Headset and microphone recommendations

[shiznitz]

My current set works well enough but it is a bit painful on the edges of my ears after a few hours of wear. Anyone have suggestions for super comfortable, high sound quality headphones with microphone for the PC? Willing to spend some money on these.

[Lum]

Get a bluetooth USB dongle and a bluetooth wireless headset for a mobile phone. About as expensive as a mid-range headset and far more comfortable.

[Arrrgh]

Any sort of speaker phone type widget out there? I'd like to avoid headsets altogether.

[Rasix]

Any sort of speaker phone type widget out there? I'd like to avoid headsets altogether.

Speaker phones/mics are great if you like your guild yelling at you. Nothing quite like crap loads of feedback and/or game sounds/music coming through every time you talk.

[Morfiend]

I also am looking for a new headset. I got mine free with UT2k4 Limited DVD Edition, and its worked great for me for years, but its starting to die. I was thinking of the Logitech Gaming Headset, its fairly cheap, and is behind the head (I have a mohawk these days, so I dont want a on top of the head). Any one have any experiance with these?

[Hoax]

Do they even make decent stand mics for PC's anymore?  I can't wear a headset because I wear headphones at all times.

[schild]

I have a pretty good logitech mic.

Here it is.

[WayAbvPar]

Get a bluetooth USB dongle and a bluetooth wireless headset for a mobile phone. About as expensive as a mid-range headset and far more comfortable.

Just plug into a USB port and yap? That sounds too easy!

Also, I am about 12. The word 'dongle' never ceases to crack me up.

[schild]

Dude, you said dongle.



Tee hee.

[Megrim]

I would say either the Sennhiser pc160s found here: http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review3360.html,
or the Icemat Siberias, found here: http://www.icemat.com/products/icematsiberia/icemat_siberia_headset.

[Miasma]

I like the Sennheisers I bought a lot.  I've had a few before and they would either get annoying to wear for long periods of time or crap out.  The Sennheisers are very good sound quality, have an adjustable mic, in-line volume control with mic-mute and are long enough that I don't need an extension cord (I have sound jacks at the front of my computer though).  The only bad thing about them is that if you wear them for a couple of hours your hair gets a dent in it.  It looks sort of like hat head but weirder.

[Trippy]

Here an earlier thread on the same subject:

http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=3683.0

The Sennheisers that other people mentioned are what all the cool kids wear. However some of the reviews I've read have commented on a rather tight fit and I have a fat head and I wear glasses so it's unlikely they would be comfortable for me which is too bad since I love their regular headphones. Plus I don't like closed back/sealed ear pieces -- I much prefer the "open air" design.

Do they even make decent stand mics for PC's anymore?  I can't wear a headset because I wear headphones at all times.

You can get a lapel mic or you can get headset mic and wear it around your neck.

[shiznitz]

Get a bluetooth USB dongle and a bluetooth wireless headset for a mobile phone. About as expensive as a mid-range headset and far more comfortable.

I considered that but I want the sound depth of nice stereo headphones.

[Strazos]

I have a pretty good logitech mic.

Here it is.

I fucking hate when you use that thing.

[NiX]

He's such a loud bastard with that microphone.

[schild]

Die.

[Hanzii]

Get a bluetooth USB dongle and a bluetooth wireless headset for a mobile phone. About as expensive as a mid-range headset and far more comfortable.

I considered that but I want the sound depth of nice stereo headphones.

Go with the Plantronics Pulsar 590A then - unfortunately it's expensive and you'll still need the dongle, if you want to use the microphone with your pc.

Icemat Siberia and Steel Sound 5H are very good and comfortable and comes in both USB and regular editions. The Siberia has a clipon mic and the 5H has a fancy one, that can be rolled away in one earpiece when not in use.

[shiznitz]

Wow. Fucking sweet headset. SOLD! Now to find a dongle.

Actually bought Audio 550. No need for Bluetooth really.

[Trippy]

Actually bought Audio 550. No need for Bluetooth really.

That's an USB headset. If you have a nice sound card already it's going to get bypassed by that headset.

[shiznitz]

Actually bought Audio 550. No need for Bluetooth really.

That's an USB headset. If you have a nice sound card already it's going to get bypassed by that headset.

Thank you for speaking up, but I just have mobo sound. I wouldn't have thought of that, though.

[Baldrake]

Hah, I knew this thread was here somewhere.

Get a bluetooth USB dongle and a bluetooth wireless headset for a mobile phone. About as expensive as a mid-range headset and far more comfortable.

I considered that but I want the sound depth of nice stereo headphones.

Go with the Plantronics Pulsar 590A then - unfortunately it's expensive and you'll still need the dongle, if you want to use the microphone with your pc.

I go through a new headset every few months. Last night I busted a relatively new one by yanking my head around to talk with my wife while the cord had somehow gotten tangled in my chair.

So I was all fired up to get the Plantronics dealio that Hanzii recommeds, until I read that my logitech bluetooth mouse/keyboard isn't going to work with it.

I don't know that much about Bluetooth -- if I plug in the tranceiver that comes with the headset, is it going to conflict with the Logitech tranceiver? Does Bluetooth use channels? Will the OS even let me do this?

[Kitsune]

These headsets are completely and utterly kickass, hands-down the best I've owned.  Expensive as hell, too, but I grabbed a used set off of eBay for thirty bucks, so hurrah for frugal shopping!

[Falwell]

These headsets are completely and utterly kickass, hands-down the best I've owned.  Expensive as hell, too, but I grabbed a used set off of eBay for thirty bucks, so hurrah for frugal shopping!

He speaks the truth. Medusa is the god of gaming headsets, accept no substitute. I've used Bose, Sen, Logitech and Pioneer headsets. Imo they all pale in comparison. They even have velvet ear cups for shit's sake.

Make sure you have a 5.1 capable sound card though, it's the only connection option for em.

[Baldrake]

Damn yes, it's tempting. But I really want wireless.

[Hoax]

I'm looking for some quality Bluetooth headphones, anyone have recommendations?

[MrHat]

I'm looking for some quality Bluetooth headphones, anyone have recommendations?

I don't really have any recommendations but I was toying with an idea.  Wouldn't it be cool to be able to use a bluetooth headset (cellphone style) for only the voice comms in PC games?  Sound still comes from your speaker, but you chat via the bluetooth headset.  Now someone, make it happen!

[Trippy]

Turn the volume off on your bluetooth headset?

[Sky]

I tried hooking up a mic last night but couldn't get it working for some reason. I was using the line-out of the phantom power of my mixer and got nada.

Those medusa 'phones look nice, but a bit too isolating. I'd want more of a single-ear solution with voice comms going to the earphone and game sound coming from the surround sound. I had cobbled together a setup like that with my cheap headset when I was playing BF1942 competetively.

[SnakeCharmer]

These headsets are completely and utterly kickass, hands-down the best I've owned.  Expensive as hell, too, but I grabbed a used set off of eBay for thirty bucks, so hurrah for frugal shopping!

Those look cool.  But I can't buy anything like that without trying it on.  I've got a huge fucking head, and my ears poke out slightly.  So usually, the headphones are too small and end up trying to squash my casaba together, or it ends up killing my ears.

[caladein]

On a related note, after doing some reading, I picked up a pair of Icemat Siberias (to replace my Sennheiser PC160s) and they're pretty fantastic, except that they seem to be too small for my head.

If anyone has these: a) were they on the small/tight side, and b) where did you wind up clipping the mic to?

[Hawkbit]

Yeah, I'm gonna necro this shit instead of making a new post. 

I bought a USB Logitech headset recently and it's not playing nice with my system.  It won't allow me to plug n' play with applications, so any app I want to use must be started with the headset attached for it to recognize.  If I unplug it while using an app, sound goes out entirely. 

So fuck it, I'm going back to 3.5. 

I've already got a pair of Sennheiser HD595s that I like a lot.  Does anyone use a headphone/mic combo instead of a full headset?  If so, what mic?  If not, what headset are you using?  I'm trying to keep it on the cheap.

Thanks in advance.

[Signe]

SnakeCharmer has a giant head! 

Also, does anyone use over the ear headsets that are good and don't cost like $250?  Completely over the ear, not just on them.  The Astro ones LOOK like they go completely over, but I'm not sure.  Of course, those are ones that cost $250!  Would be cheap for music but ridiculous for gaming.

Help!  I don't want to spend a lot of money on stupid gaming headphones.  I'd rather buy something big and shiny for my pussies.

[FatuousTwat]

But they are so pro. They have to be. It says they are like 30 times on a single page.

[Signe]

Yes, but are they pro enough to go COMPLETELY over the ears? 

[Sky]

Yes, but are they pro enough to go COMPLETELY over the ears?