms with teammates or listening to music at the same time.

In terms of the experience, I would rather have the speakers on. A+ directional sound without earmuffs is great. The "Thhuuunnnb" of tank rounds heard through a decent subwoofer is incredible, too.

[duomaxwl]

Best headset I've invested in and several outfit members have it as well

The G930 (wireless) or the G35 (wired version)

Amazing 7.1 and the wireless has a battery time of 10 hours, I just walk around with it on and no problems

This.
I LOVE my g930s, I can walk around the house if I need too, and there are plugins available so I can press one of the buttons on the side to activate my PPT key in TS3/Mumble.

[Sentrosi]

I am looking for a good headset though. The padding on my current set is falling apart and leaving little pieces of headphone everywhere. Very annoying.
Logitech G35 (http://www.meritline.com/logitech-g35-7-1-channel-surround-sound-headset---p-78295.aspx)
Here is the one I bought last week. They had a special $10 instant rebate which brought the price down to $70.

[waldizzo]

Alright you've convinced me. Bought the 930's for 104 dollars off amazon. Never had a wireless headset before and the price difference wasn't too bad.

[Gonefshn]

headset yo! so much mo pro!

[Traak]

At least 4.1 surround, better 7.1. It is beneficial if you are able to hear where something or someone is coming from or going to.

If your earbuds, headphones, or whatever support it via emulation or multiple speaker drivers, great.

But my idea of gaming is to be surrounded by carefully spaced speakers in a relatively soundproof room, with my earbuds loosely fitted for comms. Windows 7 supports separate channels for the laptop speakers and the headphone jack, so at least I can get the game and the comms on different outputs.

[Vancha]

At least 4.1 surround, better 7.1. It is beneficial if you are able to hear where something or someone is coming from or going to.

If your earbuds, headphones, or whatever support it via emulation or multiple speaker drivers, great.
No. Not great. Go for emulation only.

The size requirements of the drivers in multiple driver headphones means the sound quality takes a hit.

If you want to buy headphones, take a visit to Head-fi. The recommendations in this thread hurt.

[Goku]

Headset. I bought a decent 2.1 system a few years ago. Never even use the damn thing.

[Sentrosi]

Got my G35s on Friday. I took out the old 5.1 surround sound system while the rest of the Dragon Wolves ran Eternity Vault Story Mode. Reclaimed my old 2.1's from the "Closet of Forgotten Electronics" that everyone has and have not looked back.

Can't wait til PS2!

[Phyrefli]

Speakers if I'm not using voice comms, otherwise it's headphones.

[Electrofreak]

Headphones; but my Gamecom 777's are in pretty bad shape. I've superglued them twice and now they're just wrapped in electrical tape where the left-side band slides into the top band, because they broke there one day when they were stepped on (and I'm not over a buck thirty).

My brother had a pair too that broke in the exact same spot, so while I like them as headphones because you can use them as either 2.1 analog or 5.1 USB, and they're quite comfortable to wear for extended periods, I'm not too impressed with their durability.

[Mr DeCastellac]

I've had a very VERY bad history of headsets, most of them breaking within a couple months. I've been using the same speakers for years, the sub has great bass, and they just sound great in general. As of this moment, I'm using the speakers, and a fancy, somewhat directional microphone (so my Skype friends don't have to listen to my game). This has worked extremely well, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good audio setup. I also have some nice headphones in case I can't use my speakers for whatever reason (sleeping roommate, etc).

This thread reminded me of this pic:
Caution: Strong language.
http://i.imgur.com/G7jKK.png

[MgFalcon]

I like speakers more but if we're doing anything coordinated and I hear feedback on TS - someone's gonna get muted. Also the steelseries Diablo 3 headset I have has a retractable Mic on it... it's AWESOME!!!

[Infektion]

Headphones; but my Gamecom 777's are in pretty bad shape. I've superglued them twice and now they're just wrapped in electrical tape where the left-side band slides into the top band, because they broke there one day when they were stepped on (and I'm not over a buck thirty).

My brother had a pair too that broke in the exact same spot, so while I like them as headphones because you can use them as either 2.1 analog or 5.1 USB, and they're quite comfortable to wear for extended periods, I'm not too impressed with their durability.


That gamecom design breaks in the exact same spot, look it up, it happened to mine afew weeks ago. I'm going to use soft metal to bend and mold around that spot and screw them in. Problem solved. They are good headphones none the less, specially for the price... issue with price, is that they'll break on the left band.

[PeteHMB]

I have this system

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411ZSvjwp9L._SS500_.jpg

and this headset

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31lc%2Bvg-4eL.jpg


I prefer the surround sound by far. I use a Plantronics 520 bluetooth headset for voice chat and everything else comes through the speakers.

[Fanglord]

Speakers for gaming, music.
Headset for porn...:rolleyes:

[Aaramus]

Speakers for videos/music and then headset for gaming.

I would use headsets for everything but I am deaf in my left ear so listening to music becomes annoying when certain sounds aren't played in the right-side headphone. Also makes it hard for me work out the direction of players footsteps in some games.

I really want to get a razer headest!

[Greeniegriz]

I use headset due to having a sleeping kid in the house when I game/listen to music.

Cheers,

GG

[Vancha]

I prefer the surround sound by far.
Hardly surprising when you're comparing it to Turtle Beaches. :p

I really want to get a razer headest!
Why?

[Aaramus]

Why?

Just because they look pretty awesome, especially the StarCraft 2 Banshee one. I won't ever get one though because they are pretty overpriced for headsets.