I'm curious of everyone's speaker setup for gaming

Im using my on-board audio connected to my HK395 subwoofer and 2 lil speakers

I don't have room in my current abode for my genelec monitors

Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (in audio creation mode) with an RCA S/PDIF connection (24-bit 96KHz PCM) to my Denon AVR-487. As far as speakers I'm using 2 Yamaha NS-A100XT's (highly under rated for $300 speakers) and a Polk Audio PSW-10 (LOVE IT!).

Personally I never use "PC desktop" speakers, it's always home theatre equipment for me.

I use onboard audio to a set of Altec Lansing AVS200 speakers that I bought 11 years ago for US$19.95 (stereo, no subwoofer). Not all gamers are audiophiles.

The amount you spend for your audio compared to your PC is so disproportionate it's hilarious!

Personally I'm more of a music lover than gamer so that's why I'm happy with my Phenom II X4 and 560 Ti.

Due to space restrictions, 2 pcs are sharing one set of speakers(home theater quality, but very compact and fits my needs.)

Game system.
X-fi titanium connected to Edifier S550s. Gets the job done for me and saves space.

Media Center
Onboard connected to the same speakers.

To allow both to play at the same time(Rant down below **) the 2 computers are summed/combined through a 10k resistor per channel with a makeup gain provided by some opa2134(nothing special, easy to come by and cheap) opamps. Yay for poor mans mixer(no volume control even, just straight combining and switches for 2 channel sound to run on front and rear at the same time per pc[not needed with the x-fi, but added for completeness].)

So output -> 10k resistor -> inverting input(10k feedback on the opamp to give me the same level as before the resistor) -> 10k resistor -> inverting input on the other side of the opamp(they have 2 per dip 8 chip) with another 10k feedback resistor(It was easy to get lots of 10ks )

Why inverting? so that each system does not become part of the gain equation(the volume would change when a system is added or removed.).

So yeah, I have 6 of those on one board

I kind of dislike the new digital world because it seems most setups only allow ONE input to play at the same time. Simply put, I do NOT like this. I need to learn how to make a DAC(well get the prints to use a chip version) to do mixing then push it back to digital, but thats lots more parts for little gain to my ears.

If anyone has some idea's on that, Optical would remove ANY chances of ground loops in audio.

**Has anyone noticed how bad windows handles music + games since hardware mixing died? it is like they have volume leveling even with it OFF. Pop on some music and game and see if you notice game sounds slightly dropping the volume of music. For X-fi users, if you have Winamp, try some of the OpenAL plugins, they 100% fix this issue.

BACK ON TOPIC.
I think for computer speakers you are using your sound card fine. Optical has many advantages(isolation being the big one) and is what I would use if I did not have such needs(space concerns leading to more than one system on the same speakers.).


Bet that sounds damn good

Logitech 560 5.1 speakers, when I can use them (ie. when no one else is home or no one is watching t.v. - all of which are seldom), otherwise Sennheiser Hd289PRO headphones (audiophile quality) and a desk mic. when in games.
On-board RealTek sound with this PC build, prior was Soundblaster XFI Xtreme Music. Didn't feel the need for the quality of the XFi when I rebuilt computer as I have some real hearing issues. My current set-up works very well.
On-board sound chips have come a long way in the last 10 years: Does on-board match a good discrete card, usually not; but you have to be able to hear the difference and for me they are so close I went with OB.

Currently using:

ASUS DGX soundcard
Sennheiser PC 360 headset
Klipsch 5.1 ultra promedia speakers.....amazing sound out of these speakers for $400. They haven't been made in about 5 years.

I have Klipsch KSF 10.5 for home theater fronts, and other models for center and dipole surrounds - they are great for the price I paid, $275 for the setup 4 years ago

Klipsch makes some seriously nice sounding speakers for the price. I'm quite upset that mine are going out. Sounds like the amp is losing power. I've had them about 8 years. They've seen lots of high watt usage. I hope I can find a new sub/amp when the time truly comes.

They were my first decent computer speakers. They replaced some economy circuit city stereo set. I've only heard the Z5500's in store which never gives a true room sound so can't comment much on those. They would be the next set I'd want to try though

Cyber Acoustics AC 401 headphones. I've found they are far better then many speakers and expensive headphones i have had. They are less than 20 bucks and have full range. Best set i've ever had.