Spec me good gaming sound

SirJinks

SirJinks

SirJinks

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31 May 2014
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I’m currently running a cheap pair of Logitech 2.0 speakers via on-board sound (I believe it’s an ALC1150 chipset). I am upgrading the speakers to Audioengine A2+ and am thinking of upgrading the source accordingly. I do have the following conditions -
*I'm looking for the source to not be powered via an external power source.
*I’m not fussed about any sound manipulation / effects via software. I’m wanting the sound quality straight from the DAC / amp without further tweaking.
*This will be purely for gaming, I’m not using it for any other audiophile use.
*I do have Sennheiser gaming headset which will prob be upgraded last (I understand DT990’s or AKG 701/2 are the ones to consider). Being able to have the A2+ and a headset plugged in at the same time would be desirable.

Based on what I’ve read I think I’m either looking at a Schiit Fulla 2 or a dedicated sound card. If the best solution is a sound card then I will need advice on which one. Over to you :)
 
They have their own DAC built in. Probably worth trying that out first and just running the audio in by USB. I have found in the past that powered speakers internals are pretty well matched to the quality of the speaker.

I have some Monitor Audio powered speakers and when I received them I immediately plugged my expensive DAC into them thinking it had to be better than the one inside the speakers. What this did to was produce a sound with too much bass. My DAC is just not suited to the audio range of the speakers and the internal one sounds so much better, even though my DAC cost twice as much as the speakers!
 
Yup, those are active speakers, just hook them straight up to a USB port and they’ll sound as good as they ever will. They already have a DAC inside them.

For your headphones you have the option of hooking up something like a Schiit Magni to the analogue outputs of those speakers, or something like a Schiit Fulla plugged into a separate USB port (or the very similar Cambridge Audio Dacmagic XS for £39 in Richer Sounds at the minute, absolute steal)
 
DAC and or with a headphone amp will be of more importance when or if you get some headphones like the ones you've mentioned; until then use the DAC in the A2+ speakers. Schiit Fulla 2, should be a decent choice though for headphone use.
 
Marsman said:
DAC and or with a headphone amp will be of more importance when or if you get some headphones like the ones you've mentioned; until then use the DAC in the A2+ speakers. Schiit Fulla 2, should be a decent choice though for headphone use.
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This is true, I would probably consider buying a standalone headphone amp first, using it with the DAC in the speakers, then once you have your headphones and are happy get the standalone DAC to go with it (possibly a Schiit Magni/Modi stack)

Wait I didn't read the bit about not being mains powered properly... In that case you will want a "dongle DAC" to go with your headphones like the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic XS (possibly would benefit from one of the others with high end headphones but its a huge bargain), Schiit Fulla, Audioquest Dragonfly Black/Red, Cyrus Soundkey...

You could plug that DAC into the speakers analogue inputs for a possible very small bump in sound quality but personally I would just hook the speakers up to a USB port and the headphone amp too and use them that way (not sure how you go about switching between them mind)
 
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How about a AVR and some standmount speakers?
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Speakers need to be desk-mounted as I want to keep the size down.

Thanks everyone for the advice...no soundcard recommendations so am thinking of going with the usb connection to the speakers and using the DAC / amp already in them. I've ordered a DacMagic XS to try out with my current headphones and will consider whether I need to upgrade that when the time comes for new headphones. This solution has generated one further question around mic input.

I always imagined I would need to disable my onboard sound once the A2+ are I use but doing so would mean I lose the mic in socket for my microphone. I'm guessing I would need to leave the on-board sound enabled and tell Windows to send the signal out to the DacMagic (or Fulla if I go down that path later) and keep the mic in enabled? Would this cause any clashes or problems do you think?
 
SirJinks said:
Speakers need to be desk-mounted as I want to keep the size down.

Thanks everyone for the advice...no soundcard recommendations so am thinking of going with the usb connection to the speakers and using the DAC / amp already in them. I've ordered a DacMagic XS to try out with my current headphones and will consider whether I need to upgrade that when the time comes for new headphones. This solution has generated one further question around mic input.

I always imagined I would need to disable my onboard sound once the A2+ are I use but doing so would mean I lose the mic in socket for my microphone. I'm guessing I would need to leave the on-board sound enabled and tell Windows to send the signal out to the DacMagic (or Fulla if I go down that path later) and keep the mic in enabled? Would this cause any clashes or problems do you think?
Click to expand...
You can have likely more sound output and input devices in PC than you have fingers and toes.

You just have to select wanted playback device from software's settings every time you want to switch.
For programs without own output/playback device selection you have to select wanted device as default in Playback tab of Windows Sound settings.
You should already have there quite a number of additional outputs from monitor outputs.
For example I have there five HDMI sound outputs...

Also Recording tab usually has multiple choises, for example there can be both mic in and line in.
And "What U Hear" can allow direct digital recording of signal its parent device is playing. (no need for analog cable to line in)


Despite of all the automatic high quality hype of "DACs" DacMagic XS' D/A conversion is at level of budget level Audigy Fx/Xonar DGX sound cards.
ALC1150 actually has better DAC for front channels.
Not that highest SNR measurable by instruments is needed for human ear...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html

Anyway no single purpose "stupid" DAC device has good features for headphone gaming.
Assuming you want to hear:
"There's someone coming toward me from left rear... Now he stopped coming closer and is behind me moving toward right" or "Someone is shooting front right far away and there's another one closer front left"
Instead of "There's someone walking/shooting in my left ear... And now he went to inside my head."
Because that's how standard 2.0/stereo speaker mix works with headphones.
While with proper processing 3D sound environment can be reproduced quite well with two channels of headphones...
Because human has only two input channels/receivers and brain decodes location of sound source from timing difference and other changes of signal between ears.

DT990 has very well working binaural soundstage. High in "fun factor" strong bass just makes foot steps and such details always not so easy to distinguish.
AKG K701/702 again have even bigger soundstage and with neutral bass always taking back seat to details foot steps are very pronounced.
If open model that Sennheiser should also do well:
 
SirJinks said:
Speakers need to be desk-mounted as I want to keep the size down.

Thanks everyone for the advice...no soundcard recommendations so am thinking of going with the usb connection to the speakers and using the DAC / amp already in them. I've ordered a DacMagic XS to try out with my current headphones and will consider whether I need to upgrade that when the time comes for new headphones. This solution has generated one further question around mic input.

I always imagined I would need to disable my onboard sound once the A2+ are I use but doing so would mean I lose the mic in socket for my microphone. I'm guessing I would need to leave the on-board sound enabled and tell Windows to send the signal out to the DacMagic (or Fulla if I go down that path later) and keep the mic in enabled? Would this cause any clashes or problems do you think?
Click to expand...

I have a USB DAC and sound output gets routed automatically through it when plugged in, without disabling onboard sound. Mic input is not affected as far as I know.

Admittedly I’m more acquainted with hifi sound than gaming sound... but you could get a better set of speakers than that for less money if you are willing to use a stereo amplifier.
 
hornetstinger said:
Some stereo amps have DAC's built in (and USB DAC function too) and headphone amps. Probably need to spend a bit more though.
Click to expand...

Very true - probably some nice ones like that out there. Thought I’d found one but misread the ad. Probably be cheaper to go with a dongle DAC + regular analogue stereo amp though.

Plus the Wharfedale speakers above
 
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britain4 said:
I have a USB DAC and sound output gets routed automatically through it when plugged in, without disabling onboard sound. Mic input is not affected as far as I know.
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Have you checked if there's something else as default playback device when it's disconnected?
Just wondering if such device can make Windows switch default playback device.
 
EsaT said:
Have you checked if there's something else as default playback device when it's disconnected?
Just wondering if such device can make Windows switch default playback device.
Click to expand...

No idea, all I know is the sound comes through the Dragonfly when it’s plugged in and through the speakers if it isn’t (on my laptop) and that I haven’t changed the playback device settings myself.
 
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