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Question The Best Sound System of a Gaming PC ? Money are not a problem.
- Thread starter Iamcid
- Start date
Silas Sanchez
Proper
- Feb 2, 2024
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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.
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.
- May 27, 2010
- 26,457
- 4,577
- 139,340
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?
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?
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?
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
- May 29, 2013
- 37,727
- 3,431
- 156,790
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
Illustrious
- Dec 31, 2007
- 7,838
- 713
- 38,390
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.
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
Illustrious
- Feb 22, 2012
- 6,110
- 405
- 41,240
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
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
- Apr 3, 2018
- 11,677
- 3,113
- 62,890
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.
- May 29, 2013
- 37,727
- 3,431
- 156,790
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.
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