Most immersive sound solution for PC gaming?

EvaUnit02 on 15/12/2008 at 09:58

Which sound solution do you find more immersive whilst playing PC games - good quality stereo (2.0) headphones or 5.1 surround (discrete and matrixed)?

Either way a good quality addon sound card is essential, onboard trash is entirely inadequate. Fact, not opinion.

Personally I would choose 5.1 surround, but that's impractical considering that I have to use headphones after 11pm and the "room" (more accurately a large hallway, since there's no doors) where my PC is located is entirely unsuitable for a 5.1 setup. The monitor cans (Audiotechnica ATH-A500) that I use are terrific, combined with my Auzen X-Fi Prelude + Creative's CMSS3D (a virtualisation technology).

Edit: Sorry, forgot about solutions with more than 6-channels, they can be grouped under 5.1.

clearing on 15/12/2008 at 10:20

I currently use both (I don't want to disturb the neighbors at 1:00 am so mostly use headphones).

Fragony on 15/12/2008 at 10:36

Can't comment on pc but for games, movies music a surround set can't compete with a good stereo-set unless you want to seriously invest, at least 20k

catbarf on 15/12/2008 at 11:51

Quote Posted by EvaUnit02

Either way a good quality addon sound card is essential, onboard trash is entirely inadequate. Fact, not opinion.

Whether it's worth the price is another matter. We're adapted to rely on sight, so the difference between onboard graphics and a new card is very readily apparent, not to mention the FPS boost makes games playable. The difference between onboard sound and a fancy sound card is much less so.

Koki on 15/12/2008 at 13:06

Quote Posted by EvaUnit02

Either way a good quality addon sound card is essential, onboard trash is entirely inadequate. Fact, not opinion.

Wrong.

(It's a fact, not opinion!)

Ostriig on 15/12/2008 at 15:26

Let me get this out of the way first - What does TTLG think of (http://hometheater.about.com/od/headphones/qt/headsurround.htm) Surround Headphones technology?

I've got my PC hooked up to a (http://products.howstuffworks.com/sony-str-de197-stereo-receiver-review.htm) Sony STR 197-DE Amplituner with a pair of (http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/sennheiser-evolution-eh-150/4505-7877_7-31157066.html) Sennheiser eH150 headphones, and while I'm sure that my onboard sound card doesn't allow me to make the most of this setup, the result is still pretty damn sweet. Still, can't vote as I haven't had the chance to test out a surround loudspeaker system at my leisure.

Gorgonseye on 15/12/2008 at 16:04

Using the (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=15853) Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer together with the (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=437&subcategory=442&product=16337) Fatal1ty Gaming Headset(Which is geared to being a surround sound headset) both by Creative, makes a pretty good pair, while also being pretty cheap, at least in comparison to buying surround sound speakers.

Although I can't quite say I know what it would be like with the speakers, there was near instant immersion for me when I was playing Age of Conan with the sound card on "Game Mode" and my headset on, being in a tavern and hearing the subtle crackling of the fire, and the galloping of a horse as they pass by me. Really impressive IMO, at least.

gunsmoke on 15/12/2008 at 16:23

My TV uses that spatial stereo technology. Even though it is 2.0 (or 2.1 if I hook up my subwoofer/satellite set from my PC for a movie or whatnot) it makes sounds seem to come from behind/from the side of us. Awesome. Some Dolby-enabled games from bigger companies take advantage of this, though it is w/mostly DVD movies.

Otherwise, my PC (w/a SOundblaster Live! 24-bit sound card)uses a creative 2.1 setup and I have a nice pair of Sony Studio headphones as an alternative. I truly prefer the headphones, and would love to find a way to use them w/my XBOX.

Sulphur on 15/12/2008 at 16:26

Haven't used surround headphones, so wouldn't know how immersive they are.

Headphones in general are nice for gaming/music/movies/whathaveyou, but they can't make up for the sheer room-vibrating rumble of a subwoofer. I prefer to be able to feel my music as well as hear it, and the same goes with games/movies.

If you setup your 5.1/7.1 system correctly, it's perfectly immersive - positioning the speakers just right can be a bitch, but the end result is worth the effort.

Malf on 15/12/2008 at 16:38

Quote Posted by Fragony

Can't comment on pc but for games, movies music a surround set can't compete with a good stereo-set unless you want to seriously invest, at least 20k

Don't know what the hell you're on about here Fragony, but my Altec Lansing 5.1 set-up running through my XFi Gamer Xtreme (ye Gods, how I hate these names) does the job perfectly well for me.
When I don't want to piss off the Neighbours, I use a set of Sennheiser PCX 350 headphones. They're very good quality and incredibly comfortable, yet I still prefer to use my 5.1 speakers when possible.
Saying you need to spend 20k on a surround sound set-up to rival a reasonably priced stereo one stinks of audiophilia, and that's something I gave up chasing long ago.

To give you some idea: I got the 5.1 speakers in a sale for about £45, my XFi for £50, and my headset cost me £115.
You do know that simple (http://crawley.slyip.com/blog/tech/2007/02/13000-speaker-cable.html) household 2-core power cord offers similar quality to the most expensive Monster cable, right?