Audio quality and potential new headset

[SCG_ErwinP]

Hi guys!

 

I'm would like to know about audio quality in BOS. I have a Sharkoon Rush ER1 and I'm looking for a Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Mercury White but it is so much expencive, so worth it?

Does anyone have a good headset that you recommend it?

 

[Soarfeat]

Hey HansPhili,

 

I believe with the audio quality in BOS that any good head set will work fine. I use a HyperX Cloud and for me it sounds fine.

Personally, whatever headset works within your budget I think will be fine. 

I have heard some recommend a good pair of headsets ( not gaming headsets ) and then buy a separate mic if needed. I guess it comes down to how much

of an audiophile you are. 

Best of luck with this journey, I am sure whatever you choose will sound fine .

Cheers--sf--

 

[SCG_ErwinP]

Thank you Soarfeat, i believe that after read a lot about it i decide wait for a promo and get the HyperX Cloud Stinger.

Many people telling about it that it has better quality/value.

 

I read about a dedicated offboard sound card + a Senheiser headphone but it is expensive either.

 

Cheers!

 

3./JG15_HansPhilipp

[NETSCAPE]

Audio quality is audio quality, regardless of IL-2 gaming. (IL-2 sound design could use a lot of improvement actually)

 

I have worked in the audio field in the past and audio is just as or more important to me than graphic fidelity.

 

Over the years my favorite headphone brands were Sony and Sennheiser. For speakers Mackie and Yamaha. If you're spending $20 on headphones, don't expect much. If you can spare $100 , that would be ideal. 

 

Further more it sounds like you have a limited budget so I would advise against a dedicated sound card. Most modern motherboards have decent audio. And EVEN IF you got headphones that have a 1/4" jack just use an adapter to 1/8" and plug it in to your computer as normal. 

[SharpeXB]

I noticed a big improvement in IL-2 going from stereo headphones to 7.1 surround ones

For example the sound of the twin engines didn’t transition smoothly in stereo, but in surround it’s much better. 

[SCG_ErwinP]

Thank you all for your time!

My motherboard is a AsRock X370 and it has the Realtek 1220 driver that I believe is better then all others motherboard's drivers (onboard).

I really apreciate a good sound and I would like to buy a new one but as much I read more I'm confused... I'm thinking about Sennheiser GSP 300 at this moment, what do you think about it?

Edited February 27, 2019 by 3./JG15_HansPhilipp

[NETSCAPE]

3 minutes ago, 3./JG15_HansPhilipp said:

Thank you all for your time!

My motherboard is a AsRock X370 and it has the Realtek 1220 driver that I believe is better then all others motherboard's drivers (onboard).

I really apreciate a good sound and I would like to buy a new one but as much I read more I'm confused... I'm thinking about Sennheiser GSP 300 at this moment, what do you think about it?

 

Specs look good to go on those phones. Combine that with user reviews I suppose... I have been out of the headphone loop for a long time actually. I stopped wearing them due to health issues. I use only my studio monitors now for work and games. 

 

specs and reviews are all that matters... not bright colors or super-dope shark logo's.

[SCG_ErwinP]

1 hour ago, NETSCAPE said:

 

Specs look good to go on those phones. Combine that with user reviews I suppose... I have been out of the headphone loop for a long time actually. I stopped wearing them due to health issues. I use only my studio monitors now for work and games. 

 

specs and reviews are all that matters... not bright colors or super-dope shark logo's.

Thank you!
I hate bright colors in peripheral!

Edited February 27, 2019 by 3./JG15_HansPhilipp

[Scott_Steiner]

I have some Sennheiser gaming headphones that are good but if I did it again, I would probably do what Soarfeat says and just get regular Sennheisers or something of a good audio grade and add the mic to it. There are a couple different microphone options out there that really do a good job of bringing audio headphones in line with gaming headsets.

 

Stay away from Razer, it's just gimmicky stuff with poor sound quality.

 

I think virtual surround sound is great if done right, your mileage will vary depending on what is being used.

 

I have an older Sound Blaster X-Fi that has a virtual 5.1/7.1 surround sound mode that will work with any pair of cans that you can plug into the 1/8th inch jack. This is nice because you can upgrade your headphones or use them for other devices and still know you will have good surround sound down the road.

 

Do I think sound cards have a big benefit for other things this day in age? No a sound card will have some minor quality improvements over the onboard realtek stuff, a lot of it unnoticeable to the ear.. but I do think having a good virtual surround sound program is worth it. You can pick up old sound blaster cards really cheap too.. Of course you get these effects when using a surround sound USB headset because the USB device is essentially the sound card.. but again, it's nice to be able to upgrade the headphones and keep your surround sound the same as before.

 

If you are looking for a good external headphone amp with a good surround sound system many say the Sennheiser GSX 1000 is the best, but it's not a very cheap solution.

 

Also, one thing of important is headphone type.. Open back vs closed back. If you game by yourself and don't have any people around you that are going to get annoyed with a little noise bleed, open backs are arguably better.. They have a wider more natural sound stage, which is ideal for the surround sound and pinpointing the location of your enemies, etc. If you are in a noisy environment though, you will hear what's going on in the real world very easily.

 

Closed back headphones generally offer a little bit more base but have less clarity as well as smaller sound stage. A lot of gaming headsets are closed back because at lansand e-sport tournaments you don't want to hear all the noise coming out of the ear cups when you are gaming in close proximity with other people.. Same for being on the bus or living in a dorm room.. Closed back headphones primary purpose is for keeping them quiet to the outside world as well as isolating you from the noise of the outside world.

 

My 2 cents.

Edited February 28, 2019 by Scott_Steiner
Spelling

[TWC_Ace]

I have Steelseries Siberia V2 for years now and its working perfectly. All I changed is ear cushions which can be found at ebay cheap. The construction of V2 is suitable for Trackclip mounts on top of the head. They have a retractable mic which I found as super feature.

Edited February 28, 2019 by blackram

[SCG_ErwinP]

I'm still learning about audio and i have some doubts about headsets:

I'm visiting the Sennheiser webstore and there is many options.

 

I watched a video from HardwareCanucks that Dmitry said that analogic has better mic sound (loud and clear) but I know that surround works only in USB.

I wanted a product that works fine, firstly, for me. If mic isn't so good, I will care only if it is working.

So which to choose, analogic (stereo) or USB (surround) headset?

 

Secondly, which choose from Sennheisen if it is:

• Analogic
  • GameOne (opened);
  • GameZero (closed);
  • GSP 300 (closed);
  • GSP 500 (opened);
  • GPS 600 (closed);

• USB - Surround 7.1
  • GSP 350 (closed);
  • GSP 550 (opened);
  • PC 373D (opened);

 

I mean, what is the difference per exemple, between GameZero, GSP 300 and GSP 600 if all of them are analogic/closed (same to other models)?

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by 3./JG15_HansPhilipp

[SCG_ErwinP]

I'm learning more and more....

 

So, how much is the sound quality difference between analogic vs USB versions? Is it noticeable/plausible for a non-professional?

[Scott_Steiner]

That's not a direct comparison, because an analog headset is only part of the equation where a USB headset is an all-encompassing solution. With a USB headset you are taking a digital source and sending it out to the sound device which is USB, which is also digital.. and then the analog conversion is done in the USB sound device to the headset (to your ears). There is nothing to interfere with, really nothing to go wrong.. You would refer to USB headsets as being digital even though the output to the speakers in the ear cups are not, but the term digital is a good enough general term for such devices.

 

Analog headphones that have a 1/4 or 1/8 inch jack are only a small part of the sound system in a gaming setup. You are taking digital audio (from the game) running it through the sound card, converting it to an analog signal and then sending it to that microphone jack on the back where the headphones are picking up that analog signal. Also, the sound card will be amplifying the signal from the source and driving the headphones. Sound cards that have poor amplification, headphone or speaker amps that are poor, or expensive headphones that require a powerful amp, can all sound very poor if not driven properly. Also, some sound cards or devices may give interference and noise on an analog connection for a number of reasons, usually some of the poorer quality or older sound cards or onboard sound will do this.

 

It sounds like you need to do some more studying.. but I will say that all the best headphones will be analog and not USB, as all the best headphones out there are not specifically designed for gaming over USB devices. Sure there are some adequate USB gaming headsets that many will find to sound pretty good but I don't think any will be comparable to a high quality set of headphones.. and probably most of the better gaming headphones that have an analog connection are based off of mid-range or better music type headphones (mostly talking about Sennheiser here). If it's worth spending the extra coin on hearing a bunch of bullets and engine noises... Well that's up to you.

[AmetKhan]

Is the wireless set going to interfere with the quality of the graphics?

[MAJ_Piranha_]

It's been awhile since this was updated, so I'm curious if:

#1 Does 7.1 Surround work in IL-2 Great Battles as I've read some comments that say when you turn your head to a side you don't hear certain things or not hearing bullets hit aircraft, etc.. ?

#2 What headset y'all recommend for $100 - $250 budget range ?

#3 Are there any advantages / disadvantages to it being wireless vs.. not wireless?

thanks!

[Jaws2002]

Don't waste your money on USB headphones or headsets. They don't get the signal from the motherboard/sound card. Most of them have their own, crappy, chip, audio processing unit, that's significantly worse than what today's motherboards have. 

  Get a headphones made by a company who's main business is sound equipment, not from a company who's main business is "gaming" gimmicks, like Razer. 

Generally speaking headphones are better than headsets. 

 Most of the time, you get more quality for your buck, if you buy quality headphones and a separate microphone. 

 

 

[MAJ_Piranha_]

14 hours ago, Jaws2002 said:

Don't waste your money on USB headphones or headsets. They don't get the signal from the motherboard/sound card. Most of them have their own, crappy, chip, audio processing unit, that's significantly worse than what today's motherboards have. 

  Get a headphones made by a company who's main business is sound equipment, not from a company who's main business is "gaming" gimmicks, like Razer. 

Generally speaking headphones are better than headsets. 

 Most of the time, you get more quality for your buck, if you buy quality headphones and a separate microphone. 

 

 

What do you use / recommend?

[Jaws2002]

I use right now the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, because that's what I could find fast, locally, when my Audio-Technica ATH-A700X broke.

ATH-50x:

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-ca/headphones/best-for/dj/ath-m50x

 

My old ATH-A700X:

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-ca/ath-a700x

 

TheATH-50x has slightly better bass, but the ear cups of the ATH-A700x were extremely comfortable and soft. My ears would never sweat under them, despite the fact that the cups and drivers were much bigger, and the sound was amazing. Sadly, they don't make them anymore.

These are maybe a bit too much for just gaming, but, after I used a few gaming and 5.1/7.1 surround headsets, I settled on audiophile headphones. 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Jaws2002

[MAJ_Piranha_]

24 minutes ago, Jaws2002 said:

I use right now the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, because that's what I could find fast, locally, when my Audio-Technica ATH-A700X broke.

ATH-50x:

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-ca/headphones/best-for/dj/ath-m50x

 

My old ATH-A700X:

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-ca/ath-a700x

 

TheATH-50x has slightly better bass, but the ear cups of the ATH-A700x were extremely comfortable and soft. My ears would never sweat under them, despite the fact that the cups and drivers were much bigger, and the sound was amazing. Sadly, they don't make them anymore.

These are maybe a bit too much for just gaming, but, after I used a few gaming and 5.1/7.1 surround headsets, I settled on audiophile headphones. 

Gotcha, so I take it you’re happy with the ATH-50 or is there something else you have your eyes set on?  Also do these headphones have any spatial audio or 7.1 / 5.1 or is there any IL2 sound feature that these won’t be capable of accessing?  Sorry I’m kind of a newb at this audio stuff. 
 

Currently I have a cyber power ASROCK B550 gaming motherboard that doesn’t have a discrete sound card attached. It’ll just be whatever audio comes with motherboard so I hope that would be able to support ATH-50 if I get them. 
 

right now I’m using Bose quiet comfort 15 headphones with active noise canceling that uses a 3.5 mm plug into a Blue Rhino mic

[Jaws2002]

I'm happy with the ATH-M50's but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't rush it and look for another set of ATH-A700's. The sound is a bit better on the M50, but they are tighter on the head. That wing support mechanism on the 700x is amazingly comfortable. It floats on your head, you don't feel the weight of the cups on your ears. If you have the chance, walk into an audio store, that has Audio-technica headphones, with that funky support mechanism and try one. For comfort, it stands apart from everything else I tried and used.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/audio-technica/ath-a700x/D3S_7996-1200.jpg

   

 I use just the audio that came with the motherboard. I do hae a discrete WiFi sound card, but I removed it from the computer, It's poitless these days. 

This is the motherboard I use.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X570-AORUS-MASTER-rev-10#kf

I don't think there's too much difference in the audio quality between this sound processor and yours. I couldn't tell the difference when I pulled out the sound card.

Edited August 5, 2022 by Jaws2002

[MAJ_Piranha_]

5 hours ago, Jaws2002 said:

I'm happy with the ATH-M50's but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't rush it and look for another set of ATH-A700's. The sound is a bit better on the M50, but they are tighter on the head. That wing support mechanism on the 700x is amazingly comfortable. It floats on your head, you don't feel the weight of the cups on your ears. If you have the chance, walk into an audio store, that has Audio-technica headphones, with that funky support mechanism and try one. For comfort, it stands apart from everything else I tried and used.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/audio-technica/ath-a700x/D3S_7996-1200.jpg

   

 I use just the audio that came with the motherboard. I do hae a discrete WiFi sound card, but I removed it from the computer, It's poitless these days. 

This is the motherboard I use.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X570-AORUS-MASTER-rev-10#kf

I don't think there's too much difference in the audio quality between this sound processor and yours. I couldn't tell the difference when I pulled out the sound card.

Thanks, based on your recommendation, I have some M50X’s on order. I appreciate it 

[MAJ_Piranha_]

16 hours ago, Jaws2002 said:

I'm happy with the ATH-M50's but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't rush it and look for another set of ATH-A700's. The sound is a bit better on the M50, but they are tighter on the head. That wing support mechanism on the 700x is amazingly comfortable. It floats on your head, you don't feel the weight of the cups on your ears. If you have the chance, walk into an audio store, that has Audio-technica headphones, with that funky support mechanism and try one. For comfort, it stands apart from everything else I tried and used.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/audio-technica/ath-a700x/D3S_7996-1200.jpg

   

 I use just the audio that came with the motherboard. I do hae a discrete WiFi sound card, but I removed it from the computer, It's poitless these days. 

This is the motherboard I use.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X570-AORUS-MASTER-rev-10#kf

I don't think there's too much difference in the audio quality between this sound processor and yours. I couldn't tell the difference when I pulled out the sound card.

What do you use as a microphone as it seems the M50 doesn’t have a microphone attached?

[Jaws2002]

Just some clip-on cheap one. I don't play online much these days, so the microphone is not that important for me.

[1Sascha]

I'm very happy with my (relatively cheap) Corsair HS50. Don't really need wireless and the audio and build quality are better than all the mid-range Plantronics sets I've used in the past. Plus I got it for under 50 EUR, so ...

 

 

S.