I'm going to buy Age of Conan this week. I haven't bought a gaming headset before, and I figure I'll need one for AoC. What headset do you recommend? I'm in the dark here, any help would be appreciated.
I love Plantronics. They make phone and computer headsets, so they actually pay attention to things like audio quality and comfort. Unfortunately I can't find the one that I have bought in their current website, but their quality is good.
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.
I have used a lot of different headsets. Try to steer clear of headsets without a USB interface when it comes to chat. Even with a great sound card, all sorts of noise can really make the people at the other end hate you, they also tend to be more poorly shielded(never understood why).
I am really high on my current set, Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 headset. They sound fantastic, as good as a Senheiser set of headphones that cost 130 bucks.
Plantronics has made some great ones as well, but I think that you end up paying more for a big name than for a product(sort of like buying Belkin cables over stuff just as good from Monoprice).
I have owned Logitech as well, never been too impressed with their headsets, the mics are great though.
If you are just anxious to get voice, grab a 20-30 dollar set. If you want game sound, look at something like The Medusa Pro Gamer line, Senheisser, Turtle Beach, etc.
Good Good. This has been helpful so far. My biggest fear is being the guy with horrible headset that pisses everyone off. Yes sound is important on my end, but I want to be sure I'm not talking into a bad microphone. As long as there have been no major complaints about how you sound on any of the above listed headsets they are now on my list of what I might buy.
I can't recommend them because Creative is a company that intentionally disables advertised WinXP/2000 features in older sound cards in Vista so you'll buy their new cards, despite the fact those features work in Vista if you hack the installer. See http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/04/daniel_k-who-fi.html
If you are in the states get the Audio 90's you won't regret it. Super cheap even with the shipping cost. A few of the folks here just bought a pair off the site. Comfortable, they sound great and at that price you can't go wrong. I bought a pair a couple of years ago and loved them while they lasted.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
I am really high on my current set, Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 headset. They sound fantastic, as good as a Senheiser set of headphones that cost 130 bucks.
This is only true if you're only planning on putting your voicechat through the headset. The dinky little drivers in that $25 microsoft headset might sound perfectly fine for voicechat, but if you're going to put the game's sound through them too (which is by far the more common setup...) then it's not even remotely true.
With headphones up to a certain point you very much get what you pay for.
Again, if you're piping the game audio through regular outer speakers and using a USB headset for just voice that's' different.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers!- 1Dgaf
I've been using the Plantronics Gamecom Pro 1 for around 3 years (I think). Sound quality is great and no one has ever complained about my sound on voice chat. Well..except when I'm on a drunken rant every once in awhile.
I use the AX360 for both pc and 360 gaming. The quality is excellent, the headset is comfortable, and I get discernible separation on 5.1 surround sound. My only complaint is having to adjust the mix on every 360 title (which usually involves turning the game sound/music way down in order to mix it properly with voice, then pumping the overall volume to an acceptable level). This frustration has led me to lust after the Astro A40 with it's dedicated mixer for voice and game in for both 360 and PC. If anyone gets one, let me know how it works out.
The 161s have bigger earcups and look great and the pc-350 looks to die for, but I've been very, very happy w/ the 151s for several years now. Plus, they have lasted longer than previous setups I've had, including some semi-nice stereo headphones. You won't be unhappy w/ Sennheiser, and you can get a great set for under $50.
*Legion* wrote:
There's not enough bandwidth on a thousand Internets to detail what's wrong with that idea.
I'm using a Gamecom-1 at the moment because the mic on my P90 is dead (and I couldnt affort a new one).
Tip: just because the mic is vertically adjustable doesnt mean it should be adjusted (the mic wire gets worn quickly and stops working)
The sound and stuff is fine, but the cord coils badly for some reason so the 6foot wire quickly ends up being 10 inches long, slowly pulling your towards the pc.
I have to unravel it way too often so I dont hurt my neck leaning towards my pc, or rip the headset off my head when I move a bit.
The Audio 60 is what I have, thanks Gaald! I love them, very reliable, good sound quality, comfortable, cheap. For some reason I could not find them on the Plantronics website.
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.
The Audio 60 is what I have, thanks Gaald! I love them, very reliable, good sound quality, comfortable, cheap. For some reason I could not find them on the Plantronics website.
In the clearance section at the plantronics website under gaming headsets I don't know for how much longer though and it's killing me I can't order one because I am not in the states! GRRRRRR.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Gaald, those were so incredibly cheap that I grabbed several; I paid $20 for a POS Rat Shack headset, so $9 each for those is pretty damn reasonable, and having spares on hand, since they're being discontinued, will be good.
If you want a 60 or a 90, and if you're not too hard to ship to, I can probably get one out to you.
I picked up the Sennheiser PC 166 headset and I will honestly say it's the most comfortable headset I've worn for extended gaming periods. It sounds great and fits my head very well. Complaints with the headset are that other people around you can pretty much hear what is going on. They don't keep the sound to yourself very well. Also people said that I sound soft on vent/teamspeak. I will chock that up to me figuring out the correct settings.
I love Plantronics. They make phone and computer headsets, so they actually pay attention to things like audio quality and comfort. Unfortunately I can't find the one that I have bought in their current website, but their quality is good.
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.
Sennheiser PC-350's.
No competition. Course there's that whole "get what you pay for" pricing part of them...
If you just have to go cheaper then the PC-161's are good. Better than the equivalently priced plantronics and logitech sets I had before.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
I have used a lot of different headsets. Try to steer clear of headsets without a USB interface when it comes to chat. Even with a great sound card, all sorts of noise can really make the people at the other end hate you, they also tend to be more poorly shielded(never understood why).
I am really high on my current set, Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 headset. They sound fantastic, as good as a Senheiser set of headphones that cost 130 bucks.
Plantronics has made some great ones as well, but I think that you end up paying more for a big name than for a product(sort of like buying Belkin cables over stuff just as good from Monoprice).
I have owned Logitech as well, never been too impressed with their headsets, the mics are great though.
If you are just anxious to get voice, grab a 20-30 dollar set. If you want game sound, look at something like The Medusa Pro Gamer line, Senheisser, Turtle Beach, etc.
Good Good. This has been helpful so far. My biggest fear is being the guy with horrible headset that pisses everyone off. Yes sound is important on my end, but I want to be sure I'm not talking into a bad microphone. As long as there have been no major complaints about how you sound on any of the above listed headsets they are now on my list of what I might buy.
Don't buy this piece of junk:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/headsets_microphones/devices/358&cl=us,en
-=<
Let this be the hour that we draw swords together.
Fell deeds await.
Now for wrath.
Now for ruin.
And the red dawn
>=-
If you want to go a bit cheaper I can almost recommend the Creative HS-900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16826158053
I can't recommend them because Creative is a company that intentionally disables advertised WinXP/2000 features in older sound cards in Vista so you'll buy their new cards, despite the fact those features work in Vista if you hack the installer. See http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/04/daniel_k-who-fi.html
Audio 90
If you are in the states get the Audio 90's you won't regret it. Super cheap even with the shipping cost. A few of the folks here just bought a pair off the site. Comfortable, they sound great and at that price you can't go wrong. I bought a pair a couple of years ago and loved them while they lasted.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Spoiler Fanatic!
This is only true if you're only planning on putting your voicechat through the headset. The dinky little drivers in that $25 microsoft headset might sound perfectly fine for voicechat, but if you're going to put the game's sound through them too (which is by far the more common setup...) then it's not even remotely true.
With headphones up to a certain point you very much get what you pay for.
Again, if you're piping the game audio through regular outer speakers and using a USB headset for just voice that's' different.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-17229118690-GameComPro1-Gaming-Headset...
I've been using the Plantronics Gamecom Pro 1 for around 3 years (I think). Sound quality is great and no one has ever complained about my sound on voice chat. Well..except when I'm on a drunken rant every once in awhile.
wordsmythe wrote:
I use the AX360 for both pc and 360 gaming. The quality is excellent, the headset is comfortable, and I get discernible separation on 5.1 surround sound. My only complaint is having to adjust the mix on every 360 title (which usually involves turning the game sound/music way down in order to mix it properly with voice, then pumping the overall volume to an acceptable level). This frustration has led me to lust after the Astro A40 with it's dedicated mixer for voice and game in for both 360 and PC. If anyone gets one, let me know how it works out.
Xbox Live: Stilgar Black
I love, love, love my
The 161s have bigger earcups and look great and the pc-350 looks to die for, but I've been very, very happy w/ the 151s for several years now. Plus, they have lasted longer than previous setups I've had, including some semi-nice stereo headphones. You won't be unhappy w/ Sennheiser, and you can get a great set for under $50.
*Legion* wrote:
You gotta go with the A40 from Astro Gaming.
Fear the flames...
Plantronics 90 is awesome.
I'm using a Gamecom-1 at the moment because the mic on my P90 is dead (and I couldnt affort a new one).
(the mic wire gets worn quickly and stops working)
Tip: just because the mic is vertically adjustable doesnt mean it should be adjusted
The sound and stuff is fine, but the cord coils badly for some reason so the 6foot wire quickly ends up being 10 inches long, slowly pulling your towards the pc.
I have to unravel it way too often so I dont hurt my neck leaning towards my pc, or rip the headset off my head when I move a bit.
The Audio 60 is what I have, thanks Gaald! I love them, very reliable, good sound quality, comfortable, cheap. For some reason I could not find them on the Plantronics website.
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.
In the clearance section at the plantronics website under gaming headsets I don't know for how much longer though and it's killing me I can't order one because I am not in the states! GRRRRRR.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Spoiler Fanatic!
Gaald, those were so incredibly cheap that I grabbed several; I paid $20 for a POS Rat Shack headset, so $9 each for those is pretty damn reasonable, and having spares on hand, since they're being discontinued, will be good.
If you want a 60 or a 90, and if you're not too hard to ship to, I can probably get one out to you.
I was actually thinking about that today, I might have an idea. I'll let you know if I need help.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Spoiler Fanatic!
Those Astro A40s are so sexy. Has anyone ever tried the razer headsets?
Your friendly neighbourhood hair splitting singularity.
Aperture scientist is my alter ego.
I picked up the Sennheiser PC 166 headset and I will honestly say it's the most comfortable headset I've worn for extended gaming periods. It sounds great and fits my head very well. Complaints with the headset are that other people around you can pretty much hear what is going on. They don't keep the sound to yourself very well. Also people said that I sound soft on vent/teamspeak. I will chock that up to me figuring out the correct settings.
Link to headset:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0IDUW
WoW Profile: Haruspex / Medivh Server