Audio upgrade

[keviny1]

Hello,

I am currently looking to upgrade the Audio in my computer. I have never really looked into Audio that much before so this is kind of a new area for me.

Currently I am using the Corsair Vengeance 1500 USB headset which as treated me well the past few years but I keep switching them from my PS4 to PC and was looking for something to keep on my PC and use the 1500's just on the PS4.

 

I was thinking about getting a dedicated sound card and headset as I was told the quality would be better then using USB headsets. Is this information accurate?

 

Also my motherboard is a MSI Gaming Z97 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770&_ga=1.180283172.1426973554.1466011553 ) which claims to have a good on board sound card. If I just buy a headset and use the onboard audio am I still going to get good audio quality?

 

Thanks

[Rmusic10891]

We'll need a budget before we making any real suggestions, but as a start I would stick with your onboard audio for now and focus your budget toward your headphones/headset.

[21rkosta]

use the onboard and buy these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A68R8?ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&redirect=true&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pldnSite=1

[ComradeVodka]

Going by your points one by one:

 

- Don't get a sound card if you want more quality. You're much better off getting an external DAC/AMP combo. Just keep it external

- As for the headset, only a handful (Almost literally a handful) of headSETS are worth the money if you want quality sound (HyperX cloud 1/2 being one of them). In this scenario you would be better off getting a good pair of headPHONES (no mic) and buying a secondary mic to use. Either a clip-on $10 mic, a $50 modmic or something more expensive like a desktop mic (AT2020, Blue Yeti, etc.)

- Don't use headsets if you can avoid it unless you're going for something like the aforementioned HyperX cloud. Headsets are generally shit at proper audio. A dedicated sound card is generally better as long as it's a proper external DAC.

 

[keviny1]

3 minutes ago, Rmusic10891 said:

We'll need a budget before we making any real suggestions, but as a start I would stick with your onboard audio for now and focus your budget toward your headphones/headset.

my apologies, I would like to stay around $100. 

 

3 minutes ago, 21rkosta said:

use the onboard and buy these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A68R8?ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&redirect=true&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pldnSite=1

using those with the onboard would I receive better audio then the 1500's?

[Rmusic10891]

2 minutes ago, keviny1 said:

my apologies, I would like to stay around $100. 

 

using those with the onboard would I receive better audio then the 1500's?

No worries, you've got a few options at that price point. The 518's that were previously suggested certainly would be a decent starting point. The 558's can also be had under $100. Either one will sound quite a bit better than your Corsair headset you have currently. Just add microphone. You won't need an AMP, I run my 558s off my iPhone no problem.

[ComradeVodka]

10 minutes ago, keviny1 said:

using those with the onboard would I receive better audio then the 1500's?

Just about every headphone (even $30 ones) are better than gaming headsets. There are only a handful of exceptions in gaming headsets that actually give good audio.

 

Do you want open-back or closed back by the way? Closed back provide (usually) better base response and makes noisy environments irrelevant. Open-backs however have much better soundstage (being able to tell where the sound is relative to you, extremely useful in games like CSGO)

[keviny1]

4 minutes ago, Rmusic10891 said:

No worries, you've got a few options at that price point. The 518's that were previously suggested certainly would be a decent starting point. The 558's can also be had under $100. Either one will sound quite a bit better than your Corsair headset you have currently. Just add microphone. You won't need an AMP, I run my 558s off my iPhone no problem.

perfect, Thank you for the quick reply. I will looking into the 518's and the 558's

 

3 minutes ago, ComradeVodka said:

Just about every headphone (even $30 ones) are better than gaming headsets. There are only a handful of exceptions in gaming headsets that actually give good audio.

 

Do you want open-back or closed back by the way? Closed back provide (usually) better base response and makes noisy environments irrelevant. Open-backs however have much better soundstage (being able to tell where the sound is relative to you, extremely useful in games like CSGO)

They would mostly be used for gaming so I would probably say open-back. To be honest I didn't even know there was a difference.

[keviny1]

So when comparing prices, all the headphones mentioned above are very expensive in Canada.

 

has anyone used the phillips SHP9500's?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826138190