Best headset for gaming (VOIP/chat only), while other game audio utilizes speaker?

[destrekor]

Not sure if this is the best subforum for this, but let's try it anyway.


I'm looking for a mobile-phone style, mono-type (not dual-ear/stereo) earpiece/headset that would strictly be for voice chatting.

My motherboard has a built-in BT receiver, so I should be able to use just about any mobile phone-type bluetooth earpiece/headset.


I have headphones (G35) that has a mic, but I'd rather use my speakers when possible. But two things bother me with that: voice chat comes over the speakers as well, which can make understanding comms in games (even if I'm not speaking back) somewhat challenging. And of course, no ability to speak back.



Anyone have any recommendations? If it has good noise-canceling, that should help, since I don't want to have the speakers so low as to be nearly inaudible. Of course, I'd still have to drop the volume a little bit from the preferred "I'm in a warzone!" volume. But if I can minimize how much gets picked up, that would be great.

I'm looking for bluetooth because honestly, I just don't want to deal with wires.
And it should be easier to setup things so that only voice chat goes through the earpiece, and all other audio goes through the speakers. Getting a wired (w/ mic and headphone cables) set will probably make it more convoluted. If it's USB it'd probably be easier to configure than the 3.5mm connector types.

But generally, since I have bluetooth capability built into the system, I figure it'd just be easier to go that route. I know there is latency, but I have no intention of pushing all audio to it, it would be only voice comms.

 

[destrekor]

Update:

I found my PS3 Bluetooth headset (the one that came with the PS3 edition of SOCOM iirc; there is a newer official BT headset that has more rounded corners, probably more comfortable too).

Either it's this specific headset, or its the situation I have to deal with: just sitting in front of my monitors, I get crackling over the headset even when nothing is being transmitted in either direction.

Issue is, the BT module is built into the motherboard, on the back I/O panel - which that face of the pc tower is tucked in the corner of the desktop (walled in by three panels of wood, with only a little space shooting out) and a few monitors in-between that spot and my head.

Will it just not be possible to use a BT headset with that BT module, or will a higher quality headset do the trick?

Edited OP to reflect my need for any worthy headset dedicated to voice, while all other game audio goes through the speakers.

 

[Elcs]

Personally I use some IEM's (those earphones with the silicon tips that fit inside the ear canal), one ear only, with a standalone mic (A Labtec LVA-7330. Boom mic with headband, though I modified one of my sets into a simple over the ear clip so the mic sits at the right spot).

This gives me a direct voice feed into my ear and I retain the entertainment and situational awareness afforded by my 5.1 speaker system.

This might not be what you want or may not be practical for you but I thought I'd throw this out there just in case it makes sense

 

[OSULugan]

I use the same headset, but I went ahead and got a PCI sound card to pipe game audio through, while my headset uses the on-board audio to give me in game voice-chat. yes, it does muffle the game sounds a bit, but with PTT active, I don't have complaints about echoing or anything, and I can also run music while I play, if I choose.

Another option is to get one that has a USB adapter (or just a USB sound adapter) to run your headset through. It'll allow you to split sound to the headset and speakers.

 

[destrekor]

That's what I am basically thinking at this point - standard wired headset (mic + headphone connections) that also allows a USB method - or, one that's straight USB from the get-go.

The other option is a Bluetooth USB module to place in a more optimal spot, and either continue using the PS3 BT headset, or, preferably, get a new, vastly more comfortable model.


Though it appears there might be a major issue: while just about any method of the above will work for most games, specifically when using another separate VOIP/chat app, the main game I am actually focusing on is Planetside 2. And searching online, it actually appears PS2 has terrible built-in VOIP support; it seems like you can't use two separate pieces of audio hardware to split VOIP chat and the game audio.
Or at least, you may be able to use a headset to talk into, but chat will come out of the speakers with the rest of the audio - or it will all come out through the headset and the speakers will go unused.

If I game with the G35 headset, this wouldn't be an issue. But I'd prefer NOT being forced into using a full headset like that when I have speakers. That headset is mostly for when I can't use speakers (late at night and people are sleeping).
Plus, for when I'm at my PC, with those headsets on I basically can't hear anything. Which is sort of a good noise isolation feature, except it sucks not hearing the phone, front door, etc. The G35's make it very easy to be completely oblivious to the outside world.

 

[OSULugan]

Yeah, that was my experience with most built-in VOIP setups. Of course, when we ran into this in LOTRO, my raiding group decided to use Ventrilo anyway because the netcode for the built-in VOIP was causing connection/lag issues with full raids.

World of Tanks's built in VOIP doesn't play nicely unless you completely reconfigure your hardware to only support it, also.

 

[Kyanzes]

I have positive experience with my Sennheiser PC 320. It's circumaural and open so it's very comfortable.

 

[Remobz]

I have positive experience with my Sennheiser PC 320. It's circumaural and open so it's very comfortable.

Would a SENNHEISER PC 360 plus a good Asus sound card be good for gaming?

Or will I need a Sennheiser 600 plus good Asus sound card?

 

[Kyanzes]

Would a SENNHEISER PC 360 plus a good Asus sound card be good for gaming?

Or will I need a Sennheiser 600 plus good Asus sound card?

A PC360 + an ASUS card (even a Xonar DG) should be adequate. I have to say that if you MOSTLY offline/solo play games and only do occasional multiplayer (using Ventrilo, Mumble and TeamSpeak) then I'd definitely go for both a PC360 and a Sennheiser 600 (or equivalent like the 595 and maybe the 650 if still sold) as the HD58x 59x 6xx series are incredibly comfortable AND sound awesome.

Now, if you almost always play MMOs then you wouldn't really have the chance to switch to the Sennheiser HD anyway. It would be uncomfortable to swap them all the time. Could also result in a mess with the cables.

I play in groups occasionally (say 2-3 hours a week) so I keep a separate headphone set. They also sound fine.

I also have to say that the PC 3xx series are quite comfortable. Not as much as the HD series but if I never had experience with the HD series I'd prolly find the PC 3xx series awesome. Since I know how cool HDs are I'd say PC 3xx headphones are nice.

You can certainly wear them (the PC 3xx) for several hours without ear pain which is a major plus.

 

[kache]

Logitech G35 + integrated realtek. Worked wonders for me.

 

[destrekor]

So, wireless or wired (USB), what is a *good* monaural (one-ear) headset?

Preferably one I could pick up locally, just because.

I doubt many really go this route for gaming, most probably use a combined headset for game audio + voice chat.

But I imagine the mono style is quite popular among any VOIP users out there.

Logitech G35 + integrated realtek. Worked wonders for me.

My G35 cans block out so much external sound, that I can not ever see myself doing this effectively.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Would a SENNHEISER PC 360 plus a good Asus sound card be good for gaming?

Or will I need a Sennheiser 600 plus good Asus sound card?

I use the Sennheiser PC360 with my built in audio. An Asus card with a built in headphone amp would be ideal. The quality of them is really top notch. Not just the audio quality but the build quality is very good.

BTW: The PC360 uses the same audio hardware as the HD595 in a different casing and an attached mic.

All that aside, they do require you to use them as the audio source not your speakers.

 

[destrekor]

Well, I was browsing what was available locally, and decided on taking a visit to OfficeMax and picking up a Cyber Acoustics AC-840 USB headset. It's a over-the-head, over-the-ear (as opposed to behind the neck or in-ear) monaural headset. Reviews seemed a little spotty, but the majority if not all users, like me, expressed satisfaction for teamspeak-type usage.

I was eyeing a Plantronics MX500i, but it was $20 more expensive and reviews were just as mixed. Worse, I could order it online for the same price as the CA headset. I only lost a few bucks on the CA headset bought locally, but that would have been lost paying for better shipping (I will never, ever settle for free shipping through Amazon. Ever. It can be quick, but it's usually brutally slow.)

I'll let you know my findings with this thing.

 

[abaez]

I don't understand - what exactly are you trying to do? Are you saying you want all voice communications done through the headset while game sounds come through your speakers?

That is very easy to do with whatever voip program your using. Just tell it to use your headset both input and output voice comms and the game will use the speakers. That's exactly how I have mine setup.

 

[destrekor]

I don't understand - what exactly are you trying to do? Are you saying you want all voice communications done through the headset while game sounds come through your speakers?

That is very easy to do with whatever voip program your using. Just tell it to use your headset both input and output voice comms and the game will use the speakers. That's exactly how I have mine setup.

Well I understand that's how it will be SET UP, the first part (this thread) was/is all about getting the ideal headset to do so with.


As in, currently I have a G35 headset (USB), but it's stereo (both ears covered), and it does a damn good job at audio isolation (passive). So, using that for voice comms, and speakers for audio, is not a practical solution.

To that end, I am looking for a good headset that only covers a single ear, and either is a quality wireless device, or is USB (messing with two products using 3.5mm jacks is a mess and usually don't work out well).


I was looking for products that weren't like the one I picked up, as in, something better than low-to-mid grade. Like, I was avoiding the Dynex monaural headset at BestBuy, the Gigaware headset of similar style at Radioshack (plus, it wasn't USB), or the Cyber Acoustics headset. I wouldn't doubt if they were all the same though.

But I decided on the Cyber Acoustics headset (AC-840). As for the overall solution, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's actual implementation and quality, that is TBD. I'll find out today.

 

[abaez]

Ah ok. I have the G35 set and have no problems hearing the game sounds through the headset.

 

[destrekor]

Ah ok. I have the G35 set and have no problems hearing the game sounds through the headset.

Game sounds through headset - as in, coming from speakers, or game audio in the headset itself?

If using the G35 for both game audio and voice chat, that's hardly a big deal.

But I don't want to use a full sound-isolating headset at all times, especially when I have speakers to utilize. The headset was mostly for quiet hours, as in... when I can't use speakers for whatever reason. But I never got around to getting a headset for those times too, mainly because I loathe voice chatting and do it so rarely.

But I'm getting into Planetside 2, and voice will be infinitely better than the chat interface... and if I get back into racing sims, it would be handy there as well.

 

[abaez]

Coming from speakers.

 

[Childs]

Its going to annoy anyone using voip anytime you dont use headphones. Everyone is going to hear your speakers. Even a directional mic aimed away from the speakers will pick up the sound coming in on the sides or bouncing off the walls. For something simple like Skype its tolerable, but not while gaming.

 

[destrekor]

Its going to annoy anyone using voip anytime you dont use headphones. Everyone is going to hear your speakers. Even a directional mic aimed away from the speakers will pick up the sound coming in on the sides or bouncing off the walls. For something simple like Skype its tolerable, but not while gaming.

Eh, that's why you utilize push to talk or whatever. Constant "voice on" would indeed be ugh.

Regardless, it's not something I have actively tested so I haven't determined just how bad it will be during the worst moments.


I just know I don't like using the headset on the G35 because my own voice sounds very muffled since the ears are so well blocked by the cans. I don't like talking when I can't hear myself that well, because I need that self-reference to determine how well I am communicating. I may be mumbling, or speaking too fast, or speaking too softly... I do that even WITH having open ears to hear otherwise (like on a phone), so it could become more pronounced with the loss of that feedback.

But the only other solution, hearing oneself repeated in the headset, is insanely jarring and throws me off. lol and then I get self-conscious because then I immediately know how "off" I sound recorded compared to in person. At least, that's always been my experience. Maybe I'm just partially retarded.

 

[destrekor]

Coming from speakers.

You hear footsteps and projectiles and all other positional/directional audio cues, from the speakers, with your ears pretty well isolated by the G35 cans?

You must be at near blow-out levels on your speakers!

Or you aren't wearing the headset completely enclosing your ears. I've done that at LANs - I only put up with it at LANs so I can hear other people in the room (when we are ace squading in BF3 this is important ), but I hardly would consider doing this regularly. It's right on the "unbearably uncomfortable" line, dancing all over that line in fact.

 

[Childs]

Eh, that's why you utilize push to talk or whatever. Constant "voice on" would indeed be ugh.

Regardless, it's not something I have actively tested so I haven't determined just how bad it will be during the worst moments.


I just know I don't like using the headset on the G35 because my own voice sounds very muffled since the ears are so well blocked by the cans. I don't like talking when I can't hear myself that well, because I need that self-reference to determine how well I am communicating. I may be mumbling, or speaking too fast, or speaking too softly... I do that even WITH having open ears to hear otherwise (like on a phone), so it could become more pronounced with the loss of that feedback.

But the only other solution, hearing oneself repeated in the headset, is insanely jarring and throws me off. lol and then I get self-conscious because then I immediately know how "off" I sound recorded compared to in person. At least, that's always been my experience. Maybe I'm just partially retarded.

In a slow paced game PTT might be OK, but I couldnt imagine doing it for something like BF3 or COD, unless you are just casually talking and its not related to gameplay. You could try some open headphones, like the AD700s and a mod mic or desktop mic. Logitech also makes a directional desktop mic. With a headset type mic pointing towards speakers, I dont think it will sound all that good. When you PTT, you'll get that loud blast of garbled sound which I also find annoying.

I would think the Logitech desktop mic would be worth trying. Its design seems better suited to what you want for your setup.

 

[_Rick_]

I'm using open headphones and a reasonably cheap Sony clip-mic.
Got to balance out the volume and voice-activation sensitivity now and then, but generally works great, and is comfortable.
The latter is difficult to achieve with a mono earpiece - and you'll still use directional audio.

 

[destrekor]

In a slow paced game PTT might be OK, but I couldnt imagine doing it for something like BF3 or COD, unless you are just casually talking and its not related to gameplay. You could try some open headphones, like the AD700s and a mod mic or desktop mic. Logitech also makes a directional desktop mic. With a headset type mic pointing towards speakers, I dont think it will sound all that good. When you PTT, you'll get that loud blast of garbled sound which I also find annoying.

I would think the Logitech desktop mic would be worth trying. Its design seems better suited to what you want for your setup.

Well, even with a directional mic, it will pick up sound from speakers I reckon, especially since the mic would be a lot closer to the speakers than the boom on a headset. There is less than a foot between edge of desk and the center monitor, and 5 speakers ring the desk in a flattened half-circle shape, following the "curve" of the three monitors.

When messing around in team-speak, there seemed to be some good settings to work on "cleaning up" the audio. I imagine in-game comms won't do as good of a job cleaning up the mic input.

I was wearing the headset and in a teamspeak server last night while playing Planetside 2, but never actually keyed to talk. Annoying, I had voices coming from everywhere. I had voice in the earpiece from Teamspeak, since that's how I had it configured. In Planetside 2, you cannot configure separate audio streams - so people in the platoon using in-game voice chat were audible through the speakers themselves.
Oh, that was hell to follow.


As for PTT - well, I now have both my mouse (G700) and Teamspeak configured to use a macro assigned to one of the side buttons. I think I chose a good button that will allow me to continue to react to enemies and the world around me while simultaneously talking without hindering myself.

I'll have to look into properly setting up Battlelog's party voice chat to see if I can make use of this setup without serious audio issues. But so far, that is really the only other game I'd even consider using voicechat for anyway, and it's limited to party voice chat (works well enough if you squad up with them) since they have yet to add VOIP in game (doubt it will ever happen. here's to hoping it does for BF4). It's just not a good game to match up with TS/Vent/Mumble.

Well, one racing game (iRacing), if I get back into it, would work great too. It has good built-in voice support, I think it only supports PTT - but with a wheel setup that has enough buttons, dedicating one to PTT (especially on the wheel itself, or on the shifter unit) works well enough. And chatting on that is sparse during race sessions (passing/notifiying, reacting to idiots, etc).

Rambled there a bit - but I think it might work. Ultimately, a little background noise in the voice stream isn't a terrible issue imho. I hear it from time to time, and I don't find it bothersome. Maybe others do, but sometimes there is no perfect setup for some people. I'd rather not use a headset if I have speakers - the sound is much better.

And considering I've never been a voice chatter before, I have no plans to drone on and on (unlike in other settings :whiste. I'd treat it just like I do radio usage - simple, terse, to the point.

 

[Bryf50]

I use a Sennheiser pc26 for exactly what you're describing. Its single ear and has a usb connection. People tell me the voice clarity is really good too.