Well, looks like I'm getting back heavier into PC gaming. I just upgraded to an i7 rig and there are several PC titles that have my interest. My problem is my office is next to the kids bedroom and the master bedroom where my wife will be sleeping is just across the hall. I'm trying to decide what my best options are here for sound localization and VoIP. My onboard sound dumps some crazy RF interference on the headphone jack, so I'm installing an X-Fi Titanium that should be here any minute now. I was going to see if the CMSS 3D processing is worth a damn or if its the absolute dreck that I expect.
Currently I have the Senn HD 280s but obviously there's no mic. The PC 350 seems to be comparable in sound to the 280s, with an attached mic, but that's getting close to the cost of the 595s I want to pick up for general audio listening. I'm also wondering if these 5.1 headphones are to the point where they're actually worth using, I know the GWJ consensus on them seems fairly high.
So, what's my best setup to get quality sound, surround imaging, and voice communication? I saw that some GWJers (Thin_J and *Legion*) were using little desk puck mics but I'm concerned about broadcasting background noises (rampaging kids) even worse than I do now. I'm not adverse to a standalone mic, it's just my experience in the past hasn't been very favorable compared to a headset.
[Edit] Ha! I setup my Presonus Firebox and A/B'ed it against my onboard audio pushing my HD 280s. The headphone amp on the onboard sound is horrid. The phones really open up and sound driven off the Firebox. Hopefully the X-Fi can push them as well.
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