Does a good sound system help your IIDX playing?

Quantium · 06-12-2007, 07:51 PM

I just thought I would ask this question because it seems like everybody might have a different answer. At first, I was just playing with the normal stereo TV speakers, and I did OK for a beginner I guess. Then I hooked up my Klipsch 2.1 Promedia speaker set to the PS2, and WHOA, things pound now! Not only does the music sound kick ass, but all my scores have made atleast a 2 grade point jump across most songs. The Klipsch set has very strong bass, and most of the time, I can't turn them up over 50% because the neighbors might call the cops on me.

vader_seven_ · 06-12-2007, 08:10 PM

anything with a sub makes the game easier.

天の龍 · 06-12-2007, 08:20 PM

A goos system makes the songs clearer and the notes more easily distinguishable - but personally, it really didnt improve my playing much. I spent too much time on an arcade machine.

I suppose it is possible though.

rmz · 06-12-2007, 08:31 PM

Playing with headphones makes me score MUCH better.

eggnog fan #83 · 06-12-2007, 09:51 PM

i agree with rmz about the headphones, but i'm not sure if i can go as far as saying a good sound system will (definitely) make you get better scores. as long as you have a stereo setup that comes through loud enough for your tastes, you should be okay. of course, having a loud, thumping, crystal-clear setup will definitely SOUND better. it just isn't guaranteed to help you score better.

"good sound systems," as it were, are not cheap. i wouldn't recommend spending hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars solely for better IIDX performance.

Zemata · 06-12-2007, 10:17 PM

sub woofer all the way

stinlin · 06-13-2007, 09:58 AM

The sound system I have for my computer works AWESOME for video games. I use it for playing handhelds sometimes, simply because I can.

The speakers are probably only 60-80 bucks, but the sub is ridiculously powerful.

I would agree that it's not worth spending a TON of money on, unless you want a mega sound system for other reasons (i.e. college parties anyone? haha)

Dreamcube017 · 06-13-2007, 10:08 AM

I have a stereo system and it does make the notes a BIT clearer, but not really. But I don't know how good it is compared to REALLY good ones anyway.

Headphones may work a bit better though as you're really in the sound then.

It kind of helps to hear the key sounds when it's easy to figure out where they're supposed to go, but sometimes, even hearing them doesn't help. But it REALLY doesn't help when you can't pick them out and they don't seem to be one of the sounds you can hear in the song. That makes it very hard to do this.

kannazuki · 06-13-2007, 10:11 AM

I've got good headphones I stole from the music department at school (

) and I have to say that they make the IIDX experience a hell of a lot better. I dunno about improving scores, but hearing the bass helps me keep time better.

Dreamcube017 · 06-13-2007, 10:25 AM

True... also....

The further the sound is away from you, the more of a delay you get. Most times this really doesn't do anything because you're right there or close enough to where you can hear it RIGHT RIGHT away... but headphones still improve it a whole lot.

revenGmyass · 06-14-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmz

Playing with headphones makes me score MUCH better.

true, i think its since you cant hear the noise you make hitting all the buttons, so youre focusing more on the song

cupcake · 06-14-2007, 01:04 PM

GOOD quality will add a lot of entertainment value, I don't think you can quantify that. Having "more fun" whatever that means.

A quality 10" or larger sub to a pair of good speakers (Klipsch, B&W, or whatever is in your area) is really great.

Sometime around Pop'n 7 or IIDX 6 they started to have more "polished" songs. I feel sorry if someone hasn't heard some of these on both the real hardware and a good home stereo. Headphones are fine for expert play, but a number of these tunes are just made to fill a room! Or better yet your entire house...

PS to the O.P.: The little Klipsch promedias are great, aren't they? You wouldn't expect... Great for a desktop or small room.

Compass · 06-14-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cupcake

GOOD quality will add a lot of entertainment value, I don't think you can quantify that. Having "more fun" whatever that means.

A quality 10" or larger sub to a pair of good speakers (Klipsch, B&W, or whatever is in your area) is really great.

Sometime around Pop'n 7 or IIDX 6 they started to have more "polished" songs. I feel sorry if someone hasn't heard some of these on both the real hardware and a good home stereo. Headphones are fine for expert play, but a number of these tunes are just made to fill a room! Or better yet your entire house...

I agree 100%. Some people really don't think they're missing anything by playing through their TV speakers. They most definitely are.

I would put my enjoyment factor at at least double when I'm playing through my stereo, turned up loud, as opposed to just through my TV speakers.

Dreamcube017 · 06-15-2007, 08:19 AM

I agree too. The noise of me hitting the buttons sometimes distracts me...

Also, the only way I can play thorugh my stereo is in my room... where there's no real surface for the controllers.

My TV is on the headboard of my bed, so I have to sit the controller on a pillow and play that way.... I still do pretty good.

I do better with it on my lap or on a flat surace than a pillow. though. :P But down there are no speakers and I'm not about to lug my stereo all the way downstares when I still need it up stares too.

I'll just see if I can get some better speakser. Does Creative have good speakers? I don't wanna get a whole new system, just some good speakers to hook up to.

cupcake · 06-16-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Does Creative have good speakers? I don't wanna get a whole new system, just some good speakers to hook up to.

Creative? Is that Creative Labs? I think they make good sound cards not good speakers. They bought out Cambridge Soundworks but it only helped them a little.

Klipsch 2.1 ProMedia at $150 is impossible to beat. This analog product has been on the market for years, it is a killer. Even without digital in, it works very well with RCA to 1/8" from the PS2.

A little more volume, Logitech ZX5500 digital 5.1 system is a cheap, powerful option at $300.

Above that, you pretty much step into the bounds of a good home receiver, speakers, and a big powered sub. Below $150, I don't know much about what options there are, but Logitech probably makes some decent models.