Im just getting into PC gaming...what sound system do I need?

M

Mr Happy

Weaksauce
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Jul 19, 2013
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Hello all

I have began gaming on a PC recently and have been using a cheap pair of headphones for it.

I have no speakers and Im not fond of using the headphones (cant hear doorbell ringing, they insulate me from outside sound etc)


What kind of speakers/sound system do I need to experience PC gaming at its best?

Eg 2.0 ?? 2.1 ??5.1?? 7.1?? surround sound????

I play a bit of every genre, but Id say I play about 75 percent first person shooter games, and also third person adventure games. (I dont know if this influences what speakers are needed)

Can anyone advise me?

Thank you
 
Whats your budget?
Do you have a soundcard?
Do you listen to music from pc often?

Any 5.1 or 7.1 is best left to a Home Theater/Gaming PC on Big TV.

Personally a use a usb DAC(basically like a soundcard) that goes to a small amp, and drives my 14" bookshelf speaker. I like to 2 channel Stereo music and dont care about gaming soundcards which to me seem gimmicky more then anything.
 
I'm a fan of surround PC gaming, if you can afford it. 5.1 is the most practical since many games don't support 7.1 for some reason.
 
I honestly just use a good wired headset with it's own USB DAC.

I'm in an apartment complex right now and I HATED when my next door neighbor would WHOOMP WHOOMP WHOOMP his sound system late into the night.

I'm moving into a house at the end of next month and I'll probably still stick with a headset as I'll have a housemate.
 
Hi All

While I have my computer connected via optical when gaming I use AKG 701Q reference headphones. In my opinion, for gaming headphones can't be beaten. You get complete immersion in the sounds of the game
 
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Hi All

What I meant to say is that I have my computer connected to my stereo system via optical cable see my Sig .But when gaming I use AKG 701Q reference headphones.
 
I strongly prefer 2.1 for PC audio. If you want serious immersion, add a set of good headphones.
 
Personally prefer 2.1 as well for PC. I find surround too distracting while I'm sitting at a desk. However gaming on a console on a couch sitting in front a big screen TV I love the immersion from surround sound.
 
Im also in the 2.1 group. I tried 5.1 and it just never worked right for me. 2.1 is just fine. In fact I even went 2.1 with my home theater as well.

As for what system to go with it all depends on budget. Im using the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system which runs around $150 at Best Buy and I think its great with plenty of power and good sub bass energy and very good mids/highs. I think its the best 2.1 system you can get without going with a dedicated receiver and a quality set of bookshelf speakers.

However if youve got the cash and the room on your desk, a solid receiver and a good set of bookshelf speakers will always sound better especially paired with a good sub. But youre going to pay about 4 times more than what you would for something like the ProMedia set.

I dont really have the room on my desk for a set of bookshelf speakers so this ProMedia set works just fine. Ive also got a set of Sennheiser HD 558's that I use when I use a headset and theyre excellent. I really want a set of German Maestro GMP 8.35D's. I compete in car audio sound quality competitions and those are the headphones that are used as reference for one of the organizations (IASCA). Theyre $250 right now on Amazon and theyre on my wish list for one of these days.
 
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5.1 is far more immersive than stereo for gaming, movies, TV etc imo.
I use an external 5.1 processor that is superb for stereo (Oppo 105D).
So I love my stereo as well, but a well set up 5.1 system is a must have.

For months I havent had 5.1 because I sold a 3 channel amp in error, the one I want to upgrade to isnt shipped abroad. Hmph.
Today I was given another 3 channel amp and gotta say, I'm happy as a pig in mud.
Finally got 5.1 again and its a blast.

Theres tons of 5.1 music as well.
 
Edit your first post and say that you have a budget and how much at the start so that people can suggest proper gear. :)
 
The Edifier 1280T look pretty respectable for the price.
They are very new though, not many reviews yet.
Amazon reviewers like the clarity and strength of bass even if they dont go very deep.
You can always add a sub later if that matters to you.
They are built with MDF not particle board, definite plus.
Build quality is good too.

I think you are doing the wise option and going for respectable stereo to start with when on a low budget.
Which sound card will you be using them with?

Potential downside is there is no upgrade path other than to replace them.
But you wont lose much on resale and could find another use for them anyway.
And they are damn cheap to start with.
 
Thanks, one thing I want to clear up is the fact that I have been looking at 2.0 speakers.

Do I need 2.1, 5.1, 7.1 for gaming?

Will I be limited by using 2.0?

Thanks if anyone can advise
 
Nenu said:
The Edifier 1280T look pretty respectable for the price.
They are very new though, not many reviews yet.
Amazon reviewers like the clarity and strength of bass even if they dont go very deep.
You can always add a sub later if that matters to you.
They are built with MDF not particle board, definite plus.
Build quality is good too.

I think you are doing the wise option and going for respectable stereo to start with when on a low budget.
Which sound card will you be using them with?

Potential downside is there is no upgrade path other than to replace them.
But you wont lose much on resale and could find another use for them anyway.
And they are damn cheap to start with.
Click to expand...

Sound card........I dont have one that Im aware of, do I need one?

(please excuse my ignorance, im relatively new to PC gaming and PC hardware :( )
 
You can game with any set up, I use either stereo +sub (2.1) or 5.1
Games will work fine with either.
There are advantages to 5.1 but obviously at a cost.
And you need space (and maybe stands) to position the extra speakers correctly.

If you later want to move to 5.1, you "could" add another set of the same speakers and a subwoofer but you wont have a front mid speaker unless you get another stereo set and only use one of them.
Edifier dont sell single centre self powered speakers by themselves.
So you will probably be starting again if you want to go to 5.1.
It might be something you want to save for, worth a thought.
For now your only outlay will be £70 and you can recoup much of that if you decide to sell.


I wondered about the sound card because you can get extra gaming features on some soundcards and the analogue output of some cards is a bit clearer.
But your motherboard should have an onboard sound solution that will work well for you.
Which motherboard do you have?
 
MacLeod said:
Im also in the 2.1 group. I tried 5.1 and it just never worked right for me. 2.1 is just fine. In fact I even went 2.1 with my home theater as well.

As for what system to go with it all depends on budget. Im using the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system which runs around $150 at Best Buy and I think its great with plenty of power and good sub bass energy and very good mids/highs. I think its the best 2.1 system you can get without going with a dedicated receiver and a quality set of bookshelf speakers.

However if youve got the cash and the room on your desk, a solid receiver and a good set of bookshelf speakers will always sound better especially paired with a good sub. But youre going to pay about 4 times more than what you would for something like the ProMedia set.

I dont really have the room on my desk for a set of bookshelf speakers so this ProMedia set works just fine. Ive also got a set of Sennheiser HD 558's that I use when I use a headset and theyre excellent. I really want a set of German Maestro GMP 8.35D's. I compete in car audio sound quality competitions and those are the headphones that are used as reference for one of the organizations (IASCA). Theyre $250 right now on Amazon and theyre on my wish list for one of these days.
Click to expand...


I was looking at the German Maestro headphones as my next set. MB Quart was sold to Maxxsonics who then proceeded to send manufacturing to China and gave them a bad name. The original MB Quart factory and patents were purchased back from whomever and the name was changed to German Maestro. They rehired the same workers, moved back into the original factory, and their headphones are supposed to be really awesome again. Their headphones are the official headphones used by judges for the IASCA car stereo competitions which is something that I used to follow back in the day. For anyone else reading it is mostly a sound quality competition.

They sell headphones with mics on them also. You can find some of them on Amazon, although they seem to be slightly higher priced than the ones in the German Maestro store. The store has B stock where there was a cosmetic blemish and those sell for significantly less than Amazon.

Really cool stuff. I want to not be cheap and purchase them. But I have to be cheap. It's in my blood!

Oh and these GMP 400 B-stock are the ones I'm looking at purchasing. I really need open back so I can hear my elderly mom if she were to fall or needs help.
 
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I have a 5.1 setup and headphones on this computer.

I use the speakers for most stuff and the headphones really only get used for CS:GO.
 
I've been using an Alesis 2.0 setup for over a decade and my newer machine has been using a 2.0 M-Audio setup and I recently added a sub for 2.1.
The sub really fills in the sound for everything, movies, games, and music.
 
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