• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

razer barracudas worth the money w/o sound card?

C

cbliss100

Member
I need a new headset for gaming, and saw razer barracudas for 60 bucks shipped on buy.com. The thing is, I don't have a sound card or the money to buy one, in which case I'm not sure if headphones like this are worth it. Are they? If not, what is a suitable alternative? The relevant threads found around here offer conflicting advice...

Thanks.

Creative Fatal1ties for 45 bucks shipped off newegg are an option too... thoughts?
 
As long as your sound card (integrated or not) offers 5.1 output (ie green - front/left/right, black - rear/left/right, orange - center/sub) and has a spare USB port (strictly for supplying power) it can run this headset (and a pink mic jack as well if you want to use its mic 😛)

Be wary though, this headset isn't going to offer quality sound, its meant for positional audio, which, IMO, it does its job. Its not the best, but you'd probably need to spend more to get better. For $60 I'd say its worth it if that's the extent you're going to be investing in a headset you intend to use specifically for gaming (and perhaps 5.1 movies).

Some complain about the bass, which seems intentionally weak as excessive bass in games can cover up more crucial sounds. Although if you really want a booming experience, you can always turn the front, rear, and center channels down and crank the bass up, turn the volume down in OS/game and then crank the master volume on the headset up and you'll get bass that will shake your head. Of course while I can find that to be fun at times, it doesn't offer the best sound quality as I've said before.

Alternatives would be going for a quality stereo headset. Something like a SteelSeries Siberia can be found for the same price (~$60). A bit more (~$75) can get you the SteelSeries 5H v2 which has a better mic.
 
Cool - I appreciate the info.

I'm using a Gigabyte GA-MA790x mobo: the onboard audio is Realtek ALC889, which according to the realtek website runs 7.1. I assume this will suffice for the barracuda, yes?

Thanks again.
 
Yes, it'll have an extra port (usually colored grey) for side left and right channels for a 7.1 speaker setup, but the Barracudas are 5.1.

http://www.gigabyte.us/FileLis..._ga-ma790x-ds4_big.jpg

if thats what is available on your mobo, then of the six 1/8" analog audio ports on the right most of the image, the top left (orange, center/sub) the middle left (black, rear left/right), middle right (green, front left/right), and bottom right (pink, microphone), plus one of the six USB ports (to power the headset) would be what you would need to hook up hardware wise (the headset will actually come with and use an adapter for use with non Barracuda AC-1 sound cards). The rest will be setting up the software as if you have a 5.1 speaker setup. Realtek drivers would probably look something like this

http://images.hardwarecanucks....ASRock/ASR_realtek.jpg

only as a 6 channel setup without the side speakers

then you'd just have to make sure you set your games to 5.1 speakers
 
i've had these. they sound like junk. and they break a lot. look at the user reviews on the net, horrendous quality

on the plus side they do good on 3d positioning. the anemic sound (very very anemic) made me sell them in about a day
 
I already warned of sound quality (and lack of bass), and also provided a remedy for it. Granted, these headphones will never sound as good as quality set of 2.0, but if the primary concern is gaming (between the positional audio and decent mic that isn't a lame clip on), for $60 these are actually pretty good.
 
The barracudas are honestly crap. Generally speaking I've had much better luck with higher quality stereo headphones than the 5.1 channel cheapies.
 
Originally posted by: RavenGuard
The barracudas are honestly crap. Generally speaking I've had much better luck with higher quality stereo headphones than the 5.1 channel cheapies.
Click to expand...

Right, and so have I, the problem is you need to spend a good chunk more to get it.

At the $149.99 MSRP, the HP-1s are a rip off. @ $60 they're actually a pretty good deal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top