Soundcard or headset?

[Toronto122]

Assuming you had $200 to spend on audio.

Here's the dilemma: I have a set of Icemat Siberia's. They sound pretty good. I'm using on board sound right now.

Would you spend $200 on a new sound card or $200 on a new headset? Which would give you the greatest improvement?

[biff]

I don't know what those headphones sound like but if your onboard sound is anything like what i've seen the a killer set would just let you hear the noise and other crap more clearly. Garbage in - garbage out. even if your phones aren't top notch at least they would have a decent signal to work from given a better sound card.

[Toronto122]

Well, "Biff" if that really is your name ;) the headphones sound pretty good, NOT spectacular by any means...

So you'd say the first thing to get would be a sound card right? Then save my pennies for a better set of cans.

So I'm going to try to find an Omega Claro or and Auzentech Prelude...I'm hoping that MAYBE someone wants to part with one.... wink wink hint hint...anyone?

[biff]

My name is Ryan.

What I'm saying is that if the onboard sound isn't good then a good set of head phones aren't going to improve the situation. The onboard sound I've came across, not considering flat frequency response or distortion or what ever, has been littered with noise, hiss, and the odd squeeks and pops of the electrical noise going on inside a computer. If yours isn't like that then bonus for you, go for new cans, if not then a new exspensive set of phones will let you hear all of that garbage more easily. I don't know what your equipment sounds like to you or where your priorities lie so you need to answer that. Not trying to sound like a jerk, I'm just sayin'....

[enaberif]

Any dedicated soundcard will make headphones or speakers if they are of decent quality sound 100x better than onboard.

[YukonTrooper]

Dedicated (hardware processing) sound-card and a quality pair of stereo headphones.

[Jake_HT]

SOUND CARD hands down man... I'm using $20 headphones, and they sound like they're worth a lot more than that thanks to the sound card. Trust me on that... even if you don't have very nice headphones, they will sound way better than you ever thought they could. Prelude is a very nice card, look into auzentech forte also.

[MpG]

If I had to choose one or the other, I'd be looking at a sound card. Not only does it clean up your source signal, sometimes it will give you the means to brute force your way through the headphone's shortcomings. It gives you more options in the future, such as feeding the (better) signal into a sound system or similar. And personally, I can vouch that my old $19.99 cans definitely took on new life after I invested in a Prelude.

But a little of both might have some merit too - for all the virtues of the $100+ headphones, you can get some surprisingly solid stuff for $50 or less, and spend the rest on a decent sound card and possibly come away even better.

[llama_egg]

Soundcard without a doubt. In my honest opinion, dish out $100-150 for a nice soundcard, save for a month, then grab yourself some nice stereo headphones for around the same price, you'll be glad you did!

[Toronto122]

Originally Posted by biff

My name is Ryan.

What I'm saying is that if the onboard sound isn't good then a good set of head phones aren't going to improve the situation. The onboard sound I've came across, not considering flat frequency response or distortion or what ever, has been littered with noise, hiss, and the odd squeeks and pops of the electrical noise going on inside a computer. If yours isn't like that then bonus for you, go for new cans, if not then a new exspensive set of phones will let you hear all of that garbage more easily. I don't know what your equipment sounds like to you or where your priorities lie so you need to answer that. Not trying to sound like a jerk, I'm just sayin'....

Trust me Ryan, you don't come across like a jerk. Thanks for the advice. I've located an Auzentech Prelude on RFD and I offered the guy $130...if it sticks I think I've got a hell of a sound card for the money.

IF the improvement isn't what I'm looking for, then I'll start auditioning new cans...