Headphones / Headset Help

[Morfiend]

Ok, so my girlfriend bought me Razer Barracuda Gaming Headphones for Christmas, but I dont think I like them. The sound is OK in CoD4, but horrible in WoW and for music, and the microphone really sucks. Also, there are lots of reports of them breaking. Basically to make all my games and music sound good I would need to shell out for the Razer sound card also, which is way over priced at $180.

So, if I take back the headphones, what should I get? I know headphones are pretty personal, but what would you guys suggest? Needs to be easy to wear for long gaming sessions and have a good attached mic, no lapel mics or desktop mics.

[Mrbloodworth]

They may be long in the tooth, but, they are the best headsets i have ever used... i still have mine after all this time.

[Hoax]

I just got these for xmas.  The mic is pretty awesome in TF2 and using XP's recording test.  However, I hopped into Teamspeak and it didn't pick up my voice for shit.  TF2 was all I cared about though so I haven't gone back and tested TS since the first night.

The ear parts are kind of stiff but fine.  The one thing that does bug me is the mic can't be moved too much and I wish it was on the left side of my face, I like that better.

[Mrbloodworth]

I just got these for xmas.  The mic is pretty awesome in TF2 and using XP's recording test.  However, I hopped into Teamspeak and it didn't pick up my voice for shit.  TF2 was all I cared about though so I haven't gone back and tested TS since the first night.

The ear parts are kind of stiff but fine.  The one thing that does bug me is the mic can't be moved too much and I wish it was on the left side of my face, I like that better.

Yeah, i have one of those... as to the Mic on the wrong side...turn your headphones around, and rotate the mic the other way.

[Fraeg]

Plantronics  750 DSP  for ~$80  which is significantly less than what i paid for mine last year. (uses USB)


http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat640035/cat640035/prod5870018

I have been extremely happy with these.  A great mic, great sound for gaming, movies, vent blah blah blah.

when i bought these they were ~130ish I believe.  Even if they were still over a hundred dollars i would still recommend these bad boys.

[rattran]

I have a set of the Razer Barracudas, they make my ears hurt, and takes a bit of tweaking to get them to sound right. I also have a pair of the Logitech ones Mrbloodworth linked. They're not comfortable for me long term.
I'm using a set of Razer Piranhas now, quite comfy, and not closed-ear, so I can hear ambient sounds. I think I paid around $40.

[Merusk]

I've got a set from GuildWars.  They suck because they aren't adjustable and slightly too big for my head, but the quality's good on the mic and the speakers.  This is pretty close to what they are.  I don't  like the behind-the head styling because it means I HAVE to put in my contact lenses to wear the mic.  (Glasses earpiece + over-the-ear headpones = suck)

My wife is using this set of Plantronic headphones.  It's a nice set and has a USB 'sound card' you can use instead of just the mic jack.  Her game sounds come over the normal speakers, but her voice chat uses the USB sound card.

[Mrbloodworth]

My wife is using this set of Plantronic headphones.  It's a nice set and has a USB 'sound card' you can use instead of just the mic jack.  Her game sounds come over the normal speakers, but her voice chat uses the USB sound card.

Thats handy. Is this specific to this headset? Some sort of software?

[Ookii]

My wife is using this set of Plantronic headphones.  It's a nice set and has a USB 'sound card' you can use instead of just the mic jack.  Her game sounds come over the normal speakers, but her voice chat uses the USB sound card.

Thats handy. Is this specific to this headset? Some sort of software?

Any headset with a usb connection will install with it's own software soundcard which you can choose to be the sound device for whatever you're doing.  In the sound control panel for Windows you can specify which device you would like to be responsible for your sound in general, and then in Ventrillo or Teamspeak you can specify within the program to use the headset's own device.  Thus all normal sounds (game sounds) will come out of your speakers while you can still hear people chatting away on your mic.

It's quite chic.

[Mrbloodworth]

My wife is using this set of Plantronic headphones.  It's a nice set and has a USB 'sound card' you can use instead of just the mic jack.  Her game sounds come over the normal speakers, but her voice chat uses the USB sound card.

Thats handy. Is this specific to this headset? Some sort of software?

Any headset with a usb connection will install with it's own software soundcard which you can choose to be the sound device for whatever you're doing.  In the sound control panel for Windows you can specify which device you would like to be responsible for your sound in general, and then in Ventrillo or Teamspeak you can specify within the program to use the headset's own device.  Thus all normal sounds (game sounds) will come out of your speakers while you can still hear people chatting away on your mic.

It's quite chic.

ooooooooooo, ok. Going to have to find me a nice USB headset then, i'm still using ye'ole audio hole.

[Morfiend]

Plantronics  750 DSP  for ~$80  which is significantly less than what i paid for mine last year. (uses USB)

Those look pretty spiffy.

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm using the Plantronics 770 model.  They fit my big ass head and don't smash my ears.  They look like they would weigh a ton, but they are actually the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever owned.  They are a bit quirky when using the USB thing, but work fine otherwise when plugged directly into the mic/speaker thing.  They sound better when using the USB, but for whatever reason, I can't get sound from my XBox360 (that's run through my computer) from them if I use the USB.  It's weird.  It's like it is bypassing the onboard sound.

On that note, is there such an animal of a sound card that has USB output?

[Morfiend]

I'm using the Plantronics 770 model.

I bought these. Ill let you guys know what I think after a day or two. On the upside, they already sound WAY better than the Razer ones.

[Rasix]

Just got these for xmas.  Seem great so far, but I'm hardly an audiophile.

[Morfiend]

Just got these for xmas.  Seem great so far, but I'm hardly an audiophile.

My roommate has those. There are two problems for me. First, I hate lapel mics, with a passion. And second, they let out to much sound. Like an amazing amount. Part of the reason I always wear headphones is cause my girlfriend's desk is connected to mine, and she does her school work there and the noise would drive her insane.

Other than that, those are a great headset. If my new ones dont work out I am going to try the Steel Series next.

[Righ]

So, if I take back the headphones, what should I get? I know headphones are pretty personal, but what would you guys suggest? Needs to be easy to wear for long gaming sessions and have a good attached mic, no lapel mics or desktop mics.

No lapel? You can get mics that will attach to the cords of better headphones, allowing you to continue to play naked - something like the Zalman ZM-MIC1. Just clip it to a nice, high fidelity pair of Grado headphones and listen without compromise.

[Sky]

Or clip it to your nipple if you're into that kind of thing.

[Hoax]

I just got these for xmas.  The mic is pretty awesome in TF2 and using XP's recording test.  However, I hopped into Teamspeak and it didn't pick up my voice for shit.  TF2 was all I cared about though so I haven't gone back and tested TS since the first night.

The ear parts are kind of stiff but fine.  The one thing that does bug me is the mic can't be moved too much and I wish it was on the left side of my face, I like that better.

Yeah, i have one of those... as to the Mic on the wrong side...turn your headphones around, and rotate the mic the other way.

The mic doesn't rotate 360 its not possible to do that.

[schild]

Only has to rotate 180 degrees.

[caladein]

Just got these for xmas.  Seem great so far, but I'm hardly an audiophile.

I've had them for a few months and they've held up well.  They were a bit small on my head for a bit though.

As for the lapel mic, I just attach it to the cord right under the left ear piece.  I couldn't get it to pick shit up while on my shirt.

[Righ]

You'll need to attach it to your arse if that's what you want it to pick up.

[Hoax]

Only has to rotate 180 degrees.

Not true it rotates 180 but only from aligned with the headband to pointing straight down.  It still doesn't make it possible to put the mic on the left side.

[Strazos]

I have these, but in grey. I think they're basically the same ones as some others here have, but cheaper, I guess.

No one has complained about the quality of my mic while gaming, and it sounds fine to me.