USB Sound Card + Analog Headset vs USB Headset?

I am currently looking for an audio setup I can use when my laptop is on my desk, not moving. I have a separate keyboard and mouse, and would like to now improve my audio. What is your guys' opinion on the best way to go in this regard? I'm looking at USB sound cards, but aside from ASUS's $600 DAC (which I don't know what that stands for), the best option Newegg has is this: Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface Sound Card (if we say that price = performance, since I don't know what to look for really and an expensive piece of hardware is generally better performing than a cheaper piece). I was also looking at this one Newegg.com - Creative 70SB109500000 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro because I know Creative Labs makes good audio equipment. Both of those, however, appear to only have analog ports, meaning I would need an analog headset. This is where I'm stuck now, because I have no idea where to look for a good one. So far I've looked at these three: Newegg.com - steelseries 61001SS 3.5mm/ USB Connector Circumaural 5H v2 Professional Gaming Headset , Newegg.com - Corsair Vengeance 1300 3.5mm Connector Circumaural Analog Gaming Headset , and Newegg.com - Creative 70GH014000002 3.5mm / USB2.0 Connector Circumaural Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma Headset .

If you guys say that just a USB headset alone is better than USB sound card + analog, then which headset would you suggest? The few I've looked at are:
Newegg.com - Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming headset
Newegg.com - steelseries 61001SS 3.5mm/ USB Connector Circumaural 5H v2 Professional Gaming Headset
Newegg.com - Corsair Vengeance 1500 USB Connector Circumaural Dolby 7.1 Gaming Headset
Newegg.com - Creative 70GH014000002 3.5mm / USB2.0 Connector Circumaural Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma Headset
Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Alpha USB Connector Circumaural Headset

Also, if there's a better site to look for these types of things than Newegg please share. I know Amazon/eBay would have a wider selection, but it's more difficult to browse those sites, just easier to find a good deal once you know what you want.

 

What is your overall budget?

What do you intend to use the headset for? Purely gaming or also listening to music?

My personal recommendation: get a good pair of cans and a stand alone mic with a dac if you feel like getting one. A USB headset has an integrated DAC, but they are usually just on the ok side of things, not bad, but nothing to write home about either. That's at least the case with the corsair vengeance usb headsets. I own both the 1500 and 2000, they're pretty good as far as headsets in their respective price range go, but can't hold a candle to a good pair of headphones.

As far as headsets go, that one is pretty good in terms of sound quality, it doesn't look like it's built like a tank though: Sennheiser USA -PC Headset - Skype, VoIP - Professional Gamer Headset - PC 360 - Personal Audio That headset is the equivalent of a pair of sennheiser HD598 with a mic if i recall correctly.

 

Thank you for your help, I responded in bold.

Checking Amazon I found both the HD 598 and PC 360 sets by Sennheiser for under $200, at $175 and $190 respectively, I believe. Do they sound alright without using an external sound card though? I can't imagine I'd really be getting my money's worth without something better than the laptop's onboard audio.

 

You could always use an express-card soundcard... I bought my soundblaster for <$30

 

I have the 360 pc by sennheiser and I like them a lot. You can use them with a DAC but they sound reasonably good without as well. Also light and comfortable to me. Good luck!

 

Do you use a USB DAC? If so, which one?

Also, what do people think of this one? Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface Sound Card it seems to be a pretty good kit as far as USB is concerned.

 

It's perfectly OK IMO. But really the headphone/headset is really what will make the difference. I'd say if you don't care about:

- Good 3D positioning in games
- Decent mic with optimal placement for 'what'-free pickup

I'd just get a $30 soundcard (if your onboard audio isn't good enough - and in my experience, neither the Asus nor the Creative USB sticks' 3D audio efforts are much good either - you'll need to go with a dedicated virtual 7.1 headset for the best effect), a cheap mic and blow the rest on a headphone.

 

Get ad700 its like 100$ and its super good at GPS gaming. Trust me.

 

Sennheiser is one of the leading manufactures of sound equipment, but since they make so many things, not all of their product place among the top. The only way to be sure you get good headphones is to sample them yourself. You really need to listen to the headphones you want and preferable with the music you like to listen to. This is where you need to concentrate the bulk of your budget.

If necessary, spend it all on the headphones. You can always worry about sound cards (a minor issue in my view) later if you don't get the sound you think you should be getting.

In my case, I simply set up my receiver next to my desk and then plug-in the audio jack to my computer and use it in a piecemeal dock configuration. The best DAC I can look for.

Incidentally, DAC is simple Digital-to- Analog Converter. It is what converts the binary code back into the original usable sound so you can hear it. Our ear are analog.

Just like any device, some do the job a lot better than others which determine their quality.

 

Ok thank you for that, it seems most people are suggesting the most be spent on headphones themselves and then an audio card can be picked up later.

I plan to do a similar desktop-like setup when at home, plugging the laptop into a mouse/keyboard + whatever sound devices.

 

That's pretty much it, if you think the headset sounds good without a DAC, no need to get one. Personally, i don't mind my G73's onboard, but i got a friend with an infamous HP dv6000 series and it has horrible sound.

 

I would be using this with a Sager NP9150, which lots of people seem to complain about the sound quality on... I came from an HP Pavilion DV6T though, so pretty much everything about this laptop is superior (except the trackpad, both laptops have pretty terrible trackpads that don't get used much).

 

Hmm i have a similar question. I currently have the Plantronics GameCom 777 that i use on my Alienware M14x laptop specifically for gaming. Would buying one of the Corsair Vengeance series improve the sound on gaming or just purchasing one of the mentioned sound cards be a better choice. It would be primarily be used for games such as Modern Warfare 3 where hearing foot steps is vital.