Hardware & Technical Argh!!! Headsets...

Easy_Target

Easy_Target
I hate headsets, I have a really old but amazing Yamaha amp and speaker set and love to use it for gaming - whole house shakes with some games but I will be playing Elite late at night so need to be quiet...

I don't want to spend lots of cash on so called gamer headsets that just seem over priced for tinny sounding speakers so a little advice is needed if you don't mind!
Will be using them with EdTracker and voice attack otherwise I would just use my trusty in ear headphones.

I saw these that apparently have great reviews but do let me know what your using!
 

Distance

Distance
Easy_Target said:
I hate headsets, I have a really old but amazing Yamaha amp and speaker set and love to use it for gaming - whole house shakes with some games but I will be playing Elite late at night so need to be quiet...

I don't want to spend lots of cash on so called gamer headsets that just seem over priced for tinny sounding speakers so a little advice is needed if you don't mind!
Will be using them with EdTracker and voice attack otherwise I would just use my trusty in ear headphones.

I saw these that apparently have great reviews but do let me know what your using!
Click to expand...

I'm an audio engineer and have a proper studio and also (grand a set) studio speakers at home fwiw.

I use the gamecom 780s (next model up) and they work great for Elite. The only downside is I've read reviews that the build quality is shocking and they have a habit of breaking. I've had mine for a few months and not had a problem in that respect but bear that in mind if you're looking at the plantronics gear.
 

Pete

Pete
I use the same headphones I use for everything else, B&W P7.
Because my ears are worth it!

My computer mic is good enough that I don't need another one, so I use the cable without the in-line mic.

-- Pete.
 

rootsrat

Volunteer Moderator
rootsrat
Easy_Target said:
I hate headsets, I have a really old but amazing Yamaha amp and speaker set and love to use it for gaming - whole house shakes with some games but I will be playing Elite late at night so need to be quiet...

I don't want to spend lots of cash on so called gamer headsets that just seem over priced for tinny sounding speakers so a little advice is needed if you don't mind!
Will be using them with EdTracker and voice attack otherwise I would just use my trusty in ear headphones.

I saw these that apparently have great reviews but do let me know what your using!
Click to expand...

I use this headset: http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Sound-Blaster-Tactic3D-Wrath-Wireless.aspx

It's received extremely good reviews and I can confirm it's an awesome piece of kit. It has 3d surround simulation that works really well and I am very pleased with it. It's not particularly cheap (about a £100 or so), but there are many headsets that are much more expensive too.
 

Iain M Norman

Iain M Norman
I also have never found a headset I liked. Arghh indeed.

Partly I just hate the mic hanging off my face.

At the moment I either use my Sennheiser HD600 headphones combined with an SE2200a condenser mic on a broadcast stand.

View attachment 4646

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This means I don't have to use headphones, I can just switch on the fly between headphones and speakers, and still have a mic for Teamspeak and VoiceAttack.

My ED tracker I sewed onto the peak of a baseball cap, so I can use it whether I'm using headphones or not!

Oh yes. Sound engineer in the past as well :)
 
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Shadowdancer

Shadowdancer
No "headset" will ever beat dedicated headphones. Well, maybe this sucker. In hindsight, investing in the sucker would even have been a good thing. I'm using a pair of AKG K271 and a condenser mic on a swivel, which I may replace with something like a lavalier that doesn't pick up everything that happens in a 3-block radius. The headphone "loop" works great with the active TrackIR clip too.

(Side remark on the K271, they're studio monitors so rather linear and don't give the bass boost you'll find on most other headphones, but they will hand you every little imperfection like slight clipping or compression artifacts on a platter; some people don't like that. In Elite, they will give you frighteningly precise positioned ship sounds.)
 
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jynxed

jynxed
I found a great thread with reviews on many headsets and headphones whilst looking around for some nice multipurpose headphones / gaming headset. At the bottom it gives you a few recommendations for sperate mics if you decide you do not want a headset, that way you can just use the mic when playing and get some really decent headphones. It is regularly updated and has something to suit most budgets. Headphone Gaming Guide, hope it helps.
 
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Samu

Samu
Easy_Target said:
I saw these that apparently have great reviews but do let me know what your using!
Click to expand...

I was going to recommend the more expensive version, though I've used both and would say go with either. Saying that: Some people tend to find them uncomfortable after long periods of use, especially when you first start using them; saying that it feels like they're squeezing your head. Personally I'm not sure if I felt the same or if I just got used to it.

The 780 has an excellent microphone.
 

Distance

Distance
Samu said:
I was going to recommend the more expensive version, though I've used both and would say go with either. Saying that: Some people tend to find them uncomfortable after long periods of use, especially when you first start using them; saying that it feels like they're squeezing your head. Personally I'm not sure if I felt the same or if I just got used to it.

The 780 has an excellent microphone.
Click to expand...

Depends on the size of your ears, I have average and they fit in fine and are comfortable but my friend with tunnels finds them really uncomfortable.
 

Hellhawk666

Hellhawk666
They might be beyond your preferred budget, but after owning many pairs of gaming headsets and audio headphones over the years ranging from $15 generic junk from the supermarket through to Beyerdynamic Tesla T-1s and Stax electrostatics, the only gaming headset I would recommend without reservation is these: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25385 They are expensive, but very good - you get what you pay for. They also make a less expensive model, the ATH-PDG1, but I have not used them.
 

Dash

Dash
Just get yourself some Sennheiser headphones. Surround sound is cool, but not a game-breaker to be without it. If you're playing late into the night there is no point having a microphone either in my experience.
 

JohnD

J
If you are fine with stereo take a look on "Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset". I'm really happy with these for more than 5 years now (bought new ones cuz got broken due to falling down to often :/ ) They make real got sound with some nice bass. In combination with a mid- to high price sound card these have at least same quality as if not even better than premium gamer headsets.
I had a surround head set once. I played some Battlefield 3 and couldn't find a real difference in locating enemies. It's also quite affordable.
 

DYSEQTA

DYSEQTA
Assuming you are looking for a headset for gaming and not for general use then I would recommend the Razer Megalodon 7.1 headset. They are over ear, open back phones with decent sound and a solid mic. They key thing here is that they are comfortable over long sessions even when it is hot. They won't win any awards in audiophile magazines but then that's not really the point is it? Right tool for the right job and all that.
 

Wicz

Wicz
DYSEQTA said:
Assuming you are looking for a headset for gaming and not for general use then I would recommend the Razer Megalodon 7.1 headset. They are over ear, open back phones with decent sound and a solid mic. They key thing here is that they are comfortable over long sessions even when it is hot. They won't win any awards in audiophile magazines but then that's not really the point is it? Right tool for the right jib and all that.
Click to expand...


I really can't agree with this.

The sound in modern games is of very high quality, particularly in this game.

Buying headphones when you know they have poor sound but a good mic is crazy imho, especially when they are grossly overpriced like the Razer product you mentioned.

Get some decent headphones, then buy a mic.
 

Niddi

N
Easy_Target said:
I don't want to spend lots of cash on so called gamer headsets that just seem over priced for tinny sounding speakers
Click to expand...

Would you be willing to spend some more money on dedicated stereo headphones? If yes then go for it, your ears will love you. Combined with a Modmic you'll have a really nice headset. I personally use a Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250 Ohm with a Modmic.
 
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DYSEQTA

DYSEQTA
Wicz said:
I really can't agree with this.

The sound in modern games is of very high quality, particularly in this game.

Buying headphones when you know they have poor sound but a good mic is crazy imho, especially when they are grossly overpriced like the Razer product you mentioned.

Get some decent headphones, then buy a mic.
Click to expand...

I didn't say they have poor sound. I said they wouldn't win any awards in an audiophile magazine... big difference there. My point is that they are a tool designed for the job, in this case gaming, and they do that job well. Comfort ofver long periods is more important than stellar sound. I have a pair of ATH-ES10's sitting right here next to me but I would never use them for gaming...
 

Easy_Target

Easy_Target
Thanks for all your advice guys!
Just ordered a pair of gamecom's from Amazon (next day delivery for free!) so these will do for now, super cheap. Will use a Lav and a decent set of phones when I find some that suit.
 
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