- Oct 20, 2014
- 26
- 0
- 4,540
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The title says it all. This is my third question on Tom's hardware and all of them have been in regards to the same thing. My first one, nearly half a year ago was me finally showcasing my new gaming computer build. That was when I fell in love with Tom's Hardware and its amazing community, as my build was revolutionized by the great help I got.
The next post is closer to this one, and it was only a few weeks ago, what headphones to get. That post is since then dead, and I have narrowed my choices to two pairs of headphones/headsets for positional cues in CS:GO. I also have some follow-up questions I didn't ask in my last post. Any other headphone recommendations are accepted, but try to answer the questions I put at the bottom with regards to them and give me reasons why they are viable as an option compared to these two.
First I will describe my current stance and thoughts on these two headphones, and then ask my questions and your opinions on which of these is better. As always thank you to everyone who comments on this or even reads it attempting to help. Try to answer questions in numbered format but also put all of your own thoughts as I am starving for information. I wanna make an informed decision. Thank you!
MY STANCE
First, the HyperX Cloud 2 headset. I have heard great things about these but my question is will the surround sound help me in game to get positional cues. I want to get the maximum I can get out of CS:GO, and since I have heard about the terrible sound quality of CS:GO I was wondering whether these would be just as good as their audio technica opponent? I am sure that these are more comfortable, and though look is a minor factor, these look far better than the AD700x and it's nice to see something pleasant next to your computer. You see pros in CS:GO always using headsets such as the steelseries siberia v2 and kraken pros and these are not even usually as good as the Hyper X Cloud 2. Is it even worth it to spend the extra buck for the AD700x in a game like CS:GO? Not to mention the clouds are better for music and movies. So, if the sound is the same, then these are the choice.
Next, the audio technica AD700x headphones, these are renowned as the best for sound cues but apparently their base is non-existent. Now, some of my concerns. I am only 14 years old, and as a result, have a fairly small head, I have heard some complaints about small heads not fitting on these. Also, I am not an audiophile, and CS:GO is my heart and soul, but how bad exactly is the music and movie quality sound. I understand that the bass is not as good as other headphones, but is it absolutely terrible? If it is that will influence my decision as my computer is used for netflix and youtube a fair bit. I will be using an Asus Xonar DG and a Zalman clip on mic with this.
QUESTIONS
1. IN CS:GO, I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH THIS QUESTION ONLY APPLIES TO CS:GO, will there be any difference in hearing the positional cues between these 2 headphones? As the sound stage in CS is considered absolutely terrible and extremely limited, is it possible that the Hyper X Cloud 2 will be the same?
2. When people describe the AD700x as absolutely amazing for gaming, is this just using it as the default stereo headset with no modifications or anything? I know people say that 7.1 is a gimmick (I'd also like your thoughts on that) but if I opened these the day I got them, plugged them in and turned on CS:GO, would that be the same sound most people describe as "legendary" for positional cues in CS:GO. It is still hard for me to believe how stereo headphones can be that good for positional cues so I would like some confirmation.
What settings do people usually use with it? Try not to make it overly complicated with hardware speak as I am new to this, but should I use that dolby application I heard you can download? What about that free razer surround sound program making every stereo headphones surround sound, does that make it better? Should I have the 7.1 in the Asus Xonar DG turned on even though the AD700x is stereo. This also applies to the cloud headphones, would those programs help? So far, if I had the AD700x headphones right now all I would know to do would be to download the Razer free surround sound program, turn it on, go into my sound card settings, and turn on the surround sound there too in the hopes of having these two things give it more of a "positional" sound. I would also try different options in CS:GO as listed below. What more could I do? What shouldn't I do? Are my thoughts on the right path?
Furthermore on options, which ones should I use ingame in CS:GO. I am assuming for the HyperX cloud I should use the 5.1 and snd_legacy_1 setting since they are surround. But for the AD700x, should I use the headphones setting in CS:GO with snd_legacy set to 0 or should I still have the surround sound settings to make it give a more "positional" sound.
3. Obviously the Asus Xonar DG is better than any USB sound card in headsets. That being said, do I have to use the USB sound card in the Hyper X Cloud 2 to be able to use its 7.1 audio?
4. With my pretty small average 14 year old head, will the AD700x fall off my head? Will it be uncomfortable as some people have described?
5. Just how bad is the bass for the AD700x? Will it just make listening to anything terrible and artificial, or are the people saying it is bad meaning it as a small problem to an otherwise amazing pair of headphones that they must mention because everything else is great?
6. The circle of hearing in CS:GO is big, I mean like, if there is no sound around you, people such as Warowl (who uses Sennheiser HD598s, stereo headphones) can hear almost half way across the map. Keep in mind that I also want to be able to hear far away from me to gain info on where they are going, not just when they are around a corner. I am sure both of these headphones can hear people who are behind you around a corner about to shoot you. But these are not too different in price ($30 if I include the need to get a zalman clip on microphone for the AD700x), so which one would give me the best hearing I can possibly get? This is really like an indepth version of question #1, asking if these would both give me, the maximum potential sound I can get. If it damn near unnoticeable, then it doesn't REALLY matter, but mention it anyway.
7. Answering the questions above and taking them into consideration, which one is better for primarily CS:GO, but also things like netflix and youtube in your own opinion?
Thank you for reading and as the answers come in, I may ask some other questions. I really appreciate all the help I get! I am always open to new suggestions. Like I said, a lot of pros use the steelseries siberia v2 and I have also heard alot about logitech headsets such as the g35. If you can recommend a different headset such as those and give me good reasons as why it is as solid a choice as the 2 this thread is mainly about, I am completely open-minded! I have also heard amazing things about the plantronics 780s, but don't know anything about them as they have completely skipped my research, so if anybody knows something about them, from what I've heard about its awards and great sound, it might be a viable option if I hear more about it. Overall just thank you to everyone and try to help me out
The title says it all. This is my third question on Tom's hardware and all of them have been in regards to the same thing. My first one, nearly half a year ago was me finally showcasing my new gaming computer build. That was when I fell in love with Tom's Hardware and its amazing community, as my build was revolutionized by the great help I got.
The next post is closer to this one, and it was only a few weeks ago, what headphones to get. That post is since then dead, and I have narrowed my choices to two pairs of headphones/headsets for positional cues in CS:GO. I also have some follow-up questions I didn't ask in my last post. Any other headphone recommendations are accepted, but try to answer the questions I put at the bottom with regards to them and give me reasons why they are viable as an option compared to these two.
First I will describe my current stance and thoughts on these two headphones, and then ask my questions and your opinions on which of these is better. As always thank you to everyone who comments on this or even reads it attempting to help. Try to answer questions in numbered format but also put all of your own thoughts as I am starving for information. I wanna make an informed decision. Thank you!
MY STANCE
First, the HyperX Cloud 2 headset. I have heard great things about these but my question is will the surround sound help me in game to get positional cues. I want to get the maximum I can get out of CS:GO, and since I have heard about the terrible sound quality of CS:GO I was wondering whether these would be just as good as their audio technica opponent? I am sure that these are more comfortable, and though look is a minor factor, these look far better than the AD700x and it's nice to see something pleasant next to your computer. You see pros in CS:GO always using headsets such as the steelseries siberia v2 and kraken pros and these are not even usually as good as the Hyper X Cloud 2. Is it even worth it to spend the extra buck for the AD700x in a game like CS:GO? Not to mention the clouds are better for music and movies. So, if the sound is the same, then these are the choice.
Next, the audio technica AD700x headphones, these are renowned as the best for sound cues but apparently their base is non-existent. Now, some of my concerns. I am only 14 years old, and as a result, have a fairly small head, I have heard some complaints about small heads not fitting on these. Also, I am not an audiophile, and CS:GO is my heart and soul, but how bad exactly is the music and movie quality sound. I understand that the bass is not as good as other headphones, but is it absolutely terrible? If it is that will influence my decision as my computer is used for netflix and youtube a fair bit. I will be using an Asus Xonar DG and a Zalman clip on mic with this.
QUESTIONS
1. IN CS:GO, I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH THIS QUESTION ONLY APPLIES TO CS:GO, will there be any difference in hearing the positional cues between these 2 headphones? As the sound stage in CS is considered absolutely terrible and extremely limited, is it possible that the Hyper X Cloud 2 will be the same?
2. When people describe the AD700x as absolutely amazing for gaming, is this just using it as the default stereo headset with no modifications or anything? I know people say that 7.1 is a gimmick (I'd also like your thoughts on that) but if I opened these the day I got them, plugged them in and turned on CS:GO, would that be the same sound most people describe as "legendary" for positional cues in CS:GO. It is still hard for me to believe how stereo headphones can be that good for positional cues so I would like some confirmation.
What settings do people usually use with it? Try not to make it overly complicated with hardware speak as I am new to this, but should I use that dolby application I heard you can download? What about that free razer surround sound program making every stereo headphones surround sound, does that make it better? Should I have the 7.1 in the Asus Xonar DG turned on even though the AD700x is stereo. This also applies to the cloud headphones, would those programs help? So far, if I had the AD700x headphones right now all I would know to do would be to download the Razer free surround sound program, turn it on, go into my sound card settings, and turn on the surround sound there too in the hopes of having these two things give it more of a "positional" sound. I would also try different options in CS:GO as listed below. What more could I do? What shouldn't I do? Are my thoughts on the right path?
Furthermore on options, which ones should I use ingame in CS:GO. I am assuming for the HyperX cloud I should use the 5.1 and snd_legacy_1 setting since they are surround. But for the AD700x, should I use the headphones setting in CS:GO with snd_legacy set to 0 or should I still have the surround sound settings to make it give a more "positional" sound.
3. Obviously the Asus Xonar DG is better than any USB sound card in headsets. That being said, do I have to use the USB sound card in the Hyper X Cloud 2 to be able to use its 7.1 audio?
4. With my pretty small average 14 year old head, will the AD700x fall off my head? Will it be uncomfortable as some people have described?
5. Just how bad is the bass for the AD700x? Will it just make listening to anything terrible and artificial, or are the people saying it is bad meaning it as a small problem to an otherwise amazing pair of headphones that they must mention because everything else is great?
6. The circle of hearing in CS:GO is big, I mean like, if there is no sound around you, people such as Warowl (who uses Sennheiser HD598s, stereo headphones) can hear almost half way across the map. Keep in mind that I also want to be able to hear far away from me to gain info on where they are going, not just when they are around a corner. I am sure both of these headphones can hear people who are behind you around a corner about to shoot you. But these are not too different in price ($30 if I include the need to get a zalman clip on microphone for the AD700x), so which one would give me the best hearing I can possibly get? This is really like an indepth version of question #1, asking if these would both give me, the maximum potential sound I can get. If it damn near unnoticeable, then it doesn't REALLY matter, but mention it anyway.
7. Answering the questions above and taking them into consideration, which one is better for primarily CS:GO, but also things like netflix and youtube in your own opinion?
Thank you for reading and as the answers come in, I may ask some other questions. I really appreciate all the help I get! I am always open to new suggestions. Like I said, a lot of pros use the steelseries siberia v2 and I have also heard alot about logitech headsets such as the g35. If you can recommend a different headset such as those and give me good reasons as why it is as solid a choice as the 2 this thread is mainly about, I am completely open-minded! I have also heard amazing things about the plantronics 780s, but don't know anything about them as they have completely skipped my research, so if anybody knows something about them, from what I've heard about its awards and great sound, it might be a viable option if I hear more about it. Overall just thank you to everyone and try to help me out
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