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/raz...ctID.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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Naz The Eternal

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]

Originally Posted by waldizzo

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
Here is the one I bought last week. They had a special $10 instant rebate which brought the price down to $70.