USB Sound Card + Headphones

Hi guys,

I have a Sager 8150 and the internal sound card si crap!
I'm looking for an external one but I don't really know what to choose.
Mostly I will need it for gaming:
Battlefield 3 + other FPS games and Starcraft 2.

What do you recommend?

Also looking for some headphones with integrated mic. Are the USB ones ok? Will an external sound card still be required for them? Again, what do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

Question (Most Important): What is your budget?

In general, people who want better sound for their laptops have three options. For you, I would recommend you consider Option #1 or #2.

Option 1: Headphones used only for laptop. You specifically want gaming, don't care about music.

Buy a USB gaming headset. The three options I would recommend are Corsair Vengeance 1500 ($90), Logitech G35 ($90), or Logitech G930 ($120). These headsets will give you virtualized surround sound support for gaming. Not the ideal solution for music, since the sound signature of the headphones will be targeted towards gaming (emphasizing bass), and not music.


Option 2: Want multi-purpose headphones (for use on laptop and music player).

Buy a separate USB sound card with virtualized surround sound support. Recommended options here are Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi USB SB1090 ($60-$70), or the Astro MixAmp ($130). The Creative Labs X-Fi USB SB1090 supports the CMSS3D Headphone Mode virtualized surround sound algorithm, while the Astro MixAmp supports Dolby Headphone virtualized surround sound algorithm. For pure laptop use, I'd recommend the Sound Blaster X-Fi USB.

Buy a set of entry-level audiophile headphones. Recommended headphones here are:
* Audio Technica ATH-A700 ($125) - balanced sound signature for better appeal to those who want dual-purpose gaming / music headphones.
* Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro (
* Used Klipsch Image One ($60) - bass-heavy sound signature for those who want to focus on gaming. Be sure to buy used.
* Used Klipsch Image S4 ($60) - portable in-ear headphones for dual-purpose gaming / music

For microphone support, either use the built-in microphone on your laptop, or buy a Zalman ZM-1 clip-on microphone ($8). Remember, your microphone only needs to be "good enough" for in-game VoIP communications. You do not need a studio-quality microphone for in game chat.


Option 3: Emphasize music usage. Gaming is a much lower priority.

Buy a set of entry-level audiophile headphones targeted at music. Recommended headphones are:
* Audio Technica ATH-A700 ($125) - balanced sound signature for better appeal to those who want dual-purpose gaming / music headphones.
* Grado SR-60 ($80) - balanced in-your-face sound signature. Better appeal for those who care about music.

You will also want to consider a USB DAC (digital-to-audio converter). The hot items in this category now are Fiio E7 ($90) and Fiio E10 ($80). These will do a much better job producing high-quality 2.0-channel audio than your on-board sound for those who care about music, and will not have any support for directional surround sound at all.

You will find many "audiophiles" on these forums, as well as on Head-Fi (headphone enthusiast forum) that will only recommend USB DACs and audiophile-grade headphones. They will tend to poo-poo recommendations for USB sound cards or gaming headsets. Be aware that these people care about listening to music in 2.0 stereo. And as such, they will want their audio gear to have qualities such as a "neutral" or "balanced" sound signature. They will want unprocessed and un-altered sound, which is why you will never hear of them recommending any kind of virtualized surround sound solution (only 2.0 stereo sound).

As a gamer, be aware that you have a different set of priorities. You want "fun" sound with accurate directional surround sound support. That means you want intentionally unbalanced headphones that emphasize bass and clarity. And you want sound processing hardware that supports virtualized surround sound.

 

Just get a USB headset.

e.g. the Logitech G35, or the Plantronics which Mastershroom likes, but I haven't tried. There's also new ones from Corsair, etc as kent points out. I'm not sure I'd go wireless though - there are compromises, not just in that there's one more thing to be flat when you really want to use it.

The Dolby Headphone implementation on the G35 is better than super-premium headphones running off the Asus Essence STX - I kid you not. Loads more actually perceivable depth in the sound. Some people say that there's a single Dolby Headphone software implementation so it makes no difference from soundcard to soundcard but if that's the case Logitech has either inserted something else to enhance it, or there are different software Dolby implementations, or those people are talking out of their butts (and they being Head-Fi types, the latter is probably the case).

I think also the audiophile types (and I should be one, but not in the embarrassingly subjectivist way that many are) rag on even the better headsets without justification. In terms of what you're getting - an external soundcard, a decent mic (with good placing) and a fairly competent closed headphone in a convenient package optimised for gaming, I think e.g. the G35 is a good deal. Sure, it won't beat $150 headphones but that's not the point.

 

I use the Asus Xonar U3 sound card. It runs $40ish and has Dolby Headphone which I like. With it I use the ATH-AD700 headphones.

The Logitech G35 will offer a similar surround experience but with lower quality headphones.

 

I was curious about that point. Have you tried the G35 against the U3? What would you say the differences (if any) were? The G35 comprehensively crushed the DH implementation on the Essence STX, so was wondering.

 

I also would recommend just to get an USB head-set, it's very handy! A friend of mine has a Logitech G35 and he is very satisfied with it. Therefore I can recommend it as well. I hope you will find the right headphones for you soon! It's difficult to find the right one between all those offers!

 

USB headphones/headsets have there own soundcard (dac)

headsets w/ mic.

Look at Senheiser PC series
Plantronics Gamecom series
and if your big money the Beyerdynamic MMX300


If you go headphones w/ external mic you have more options but have to deal with both the benefit and handicap of a separate mic.

 

Sorry guys, I was away a couple of days and just finished reding your suggestions.

As for the budget... not really important: maybe 200-250$
From what I see a lot of you recommend buying directly USB Headphones... which is what I was leaning too anyway since I'm gonna use them only for gaming.
G35 seems a good options but I've heard something new from Razor comes out... Tiamat 7.1
Is it worth waiting for them?

 

I dunno about 'true' 5.1/7.1 headphones. Obviously Razer are putting a lot of time in this one and we don't know what it's going to be like yet, but I'm not sure they're worth the tradeoffs compared to virtual surround. In the days where only CMSS was really an option, I thought some 'real' 5.1 headsets were a marginally better choice for gaming. Now with Dolby Headphone though... I don't think so.

 

Short answer: No
Long answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


But in all seriousness... I agree that a USB headset would be the best choice for you, since you are going to be using them for laptop gaming. I would recommend you get the Corsair Vengeance 1500 or the Logitech G35 for about $90.

The Corsair Vengeance 1500 is based on the Corsair HS1 USB headset. And basically every review site that has ever used the Corsair HS1 USB headset has said that they are incredibly comfortable, and have sound quality that far exceeds the $99 MSRP. It would be a very smart buy to get the Corsair Vengeance 1500.

You may have budget up to $250, but I bet saving $160 would be nice

 

thanks for the tip.
Is the Vengeance 1500 better than HS1?

 

No.

Same hardware. Just different aesthetics and branding.

I don't think you can easily find the HS1 anymore. But if you can, then you will get identical sound quality compared to the Vengeance 1500. The only difference will be appearance and branding.

 

Thanks. i'll have a look at them and maybe buy them.
Any other suggestions or would the Vengeance 1500 be the best option?

 

You can also look at the Logitech G35 or G930. They are pretty much identical, with the exception that the Logitech G930 is wireless (Logitech G35 is wired USB).

Sound quality will be about the same as the Corsair Vengeance 1500 headset.

I personally would buy the Corsair Vengeance 1500, simply because I like Corsair's stuff.

 

You can also look at the Logitech G35 or G930. They are pretty much identical, with the exception that the Logitech G930 is wireless (Logitech G35 is wired USB).

Sound quality will be about the same as the Corsair Vengeance 1500 headset.

I personally would buy the Corsair Vengeance 1500, simply because I like Corsair's stuff.

 

I wouldn't look at the 930, but that's just me.

 

Because you don't like wireless headsets?

 

Both in terms of charging (just one more thing to be flat when you really want to use it) and effect on sound, yeah.

 

I wouldn't want a wireless headset either. I just didn't know if there were other reasons why you wouldn't look at it.

 

which is the best USB gaming headset on the market right now? Regards to comfort, build and sound quality. I was looking at the Razer Kraken 7.1, and Razer Blackshark. They both got good reviews, so what do you guys say/recommend me?

 

The Beyerdynamic MMX 300.
Amazon.com: Beyerdynamic 715565 PC Gaming Premium Digital Headset with Microphone: Electronics

It's analog but has an included USB adapter.

You can also bling it up
beyerdynamic MMX 300 MANUFAKTUR - Customize your gaming-headset

 

It looks really nice, and they seem to be the best headphones on the market for gaming if you've got the budget for it. I'm afraid I won't be able to afford it, so I need more recommendations. Thanks!

 

hi Sparxxx,

I have 2 options:
- Geek Out/Pulse
- Audio Quest Dragon Fly

Geek Out vs. Dragon Fly
Pro:
higher output (up 1 mwah for the Super Duper)
higher decoding rate (32bit/384khz, studio standard)
comes with variety of color
Price is cheaper at this stage
Con:
Price will be more expensive later
Wait time
Less compact size

Headphone: Vmoda M100!!!

 

^ Head-Fi victim

Don't waste your money on highfalutin' USB interfaces if you only have basic headphones - only do so if you have no budget.

The MMX gets you the most convenient and the best quality combo of headphone + mic in a consumer headset, but it's not necessarily top value. The Corsair USB headsets are totally fine for their price range and represent a better value quotient. Otherwise if headphone bang for the buck is more important, there are good analog standbys like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 at the $150 range and the Sony MDR-ZX700 (which is very good, but more 'boring' sounding than the M50) at around half that if you shop around, pair it with a $30 Creative X-Fi Go! USB stick along with either a desk mic or a Zalman ZM-MIC1 and you're ready to go.

 

My desktop I use the Razer Tiamat 7.1, just can't get 7.1 analogue output on my laptop. Sound for my laptop I use a creative USB recon 3d sound card and the tiamat 2.2 headset. I'mu opinion really great combination.

 

Good recommendations. Just wanted to add a note for the Razer Surround software sound driver.
Razer Surround Personalized 7.1 Gaming Audio Software - Razer United States

This is significant, because having virtual surround sound is a highly-desired feature for headphone gamers. Previously, you had to specifically buy hardware that provided this capability (e.g. USB headsets, external sound cards, or external Dolby Headphone processors).

Having this virtual surround sound capability be provided through software now allows for any set of 2.0-channel headphones to be used for gaming without buying additional virtual surround sound hardware. This means that entry-level audiophile headphones (e.g. Audio Technica ATH-M50) are all now fair game for use as gaming headphones.

 

You know what, I've been trying it - and regardless of whatever I'm using (in my case, the gamut from the Philips Downtown to the Sennheiser HE+V90) it's actually strongly reminiscent of the (IMO substandard) Asus Dolby Headphone implementation: The positioning cues are there more or less, but the depth and layering are totally whack - unlike some of the dedicated $100-and-under USB virtual 7.1 headsets (the Logitech G35 being a notable example). It's something perhaps you might not realise until you've already experienced DH that really works.