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Headset

E

ep3w

Gawd
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
694
Anyone have any suggestions for a good headset for gaming? I have a decent pair of speakers so I am not really looking for complete headset/headphones more just for the microphone capabilities. I have never bought or used one so any advice is welcome. I will mostly use it for TF2 and battlefield 2. Am I best of with something like a single ear headset? It seems to me like a desktop mic would pick up a lot of the noise from my speakers. Also how does the sound on those work, would just other people talking come out of the earpiece or would all sounds?
 
Usually a separate mic plugged into your desktop is not a bad idea at all. I don't know of any games where you're transmitting sound through it the entire game, and for the period you do the speakers won't affect your talking noticeably unless you buy a very cheap one.

Or you can get a clip-on mic if you want to have it near your mouth for whatever reason. I think zalman makes one of those. But if you already have a decent speaker setup and don't really need headphones, IMO just get a separate mic.
 
I have a pair a Steelsound 5HV2's that came free with my notebook. They retail for around $100. They are very comfortable wrap-around-the-entire ear style with a retractable mic and they come apart in 3 pieces for easier transport. I used a pair of $50ish Sennheiser's before but these are better. They also have an extension cord for the headphones along with on-cord volume control.
 
You have two choices:

1. Buy a decent pair of cans and attach your own zalman microphone (better sound but could be awkward lookking due to it not being a "real" headset). I'd get AudioTechnica ATH-A700 or Koss SB-40 (budget) or Beyer's DT-770 (80ohms).

or

2. Buy a decent headset (much worse sound). For a headset I'd recommend the Fatal1ty headset right now from buy.com due to it's low price. It's decent and the microphone is probably the best there is right now http://www.buy.com/prod/creative-fa...eries-gaming-headset/q/loc/101/204035006.html

I personally use a ATH-A700 with a Zalman clip-on and even though it looks a little odd, the soundstage of the ATHs simply give me an advantage compared to all the other headsets. I hear clearer and the positional audio coming from them is just so much better than any gaming headset on the market that i have a hard time going back to any "standard" headset...
 
I wanted to avoid getting a complete headset vs just a mic for cost reasons and i already have a decent pair of speakers, but after looking at a few of those suggestions a headset with a removable mic is seeming very tempting since I could easily use them as regular headphones too. I guess now its time to see what kinda budget I can fit in...thanks for the suggestions :D
 
im using a labtec mic from newegg i think it was like 5-10 bucks it sits on my desk as i game and it is really great i love having the comfort of my princess leia headphones and still being able to communicate with others in game the mic is awsome.

I believe the mic got some really good reviews on egg as well. Look into it if you are using expensive headphones and need a mic. If your using speakers then maybe its not so good as it is a pretty strong mic.
 
ScYcS said:
You have two choices:

1. Buy a decent pair of cans and attach your own zalman microphone (better sound but could be awkward lookking due to it not being a "real" headset). I'd get AudioTechnica ATH-A700 or Koss SB-40 (budget) or Beyer's DT-770 (80ohms).

or

2. Buy a decent headset (much worse sound). For a headset I'd recommend the Fatal1ty headset right now from buy.com due to it's low price. It's decent and the microphone is probably the best there is right now http://www.buy.com/prod/creative-fa...eries-gaming-headset/q/loc/101/204035006.html

I personally use a ATH-A700 with a Zalman clip-on and even though it looks a little odd, the soundstage of the ATHs simply give me an advantage compared to all the other headsets. I hear clearer and the positional audio coming from them is just so much better than any gaming headset on the market that i have a hard time going back to any "standard" headset...
Click to expand...

Yup. Good advice there too.
 
would you guys recommend the koss sb40's or the fatal1ty headset?

im in the market for something on the cheaper side, but i also want something decent. atm im torn between the 2 headsets. thanks!
 
koss is way better in every aspect.

koss- lifetime warranty, good bass, sounds like you are there, comfortable, hard to hurt
 
spaceman said:
koss is way better in every aspect.

koss- lifetime warranty, good bass, sounds like you are there, comfortable, hard to hurt
Click to expand...

except that the microphone sucks SO bad that it's really useless. If you get the Koss, you pretty much HAVE to order a seperate microphone with it.
 
The IceMat Siberia has treated me very well over the past year. They are very comfortable and sound great. The unidirectional Mic is the best microphone I've ever used.
 
ATH-A700 + Medusa's replacement microphone ghetto modded onto the headphones. It's another option if you want a real headset microphone instead of some clip-on mic but you'll need some adapters from ratshack.

The microphone's plugin is just a normal RCA plug so you'll need:
RCA jack coupler
Right-Angle RCA Phono Plug to RCA Phono Jack
a RCA cable to the length you want.
RCA to 1/8' jack adapter

Just tape the coupler to the frame of the headphones with black electrical tape and plug the rest of the stuff into it.
It's ghetto as heck but it beats the hell out of those true headsets in comfort & quality.
 
bpizzle1 said:
would you guys recommend the koss sb40's or the fatal1ty headset?

im in the market for something on the cheaper side, but i also want something decent. atm im torn between the 2 headsets. thanks!
Click to expand...

From the other suggestions on here it looks like I am in about the same situation. I don't want to spend more than probably 40 bucks or so. Something like the fatal1ty is tempting but then I can only use the mic when i have the headset on and won't be able to use it with speakers which makes something like a desktop mic and possibly cheaper headset seem like a little better idea. Anyone else have experience with desktop mics and if there is issues with using speakers at the same time?
 
Koss may have a lifetime warranty, but I've seen some shitty products there as well.
Mind you, I haven't tried their headsets, but I had 2 pairs of stereo headphones where the ear cups snapped clean off the headband. No, I didn't abuse them in any way. There was a plastic joint about 1mm thick that held the two together. Each lasted about 3 months before just giving way one day.

Sound quality was good all around, but the warranty process was a pain in the ass in my experience, and I'm not interested in sending something in for repair/replacement every few months.
Maybe they've learned something since & improved designs, but...


As to desktop mic & speaker, yea, one issue is that everyone you ever play with will hate you. Seriously, there's invariably some degree of echo or white noise that gets introduced. It's always irritating in my experience. Headphones & clip-on mic is fine, but... no speakers, please.
 
im thinking im going to go with the fatal1ty's atm...the koss would be cheaper, but if you factor in having to get the clip-on mic they come out about the same. not to mention i really rather not have a clip-on mic in the first place.
 
If you are going to be using vent/ts, make sure you get a headset...no seperate mic shenanigans. I have used several brands of headphones and headsets over the years. In my opinion, sennheiser is in a class by itself. I defy anyone to find a better sounding, better constructed, and maybe more importantly, more comfortable headset than the pc350.

http://www.sennheisercommunications.com/comm/icm_eng.nsf/root/502141

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1209272066&sr=8-1

Best cans on the planet: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106358&Tpk=Sennheiser+HD650
 
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Another vote for the Creative Fatal1ty Professional series headset. You can get it for $40 right now from buy.com (versus the $80 - $100 it goes for normally on the street).

The sound quality isn't quite as good as the Koss SB40 but it's very close, but what really makes these shine is the COMFORT level. Easily the most comfortable headphones I've EVER worn and I have a big head so it's usually hard to find cans that fit. Also the mic on these is hyped as military grade w/ noise canceling. I could care less about the hype, all I know is the mic is one of the best I've ever used for gaming/chat. Quite simply awesome and you'll find it's one of the most redeeming qualities.


Do note that it's the Creative Fatal1ty Professional headset I'm referring to, NOT the regular Creative Fatal1ty headset which costs around $40 - $45 street and sucks major ass.
 
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