Thinking about upgrading the audio for my PC

[Orion3234]

Ah I see, thanks mate. I did send you a PM so maybe we can go into more detail there.

[SSL]

le snip

 

If you want immersive surround sound, you need at least 4 channels (center not necessary for a single listener) or headphones (optionally with decent virtual surround processing somewhere in the signal chain). 2-chanel can provide excellent imaging and soundstage, but you won't really be able to get true front-to-back imaging.

[Orion3234]

If you want immersive surround sound, you need at least 4 channels (center not necessary for a single listener) or headphones (optionally with decent virtual surround processing somewhere in the signal chain). 2-chanel can provide excellent imaging and soundstage, but you won't really be able to get true front-to-back imaging.

I think my headset has that as it does put out some good sound... Good quality that is, I haven't really noticed the sound being lower than the speakers so the headset is at least on par with what's coming from the speakers which probably doesn't say much.

[RazrLeaf]

Yeah. I've never had one of those moments when listening to speakers where I look behind me because the song played a trick on me, so that's why I don't think it's a thing.

I've studied the theoretical physics behind it, and I've been tricked enough times to hear it.

 

 

Yeah, in arma 3, I hear crickets behind me, and I turn around. That won't happen without rear speakers

 

Yup. That or nice headphones.

But I agree actual surround sound and headphones are the most consistent and easiest ways to get spacial imaging in sound (and it turns out my computer autocorrected "spacial" to "special." It doesn't think spacial is a word).

[dylan43270]

Unless you have the whole room dedicated to your PC you will most likely be better off with headphones over speakers for surround sound gaming, since surround sound is heavily dependent on sounding good from the way it is positioned in your room. If you want a good 2.0 or 2.1 desk setup however, that is something I can recommend things for.

[KaminKevCrew]

Unless you have the whole room dedicated to your PC you will most likely be better off with headphones over speakers for surround sound gaming, since surround sound is heavily dependent on sounding good from the way it is positioned in your room. If you want a good 2.0 or 2.1 desk setup however, that is something I can recommend things for.

Not just that, as room reflections can have a pretty big effect on sound too.

[Orion3234]

Not just that, as room reflections can have a pretty big effect on sound too.

True, how you set it up can affect the end results.. All one need do is visit a Cinema to hear the differences in having speakers surround you versus speakers set up only in front of or tor the sides of a person.

[sobe]

Waste of money mate, if you have a decent mobo you defo have a decent integrated 5.1 chip on it so just buy a decent speakers or headphones, don't waste money on SPU as it is a simply rip off.

 

Read the thread, I shipped him the Xonar Phoebus he was looking at so he can put more money into a decent speaker setup.

 

I'm not particularly too familiar with speaker setups, I'm more of an audio guru in the headphone side of the world and just run AudioEngine A5+ which are good, but veeeery overpriced for the sound they produce.

[Orion3234]

I do read the thread, and i do understand, don't care you sent him something all i'm saying it's a waste of money in my opinion, that's all.

Yea, and it's an opinion that I can respect just as I respect everyone else's opinions and advice.

 

 

Read the thread, I shipped him the Xonar Phoebus he was looking at so he can put more money into a decent speaker setup.

 

I'm not particularly too familiar with speaker setups, I'm more of an audio guru in the headphone side of the world and just run AudioEngine A5+ which are good, but veeeery overpriced for the sound they produce.

To be honest, I'm not that familiar with speaker setups either and like Sobe, I also use my headset but I only do so at night so I don't disturb my parents in the living room when they're trying to watch TV or sleep.

 

So really not sure what price-point good speakers would start at or really what constitutes "good" speakers.

[dylan43270]

For starting off I would suggest just picking these up since they are currently on sale for a pretty good price. 

 

They are ounly 2.0 speakers, but the only decent 5.1 setup you would find for $200 can only be found in a very lucky craigslist find.

[SSL]

For starting off I would suggest just picking these up since they are currently on sale for a pretty good price. 

 

They are ounly 2.0 speakers, but the only decent 5.1 setup you would find for $200 can only be found in a very lucky craigslist find.

 

These are excellent speakers. Excellent.

[spwath]

For starting off I would suggest just picking these up since they are currently on sale for a pretty good price.

They are ounly 2.0 speakers, but the only decent 5.1 setup you would find for $200 can only be found in a very lucky craigslist find.

Like I did.

7.1 Onkyo receiver for 15$, 4 Polk r15 satalights for 95$, subwoofer isn't that Good though

[KaminKevCrew]

These are excellent speakers. Excellent.

Someone has done it right for once! lol

[sobe]

If talking 2.0/2.1 setups, is the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 relevant anymore for that price segment? I know they were "all the rage" some years ago.

[Orion3234]

If talking 2.0/2.1 setups, is the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 relevant anymore for that price segment? I know they were "all the rage" some years ago.

That's a good question... With how technology evolves these days, it's probably yesterday's news. I think I just need a set with a real subwoofer included like either of these sets:

 

5.1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0S6-000Y-00006

 

2.0/21:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-1250-Speaker-System/dp/B0056BPUQC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-1&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system

 

For 2.1 I thought this one was cool even tho it's black/blue and not black/red:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-2000-Subwoofer-Sattelite/dp/B00K5NYNWS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-2&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system What I thought was cool is the scorpion lights up with the bass so it stays lit in tune with however long the bass note is.

[dylan43270]

That's a good question... With how technology evolves these days, it's probably yesterday's news. I think I just need a set with a real subwoofer included like either of these sets:

 

5.1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0S6-000Y-00006

 

2.0/21:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-1250-Speaker-System/dp/B0056BPUQC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-1&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system

 

For 2.1 I thought this one was cool even tho it's black/blue and not black/red:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-2000-Subwoofer-Sattelite/dp/B00K5NYNWS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-2&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system What I thought was cool is the scorpion lights up with the bass so it stays lit in tune with however long the bass note is.

Do whatever you wish, but I am just letting you know your money will go along a lot farther with a nice 2.0 system than a 5.1, which you can add a sub later. 

[ryanmmax]

Gotta weight in on the 2.0 vs surround speaker debate.  

 

While the shape of the ear and your "special" imaging is pretty spiffy (iv never heard of it)...  What your forgetting is that your head is not immobilized, in fact your head is constantly moving and when you hear something you subconsciously cock your head to some degree.  This cocking of the head changes the relative position between you and the source in a unique way that allows for 3 dimensional positioning.

 

 

 

As for headphones, its all in your head LITERALLY   The sound you hear in each ear does not contain forward and back up or down direction data.  There simply is not enough information for you to determine where it came from with CERTAINTY.  BUT our brains are very cool, we remember extrapolate and guess constantly filling in holes and placing objects very accurately where they should be.

 

A very simple way of looking at is triangulation, when only 2 sources are available for positioning computers are able to take the assumption of "hes on the ground" to remove the vertical variable and where you were a second ago to position you front to back.   Without a third receiver you cannot explicitly triangulate a position in space.

 

 

Its a really bizarre concept but our brains fill in all kinds of holes in our perception.  EX: every eye has a blind spot, you don't see it because your brain fills it in.  Your peripheral vision is color blind but you don't know it because your brain fills it in.  

[spwath]

That's a good question... With how technology evolves these days, it's probably yesterday's news. I think I just need a set with a real subwoofer included like either of these sets:

 

5.1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0S6-000Y-00006

 

2.0/21:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-1250-Speaker-System/dp/B0056BPUQC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-1&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system

 

For 2.1 I thought this one was cool even tho it's black/blue and not black/red:

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-SW-G2-1-2000-Subwoofer-Sattelite/dp/B00K5NYNWS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1444343279&sr=1-2&keywords=genius+gx+gaming+sw-g2.1+1250+38+watts+rms+2.1+speaker+system What I thought was cool is the scorpion lights up with the bass so it stays lit in tune with however long the bass note is.

Thoes are kinda meh.

 

I wouldent kall thouse real subwoofers

 

The klipsch promedia 2.1 is probably better than thoes.

[SSL]

While the shape of the ear and your "special" imaging is pretty spiffy (iv never heard of it)...  What your forgetting is that your head is not immobilized, in fact your head is constantly moving and when you hear something you subconsciously cock your head to some degree.  This cocking of the head changes the relative position between you and the source in a unique way that allows for 3 dimensional positioning.

 

It helps but is not required. Even then, the HRTF is responsible for perception of spatial sound cues.

[orion3132]

Thoes are kinda meh.

 

I wouldent kall thouse real subwoofers

 

The klipsch promedia 2.1 is probably better than thoes.

Yea... I think I do want something with a real subwoofer to it and not another one of those plastic fake or "simulated" ones... or whatever they call those tho I'm more interested in a setup that's more suited for gaming and watching videos which are the 2 main things I do with my PC. That said, I'll look more into those you suggested.