Your PC Audio Setup

[RufusKing]

I use a nice pair of Behringer Truth speakers, but then im a music producer, but I got to love those high quality cones that make you feel a breeze when someones planted a rocket next to you

[LayZeh]

I use a nice pair of Behringer Truth speakers, but them im a music producer, but I got to love those high quality cones that make you feel a breeze when someones planted a rocket next to you

Have you heard the Logitech Z-2200 THX Certified 2.1, if so as a record producer what's your opinion of the sound quality?

[Moby-Dick]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz with some nice Altec's

[Howard]

LayZeh, I expect the Logitechs are good but not even comparable to a set of good quality seperate speakers and an amplifier. If I had a little more desk space I'd buy a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze B1s or something of similar size, and a nice integrated amp from RicherSounds

[Zak33]

hmmmm....sound...the most badly done part of PC gaming

I have a Revolution 7.1 Soundcard from C-Media...

Ihave a mid range Kenwood 6channelinput amp

and I have these



dead cheap (£150 the lot) and cos they are for films they are ace for gaming

Lots of grunt.

Amp....£150
Speakers £150
Sound card £70

And Sennheisers HD570's for lannage but Sair/Rias has stolen them for Il-2

[Howard]

What are the subs like in those Zak?

And I wholeheartedly agree... Games nowadays should have cinema-quality DTS encoded sound if the rate of improvement of graphics is anything to go by!!

[RufusKing]

Have you heard the Logitech Z-2200 THX Certified 2.1, if so as a record producer what's your opinion of the sound quality?

I have heard these only briefly ones round a friends house, and I was pretty imprssed by them, nice clear playback and could really kick it out, the only real downside I could see was that the sub was pretty hefty, but if you got space, why sacrifice quality. I wouldn't use them to mix music on, but I would use them to listen back on.

[Rythmic]

Well I picked up the Gigaworks a couple of weeks ago, and have so far been impressed. They're not a match for spending out on a nice home cinema setup, but I got them from a friend of a friend (etc) for the price of a cheap amp The sub does seem quite unruley to begin with, but needs burning in, it's much better now. Certainly messes all other every other PC speakers I've heard (and all integrated hifi systems)

Having said that, they still don't sound as accurate as the simple Aegis 1 + Rotel amp I have on my stereo setup. But for gaming, you need surround - and I couldn't afford 8 acoustic energy speakers ATM

Sound is always really neglected - I don't know why, but people seem to be willing to pay out for a 9800XT over a 9800Pro (for that 5% difference...) but wouldn't spend that money instead to get rid of that nasty onboard audio and 50p speakers

[RufusKing]

I find the average gamer (being about 12-14 years old) doesnt give a damn about there audio, the only things they think it takes to make a good game is the graphics, gameplay they barely realise, they jus want it to look cool, and for a lot of people it carries through, its there loss in the end of the day, as when we fight them online with EAX and surround set ups and such, we can here where they are coming from well they try and work out if we are in front or behind!

[Howard]

I have an old amp and a set of speakers set up behind me and I just turn on the amp for surround sound in games. It's fun, but can be a bit crappy if a game doesn't support it properly. I prefer nice clear sound

[Zak33]

the built in subs are OK....not monster deep, but punchy.

I have it all upstairs, so a big bass box is a nogoer....

its nice to play on...only regret....rears are way too small

[Howard]

Upgrade them then It's not essential to have them the same as the fronts.

I have my huge sub in my bedroom (Have I posted it at all here? I'm sure I have ) and I hardly get to use it when my parents are at home cos it makes too much damn noise! Lol

[Zak33]

yeah..ummmed and arrrgghed about that for over a year. Can t be floor standers at read, cos theres a sofa bed in the way...so gotta be hung....

maybe one day...maybe.
Ironically tho....I now play over 3/4 of all my games on headhpones because of voice comms

[Stoo]

Sound is always really neglected - I don't know why, but people seem to be willing to pay out for a 9800XT over a 9800Pro (for that 5% difference...) but wouldn't spend that money instead to get rid of that nasty onboard audio and 50p speakers

Because it would appear that most people are running soundstorm audio through decent hi-fi units these days

[Spud1]

I find the average gamer (being about 12-14 years old) doesnt give a damn about there audio, the only things they think it takes to make a good game is the graphics, gameplay they barely realise, they jus want it to look cool, and for a lot of people it carries through, its there loss in the end of the day, as when we fight them online with EAX and surround set ups and such, we can here where they are coming from well they try and work out if we are in front or behind!

umm the average gamer has been found to be mid-20s, not 12-14 yr olds; and most ppl in their 20s DO seem to care about sound...

[daniel_owen_uk]

Soundstorm with some 5.1 zxr550 (iirc), not great sounding but good enough for my ears really.