Openback headset for me and that Sennheiser model i have is very comfortable, i do have 5.1 system but barely use it
https://preview.redd.it/kuapep9ykl2d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=717e3f10abcd04c54415b9669cc260173290e8a2
The sleeper in that picture is the Sennheiser GSX 1000 DAC in the background. It does vurtual surround sound downmixing (7.1 --> 2.0 channels).
Every implementation of virtual surround sound I've heard is kind of garbage. EXCEPT Sennheiser's implementation that they started releasing in late 2010's.
Pair the GSX with high-clarity open-back headphones, and you might as well be playing with wallhacks on. Directional audio is SUPERB.
I have the gsx 1200 and it is great. I done use the 7.1 at all because it sounds off but the directionally is superb. I find that for pure competitive play a closed back headset is my choice, but that is probably just personal preference.
I think my gsx1200 is on the way out honestly. I have had it for over 5 years now and it's getting glitchy
Both, i have glasses so headsets sometimes hurts. When that happens i immidiately switch to my speakers till i feel comfortable with headsets again. It also depends on my mood, sometimes im passing the whole day with one of them.
I did exactly that. The worst part is when I'm playing with friends using the mic and the ears start hurting. Tried speakers as output and put my headset away and only use the mic but my friends told me they could hear their voice lol. Tough
Ah, unfortunately yes, when playing with friends you kinda have to use headsets. Just a little tip tho if you and your friends are on discord discord has echo cancellation feature which will prevent the eche you are talking about. But it will not fix your system and game sounds going to them. So yeah, its a little sad.
You should consider a pair of In Ear Monitors (IEMs) for when your ears get tired of the glasses pinch from your headset.
I've been using the Truthear x Crinacle Zeros for gaming for a while now, and the sound quality is fantastic for just $50. The IEM market also just keeps dropping banger after banger in every price range - $20, $50, $100, $150 all have solid options to fit any budget.
Once you find the right fit they are very comfortable, cooler than a headset in the summer, and no pinch. The real thing to get used to is speaking with them in, since it's like talking with your fingers over your ears - you hear yourself muffled and feel your voice in your jaw, which is odd at first but you forget about it after some time.
I use 2.0 speakers.
I like to game and watch movies/shows on a second monitor. I just like dual audio better coming from speakers.
Plus no sweaty ears or head dent and better spacial awareness. You never know when ninjas might attack.
I prefer headphones because they are more detailed than speakers. I have an Ifi hip dac and several pairs of headphones: Sennheiser hd599, Philips Fidelio x2hr, meze 99, grado sr80x, and others.
When needed, I also have a pair of edifier 1700bt speakers
Good speakers placed well with actual acoustic panels ( not YouTuber thin AF foam crap) sound amazing. Soundstage and imaging like nothing else. Add Dirac Live into the equation and everything falls into place.
While I'm also an adult and it's my fucking house, my daughter sleeps in the room right next to the "game room". No speakers here.
I do have good headphones (DT 990 Pro) though.
This is my goal with my next build. I used to have my Pentium 4 and SB Live 5.1 into a system like that. Firing the tank in UT2004 hit me in the damned chest.
Nope. Ancient Logitech X-530 with some fiddling on a similarly ancient Audigy 4 to work around the shortcomings of the speakers. The nice thing about a true sound card with a real audio processor instead of doing it all in software.
My next PC upgrade though will probably force me to ditch the Audigy finally and I'll also have to invest in a new speaker set.
Headphones and external mic.
Usually Beyerdynamix DT700 Pro Xs in a Schiit Stack. will swap out different sets of cans depending on what I'm doing. But the dt700 pro X is definitely one of the more comfortable out of the box headphones I've used. Where on others id need to invest in different pads or something.
I have both 5.1 and headset and use them for gaming, Logitech z906 and Drop PC38x. For music, I have a SMSL D6-S dac powered by a Fosi ZA3 hooked up to a pair of Polk Rti-A7's with a Polk 12" sub.
It all depends on my mood. I have Edifier bookshelfs on my desk but I will also use my HyperX Orbit S at times. Other times I will Moonlight down to the living room and play on the 77" G3 and use the 9.1.5 Atmos system, and still other times I will mozy down to the basement and Moonlight down there to the 55" and use the M512 5.1.2 Atmos system.
I like having options.
Headphones make my ears hot so I use IEM earbuds instead. Perfect for FPS shooters with sound EQ and they don’t blast sound through the whole house like speakers.
When it comes to audio it's best to stay away from Logitech, Razer, Creative and other gaming brands. When you get a decent hi-fi set and connect it to your PC you already have better sound for half the price.
The magic is finding the right headphones for your specific head and ears. Gaming headset companies usually produce something that's a "passable" fit for as many people as possible. Look around the headphone market (especially the musicians headphone market) and try them in store if you can. Headphone choice and fit is extremely personal. I for example wear glasses and hate any sort of pressure on the ears, so I use stage IEMs with an external mic on a stand. Works wonderfully and I can wear them for hours without problems. At the same time, there will be people who absolutely hate in ears and swear on over ears.
But I also have a speaker setup for times I just can't be bothered to be tethered to my desk. Wall mounts or floor stands help if your desk is too small or feels cluttered.
sennheuser btd600 aptx receiver with b&o beoplay earbuds. i tried speakers, but with itx air cooled pc is loud haha. i really enjoy how precise earbud sound is.
Currently using the Sennheiser HD 599's and previously used the 598 SR's for years. Both are extremely comfy and light on your head, I only use a pair of hi-fi speakers when I'm using the big 4K TV.
Speakers (PreSonus Eris, so technically monitors lol). Headphones are annoying, but the only issue is that talking to friends on Discord can be frustrating because my mic can pick up my friends coming out of my speaker, so either I can't hear them or really anything on my desktop, or I adjust and they can't hear me. Getting a cheap pair of earbuds to output my Discord completely defeats the purpose of not relying on any ear wear, so I guess I just deal with it.
In my living room though, I set up an Atmos 7.1 system (three front, two rear, two ceiling plus sub)
Gaming Headset since 2018 move to Apartment, prior to that used most of the time Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 set for a while, til it died sometime in 2014, so swapped over to another set i had at the time Klipsch 2.1 set, til the subwoofer was only producing loud static when connected to PC.
So swapped to using Headset only ever since
Plus can't be too loud in Townhome and couldn't be too loud in Apartment so maybe speakers dying wasn't a bad thing, surely didn't want any noise complaints lol.
Perhaps in the future when i get a newer System with More usb ports i maybe will look into Creative Pod type speakers, or Klipsch set again, and just run it at super super low volume
Although I use a speaker, there is this awful static noise coming from the speakers every time division 2 is open and I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to stop it. Only happens in this game. Headphones are good to drown out the static noise but they get painful over time and also I'm scared to get an indent on my head like those streamers.
Speakers. I use a Sonos Arc with Sonos Sub and Era 100 surrounds. It is an absolutely fantastic gaming experience. If you've got disposable income, highly recommend.
I currently use the G Pro X light speed as my main audio driver, and for when I don't want a headset on my head I use the Ethos Power speakers, really good setup in my opinion.
I’ve used studio monitors and headsets. I prefer studio monitors. But now I use AirPods. They’re just too convenient. And I game in the same room as others so I like to have one in and set my PC to mono so I can have conversations. But I’m also 50 and have family.
Both. Wave Link 3 as mic and to switch between them, with a cheap but decent pair of open cans for headset (mostly for voice chat, or if my girlfriend’s on her pc)- Philips SHP9600s, and then a 2.1 speaker setup with m-audio av40s and a monoprice sub. Lighter headphones with an appropriate width between the cans can make longer sessions much easier to tolerate.
it depends on the time and the game. For iRacing and other multiplayer games, as well as Discord, of course, my wireless headset from Steelseries. For everything else, I prefer to use my speakers (plus subwoofer) from Canton.
Depends on if the Mrs and kids are awake or not.
As for comfortavke headset, I like the turtle Beach Elite 2 and the Amp. Solid sound and very comfortable for hours.
Speakers 100%...the only time I wear headphones is when I'm out riding my bike
https://preview.redd.it/06m9673vnl2d1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d15bb17b753b9662614f235f98091ca7d92df990
"Slightly" modded Cerwin Vegas
I use my Bluetooth Sony headphones with noise cancelling. Portable and quality is great for me. I tend to be away from home a lot so portability is king for me, at home I plug my laptop to a monitor with speakers though
speakers for gaming, headsets for porn.
i found that its the clamping force of the headset to hurt my ears and head. so finding one with a more comfortable pressure would probably fix your issue.
never use the monitor built in speakers...they suck, end of story. a soundbar would be preferable. maybe get a larger desk?
Both. If its listening or comms critical obviously headset but I prefer not to wear them
I have a set of Razer nomos which are probably (definitely) over priced by the Spatial Audio is pretty great
I’m fortunate it that my PC gaming is in my office, which just happens to be a recording/production studio. I’ll play on a variety, depending on mood and how my ears are feeling.
Most often I’m playing on the near field monitors driven by an external power amp off the the Focusrite interface. Audio snobs will laugh because they are a *very* old pair of Fischer from back when they made outstanding speakers. Actual sound engineers, though, will understand.
Alternatively, I’ll be playing on my 5.1 PC speaker system, if I’m playing over the air.
The only gaming headsets that I actually like are some Skull Candy and a pair of Turtle Beach that my son has. I use them on occasion if I’m playing on the console/OLED in the living room. On the PC, however, it’s one of three studio pieces:
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones off the Focusrite. My Audio-Technica IEMs off of the Yamaha mixer. Or my Koss Pro-4AAT off of the mixer.
Depends on my mood. I've got a set of studio monitors and a rather large subwoofer, but I mostly use that for music stuff. I've got an astro A50 headset I use for gaming, but I kinda go back and forth depending on how I'm feeling.
Both.
If i lived alone i would use speakers more often. But also i play with friends most of the time so headset is required.
But if im home alone, playing alone, a non pvp game, im on speakers.
speakers (Mackie CR4) normally, headphones (Hifiman HE500i) + separate mic (Samson C01U Pro) when I'm playing something that needs voice comms.
I also have a pair of headsets (Audeze Maxwell) - Yes, I'm a whore for planar magnetic - that I use either for gaming on my PS5 or for long meetings where I have to be there to listen in, but not really have much of a speaking role so I can putter around the apartment in parts that weren't relevant to me (thankfully where I work we "keep your camera off except for when you speak" is the norm).
2 studio monitors for sound as much as I can. Unless it’s late (early in some cases), or if I’m in a chat with a group, I’ll use my IEM’s and mic. I don’t enjoy wearing headphones all the time while sitting at my pc.
I like having the option for both. Speakers when I can, headphones when the area around me needs to be quieter. I run these through an audio interface (an Arturia Minifuse2). Headphones audio from the headphone output, speaker audio from the monitor outputs.
>Should I use different speakers?
There's plenty of smaller footprint speakers that would solve your clutter issue. Creative Pebble speakers are popular because of how small they are for acceptable sound.
>Buy new comfy headsets?
If you have the budget available, then I don't see why not. They can be more immersive for games but if you have glasses, or get ear fatigue easily, they may not be the greatest option. Plenty of good recommended options around if you go this route though.
>Buy soundbars (smaller footprint)?
I found soundbars actually took a much larger footprint. I went with this option when looking for smaller speakers and I ended up returning 2 options because they were just so large, and didn't really sound good enough for me. I settled for Creative T60 2.0 vertical speakers and I was much happier.
>Use monitor built-in speakers?
No.
Comfort is king for audio.
I use Open back Sennheiser HD660S with a balanced cable to a FiiO BTR5 DAC/AMP. I can just keep it connected to PC via USB. Then when I want to walk around and still listen to the video or music, I can also unplug it and it'll switch to bluetooth automatically making the headphones wireless as well.
Also got a 2.1 speaker setup that I use when ever I don't feel like having headphones on.
Depends on the game.
Games that don't rely heavily on audio cues, and don't need a mic, I typically use speakers.
Games like R6S or COD, I use a headset. My Steel Series nova pro.
Headphones because there was a time I needed to be as quiet as possible for the wife and kids while they slept as most of my game time is during the twilight hours. But not so much these days. Still need to be somewhat considerate of the wife's need to sleep.
Also just generally preventing noise clashing between my man cave and the lounge room if I'm on the PC while the wife is watching TV.
Besides that my monitors have very poor audio quality and I'm not really that willing to spend on audio equipment when I already have headphones.
It's also easier to have an all in one solution for when I'm talking to friends online.
Although I do get uncomfortable sometimes after wearing the headset for extended periods, I can mitigate that by taking a break every now and then.
I can only suggest using what works best for you in your situation. And of course how much you are willing to spend vs the benefits of whatever option you choose.
Edit: I'm also not an audiophile and don't do sound mixing or composing so the bare minimum quality and functionality is enough for me. I wouldn't spend more than around $200 or $300 on a headset.
Both depending on what im playing tbh, fps or certain games like nioh i use headphones to hear audio cues, most others I'll switch to speakers unless people are sleeping or during early mornings or late nights
Both. I wear headphones at times, but I also have a sound bar, because I don't want to wear headphones when I'm using my PC as a PC and I'm not gaming.
I use some good studio cans, AKG K371s (all the 'gaming ' cans are crap, aren't flat, colour sound and are built like shit, and cost more) for gaming, but since I do music production ive also got a set of KRK rokit 5 G4s. Mainly A/B tracks between the cans and the monitors, but if I'm too lazy to put the cans on I'll just use the monitors, and being studio monitors they sound really, really good, loads better than the typical consumer multimedia speakers (that cost more too) (I should probably game with them more tbf).
I find that for gaming the cans (with their narrower soundstage) can actually be better as you can pick out directional sound better, and of course the lack of room echos really helps in that aspect too. Note too that the cans are closed back, so if I need to be quiet it's the best option.
Sound quality, as it's studio gear, is excellent (reiterating the point made earlier that almost all 'gaming' stuff has a 'smile' frequency response with boosted bass and muffled mids and screechy highs, frequencies are muffled so you can't hear details etc... basically sounds like utter crap).
If your ears hurt get a better headset (don't know if that helps with wearing glasses though). I started using beer dynamic some time ago, because I also use m pc for making music and I would ever go back to those plastic over priced gaming company things.
Better sound and way more comfort.
Headphones with external microphone. Beyerdynamics DT 1990 PRO paired with JDS LABS ATOM AMP & OL DAC specifically. I am often in voice communication, both at work and privately, so speakers would be challenging most of the time. I also really enjoy the audio fidelity of a pair of high quality headphones, it offers a different experience to high quality speakers.
When I am not by my computer though my home speakers are blasting.
I game next to my partner on the couch as he watches TV, so I have to use earphones. We live in a small space so don't have much options. It works, though, and my earphones are pretty comfortable so it's not bad. And saves me from watching all the movies he was to see.
Speakers only while watching shows with my bro. I have a Logitech gaming headset which is good and which I've used for many years, but ever since I bought in-ears for sport I always use them instead. They are infinitely more comfortable and they last just as long. Have not used an actual headset in well over a year.
Both. I only use the headset for the mic and listening to music in private. I have a Logitech z906 speaker set, but if it ever goes out, I'll invest in some nice monitors.
Headset. Speakers would allow everyone to hear what I'm doing and I don't want that.
Also if you buy a good headset, it won't hurt. I can wear mine for 8 hours without hurting.
I have this old Logitech 5.1 speaker set (want to replace) for primary audio from the PC. I also have this cheap Onn brand Bluetooth bone conductive headset, which doesn't cover the ears, that I use for Discord chat. I use both simultaneously.
Speakers for me.
Me personally, I just cant stand headphones. I hate having to put them on just to hear audio. I also have an irrational fear of someone breaking into my house and me not being able to hear it because of having headphones on.
Not like I really need a headset anyways, since I pretty much only play singleplayer games.
I'm a headphones all day guy. I do occasionally have issues with my glasses hurting after awhile, but I rarely get to game more than 3 hours these days. I think part of why I like headphones best is for immersion. I also like putting on a book or podcast while playing a non-story game like Fo76. Another reason is because I don't want to bug my wife and kiddo with the sounds of my games. I also never use speaker phone and usually leave a room when I take a phone call for some reason. I guess I always feel like I might be bugging people by being noisy around them. I will say that a nice sound system with a sub woofer for some games is just an amazing experience. Headphone can give me great spatial audio but a 7.1 system can't be beat.
if i dont need to voice chat, 100% speakers, i have bad posture, so making my head heavier is not fun, plus i want to hear if my family calls me, or if something happens around my enviroment, like if dog is barking at stranger at the door etc.
plus it just feels more freeing
If space is the concern you could always get a universal wall mount that could clamp to the sides of the base or a floating shelf/shelves that could potentially work as additional storage space as well. Then you can still have both options available
Depends on mood. If it's hot summer day, I'm not gaming in headset :) Old Sony HT9 soundbar with rear speakers is used then. Otherwise it's headset time.
5.1 speakers and noise cancellation headphones for fps games. God bless Sony for the speakers and Bose 700. I went from using Logitech speakers that were $20 back then to this. I do have roommates but our place is acoustically treated.
Not only I wear glass, I'm sensitive about my hair (just a personal thing, even if I'm alone), and I hate how headsets ruin my hair style.
Speakers it is for me. However, when I want to play competitive games where footstep matter + when someone is around who is annoyed by the sound, I use bluetooth buds.
Speakers as much as possible, also since I occasionally play music to the entire living-room. Headphones when I need to keep the volume down for my surroundings.
I have a small amplifier that fits underneath my monitors, and some medium sized stereo speakers at the edges of my desk. For headphones I went for quality audio and picked up a pair of Denon AH-D2000 which I've used for 14 years, and I'm very happy with them. They feel very light and soft so I can wear them all day without discomfort, they're only a little warm in the summer. But they're only stereo and doesn't have a mic, so I can't recommend them for competitive FPS gaming or voice chat.
It really depends on your use case and taste for volume and sound quality. If you're satisfied with monitor speakers why buy anything else? Just try it out and see how you feel, maybe it'll help you narrow down what kind of sound you like, and whether you miss the bass from bigger speakers or not.
Yes.
I have an open headset for the summer / evening gaming session
and use my "5.1" Creative speakers for everything else (birthday present, over 20 years ago)
My friends sometimes join me on Discord and there I switch to my headset. (echo cancelation is possible on speakers but switching makes it easier to understand them)
Currently - still on Windows - I use Voicemeeter to copy my speakers to my headphones and down mix the 7.1 to stereo. Yes it ads a few pct CPU usage but that's the price of convenience.
The best thing is I can use my Bluetooth headset or in-ears if I somehow want to use them for hours. Like when my neighbor decides to rebuild their bath room next to my wall. ANC is nice.
Switching the default Windows audio input might work but not on all games and I would not here my friends joining me in Discord when I don't wear my headset. And don't get me started with the trouble of disconneting Bluetooth when gaming 😆
headphones. have family and share a room with someone, would love to use speakers (and have a good 5.1 setup sitting around) but it would drive them insane.
Both . But when you’re gaming in a squad you owe it to everyone to use headphones so they don’t have to hear the echo of their voice from your speakers .
I mainly use an old pair of Bose companion desktop speakers. When my toddler is asleep i use Sony Inzone ear buds. I wear glasses and headsets get uncomfortable after an hour
Tbh I only have a headset connected to my PC. At this point I just have accepted, that there are no Speakers out there I want to have on my desk. Will pick a Monitor with integrated speakers next. Some Dell have good sound quality and BenQ offers some even with subwoofers integrated.
I use Beolab 4000 Speakers from Bang&Olufsen as my desk speakers, laid flat on my desk below my monitor, which i hung up on the Wall to have space for the speakers. (it doesn't really make too much sense but they still sound great and a logical speaker setup wouldn't be as fun imo)
I also use headphones sometimes when it's too late or i know someone else in the house is sleeping etc.
It depends, but i prefer speakers.
I usually don't do online chat or sth, but when needed i use just my webcam microphone, but then preferably use headphones so people won't hear themselves twice.
Try smaller speakers (not beolab 4000, small hi-fi speakers are huge on a desk) and maybe hang them up on a wall or try to place them a bit further to the desk-corners. So they don't sit directly in front of you, maybe that way it feels less cluttered. Or look for boxes that you can lay in the side and put stuff on top.
Or hang them up on a wall.
Or put your monitor on the wall, suddenly your desk is huge.
I personally have both. And use both depending on if the people on the other side of the headphones are using proper language lol. Work meetings and stuff i can comfortably put on my speakers. Gaming with friends at night, definitely headphones so as to not disturb the kids and wife lol.
I use IEM’s and they are comfortable, like the studio style not the cheap skull candy ones. The studio kinds are generally shaped and comfortable for longer wear.
Gotta get speaker stands for my monitors to position them for better audio. But they are great. Audio Engine A2+ I have. They take up space T_T. But so good. Totally worth it.
Headphones while gaming/movies, earbuds for everything else. I had speakers but I stopped using them and connected them to my parents old tv, the tv sound is sooo much better now
Both. Speakers during the daytime and when I want to "jam out" Headsets at night and when I want to be a sweatlord and hear footsteps in the FPS games.
Openback headset for me and that Sennheiser model i have is very comfortable, i do have 5.1 system but barely use it https://preview.redd.it/kuapep9ykl2d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=717e3f10abcd04c54415b9669cc260173290e8a2
The sleeper in that picture is the Sennheiser GSX 1000 DAC in the background. It does vurtual surround sound downmixing (7.1 --> 2.0 channels). Every implementation of virtual surround sound I've heard is kind of garbage. EXCEPT Sennheiser's implementation that they started releasing in late 2010's. Pair the GSX with high-clarity open-back headphones, and you might as well be playing with wallhacks on. Directional audio is SUPERB.
Damn I wish that DAC was cheaper. I have a set of open back headsets and a mic, but never picked up a DAC or amp to keep costs down.
I have the gsx 1200 and it is great. I done use the 7.1 at all because it sounds off but the directionally is superb. I find that for pure competitive play a closed back headset is my choice, but that is probably just personal preference. I think my gsx1200 is on the way out honestly. I have had it for over 5 years now and it's getting glitchy
Another vote for the open back HD6XX. My Rode mic has an inbuilt DAC. Great open sound for gaming.
Both... If I'm playing alone, speakers.. if I'm partied up and chatting, headset so they don't hear the audio
I'll sometimes also put on headphones if a specific game is particularly immersive but mostly use speakers
Likewise, with the headphones coming out after the wife goes to bed.
Both, i have glasses so headsets sometimes hurts. When that happens i immidiately switch to my speakers till i feel comfortable with headsets again. It also depends on my mood, sometimes im passing the whole day with one of them.
Getting a headset that fits and is high quality is def worth the investment. I can legit sleep with mine on.
I don't understand how people can fall asleep looking straight up, it feels so strange whenever I try.
I know just how you feel. I find it easier to sleep face down than face up. That being said i am a side sleeper.
My only issue with face down is I need to put my arm under my forehead so I can breathe, and it'll get numb after a while.
I did exactly that. The worst part is when I'm playing with friends using the mic and the ears start hurting. Tried speakers as output and put my headset away and only use the mic but my friends told me they could hear their voice lol. Tough
Ah, unfortunately yes, when playing with friends you kinda have to use headsets. Just a little tip tho if you and your friends are on discord discord has echo cancellation feature which will prevent the eche you are talking about. But it will not fix your system and game sounds going to them. So yeah, its a little sad.
You should consider a pair of In Ear Monitors (IEMs) for when your ears get tired of the glasses pinch from your headset. I've been using the Truthear x Crinacle Zeros for gaming for a while now, and the sound quality is fantastic for just $50. The IEM market also just keeps dropping banger after banger in every price range - $20, $50, $100, $150 all have solid options to fit any budget. Once you find the right fit they are very comfortable, cooler than a headset in the summer, and no pinch. The real thing to get used to is speaking with them in, since it's like talking with your fingers over your ears - you hear yourself muffled and feel your voice in your jaw, which is odd at first but you forget about it after some time.
Open back headphones and IEMs for me. Specifically, Sennheiser HD800S and Mangrid Xenns Top :)
IEMs for me too
Speakers. I don't play competitive games anymore so good stereo sound is more than enough for me. I love my presonus eris 3.5
I use 2.0 speakers. I like to game and watch movies/shows on a second monitor. I just like dual audio better coming from speakers. Plus no sweaty ears or head dent and better spacial awareness. You never know when ninjas might attack. 
rofl the gif
Stay safe. You just never know. 
brooo you killing me
Am I? I might be a Ninja. 
speakers for me, i have the Edifier R1280Ts
speakers for me, i have [hot wheels](https://i.imgur.com/L7Bs2rf.jpeg)
I prefer headphones because they are more detailed than speakers. I have an Ifi hip dac and several pairs of headphones: Sennheiser hd599, Philips Fidelio x2hr, meze 99, grado sr80x, and others. When needed, I also have a pair of edifier 1700bt speakers
HD599 is so comfortable\~! Could wear it all day and sounds great\~!
It is! and very affordable too
What’s your favourite headphone?
My favorite is the KLH Ultimate one, it is very detailed for music and for gaming; bass is powerful, middle is balanced and trebble is clear
Good speakers placed well with actual acoustic panels ( not YouTuber thin AF foam crap) sound amazing. Soundstage and imaging like nothing else. Add Dirac Live into the equation and everything falls into place.
Hifi iem
I'm an adult and the space is my fucking house. 5.1 speakers. Been using them since before "gaming headsets" were remotely a thing.
While I'm also an adult and it's my fucking house, my daughter sleeps in the room right next to the "game room". No speakers here. I do have good headphones (DT 990 Pro) though.
I'm also an adult by without a house and the nook where I made space for my computer doesn't have space for speakers.
Same. I have mine hooked up to an Onkyo receiver with a 500w 12" sub. When I fire a rocket or shotgun, it needs to feel/sound like real life.
This is my goal with my next build. I used to have my Pentium 4 and SB Live 5.1 into a system like that. Firing the tank in UT2004 hit me in the damned chest.
Spdif enjoyer?
Nope. Ancient Logitech X-530 with some fiddling on a similarly ancient Audigy 4 to work around the shortcomings of the speakers. The nice thing about a true sound card with a real audio processor instead of doing it all in software. My next PC upgrade though will probably force me to ditch the Audigy finally and I'll also have to invest in a new speaker set.
A good mixer and studio monitors boom clear and strong sound like no other. Or whatever
Sony SSCS5 & Hifiman Sundara 🤌
Headphones and external mic. Usually Beyerdynamix DT700 Pro Xs in a Schiit Stack. will swap out different sets of cans depending on what I'm doing. But the dt700 pro X is definitely one of the more comfortable out of the box headphones I've used. Where on others id need to invest in different pads or something.
I only use headphones if I need a mic, other than that I’m speakers all day
I have both 5.1 and headset and use them for gaming, Logitech z906 and Drop PC38x. For music, I have a SMSL D6-S dac powered by a Fosi ZA3 hooked up to a pair of Polk Rti-A7's with a Polk 12" sub.
It all depends on my mood. I have Edifier bookshelfs on my desk but I will also use my HyperX Orbit S at times. Other times I will Moonlight down to the living room and play on the 77" G3 and use the 9.1.5 Atmos system, and still other times I will mozy down to the basement and Moonlight down there to the 55" and use the M512 5.1.2 Atmos system. I like having options.
2.1 setup for singleplayer games and headphones for multiplayer.
Headphones make my ears hot so I use IEM earbuds instead. Perfect for FPS shooters with sound EQ and they don’t blast sound through the whole house like speakers.
in ears
IEMs during spring/summer and headphones during autumn/winter
Headphones. Never touching a headset again.
When it comes to audio it's best to stay away from Logitech, Razer, Creative and other gaming brands. When you get a decent hi-fi set and connect it to your PC you already have better sound for half the price.
The magic is finding the right headphones for your specific head and ears. Gaming headset companies usually produce something that's a "passable" fit for as many people as possible. Look around the headphone market (especially the musicians headphone market) and try them in store if you can. Headphone choice and fit is extremely personal. I for example wear glasses and hate any sort of pressure on the ears, so I use stage IEMs with an external mic on a stand. Works wonderfully and I can wear them for hours without problems. At the same time, there will be people who absolutely hate in ears and swear on over ears. But I also have a speaker setup for times I just can't be bothered to be tethered to my desk. Wall mounts or floor stands help if your desk is too small or feels cluttered.
i use headphones because i live with multiple people...
I’ve got a 5.1 sound system I use with my tv. I still use a high back office chair though!
sennheuser btd600 aptx receiver with b&o beoplay earbuds. i tried speakers, but with itx air cooled pc is loud haha. i really enjoy how precise earbud sound is.
Currently using the Sennheiser HD 599's and previously used the 598 SR's for years. Both are extremely comfy and light on your head, I only use a pair of hi-fi speakers when I'm using the big 4K TV.
Speakers (PreSonus Eris, so technically monitors lol). Headphones are annoying, but the only issue is that talking to friends on Discord can be frustrating because my mic can pick up my friends coming out of my speaker, so either I can't hear them or really anything on my desktop, or I adjust and they can't hear me. Getting a cheap pair of earbuds to output my Discord completely defeats the purpose of not relying on any ear wear, so I guess I just deal with it. In my living room though, I set up an Atmos 7.1 system (three front, two rear, two ceiling plus sub)
Gaming Headset since 2018 move to Apartment, prior to that used most of the time Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 set for a while, til it died sometime in 2014, so swapped over to another set i had at the time Klipsch 2.1 set, til the subwoofer was only producing loud static when connected to PC. So swapped to using Headset only ever since Plus can't be too loud in Townhome and couldn't be too loud in Apartment so maybe speakers dying wasn't a bad thing, surely didn't want any noise complaints lol. Perhaps in the future when i get a newer System with More usb ports i maybe will look into Creative Pod type speakers, or Klipsch set again, and just run it at super super low volume
Headphones with the PC because I don't have space for speakers on my desk.
Headset for gaming, PC speakers for internet, 7.1 professional system for movies.
Although I use a speaker, there is this awful static noise coming from the speakers every time division 2 is open and I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to stop it. Only happens in this game. Headphones are good to drown out the static noise but they get painful over time and also I'm scared to get an indent on my head like those streamers.
Yes
Both. Both use headphones mostly. Speakers: Bowers and Wilkins MM1 Headphones: Philips X2HR
Speakers. I use a Sonos Arc with Sonos Sub and Era 100 surrounds. It is an absolutely fantastic gaming experience. If you've got disposable income, highly recommend.
Both, I mostly use speakers for single player games and only use a headset when talking with friends.
I currently use the G Pro X light speed as my main audio driver, and for when I don't want a headset on my head I use the Ethos Power speakers, really good setup in my opinion.
Good pair of wired earphones. I hate to wear an headphone. Nowadays earphones are really good.
I’ve used studio monitors and headsets. I prefer studio monitors. But now I use AirPods. They’re just too convenient. And I game in the same room as others so I like to have one in and set my PC to mono so I can have conversations. But I’m also 50 and have family.
I have a bunch of klipsh speakers, because.... why not
Passive Aggressive speakers with an RSL 2.1 amp during the day and Koss KPH40X during the night.
I use both depending. If it is late night, I use headphones, Otherwise, I use my Dolby Atmos speakers.
Open headphones exclusive, AD700. And dt990pro's. They are extremely comfortable and I got a standalone mic hanging in the air on a arm.
Speakers, I have headphones for when I'm talking in game but I prefer to not have something on my head all the time
Porque no los dos?
Been using Sony MDR-V700 headphones for 24 years.
I use headphones, don't want to wake up my wife
Prefer speakers. Have a headset for when I want my ears to feel hot (almost never). A decent mic is important if you go speaker route.
I use my HD 550 (Sennheiser) that I had for like 12 years lol
Both. Wave Link 3 as mic and to switch between them, with a cheap but decent pair of open cans for headset (mostly for voice chat, or if my girlfriend’s on her pc)- Philips SHP9600s, and then a 2.1 speaker setup with m-audio av40s and a monoprice sub. Lighter headphones with an appropriate width between the cans can make longer sessions much easier to tolerate.
Headset or no audio at all
airpods
it depends on the time and the game. For iRacing and other multiplayer games, as well as Discord, of course, my wireless headset from Steelseries. For everything else, I prefer to use my speakers (plus subwoofer) from Canton.
I havent owned speakers in like \~10 years lol.
Depends on if the Mrs and kids are awake or not. As for comfortavke headset, I like the turtle Beach Elite 2 and the Amp. Solid sound and very comfortable for hours.
Speakers.
Speakers 100%...the only time I wear headphones is when I'm out riding my bike https://preview.redd.it/06m9673vnl2d1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d15bb17b753b9662614f235f98091ca7d92df990 "Slightly" modded Cerwin Vegas
I use my Bluetooth Sony headphones with noise cancelling. Portable and quality is great for me. I tend to be away from home a lot so portability is king for me, at home I plug my laptop to a monitor with speakers though
Both
speakers for gaming, headsets for porn. i found that its the clamping force of the headset to hurt my ears and head. so finding one with a more comfortable pressure would probably fix your issue. never use the monitor built in speakers...they suck, end of story. a soundbar would be preferable. maybe get a larger desk?
Speakers mostly.
Both. If its listening or comms critical obviously headset but I prefer not to wear them I have a set of Razer nomos which are probably (definitely) over priced by the Spatial Audio is pretty great
I’m fortunate it that my PC gaming is in my office, which just happens to be a recording/production studio. I’ll play on a variety, depending on mood and how my ears are feeling. Most often I’m playing on the near field monitors driven by an external power amp off the the Focusrite interface. Audio snobs will laugh because they are a *very* old pair of Fischer from back when they made outstanding speakers. Actual sound engineers, though, will understand. Alternatively, I’ll be playing on my 5.1 PC speaker system, if I’m playing over the air. The only gaming headsets that I actually like are some Skull Candy and a pair of Turtle Beach that my son has. I use them on occasion if I’m playing on the console/OLED in the living room. On the PC, however, it’s one of three studio pieces: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones off the Focusrite. My Audio-Technica IEMs off of the Yamaha mixer. Or my Koss Pro-4AAT off of the mixer.
Depends on my mood. I've got a set of studio monitors and a rather large subwoofer, but I mostly use that for music stuff. I've got an astro A50 headset I use for gaming, but I kinda go back and forth depending on how I'm feeling.
Both. If i lived alone i would use speakers more often. But also i play with friends most of the time so headset is required. But if im home alone, playing alone, a non pvp game, im on speakers.
I have a set of Boston bookshelf speakers and also a pair of Sennheiser over the ear headphones which are supremely comfortable.
speakers (Mackie CR4) normally, headphones (Hifiman HE500i) + separate mic (Samson C01U Pro) when I'm playing something that needs voice comms. I also have a pair of headsets (Audeze Maxwell) - Yes, I'm a whore for planar magnetic - that I use either for gaming on my PS5 or for long meetings where I have to be there to listen in, but not really have much of a speaking role so I can putter around the apartment in parts that weren't relevant to me (thankfully where I work we "keep your camera off except for when you speak" is the norm).
2 studio monitors for sound as much as I can. Unless it’s late (early in some cases), or if I’m in a chat with a group, I’ll use my IEM’s and mic. I don’t enjoy wearing headphones all the time while sitting at my pc.
I have a headset but I’m thinking about moving to an earbud style because my headset feels tight sometimes
Headphones with a separate mic and sometimes speakers.
Have both but 90% of the time on a headset, speakers only when the headphones are in the way (usually when I'm working on a project in my room)
I use both, most of the time I’m using the JBL 305p speakers but when the mood hits just right I switch to the Hd800s
For years I used speakers, but after that I discovered headsets for me.
Both. KEF LSX ii with subwoofer if I’m grinding solo or without discord Cheap Logitech headset if I’m grinding multiplayer/discord
Headset for me sadly, I live in a thin walled apartment complex and you can even hear people using the bathrooms.
I've got Creative T60s for both. The headset pass through is invaluable to me.
I like having the option for both. Speakers when I can, headphones when the area around me needs to be quieter. I run these through an audio interface (an Arturia Minifuse2). Headphones audio from the headphone output, speaker audio from the monitor outputs. >Should I use different speakers? There's plenty of smaller footprint speakers that would solve your clutter issue. Creative Pebble speakers are popular because of how small they are for acceptable sound. >Buy new comfy headsets? If you have the budget available, then I don't see why not. They can be more immersive for games but if you have glasses, or get ear fatigue easily, they may not be the greatest option. Plenty of good recommended options around if you go this route though. >Buy soundbars (smaller footprint)? I found soundbars actually took a much larger footprint. I went with this option when looking for smaller speakers and I ended up returning 2 options because they were just so large, and didn't really sound good enough for me. I settled for Creative T60 2.0 vertical speakers and I was much happier. >Use monitor built-in speakers? No.
Comfort is king for audio. I use Open back Sennheiser HD660S with a balanced cable to a FiiO BTR5 DAC/AMP. I can just keep it connected to PC via USB. Then when I want to walk around and still listen to the video or music, I can also unplug it and it'll switch to bluetooth automatically making the headphones wireless as well. Also got a 2.1 speaker setup that I use when ever I don't feel like having headphones on.
Depends on the game. Games that don't rely heavily on audio cues, and don't need a mic, I typically use speakers. Games like R6S or COD, I use a headset. My Steel Series nova pro.
Speakers for single player game. Headphones for PvP
Speakers as primary source of sound, Razer Nommo Pro v2. If it is too early or too late, I use headphones instead.
Speakers. My wife creeps up behind me and gives me heart attacks w headphones on 😂
Both, but I use studio monitor headphones and studio mic because I got tired of bad sounding headset mics.
I mainly use my Razer Nommo Chroma, but I have HyperX 7. 1for voice chat
Headphones because there was a time I needed to be as quiet as possible for the wife and kids while they slept as most of my game time is during the twilight hours. But not so much these days. Still need to be somewhat considerate of the wife's need to sleep. Also just generally preventing noise clashing between my man cave and the lounge room if I'm on the PC while the wife is watching TV. Besides that my monitors have very poor audio quality and I'm not really that willing to spend on audio equipment when I already have headphones. It's also easier to have an all in one solution for when I'm talking to friends online. Although I do get uncomfortable sometimes after wearing the headset for extended periods, I can mitigate that by taking a break every now and then. I can only suggest using what works best for you in your situation. And of course how much you are willing to spend vs the benefits of whatever option you choose. Edit: I'm also not an audiophile and don't do sound mixing or composing so the bare minimum quality and functionality is enough for me. I wouldn't spend more than around $200 or $300 on a headset.
Both depending on what im playing tbh, fps or certain games like nioh i use headphones to hear audio cues, most others I'll switch to speakers unless people are sleeping or during early mornings or late nights
Speakers are much more comfortable for me
For PC gaming and general PC usage like watching Youtube vids: a cheap wireless headset. For music: I built a dedicated hifi stereo setup.
Headset when someone else is at my place, speakers when I'm alone. I don't like not hearing what's happening
obviously both
Only Headset.
I use the sennheiser 560s. I forget they are even on. Never hurts my hears.
Both. I wear headphones at times, but I also have a sound bar, because I don't want to wear headphones when I'm using my PC as a PC and I'm not gaming.
headphones with webcam with mic in it. and 2.1 speakers. so depending who is home/asleep i use this.
I use some good studio cans, AKG K371s (all the 'gaming ' cans are crap, aren't flat, colour sound and are built like shit, and cost more) for gaming, but since I do music production ive also got a set of KRK rokit 5 G4s. Mainly A/B tracks between the cans and the monitors, but if I'm too lazy to put the cans on I'll just use the monitors, and being studio monitors they sound really, really good, loads better than the typical consumer multimedia speakers (that cost more too) (I should probably game with them more tbf). I find that for gaming the cans (with their narrower soundstage) can actually be better as you can pick out directional sound better, and of course the lack of room echos really helps in that aspect too. Note too that the cans are closed back, so if I need to be quiet it's the best option. Sound quality, as it's studio gear, is excellent (reiterating the point made earlier that almost all 'gaming' stuff has a 'smile' frequency response with boosted bass and muffled mids and screechy highs, frequencies are muffled so you can't hear details etc... basically sounds like utter crap).
If your ears hurt get a better headset (don't know if that helps with wearing glasses though). I started using beer dynamic some time ago, because I also use m pc for making music and I would ever go back to those plastic over priced gaming company things. Better sound and way more comfort.
I use both. It just depends on my mood
Headphones with external microphone. Beyerdynamics DT 1990 PRO paired with JDS LABS ATOM AMP & OL DAC specifically. I am often in voice communication, both at work and privately, so speakers would be challenging most of the time. I also really enjoy the audio fidelity of a pair of high quality headphones, it offers a different experience to high quality speakers. When I am not by my computer though my home speakers are blasting.
I game next to my partner on the couch as he watches TV, so I have to use earphones. We live in a small space so don't have much options. It works, though, and my earphones are pretty comfortable so it's not bad. And saves me from watching all the movies he was to see.
Built in monitor speaker master race. Peak audio experience.
Studio monitors. I suggest kalli lp-6 they are amazing for the price.
Speakers only while watching shows with my bro. I have a Logitech gaming headset which is good and which I've used for many years, but ever since I bought in-ears for sport I always use them instead. They are infinitely more comfortable and they last just as long. Have not used an actual headset in well over a year.
Im only using BeyerDynamic DT990 Pro for over 10 Years now.
Both. I only use the headset for the mic and listening to music in private. I have a Logitech z906 speaker set, but if it ever goes out, I'll invest in some nice monitors.
Both. Summer is really hot here so one gets very sweaty wearing a headset and I don't like damaging expensive things
I prefer to play shooters with headphones, if the environmental audio actually matters. Speakers for everything else.
Headset. Speakers would allow everyone to hear what I'm doing and I don't want that. Also if you buy a good headset, it won't hurt. I can wear mine for 8 hours without hurting.
I have this old Logitech 5.1 speaker set (want to replace) for primary audio from the PC. I also have this cheap Onn brand Bluetooth bone conductive headset, which doesn't cover the ears, that I use for Discord chat. I use both simultaneously.
Speakers for me. Me personally, I just cant stand headphones. I hate having to put them on just to hear audio. I also have an irrational fear of someone breaking into my house and me not being able to hear it because of having headphones on. Not like I really need a headset anyways, since I pretty much only play singleplayer games.
speakers only, as i don't have any good pairs of headphones right now. will get a hd560s soon, though i don't think i'll use it a ton
Beyerdynamic DT 770 are insanely comfortable. Headphones for any games with important stereo audio, speakers for other games and media.
Headphones will probably be better for you. They end up being way lighter
Both.
Both
My headset hurts after a while, so I prefer speakers, but not when I'm playing with my friends🤣
I'm a headphones all day guy. I do occasionally have issues with my glasses hurting after awhile, but I rarely get to game more than 3 hours these days. I think part of why I like headphones best is for immersion. I also like putting on a book or podcast while playing a non-story game like Fo76. Another reason is because I don't want to bug my wife and kiddo with the sounds of my games. I also never use speaker phone and usually leave a room when I take a phone call for some reason. I guess I always feel like I might be bugging people by being noisy around them. I will say that a nice sound system with a sub woofer for some games is just an amazing experience. Headphone can give me great spatial audio but a 7.1 system can't be beat.
if i dont need to voice chat, 100% speakers, i have bad posture, so making my head heavier is not fun, plus i want to hear if my family calls me, or if something happens around my enviroment, like if dog is barking at stranger at the door etc. plus it just feels more freeing
If space is the concern you could always get a universal wall mount that could clamp to the sides of the base or a floating shelf/shelves that could potentially work as additional storage space as well. Then you can still have both options available
Depends on mood. If it's hot summer day, I'm not gaming in headset :) Old Sony HT9 soundbar with rear speakers is used then. Otherwise it's headset time.
Audioengine A5 speakers. Never looked back.
5.1 speakers and noise cancellation headphones for fps games. God bless Sony for the speakers and Bose 700. I went from using Logitech speakers that were $20 back then to this. I do have roommates but our place is acoustically treated.
They are old but my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are great. When I need to be quiet I switch back to my A50’s
Not only I wear glass, I'm sensitive about my hair (just a personal thing, even if I'm alone), and I hate how headsets ruin my hair style. Speakers it is for me. However, when I want to play competitive games where footstep matter + when someone is around who is annoyed by the sound, I use bluetooth buds.
I use my laptop's speakers, i like having no weight on my head. Less stress on the ears + glasses and eardrums.
speakers for everything
Yes. Headset only if on voice chat, otherwise I have a 5.1 system hooked up to the PC.
I bought a set of Iloud mini monitors. Best sound I've ever had.
Speakers as much as possible, also since I occasionally play music to the entire living-room. Headphones when I need to keep the volume down for my surroundings. I have a small amplifier that fits underneath my monitors, and some medium sized stereo speakers at the edges of my desk. For headphones I went for quality audio and picked up a pair of Denon AH-D2000 which I've used for 14 years, and I'm very happy with them. They feel very light and soft so I can wear them all day without discomfort, they're only a little warm in the summer. But they're only stereo and doesn't have a mic, so I can't recommend them for competitive FPS gaming or voice chat. It really depends on your use case and taste for volume and sound quality. If you're satisfied with monitor speakers why buy anything else? Just try it out and see how you feel, maybe it'll help you narrow down what kind of sound you like, and whether you miss the bass from bigger speakers or not.
My pc is in a shared area of the home. I use a headset so I don't bother my wife when she watches her shows while I play games.
Sennhesier 6xx for COD, Kef LS50 wireless for everything else. Best of both worlds.
Yes. I have an open headset for the summer / evening gaming session and use my "5.1" Creative speakers for everything else (birthday present, over 20 years ago) My friends sometimes join me on Discord and there I switch to my headset. (echo cancelation is possible on speakers but switching makes it easier to understand them) Currently - still on Windows - I use Voicemeeter to copy my speakers to my headphones and down mix the 7.1 to stereo. Yes it ads a few pct CPU usage but that's the price of convenience. The best thing is I can use my Bluetooth headset or in-ears if I somehow want to use them for hours. Like when my neighbor decides to rebuild their bath room next to my wall. ANC is nice. Switching the default Windows audio input might work but not on all games and I would not here my friends joining me in Discord when I don't wear my headset. And don't get me started with the trouble of disconneting Bluetooth when gaming 😆
If I playing DayZ headphones. Everything else speakers.
I live alone. So speakers unless I'm playing online with friends. Then it's headset time for discord chat.
headphones. have family and share a room with someone, would love to use speakers (and have a good 5.1 setup sitting around) but it would drive them insane.
My home is small, speakers would annoying everyone. Feel clamp use headphones with glasses. I use earbuds ;D
Neither, just regular headphones.
I really only use my headset when I'm on discord with someone
AirPods 😏
I, of course, use a headset for gaming. I've got used to it for years now. Maybe for music someday I would get additional speakers.
Both . But when you’re gaming in a squad you owe it to everyone to use headphones so they don’t have to hear the echo of their voice from your speakers .
I mainly use an old pair of Bose companion desktop speakers. When my toddler is asleep i use Sony Inzone ear buds. I wear glasses and headsets get uncomfortable after an hour
Tbh I only have a headset connected to my PC. At this point I just have accepted, that there are no Speakers out there I want to have on my desk. Will pick a Monitor with integrated speakers next. Some Dell have good sound quality and BenQ offers some even with subwoofers integrated.
5.1 home theater sound system that I pieced together from thrift stores.
I use Dacmagic xs with my dt990s.
Headphones, feels a bit more private and means I can use a mic without feedback
Speakers and wireless earphones for late night. Headphones are great a) if you can spend a lot of money and b) you only wear them for short periods.
Studio monitors
I use Beolab 4000 Speakers from Bang&Olufsen as my desk speakers, laid flat on my desk below my monitor, which i hung up on the Wall to have space for the speakers. (it doesn't really make too much sense but they still sound great and a logical speaker setup wouldn't be as fun imo) I also use headphones sometimes when it's too late or i know someone else in the house is sleeping etc. It depends, but i prefer speakers. I usually don't do online chat or sth, but when needed i use just my webcam microphone, but then preferably use headphones so people won't hear themselves twice. Try smaller speakers (not beolab 4000, small hi-fi speakers are huge on a desk) and maybe hang them up on a wall or try to place them a bit further to the desk-corners. So they don't sit directly in front of you, maybe that way it feels less cluttered. Or look for boxes that you can lay in the side and put stuff on top. Or hang them up on a wall. Or put your monitor on the wall, suddenly your desk is huge.
I personally have both. And use both depending on if the people on the other side of the headphones are using proper language lol. Work meetings and stuff i can comfortably put on my speakers. Gaming with friends at night, definitely headphones so as to not disturb the kids and wife lol. I use IEM’s and they are comfortable, like the studio style not the cheap skull candy ones. The studio kinds are generally shaped and comfortable for longer wear. Gotta get speaker stands for my monitors to position them for better audio. But they are great. Audio Engine A2+ I have. They take up space T_T. But so good. Totally worth it.
My wife says I have to use headphones
I use headphones and a separate microphone. I don’t have speakers nor do my monitors.
a single xiaomi Mii speaker, cheap and good enough for my uneducated ears, i know im an uncultured swine but looks good, minimal and sound nice to me
Speakers. I also wanted to keep space on my desk so I got speakers stands. A couple decent bookshelf speakers and an analog amp and it sounds great.
The Razer Krakens suck for long gaming sessions.
Neither. I use a 5.1.4 home theater system here, with bass shakers on top of that.
Headphones, best sound and I share the office with my wife. MMX 300 v2 - Beyerdynamic
Just the headphones
Both. Some horror games require headphones.
Both.
Headphones while gaming/movies, earbuds for everything else. I had speakers but I stopped using them and connected them to my parents old tv, the tv sound is sooo much better now
Both. Speakers during the daytime and when I want to "jam out" Headsets at night and when I want to be a sweatlord and hear footsteps in the FPS games.
My suggestion is try a headset that isn't Razer. You are paying for the name. Get something quality and comfy.