Headset advice, to on-board or not on-board, that is the question!

Gimberz

Gimberz

Gimberz

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Joined
8 Dec 2012
Posts
8
Hi all

My Sennheiser PC151 headphones have recently broken and need replacing. I bought them before I put together the PC I use now, so I thought this might be a good time to go up in sound quality. My PC setup runs on a ASROCK Z68 Extreme 4 motherboard which has the on-board Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec, supporting 7.1 channel audio. I tend to play a lot of MMOs and some FPS too, so positional sound is reasonably important to me. However I don't tend to listen to much music, so really I am focussed on the best I can put together for gaming purposes only.

I am not sure if my money is best spent on upgrading from the on-board sound to a dedicated sound card and a new headset to go with; or putting all available money into a good set of stereo headphones with analogue connecters to plug into the motherboard I have; or to just bypass the on-board option and go with a USB headset with its own surround soundcard built in.

Some conditions: I want a headset with a mic attached (so no audio focussed headphones requiring a seperate clip on mic); I also have to have a closed ear headset as I share the computer room with my wife who works from home. Total budget is probably £100 - £150.

Any advice as to which route to go down and suggestions of soundcard and/or headsets for the budget would be gratefully received.

Thanks.
 
Well from experience I can say that the ALC892 isn't great so you'd definitely hear a difference getting a card like the sound blaster Z. It seems to be mainly focused towards gamers too so that's definitely the card I would chose. I'm not very clued up on gaming headsets so I can't give you any recommendations there.
 
I am still not convinced about the new Creative cards and I would only really be happy buying the top end one, which is at the limit of your budget. You mention you really want a built in mic, which I personally would not do myself, and get some audio headphones and a clip-on mic, but as you stated you want one, that is what I recommend. The positional audio one is a tough one, as I am firmly in the camp of good stereo headset and using a card with Dolby Headphone 5.1.

Something along the lines of a Sennheiser PC 350 and the best Asus Xonar you can squeeze in for your budget maybe?
 
PapaLazaru said:
I am still not convinced about the new Creative cards and I would only really be happy buying the top end one, which is at the limit of your budget. You mention you really want a built in mic, which I personally would not do myself, and get some audio headphones and a clip-on mic, but as you stated you want one, that is what I recommend. The positional audio one is a tough one, as I am firmly in the camp of good stereo headset and using a card with Dolby Headphone 5.1.

Something along the lines of a Sennheiser PC 350 and the best Asus Xonar you can squeeze in for your budget maybe?
Click to expand...


Well I didn't really want another set of trailing wires for a clip on mic and wasn't really sure about whether they clip to your clothes, the headphones or the desk. If others with good headphones and a clip on mic can convince me this is not a hassle then I could entertain it, if I was going to seriously benefit in the sound department. I also couldn't see anything clip on mic wise that was available through overclockers so would need some help in that area too.

Otherwise the senns you suggest was one of the ones I was looking at, and I also looked at the Beyerdynamic mmx2 as well as another option.
 
For gaming only you really don't need to max your budget to get real quality audio. I would go for Creative Aurvana Live Headphones, Asus Xonar DG & Speedlink SPES clip on mix. The mix just clips onto the headphone cable. Superior gaming sound for less than eighty quid.
 
PapaLazaru said:
I am still not convinced about the new Creative cards and I would only really be happy buying the top end one, which is at the limit of your budget. You mention you really want a built in mic, which I personally would not do myself, and get some audio headphones and a clip-on mic, but as you stated you want one, that is what I recommend. The positional audio one is a tough one, as I am firmly in the camp of good stereo headset and using a card with Dolby Headphone 5.1.

Something along the lines of a Sennheiser PC 350 and the best Asus Xonar you can squeeze in for your budget maybe?
Click to expand...

The creative Z cards are really good. 3 good reviews so far and everyone who has bought one has been very happy with it. Have you tried one yet?
 
melmac said:
The creative Z cards are really good. 3 good reviews so far and everyone who has bought one has been very happy with it. Have you tried one yet?
Click to expand...

No, but my post clearly states I would only buy the expensive one, which is the Z. This is too much for the OP's budget. :)
 
Gimberz said:
Well I didn't really want another set of trailing wires for a clip on mic and wasn't really sure about whether they clip to your clothes, the headphones or the desk. If others with good headphones and a clip on mic can convince me this is not a hassle then I could entertain it, if I was going to seriously benefit in the sound department. I also couldn't see anything clip on mic wise that was available through overclockers so would need some help in that area too.

Otherwise the senns you suggest was one of the ones I was looking at, and I also looked at the Beyerdynamic mmx2 as well as another option.
Click to expand...

The Senn PC151 that you had were pretty decent and it's going to take a good headset/headphone to seem like an upgrade.

Any chance you could try some of the headsets before you buy? Or do you have a friend with one? You might like them, but, I am of the same opinion as PapaLazaru, get a soundcard, good pair of stereo headphones and a mic.

The suggestions he had of the xonar dg and Creative aurvana live with a clip on mic are great for under £90.

I would recommend you getting the oem version of the Creative z with the same headphones and a clip on mic for £120. I had both the xonar dg and upgraded to the Z and the Z is way better.

Or maybe, you should just buy the headphones and a clip on mic and try them in your computer and see do you like them. They should offer an improvement in sound quality over your PC151's and you might not need the sound card at all. Might save you a few quid :p
 
I found a creative z available for £75 on the net, which leaves about £50 for the headphones and mic. Or I could spend a little less on a xonar sound card and have a little more to spend on headphones. You say the z is noticeably better than any of the 3 Asus cards, in what way?
 
Gimberz said:
I found a creative z available for £75 on the net, which leaves about £50 for the headphones and mic. Or I could spend a little less on a xonar sound card and have a little more to spend on headphones. You say the z is noticeably better than any of the 3 Asus cards, in what way?
Click to expand...

If you look here on overclockers you can get the OEM version for £54. Since you don't need the mic.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-088-CL&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

I said the Z was better than the DG which I directly compared it to, I upgraded from the DG to the Z.
 
melmac said:
If you look here on overclockers you can get the OEM version for £54. Since you don't need the mic.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-088-CL&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

I said the Z was better than the DG which I directly compared it to, I upgraded from the DG to the Z.
Click to expand...

OK great thank you for your advice. So sound card decision made and you lot have persuaded me about the clip on mic... i think! Now need to decide on the good ole stereo 'phones to go with. Range from £50 - £80 at a push.

Whilst I would like the Senns PC350, they are out of my price range. I am also finding it difficult to find somewhere that actually has the Creative Aurvana Live in stock. Any others that people would recommend in my price range?
 
Done a bit more research on the headphones i could go for, many of which seem to be rated on these forums. For the money I have available, my options:

Option1) Creative Z soundcard and one of these 'phones:

Beyerdynamic MMX2
Creative Aurvana Live
JVC HA-RX900
Panasonic RP-HTF600E-S
Goldring ns1000
Sennheiser HD518
Sennheiser PC320

Option 2) Cheaper Asus Xonar DG soundcard and one of these 'phones:

Audio Technica AD700
Sennheiser HD598
Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO - changed to Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO

From Melmac's advice looks like he would suggest chosing from option 1. What would you advise?

Suggestions would be very helpful, as I cannot get out to try any of these on before hand.
 
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Gimberz said:
From Melmac's advice looks like he would suggest chosing from option 1. What would you advise?

Suggestions would be very helpful, as I cannot get out to try any of these on before hand.
Click to expand...

Well I might surprise ya :p

I would say get the best stereo headphones you can afford. Then save up and buy the sound card later.

From your list of headphones in option 2, I would remove the Beyerynamic DT770's and replace them with the beyerdynamic DT990 pro.

But, there is no point in wasting money either. You are just going to be gaming on these? Nothing else?
 
95% or more for gaming. I have 7.1 surround theatre setup in living room for TV and music, but never a need for any headphones there. I use my IPOD classic 160gig in the car mostly rather than walk around listening to via headphones. It is conceivable that I could use a portable set of cans with the IPOD on occasion, (holiday etc) but more likely would just use my decent set of senneiser in the ear plugs, since it is more convenient to stick in my pocket.


"I would say get the best stereo headphones you can afford. Then save up and buy the sound card later. "

..... Thing is, I find that with kids and other halves, when you have the clearance to go buy computer stuff because something is broken you grab it with both hands at the time. Otherwise if you try and spread out the purchase and get the sound card later on, it might not arrive until Xmas next year, as money has a habbit of being allocated away from Dad quite quickly to other needy members of the family! Still I suppose I culd get the phones for Xmas and the sound card for birthday around Easter.
 
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OK so I have decided to get the Creative Z card for my PC and have narrowed down my search list to deciding between these three cans to go with it:

Creative Aurvana Live which I can pick up for £60
Audio Technica ATH-A500 which I have found online for £72
Sennheiser HD 380 Pro which I can find for £88

I have revised my initial brief slightly too. Want them largely for gaming but will also use them with Ipod Classic and decided therefore to only go for closed ear cans. Music wise I listen to indie, trance and ambient / electronica.

With my needs in mind, can any one advise which one of these three they would go for please?
 
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