Question The Best Sound System of a Gaming PC ? Money are not a problem.

[Iamcid]

Hi guys.
I'm researching what soundboard to buy or external dac + headphones + mic+ 2 big powerful speakers to use on a gaming PC.
Any recommendation is deeply appreciated. Please if possible, give me the full recommendation.

 

[Eximo]

You say that, but you can spend tens of thousands on audio hardware.

You must set a realistic budget.

 

[Iamcid]

You say that, but you can spend tens of thousands on audio hardware.

You must set a realistic budget.

you are right. Let's say max 4000$ .

 

[Silas Sanchez]

Nowadays for headphones and active speakers internal soundcards provide the near same audio quality as any dac+amp. Of course, the audiophiles wont wanna hear this...shhhh...lets keep this a secret.

However i still use a dac+amp as thats what i have had for years and a soundcard wont fit in my case. but anything over 500-1000budget for the dac/amp and you start to hit the law of diminishing returns big time. These fools pay 2grand and think it makes a difference, but its all subjective claims that are so unsound its hilarious. Most honest objective clear minded unbiased audiophile and/or audio engineers will tell you there is no discernible difference between 500bucks and 1-2000, tech nowadays has caught up, lota irrational snake oil out there. What these audiophiles cant understand is concepts like how our ears get fatigued in very short time and this alone can mean you stand no chance of hearing any differences. Same goes for headphones, there is a very slight diff between a mid range and high end. The price is no indication of sound quality.

The best gaming setup is largely subjective. Big screens block the imaging with two front stereo speakers. Big subwoofers require serious base traps and dampening. Large rooms require bigger sized speakers.

Im old school, for my room I just use two high quality studio active powered monitors, make sure the tweets are at your ear height and the imaging/separating is right (~1.5M apart???), without imaging it sucks.
Game design is key, when I first heard crysis 2 I was blown away by the quality of the sounds.

You can go down the rabbit hole with speakers, its truly irrational pricing, big rooms get so expensive so here best to set a practical budget, dont be fooled by the audiophile talk. Just assume once over a few grand they all sound the same.

As far as headphones, stick with open dynamics as they are the most affordable, can be ran off anything even a laptop and are best bang for buck. Planar magnetics are too expensive and require expensive gear to run, but have a more clinical sound.

The two best open dynamics by far are Sennhieser HD600 & HD800 S.

The 800s are the most comfy over ear headphones you will get and have the most perceived soundstage, they are very analytical and revealing but surprisingly work so well in anything you throw at them. They are the gold standard period. The 600s are fatiguing on the ears after just a few hours but have a unique sound of their own, the 600s are special to me as they were my first real headphones are they represented such good value for money and until the 800 came out were the gold standard.

Beyedynamics dt1990 pro are amazing build quality for their price but have a harsh treble and are more generic studio quality. But they are more comfy than the 600s.

Be warned though!!! You ears get fatigued quickly thanks to how loud everything today is.

So look for a Chinese brand dac and amp, separate for headphones too. If you go one unit you will have to toggle the output between active speakers and headphones.

But I use my HD800s straight out of the laptop jack (too lazy to get the dac/amp out) and dam...they sound effn good.

 

[Eximo]

Base headphone components. Now these are a common DAC and Amp combo, but unless you want to break into the types of systems that modify the audio, or are tube based, this should do.

https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-plus

https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-plus

For headsets:
On the cheaper side would be the $229 Sennheiser HD 650S or the HiFiMan Sundara at $279

But you can also look at expensive monsters like the HiFiMan HE1000 series. ($1400-2000) Or the Sennheiser 800 S (also around $1400)

--Glad to see the headset recommendations are shared.

Not as well versed in microphones since I don't do recording, I'm pretty much a lazy headset owner when I game. If you want gaming/streaming/podcast quality, things like the Shure MV7 at $279 is a good mid-range product. Standalone, so you would need to order a boom and cabling and all that.

If you don't care too much, something cheap like the Blue Yeti might work. There are plenty of microphones in that $100-200 range since it is such a popular thing to do these days.

Speakers aren't really my thing either. But you can spend easily way too much here as well. Also the aesthetics to consider. Actually struggling to find any decent 2.1 sets. Perhaps something from Klipsch?

 

[Iamcid]

Thank you guys both for taking the time to give me such long and detailed answers

I've noted what you both said and currently I was looking at this setup, what you guys think about it?

• Soundboard: GoXLR
• Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250 Ohm)
• Microphone: Shure SM7B
• Speakers: Klipsch R-51PM

 

[Eximo]

Seems worth a shot. GoXLR seems to be more streaming friendly.

Nice looking speakers, I would be curious what you think if you end up getting them.

 

[kanewolf]

you are right. Let's say max 4000$ .

My first question is "What have you actually listened to?" Why? Because your ears and brain are different than anybody else.
Is this just for the soundtrack of PC gaming? Or do you listen to symphony scores while working in Word? VERY different requirements, IMO.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Thank you guys both for taking the time to give me such long and detailed answers

I've noted what you both said and currently I was looking at this setup, what you guys think about it?

• Soundboard: GoXLR
• Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250 Ohm)
• Microphone: Shure SM7B
• Speakers: Klipsch R-51PM

Make sure you listen to the speakers before purchase.
Klipsch are known for their loaded horn sound.
Meaning the upper end or high notes will be 3dba higher than mid or bass and can be too "BRIGHT" and fatiguing for music.
They work great for home theater and gaming but are not the greatest for music.

 

[Iamcid]

My first question is "What have you actually listened to?" Why? Because your ears and brain are different than anybody else.
Is this just for the soundtrack of PC gaming? Or do you listen to symphony scores while working in Word? VERY different requirements, IMO.

most of my life I've listened to edifier stuff and pioneer stuff.. That's why I wanted an upgrade. I'm an avid gamer, and i love listening to music while gaming and I love to heard all the sounds in an artistic movie or in a video game.

 

[faalin]

My setup at home
Sound card
sound blaster ZxR

Speakers
Yamaha hs8 fronts
Yamaha hs6 on the side
Yamaha hs8s subwoofer

Mic
Shure sm57

Mic controller
M-audio M-track solo

Headphones
Focal Clear MG open-back

for complete silence
Shure SE535 Japan Special Edition reds

 

[punkncat]

Make sure you listen to the speakers before purchase.
Klipsch are known for their loaded horn sound.
Meaning the upper end or high notes will be 3dba higher than mid or bass and can be too "BRIGHT" and fatiguing for music.
They work great for home theater and gaming but are not the greatest for music.

As an owner of Klipsch "bookshelf" reference speakers/sub, I tend to agree to some extent. I don't prefer to listen to mine outside anything other than a 5 speaker configuration. In stereo with only the sub tends to be tinny. With that said, the room I use them in is very sound deadening with carpet and couches, etc. and when in a valid surround mode (for my receiver) they sound pretty darned good. Audio/Video content like live concerts or shows shine much better than some studio recordings.

 

[kanewolf]

most of my life I've listened to edifier stuff and pioneer stuff.. That's why I wanted an upgrade. I'm an avid gamer, and i love listening to music while gaming and I love to heard all the sounds in an artistic movie or in a video game.

Gaming is going to want the biggest subwoofer you can afford. I have an SVS 18 inch.
I auditioned Klipsch when I was buying speakers. They were too bright for me. I chose Paradigm after multiple rounds of active listening.
Remember that a PC can't drive unpowered speakers. You either have to buy self powered speakers or an amp.

 

[punkncat]

In relation to the above comment, you may wish to price out a low-level inexpensive receiver and some 'normal' bookshelf speakers. You may find that option being less expensive than a good set of powered drivers. The aspect of concern there would be space (to put the receiver) and how you will connect audio to it. Many mobo now have optical out, but I have never tried using that for day to day driving so not really sure whether all (sound) formats would work properly with it.

 

[CountMike]

Best for PC sound system (Amplifier ' speakers)is same as for music. If you want to spend so much money on it, good audiophile sound system connected digitally to PC will give you most. When connected digitally there's no loss in fidelity and sounds are produced digitally, Sound cards and CoDecs are there only to convert to analog sound and that's only difference.

 

[boju]

In relation to the above comment, you may wish to price out a low-level inexpensive receiver and some 'normal' bookshelf speakers. You may find that option being less expensive than a good set of powered drivers. The aspect of concern there would be space (to put the receiver) and how you will connect audio to it. Many mobo now have optical out, but I have never tried using that for day to day driving so not really sure whether all (sound) formats would work properly with it.

These days avrs have vrr 120hz 4k passthrough over hdmi 2.1, long as graphics card can do that + gpu audio to go with it. Quite the advancement compared to receivers from a decade ago.

If you got the room for that why not. Doesn't need to be on desk, just within 3m length of a high quality hdmi cable, to and from, so 6m total if you can make it work. 4k 120Hz recommends not go over 2m (that was advised by an Hdmi switch i got) albeit am using Cruxtec 3m hdmi 2.1 cable without issue.

Then go to your local hi-fi store and pick out some speakers and sub, whatever you want. Most Avrs support 5.1/7.1 then atmos, and graphics cards can support the lot so the speaker count isn't exactly lacking.

 

[punkncat]

My own receiver is so old that it cannot do pass though on the video at the current resolutions. For the last couple of renditions of TV, I actually use it as the "switch" so to speak and have optical output from the TV to the receiver. It is a workable solution for now. I am going to be super lost the next new one I have to buy.

 

[boju]

My own receiver is so old that it cannot do pass though on the video at the current resolutions. For the last couple of renditions of TV, I actually use it as the "switch" so to speak and have optical output from the TV to the receiver. It is a workable solution for now. I am going to be super lost the next new one I have to buy.

Yeah i do the same. Avr i have released in 2008 it does have 1080p passthrough i use ps3 to play movies and optical for tv audio. I don't want to replace it, it's still good.

Before i bought the avr the guy i got talking to at an electronics store said best way to determine quality is go to a store where they display demo units and lift it. Heavier it is the better.

 

[Zerk2012]

Mic
Shure sm57

The SM57 was made for instruments the SM58 was for vocals. I have 4 of the 58's for the instruments we used direct boxes for everything but the drums.
From the band days.
Not saying the 57 would not work but it's was about the same price as the 58 made for vocals.
That is a fairly good setup you have but I would of probably went for a Bullfrog 12" bass sub it had a metal cone.

EDIT I actually had to look up the difference.
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2022/08/12/shure-sm58-vs-sm57/#:~:text=In summary, the SM58 is,also be used on vocals.

 

[punkncat]

Yeah i do the same. Avr i have released in 2008 it does have 1080p passthrough i use ps3 to play movies and optical for tv audio. I don't want to replace it, it's still good.

Before i bought the avr the guy i got talking to at an electronics store said best way to determine quality is go to a store where they display demo units and lift it. Heavier it is the better.

A little off topic but we used our Play Station for BluRay almost exclusively the last couple of years it worked. We had a friend who did refurbs and such so he cleaned it out for us a couple of times. It was frightfully dusty in there. When it finally RROD we just never replaced it. I have a pretty impressive collection of DVD/BR that I don't have a way to play anymore.

 

[boju]

A little off topic but we used our Play Station for BluRay almost exclusively the last couple of years it worked. We had a friend who did refurbs and such so he cleaned it out for us a couple of times. It was frightfully dusty in there. When it finally RROD we just never replaced it. I have a pretty impressive collection of DVD/BR that I don't have a way to play anymore.

Yeah ya wouldn't think much of it with dust in consoles. I gotta check now lol. Also have ps1 and 2 play every now and then. Some games can't let go of.

Can still get dvd/bluray players. Doesn't need to be expensive, then there's the ps5.

 

[Unolocogringo]

A little off topic but we used our Play Station for BluRay almost exclusively the last couple of years it worked. We had a friend who did refurbs and such so he cleaned it out for us a couple of times. It was frightfully dusty in there. When it finally RROD we just never replaced it. I have a pretty impressive collection of DVD/BR that I don't have a way to play anymore.

Same for me.
I originallly purchased the PS3 because it was the best/cheapest blue-ray player and best upscaler for DVDs.
Never really got into console games. Although our son had all of them at one time or another through the generations while he was still at home.
The controller sizes were way too small and any extended play time was uncomfortable.