I would love to be able to use speakers all the time. If I couls I would go an get some really nice ones but one thing stops me.
Microphones always pick up my music and it annoys everyone in the call/chat room. For that reason alone I use a headset. Cuts the noise between my music and people I am talking to. I can turn it up as loud as I like the the mic 6cm away will never hear it but I can talk freely and clearly.
Desk monitors would be about 4-5 foot away and they would deafen everyone I talked to in about 5 seconds. It is a shame because i really prefer the open sound from speakers but alas for everyone else sake I do not use them.
Same for with headsets and long periods of time. When i say proper i mean spending at least 80 bucks or more and not using old cream coloured 2.0 genius speakers that can go the same volume as a headset sat on a table if that makes sense? Like for me i have the logitech Z906 surround system and it's pretty damn good especially price/performance/quality wise. But i do have the infamous BOSE 901s with a 200w rms velodyne sub out in the lounge but that's a bit over the top, but still great none the less haha :D
I actually paid $80 on the dot for my AV-30s (on sale) lol So I guess they count. Sadly my headsets cost more. I do like some of the BOSE sets for "general" use, BOSE even offers their own financing. Not my cup of tea but they are quite nice.
I prefer speakers by a good margin. Eventually I will need to get a decent 2.1 set to replace my zcinemas. Until then I am just using some cheepo altec lansing set.
I prefer speakers over headphones and while I dont have an amazing setup, my Logitech X-540's are well above average. Good clean sound and they sound better the louder they go. The sound is cleaner as they get louder. I also have 2 Technics and 2 home made speakers in my lounge but their 20th century so so their quality is questionable.
Yeah they would count :) Yeah BOSE has kind of gone astray recently, they're more about getting their speakers as small and modern looking as possible, that's definitely not the case for the 901's hahaha. Each one has 9x 5.25" full range drivers in them.
http://img.audiofanzine.com/image.php?lang=en&identifier=id&size=normal&module=product&product_id=176075 (an example of an older pair)
I use speakers whenever I'm not on Teamspeak. I have quite a shitty setup, but it works: one Sony SS-E34 and one Sony SS-E200 connected to a Sony TA-AX2 amp. Damn old, all of it. 1980's.
I do use my speakers ( X530's ). But only when i am not in a voice chat or a game that uses voice chat, as hearing someones game sounds when they open there mic is annoying. For my headset i have a Sony DP-ga500 hooked up to creative tactic 3d headset and i use a blue yeti for the mic.
AVS Forum recently did a piece on exactly this: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1527138/is-high-end-audio-obsolete
It's pretty much dead these days with the younger generation as theres no need for a "high end" system when as the tests Logan has shown you can get just as good audio out of the chip in your comp. that, coupled with the fact that even cheap speakers can produce good accuracy sound means that theres no longer an objective need for the high end system.
Thats not to say that people don't want a nice 9.2 surround sound setup, just that most don't need it and wont buy it, but even then the whole setup doesn't have to be built out of high end components.
I've got 2 sets of logitech systems and they sure can do sub 40hz. also there's no need for 20khz+ because you can only feel the frequencies at that range. Yeah you're right but the only problems with headphones is the lack of bass
Perhaps i'm using a bit of a overkill system. My digital out goes to a mid/high end dac via my pre-amp to a power amp (all audiolab system) all via transparent cables to ProAc tablet 50 signatures speakers. Ok this is my music system but with gaming it realy knocks your socks off, with a room filling soundstage and ample power by the120watt 50ampere power amp. Ohh and for movies it's great aswell.
I can't say too much, I have a set of 15" Yamaha club series S115V's on a Crown 1,600 watt power amp with 32 ch EQ with dual 18" EAW subs. I use them for work, I use them for play. I do think I will move up to some QSC K's in a few months though. As it is, I have literally got to open a door in my house or a window will break....it already happened.
