Speakers vs Headphones

Which would you suggest and why?

  • Total voters
    16
DCWarhound said:
Isn't the difference just that one has a mic while the other doesn't?

Headsets usually also come with higher quality sound for gaming and music but i guess it comes down to price.
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No not at all. There's a huge difference in audio quality. Headphones will always be superior in terms of audio quality.
 
DCWarhound said:
Bit of a random question but will listening to music above 1000kbps damage my ears?
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The 1000kbps is referring to the bitrate of the song.

MP3s are usually 128 or 256, whereas lossless files (FLAC and ALAC) sit between 700 - 1000.

So no, your ears will be fine. It just means that the quality of the song is fantastic.
 
DuckKnuckle said:
The 1000kbps is referring to the bitrate of the song.

MP3s are usually 128 or 256, whereas lossless files (FLAC and ALAC) sit between 700 - 1000.

So no, your ears will be fine. It just means that the quality of the song is fantastic.
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Cool.

If you have heard of Redline you get all the movie's soundtracks with the disk.

All of the songs on it seems to be over 1000kbps.
 
If you are going to be using some gaming headphones, it is actually recommended to not get a 7.1 set...

They cost more and do exactly what a virtual 7.1 pair does, with some sound quality loss

So chose the cheaper virtual 7.1 set
 
That duck over there gave a pretty good set of options.

This may sound harsh, but I would not waste the money on a sub R1k sound system (unless it's something on special).
R1k in terms of headphones will get you much further :)
 
Applause said:
If you are going to be using some gaming headphones, it is actually recommended to not get a 7.1 set...

They cost more and do exactly what a virtual 7.1 pair does, with some sound quality loss

So chose the cheaper virtual 7.1 set
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Why pay more for the "7.1" when you can get a good pair of stereo headphones and download the software to make it virtual 7.1?
 
Since I go through headsets a year. I have decided to purchase a set of DJ headphones with a stand alone mic. Will also get a pre-amp to increase output as most pc sound cards do not output high volumes.

Mic:- http://www.takealot.com/computers/gadgets-6546/satzuma-retro-microphone-metallic-silver,29970438
Heaphones:- http://www.a1sound.co.za/pAKGK81/AKG-K81-DJ-HEADPHONES.aspx

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

General

Headphone type closed
Audio Frequency bandwidth 16 to 24000 Hz
Sensitivity headphones 115 dB SPL/V
Max. Input Power 2000 mW
Rated Impedance 32 Ohms
Detachable cable no
Cable Length 2.5 m
Earpads Replaceable yes
Foldable yes
Audio Interface
Type Screw-on Jack Combo (1/4" and 1/8")
Design
Finish black/silver
Dimensions / Weight
Length 70 mm
Width 195 mm
Height 165 mm
Net Weight 150 g







When you compare it to this:-

http://www.takealot.com/gaming/accessories/sennheiser-pc-363d-gaming-headset,30038123

TECHNICAL DATA
COLOR black WEARING STYLE
Headband IMPEDANCE Headphone: 50 Ω
IMPEDANCE Microphone: 2 kΩ CONNECTOR 2 x 3.5 mm for desktop/laptop
PC FREQUENCY RESPONSE (MICROPHONE) 50 - 16000 Hz FREQUENCY RESPONSE (HEADPHONES) 15 – 28000 Hz SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL (SPL) Headphone: 112 dB EAR COUPLING Around-the-ear,
open acoustic design CABLE LENGTH 2 + 1,2 m PICK-UP PATTERN Noise canceling MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY -38 dBV/Pa
 
ArchieChoke said:
Since I go through headsets a year. I have decided to purchase a set of DJ headphones with a stand alone mic. Will also get a pre-amp to increase output as most pc sound cards do not output high volumes.

Mic:- http://www.takealot.com/computers/gadgets-6546/satzuma-retro-microphone-metallic-silver,29970438
Heaphones:- http://www.a1sound.co.za/pAKGK81/AKG-K81-DJ-HEADPHONES.aspx

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

General

Headphone type closed
Audio Frequency bandwidth 16 to 24000 Hz
Sensitivity headphones 115 dB SPL/V
Max. Input Power 2000 mW
Rated Impedance 32 Ohms
Detachable cable no
Cable Length 2.5 m
Earpads Replaceable yes
Foldable yes
Audio Interface
Type Screw-on Jack Combo (1/4" and 1/8")
Design
Finish black/silver
Dimensions / Weight
Length 70 mm
Width 195 mm
Height 165 mm
Net Weight 150 g







When you compare it to this:-

http://www.takealot.com/gaming/accessories/sennheiser-pc-363d-gaming-headset,30038123

TECHNICAL DATA
COLOR black WEARING STYLE
Headband IMPEDANCE Headphone: 50 Ω
IMPEDANCE Microphone: 2 kΩ CONNECTOR 2 x 3.5 mm for desktop/laptop
PC FREQUENCY RESPONSE (MICROPHONE) 50 - 16000 Hz FREQUENCY RESPONSE (HEADPHONES) 15 – 28000 Hz SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL (SPL) Headphone: 112 dB EAR COUPLING Around-the-ear,
open acoustic design CABLE LENGTH 2 + 1,2 m PICK-UP PATTERN Noise canceling MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY -38 dBV/Pa
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First: Is that microphone nice? I am looking for a yt/podcast/gaming standalone mic...

Second: Nice headphones.

Third: you can get a pair of pc360s for about R1800 in SA, so that pricing there is ludicrous...
 
Applause said:
First: Is that microphone nice? I am looking for a yt/podcast/gaming standalone mic...

Second: Nice headphones.

Third: you can get a pair of pc360s for about R1800 in SA, so that pricing there is ludicrous...
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The mic on the pc360s aren't that good. Sennheiser sacrificed mic quality for audio quality. It's still good. Just not great.

If you want a standalone podcast/streaming mic, you can check out the Samson USB mics or the Blue Yeti.

Saves you having to buy a proper external sound card with XLR connections.

Then you can pick up a pair of Sennheisers or AKGs perhaps for your headphones.
 
DuckKnuckle said:
The mic on the pc360s aren't that good. Sennheiser sacrificed mic quality for audio quality. It's still good. Just not great.

If you want a standalone podcast/streaming mic, you can check out the Samson USB mics or the Blue Yeti.

Saves you having to buy a proper external sound card with XLR connections.

Then you can pick up a pair of Sennheisers or AKGs perhaps for your headphones.
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Thanks. Have you ever heard of the CAD u3?
 
I have a pair of these which I got quite reasonably from Takealot a few months back. If I had a preference I would go with headphones as the sound comes alive and everything is audible. Speakers is the usual way that I game, but when I can, then headphones are best.
 
HavocXphere said:
lol - how do you figure that?

Or better yet...what about headphones with a clip on mic? hmmm...what now. :confused:

Seriously you can put high quality drivers etc in either. ;)
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Because the companies that make the headsets aren't building them for fantastic audio quality.

And that's why I use headphones with an external mic instead.

And that's why I will always recommend it.
 
Yeah its probably true for a lot of the headsets, but thats quite a far way from:

>Headphones will always be superior in terms of audio quality.

Regardless of the above...headsets are mighty convenient for gaming/speech recog/VOIP.
 
HavocXphere said:
Regardless of the above...headsets are mighty convenient for gaming/speech recog/VOIP.
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I'm not disregarding headsets at all.

They're great at what they do. I just think, if someone is looking for great quality, they should consider the idea of headphones with a clipon mic instead.
 
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