FPSLabs - Forums - Headsets and Sound - Sound Card and Headphones

Well i am wondering what soundcard that i should get. I am serious about gaming but i still really enjoy music. Someone recommended the Audio Technica ad700's for headphones cause i know sennheisers are overated.

Sennheisers aren't overrated. Maybe the so called gaming headsets/-phones by Sennheiser, but not the ones for music and stuff..

H4tw

I really liked my icemats. I got 5hv2 now which are okay... They both come with usbsound cards.

Im more interested in what soundcard to buy. I dont want something really expensive but something mid range.

bump

HT OmegaStriker
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp..
I know the name is a shame, but it really is the best bang-for-buck.

JVC HA-RX700's (or 900's)
http://www.buy.com/prod/jvc-ha-rx700-ster..
Basically A-700's for $100 less.

Trust me, If you buy those you won't regret it.

This comment was edited at 12/01/2008 1:07 AM

look at little harlE-

lurkin it up.

System: RTU -- http://gotfrag.com/portal/files/862/

#6 That's a very nice quality sound card but it isn't geared towards gamers (which isn't neccessarily a bad thing). Asus' Xonar DX is built around a C-Media chip and uses components of similar quality, although lacks a few features. I would recommend that for a budget sound card when using vista, or a - takes a deep breathe - x-fi xtremegamer for XP use.

RX700/900s are comparable to Audio Technica's A#00 line but not their AD#00 line

#8 You're right. I believe the Xonar is slightly more expensive? Been a while since I checked prices.

OmegaStriker/Xonar = Vista
X-Fi XtremeGamer = XP

Rick <3 ^^

This comment was edited at 12/01/2008 8:46 AM

personally i'd try to get that deal for HD555's for 70 dollars if its still up.

if not i'd get ath-a700's, with xonar dx.

ath ad700 > hd555

big time.

[pound]MaximilianKohler @gamesurge.net for lessons ~ sk-gaming.com/videos/member/MaximilianKohler

Wait all the x-fi series isnt good for vista? why?

#10 Why get A700's when you can get JVC's for $100 less? Are you out of your mind?

#11 That's your opinion.

#12 X-Fi drivers are messed up.

so the asus cards are the other best bet....cheapest one they have is 80....there isnt any other options?

the fatality sound card is nice, but auzen tech teamed up with xfi to make a hybrid card which is supose to be retardedly good. also i got sennheiser pc350's which are a nice headset, but look for something that is 7.1

Open-eared headphones are going to give you better sound quality compared to close-eared such as the JVC's you're recommending. You can't go wrong buying those at that price, but it ultimately comes down to how good of quality you're looking for, and for what purposes you use the headphones. If you're really only using them to play games and listen to some poorer quality music, the JVC's are fine. Many of us do more than just gaming, however. I went with the ATH-AD700s because they are one of the best headphones you can get in the $100 range that will provide you with amazing sound quality for games, music, and movies.. most who have actually tested both the HD555s and the AD700s agree that the AD700s have a little cleaner sound and aren't as muffled by the bass.

From my research and my thread on here, I came to the conclusion that Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 soundcard and Audio Technica AD700 headphones are my best bet. For you, you might prefer something else, but after Christmas I am buying those two.

The One and Only - Professor X

I dont really want to spend over 100 on a soundcard

Then Asus Xonar DX. I think it is around $80

The One and Only - Professor X

QUOTE:
Open-eared headphones are going to give you better sound quality compared to close-eared such as the JVC's you're recommending. You can't go wrong buying those at that price, but it ultimately comes down to how good of quality you're looking for, and for what purposes you use the headphones. If you're really only using them to play games and listen to some poorer quality music, the JVC's are fine. Many of us do more than just gaming, however. I went with the ATH-AD700s because they are one of the best headphones you can get in the $100 range that will provide you with amazing sound quality for games, music, and movies.. most who have actually tested both the HD555s and the AD700s agree that the AD700s have a little cleaner sound and aren't as muffled by the bass.

Fact is, to most people those JVC's still sound better than HD555's
I mean, of course the AD700/900's are slightly better, but they're what, $100-125 more.

It's a no-brainer, those headphones are 35bucks and the shipping is FREE!

This comment was edited at 12/01/2008 11:57 PM

I don't know where you're basing the "most people" on, maybe those who are far from audiophiles or the casual gamer?. Have you actually listened to the AD700s let alone the AD900s? As far as I have read, the JVCs are comparable to the A700s which are under the quality of the AD700s..

#21 is correct. JVCs harx700/900 are undeniably good value at $50, and certainly comparable to audiotechnica's A#00 line, which isn't something to scoff at. But truthfully, Audiotechnica's A#00 series aren't that spectacular in the first place. Audiotechnica's AD700/ AD900 on the other hand... are special headphones. If JVC made a AD900 copies as they do with the A900, then you'd be cooking with gas.

Harle I dunno wtf you're talking about "$100 less then the ath ad700".... unless the headphones that are just as good as the ath-ad700 are $4 which I highly doubt...

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-..

the ath-ad700's are amazing http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductRevi..

[pound]MaximilianKohler @gamesurge.net for lessons ~ sk-gaming.com/videos/member/MaximilianKohler

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-A700-C..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp..
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-A700-C..
+Shipping

Compared to:
http://www.buy.com/prod/jvc-ha-rx700-ster..
With free shipping
(sold-out for now)

or
http://www.audio-discounters.com/ha-rx700..
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-High-Gr..

learn2readkthxbai

This comment was edited at 12/02/2008 2:44 AM

QUOTE:
I mean, of course the AD700/900's are slightly better, but they're what, $100-125 more.
- harlE-

We get your point, you love the JVC's. However, they are comparable to the Audio-Technica A700's/A900's and NOT the AD700's/AD900's, which are rather superior to their non-D counterparts. And, the AD700's are only $70 more (with Amazon's free shipping) than your JVC's, not $100-$125 more. Don't tell others to "learn2read" when you obviously can't, or just have a problem with basic math. Then again, you can't fathom the concept that our argument is that the AD700's are very good headphones to invest in for a wide range of use of amazing sound quality, and if you want something in more of a middle range, the JVC's may be a great choice - it's all based on your preference for quality and use for the headphones. This is how everything works with products and price points.. everyone gets different amounts of utility from different products and it's all a matter of their utility to price ratio in which they care to buy.

asus xonar
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp..

claims that it is pci express....dont motherboards only have 1 pci express slot for videocards?

and what makes thr asus card better than for example a xfi xtreme gamer

and between creative. which is better

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp..

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp..

Also how can a good stero headphone be as good as 5.1 for gaming. stereo has 2 speakers.... so how can it possibly tell you positions as well as a 5.1

I would recommend Steel series 5h v2. You can choose between the stereo one or the other one that uses usb and has its own soundcard. My friend have one of those and its really great for gaming. Some counter strike 1.6 players use them, for example, zonic or neo.

Another option are the HD series from Sennheiser. I have HD 485 and I cant complain about them, because you can use them for gaming or listenin to music. I heard one of the best of the HD series are the HD 555 or HD 595.
Good luck with your desicion!

alberto im not buying pos like 5hv2. i already have hd 555 and they are busted so i will never go with sennheiser again

# 27 It is PCIexpress. But it doesnt occupy PCIe X16 lanes, it occupies X4 lanes. Most motherboard have at least on PCIe X4 lane, but you can also get the same card based on the standard PCI lane. It's called the Asus Xonar D1

#28/#29 What makes it better is simply the fact that creative use pisss poor components, whilst Asus use genuinely high quality / high end stuff. In vista the X-FI chip has no advantage over Asus' card, driver/signal processing - wise.

#30 Get your 555's out of the bin and listen to this
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?..

This comment was edited at 12/02/2008 10:08 PM

how can you tell which one is the pci e 1x slot and yeah i think my comp has one

and that link sounds so sweet

This comment was edited at 12/02/2008 9:39 PM

the x4 lane is shorter (a little over an inch long)

x4? what

#33 ROFL

I felt like he was going to strangle me when he put that bag on my head.

Surprises me every time =)

This comment was edited at 12/03/2008 2:07 AM

#30

HRTF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_locali..

you also have only 2 ears ;)

XtremeGamer works fine on Vista for me, don't know why so many people complain about it.

I use it with AT A700s, which are the best headphones I've owned. I love them.

I'd recommend those two along with a Zalman ZM-Mic 1 that you can just slide onto the cord of the A700s.

i already have a zalman mic now

oh and bump ....is there really a difference in quality between pci and pci e verison of asus card?

no
_

hey spy, QQ more nerd

haha the haircut sounds so real with my x-fi xtremegamer and ad-700's

[pound]MaximilianKohler @gamesurge.net for lessons ~ sk-gaming.com/videos/member/MaximilianKohler

always sennheiser

harlE is so right he knows what hes talking about

<3

who is berzerk?

and how does the jvc harx700 or even 900 compare up to sennheiser hd 555 or ad700

This comment was edited at 12/21/2008 10:15 PM

I am on top of the world spy!

bump

GotFrag Hardware

GotFrag Hardware Forums

Sound Card and Headphones

More Pages

Submit Comments

Registered Users Only