Need some audio kit: speakers, headphones and headset

gee3000

gee3000

gee3000

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Hi everyone,

As the title suggest, I'm after a bit of audio kit to complement my current setup;
  • PC
  • Laptop
  • Xbox
  • HD TV with Sky box
and would appreciate some recommendations for the following;
  1. ~£250: 2.1/2.0 sound system for all of the above, primarily for listening to music on the PC, occassionally watching movies on the PC and gaming on my Xbox. Either a decent all-in-one or amp + speakers (willing to buy 2nd hand for these)
  2. ~£150: Headphones - good audio quality pair for listening to music on my PC/laptop.
  3. ~£100: Gaming headset - for both my PC and Xbox (if possible?). Require 5.1.
I currently use onboard HD audio but please let me know if I could do with a sound card, could budget around £50 for this if really worth it.

Thanks! :)
 
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If you can stretch a bit on the speakers, you could get some KRK RP6's for around £300. I have the RP8's and they sound sooooooo nice. they're one of the nicest sets of Monitors I have ever used.
 
hellarda said:
If you can stretch a bit on the speakers, you could get some KRK RP6's for around £300. I have the RP8's and they sound sooooooo nice. they're one of the nicest sets of Monitors I have ever used.
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Sorry for my ignorance and complete lack of experience, but how would these connect to my kit? Wouldn't I also need an amp/receiver?

Shamrock said:
Do you really need a "gaming headset"?

You could combine the budgets for a sweet £250 headphone.:D
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Just added into OP - I would like 5.1 surround sound for the gaming headset, and spacial positioning is a lot more important than the actual sound quality. I doubt there is a 5.1 headset which also has great sound quality for music.
 
So if I read your OP correctly, you want £150 5.1 headphones AND a gaming headset for £100?

You'd be better off buying some decent stereo headphones for £150 and putting the £100 to a Mixamp which would work on your consoles and provide you with virtual surround sound.
 
Shamrock said:
So if I read your OP correctly, you want £150 5.1 headphones AND a gaming headset for £100?

You'd be better off buying some decent stereo headphones for £150 and putting the £100 to a Mixamp which would work on your consoles and provide you with virtual surround sound.
Click to expand...

Bah I edited the 'require 5.1' onto the wrong line >.<

£150 for stereo music headphones
£100 for 5.1 gaming headset (would prefer to spend much less). I would like a headset with a mic.

I fear going with just 1 pair for both purposes because I expect there will be compromise on sound quality.
 
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hellarda said:
If you can stretch a bit on the speakers, you could get some KRK RP6's for around £300. I have the RP8's and they sound sooooooo nice. they're one of the nicest sets of Monitors I have ever used.
Click to expand...
I'm 'watching' a few of these on the bay, will see how the prices get on. The RP5's are about £80 cheaper and fit my budget, are they not worth going for?

gee3000 said:
Bah I edited the 'require 5.1' onto the wrong line >.<

£150 for stereo music headphones
£100 for 5.1 gaming headset (would prefer to spend much less). I would like a headset with a mic.

I fear going with just 1 pair for both purposes because I expect there will be compromise on sound quality.
Click to expand...
I've seen good reviews for the Sennheiser HD 558 and have found them for about £110, are they any good as music headphones or should I look at other brands?

Advice please :D
 
Bear in mind if you get the KRK's you'll be having to switch inputs manually all the time if you want to use them with more than 1 device...

Headphones I don't know how much Beyerdynamic DT 770/250 (2005 CONSUMER*EDITION) are goimg for but they were exactly £150 2 years ago
 
gee3000 said:
I'm 'watching' a few of these on the bay, will see how the prices get on. The RP5's are about £80 cheaper and fit my budget, are they not worth going for?
Click to expand...

Sorry completely forgot about this thread :L

I wouldn't go for anything less than the 6's (preferably the 8's) as once you go smaller than an 8" woofer (what you have in the rp8's), it starts struggling to reproduce the lower frequencies so they will lack bass.

However they are excellent quality speakers for the price, I'd say go for the 6's at minimum and if you can possibly stretch to a pair of 8's that would be best :)
 
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