Gamers, What's Your Audio Set Up?

BananaDunka said:
I think I have found the replacements for the KEF Q300 @Tephnos - Only took literally years and the slight creases on the alu cones is now bothering me even though it doesn't affect the sound one bit:


^^ Even my phone is picking up just how astonishing they are at vocals :cool:

I've come across the ELAC UNi-Fi 2.0 UB52 - They are 3-way coaxial with front firing ports and renowned for wide soundstage and natural dynamics - Which is right up to my box ticking sheet needs and the bass apparently is excelelnt too. Under £600 on Amazon, so will do a little bit more research and order once satisfied and bung my Q300s on marketplace.

Edit*

Actially just found the Audio Science review and they don't rate it due to some technical issues:

www.audiosciencereview.com

Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 Review (bookshelf speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 bookshelf speaker. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US US $600 a pair on Amazon including Prime shipping. This review will be abbreviated for reasons that will become apparent later. Here is a shot of the speaker...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com


Ahhh well back to square one, keep the Q300 for more years lol. I did enquire with Sevenoaks on how much replacement drivers would cost, £11 each which is reasonable tbh for brand new drivers from KEF so will probably take up that offer as can swap them myself and have some cool looking paperweights from the old ones.
Click to expand...

When will you get LS50 Metas and a small sub to handle the lows?

It's either that or you splurge on the big boy Genelecs and hit endgame.
 
I've had the LS50 Meta (minus sub) and wasn't a fan. plus I don't actually want a sub anyway as no need given how capable the 6.5" woofer is on the Q300 so I know full well it's possible in a speaker pair without a sub so I will not be spending more and consuming more space on a sub when there isn't a need.

I will just buy Q300 drivers as spares and swap them in when the time comes and keep the Q300 for as long as possible really until KEF stop making spare drivers.
 
Before I placed it in storage bowers and Wilkins Diamond 802d2, burmester 911 mk3 amp, Burmester dac.

But currently using Marantz model stereo 70 and Q acoustics 3020i. But I am moving back home soon so I can dig the old setup back out.
 
Nothing fancy. Use onboard audio connections and have some Edifier MR4's hooked up to them. The secondary system has the Logitech Z906 but that's because the Z906 is also serving the TV in the living room for 5.1 audio.

The main rigs connection may get upgraded to an external Audio Interface so I can connect a Sub as well to the MR4's, but that'll be something else much further down the line.

Don't use Headsets, as a carer (for family; unpaid, more than 35 hours a week) I need to be able to hear the slightest sound they make in case they have a fall, or require assistance with anything.
 
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My current 'Hodge podge' audio setup, just missing the meatballs.
 
My latest attempt to try and improve PS5 audio; Creative Sound Blaster GC7.

TLDR; For just over £100 I bought a GC7 which I'm relatively impressed with. Seamless software with the Creative App (either Windows 11 or Android), very intuitive to use, very easy to switch between Dolby Digital 5.1/PCM 2.0 via Optical or switch over to USB for 3D Audio. Haven't noticed the 10-Ohms headphone output impedance on the PC38x. Virtual Surround seems to be the same as SBX based on a little test. I don't like SX-Fi. Having physical controls for everything is great and love that it powers on and off with the PS5 where as if I use my Fiio K11 or K5 Pro I have to faff around and switch them on, change over inputs etc. Haven't tested the HD650's on this but I don't really like those for gaming as much. Do fancy getting some Beyer's again to pair with this.

Background; I've done a lot of A-B testing with the PS5 over the last few days and cemented my previous findings. Optical gives you the cleanest audio, but limited to stereo. PlayStation USB audio is borked. The Qudelix 5K is the best performer over USB vs the Creative SBX G6, GC7, X1, S.M.S.L C200 and Fiio K11 but is very small and therefore not the best when needing to adjust volume on the fly. Also you have to switch the Qudelix over to PS4/5 mode in the app which means a reboot each time if not left in this state. Although that 'host vol overide' is massive in cleaning up the USB audio. So although the 50% vol/power issue is well known part of me wonders if something else is going on. My gut feeling is that the API's Sony limits to their PS headsets is doing something else hence all other USB output being limited in some way. Even though the Switch is UAC 1.0 only too it has far nicer audio output over USB. The X1 for examples sounds much better on PC or Switch. It's has more treble on the PS5 USB output. The GC7 (also uses a AKM 4377 chip with higher bitrates) has the same issue although the Smart Volume feature can mitigate some of this. The Dualsense is very clean and the Realtek chip Sony added means it does give a nice audio output with better amplification than the Dualshock 4 although whether it's the compressed audio or not one of the games I tried was Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and there a place on the one of the maps with a waterfall underneath a bridge. You can only hear the water rushing properly over Optical or USB. Far, far fainter on the Dualsense aux - to the point of not being able to hear it.

Recently have been trying to move away from gaming software and using plain stereo but this might be the best (imperfect) DAC/AMP for my PS5 use. The same scene on Wonderlands sounded fantastic and some of the older PS4 games are improved, particularly with access to DD VSS. Down the line the ability to play all input sources at once (as all Creative gear does) might be useful for PC/PS5/TV use. I did look at Astro's Mixamp and Schiit's Gaming DAC/AMPs but decided against those for various reasons. I also wanted to try something new from the SBX G6 having sold that on last year.

One hope for the future is that Sony moves to embrace UAC 2.0 support on their PS5 Pro/PS6 and stops 'paywalling' features like game/chat mix for their own headsets. I know they will do the complete opposite and double down on PS Link but I can but dream.

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