Recommend me a headset

[elrasho]

I play alot of UT2004 and Battlefield in the early hours and my 5.1 speaker system is keeping people up :frown:

So I'm gonna get a headset.... but I want one with a microphone so I can chat in games too. Oh and it should be able to mimick surrond sound (I think thats a feature the X-Fi sound cards have)

My budget is ?30

 

[The Brick]

Proper headsets don't exist, proper headphones start at $100 (70 pound?).

Anything under that; as long as it's not from Trust you should be ok.

 

[Steel.Inferno]

I have a "Logitech Premium USB Headset 350" I believe, though that may not be the exact model.

I think it was around 30-40 USD, and has lasted quite a while and is still in ideal condition. No one complains about my mic, and it's fairly comfortable. Sometimes hurts my ears, but then I wear it half-off so I can hear the real world easily.

Don't get a budget headset, or one that looks flimsy. It will not last long and any price difference will be made up.

Logitech's site has two listed, 30 and 50 USD models. Both look like an updated version of mine so are probably similar.

 

[Qonfused]

I had these for a good six months until they broke. The sound quality was good, the mic was fantastic; they're the ones that sit on your ears, not around, I didn't like that, that and them breaking.

I now have these. I'm impartial to the detached mic: it's good if you want to talk, but with your speakers on; clumsy if you want to get up from your chair. Not that big of a deal, but I'm kind of leaning to liking the detached mic more than attached.

 

[Asus]

I have some $60 Sennheisers and they work very well. Not what I would pick for music listening exclusively but great for gaming and all that. I've had mine for about 1.5-2 years. Lot better than those $30 Plantronics which I used to get at the store. Those were not as good for sound. The mic or cord always seemed to break on the Plantronics I bought. lol
Could be the quality at that price range too.

I now have these. I'm impartial to the detached mic: it's good if you want to talk, but with your speakers on; clumsy if you want to get up from your chair. Not that big of a deal, but I'm kind of leaning to liking the detached mic more than attached.

Those look interesting. I never wanted to get just headphones for gaming because I don't like using a desk mic (consistent volume based on how far away you are, have to lean over). But the clip-on mic on that pair looks pretty convenient.

 

[Shamrock]

Icemats are incredible. Two of my friends have them, and the sound quality is amazing.

I recommend 100%.
DO IT!

 

[The Brick]

proper headphones start at $100 (70 pound?).

Seems that I was wrong about this one, lucky americans.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106328

These are a much better choice considering the price than the icemats. Get a $10 clip-on mic with it and you've got yourself some quality. I paid €110 for the headphones ($150).

 

[Seagull]

Kinda related, but what's a good sound card to go with one of these headsets? ;p

 

[The Brick]

X-fi.

 

[Gray Fox]

Just wait a little for the new asus soundcard.
http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=5082

 

[The Brick]

Just wait a little for the new asus soundcard.
http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=5082

Whey, finally a soundcard with proper opamps. I'm going to replace the ones on my x-fi extreme music with LM4562 soon (have been trying to get them for over a month :frown. The opamps on the elite pro are really not as bad as they say in that article, but the ones on all the other x-fi models are pretty bad.

 

[Asus]

But if you have Vista it half-way wrecks the idea of a hardware sound card since it does all of it's sound via software. :\

 

[Gray Fox]

But if you have Vista it half-way wrecks the idea of a hardware sound card since it does all of it's sound via software. :\

Wait what? Do you mean it forces all software to do sounds software wise. Even games.

 

[theotherguy]

pff, headsets.

Studio monitor headphones+ condensor mic+ mixer+ firewire port= win.

and also around $1300.

 

[Ridge]

Wait what? Do you mean it forces all software to do sounds software wise. Even games.

I know that Vista doesnt recognize my headset mic when I plug it into my X-Fi, or the onboard sound...

 

[The Brick]

I think windows vista is just a smart marketing trick to get more customers to buy xp.

 

[Asus]

Yeah, Vista does all sound via software processing. Creative had to make a 'fix' which basically re-routes all EAX functions in software to the CPU instead of using the EAX hardware on the sound card. You can get the 'fix' for free if you don't mind modifying some files (don't recall, might be for each game) or you buy the 'fix' for something like $5-$10 on their site.

I'm pretty sure you get the same effect but it's just dumb that part of the chip that you paid for sits idle while the CPU picks up the slack.

I think windows vista is just a smart marketing trick to get more customers to buy xp.

haha
On a number of points, very true.

 

[Gray Fox]

But why does vista do that, and will it be changed.

 

[Qonfused]

Those look interesting. I never wanted to get just headphones for gaming because I don't like using a desk mic (consistent volume based on how far away you are, have to lean over). But the clip-on mic on that pair looks pretty convenient.

After more thinking, I like the detached mic a lot better than an arm on the headphones. I'm usually just listening to music anyway, so not having that arm there is nice.

 

[Asus]

But why does vista do that, and will it be changed.

I doubt it will be changed. MS wanted all sounds in Vista to be done via software. It was done on purpose.

 

[elrasho]

Super THread Revival!!

Well Ive had my Creative HS-600 Headset for a year now and I think the speakers in the headphones are getting crap. When playing COD4 and there are lods of sounds going at once (gun fire, attack chopper, UAV, grenades...) the speakers crackle and get distorted.

So Im thinking I get the Creative Fatal1ty Pro Series Gaming Headset (http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3361136/Creative-Fatal1ty-Pro-Series-Gaming-Headset/Product.html).

Can anyone recommend me an alternative or give your mini-review of this one?

 

[Nitre]

So Im thinking I get the Creative Fatal1ty Pro Series Gaming Headset (http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3361136/Creative-Fatal1ty-Pro-Series-Gaming-Headset/Product.html).

Can anyone recommend me an alternative or give your mini-review of this one?

I had similar headphones (i.e. Fatal1ty). Didn't like them much. Mic was crap. Good noise cancelling and decent sound quality though. Although i did get surround sound speakers and an awesome sound card for about 20 quid more than i paid for the headset. But that's irrelevant.

 

[Escaep]

I have a Creative Fatal1ty Headset and it is amazing. Excellent sound quality and the mic is good but I never really use it.

 

[-Psy-]

I have a Creative Fatal1ty Headset and it is amazing. Excellent sound quality and the mic is good but I never really use it.

Same here. Don't let that Fatal1ty ZOMG I R SO L33T! crap turn you away from a very comfortable and excellent headset.

 

[elrasho]

I have a Creative Fatal1ty Headset and it is amazing. Excellent sound quality and the mic is good but I never really use it.

Is that the Pro version or just regular one?

 

[Escaep]

Is that the Pro version or just regular one?

Just a regular Fatal1ty USB Headset w/ detachable microphone. Looking over the specs for the pro one I really don't see the extra $50 (I believe mine was $50, got it for xmas) charge. The only thing I see the "Pro" having that I don't know if the regular has are "Oxygen Free Cables." Whatever the hell that does. The Creative drivers work well and there is software that comes with it where you can change the some to Theater, Jazz Hall, etc mode. My earpads are also very comfortable and the whole headset is rather light.

 

[Jammydodger]

Iv also got the Sennheisers gaming headphones, great for what they are meant for, and iv had no complaints over the sound of the mic quality.