A/V How do you listen to music on your PC?

Logitech Z-5500 5.1's on my main/gaming PC, and a set of Logitech Z10's with my laptop

 

desktop: Audigy -> Videologic Sirroco (old skool! ) or plantronics dsp500 USB headset when gaming
laptop: onboard -> shure e2c or sennheiser pxc250 for long flights

 

Needs multiple choices

depending on the music\time i use my 5.1 setup or my headphones (sennheiser 212pros) or when i really want immersion my Shure E2G canalphones ( decent canalphones > *)

 

I mainly listen using my onboard sound card (I'm looking for a Auzentech X-Plosion though.. anyone?) linked to the Logitech Z-5500's via Optical. Great for stereo sound, and AMAZING for Dolby DTS or just plain old Dolby Digital. The pod race from star wars ep 1 never sounded so good

At night though I use headphones, I think they're the Sony MDR-IF104K's or something.. I don't really know, but they're nicely loud, if you know what I mean. Good bass, average everything else.

 

I have a pair of Bose QC2s that I got for free (door prize at some conference) and a pair of Sennheiser HD280s. Headphones Cheesecake.

 

Mine is connected to the hi-fi for stereo sound + headphones when listening late at night

 

Got laptop and HTPC/Main Rig. Basically when I am using laptop sound gets to me through laptop speakers. When I am using "desktop side" of my rig, sound gets to me through 2.0 monitor speakers and also 2.1 budget computer speakers and when I am using "HTPC side" of my rig sounds gets to me through either TV speakers or 2.0 Hi-fi speakers. I also got Philips wireless headphones but I don't use them at all.

 

I've upgraded - now running a pair of Mackie S-5 studio monitors (rebranded as Tapco). Still using onboard sound, but looking to upgrade to a good DAC.

 

2.0 cheap dell speakers, would like to have some decent ones but there is no space for anything like that just now...

 

I've upgraded a bit too.
B&W 683
darkvoice 337se
twisted pear opus
mcintosh mc 205

 

I use a SqueezeBox, attached to a Marantz PM7001 amp with Kef iQ1 speakers, the SqueezeBox has music files "served" to it, from a modified Dell OptiPlex GX270 (Small Desktop Comp).......

Have a set of Logitech Z680s attached to my 2 desktops, but I do not use these for music, but for watching DVDs or TV (via Terratec Cingery 2400i DT).
________
Live sex

 

hmmm. apparently at some point before the thread revival i voted budget 2.1. however, i have never owned a set of 2.1 speakers in my life. how odd.

anyways, i'm currently using creative T-20s hooked up to a chaintech av-710 soundcard. not exactly high-end, but good enough for my ears and my music collection.

 

I seem to have changed how I do things since the start too.

Have a PC dedicated to the hifi - ~400GB FLAC library from the NAS out of onboard digital out -> Beresford DAC -> Pathos Classic One mk2 -> ProAc Response 1SC
Then an HTPC in the lounge which does music along with other HTPC duties - same music library -> digital out to Denon 3808 receiver -> Stereo out to biamped B&W 603 fronts and occasionally to a BK Monolith DF sub (depending on the type of music)

 

Actually I listen to my music mainly on 2.1 Hi-Fi speakers, but seeing there's no such choice, I pick 5.1 Hi-Fi / Home theater, as that's the setup.

Listening to music with a multi-channel setup just sounds cheesy to me. That's why I always make sure to tap "stereo" from the remote when listening to music.... Games + movies I ofc watch 5.1.

EDIT: seeing other have listed their stuff, here goes:
integrated sound card (optical out)
Yamaha av-amp
3*Amphion Helium 2 speakers on the front (I love these, if you haven't heard of 'em, check http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/105amphion/)
2*DIY on the rear
DIY Peerless XLS10" sub w/ Linkwitz-transform + PA-amp (closed box)

Cables are mainly DIY as well and the parts are mainly from Supra and Neutrik. Just for the physical quality, I don't believe in cables making any noticeable difference to the sound.

EDIT2: Oh and also: for mainly night-time gaming I also have freebie Sennheiser HD25-SP headphones. Not actually hifi, but I'm not complaining

 

I have a rather cheap 5.1 system in place which happily gets the job done (with lots of bass!)

 

I have a set of bookshelf speakers with a 100W amp built in, got them two years ago for £60, they sound great and make my desk bounce when near to full volume, i have never taken them to the limit as i love them so much.

Winamp for the win! via a creative X-Fi X-Music then 3.5mm jack to speakers envolving a stero phono adaptor. I do have a pretty good amp/reciever lieing around here and i shall look at it soon to see if i can make use of it. but i require some new speakers to hook up to it i believe.

 

Headphones - premium/hi-fi - they serve me as speakers and headphones Gotta find some decent speakers soon ...

 

appartley i voted integrated laptop speaker which ive never ever used exempt for the odd beep noise, now either using an old stereo set, but most of the time a set of sennheiser 555's

 

Music zooms from my itunes libuary in a series of 0's and 1's to my Supreme FX 2 soundcard, which is then squeezed onto a Coax Digital Cable to my Logitech Z5500, which then get Dolby Prologic'ed into 5.1, simple really.

Sam

 

SteelSeries 5H v2 which are gaming headphones and despite me loving them I picked 'mid range' speakers. I've also got a phillips 2.1 speaker system I use sometimes but I just prefer the headphones now, don't disturb other people in the house!