Gaming Headsets?

[Joeygates]

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase a gaming headset. I'm looking for good quality and full positional audio (i.e. if something is sneaking around me, I want to know where it is using my headset).

Bells, whistles, etc.

I don't want wireless either. I don't care about the wires. As long as I don't have a battery to change or charge, I'm happy.

Thanks in advance!
Joe

 

[Joeygates]

Just to add, I also want it to have its own volume control as well as a mute button.

Thanks!

 

[idiotekniQues]

sennheisers. they make a pair for like 35 and one for like 75.

they also have a mic boom that works great, in-line volume plus mute button.

ive had the 35 dollar set for awhile now, probably dropped them like 50 times off my desk to a hard floor, still work perfect, and all my clan-mates agree it sounds tip top in ventrilo. i get positioning sounds good with these, though i heard the more expensive gaming version are a bit better in positional sound.

 

[Joeygates]

Thanks. Yeah, been seeing the $35 ones but they haven't been touting the positional thing. I'll look into it more.

The siberia ones stick out as an inexpensive alternative though people are saying they feel fragile. $54 for what they're calling the virtual 7.1 surround sound seems reasonable.

The Razer ones should have 5 stars on newegg for $120 but they only have 4 . . . true Razer though. They always "almost" get it and always overcharge. $120 is a bit much for a headset.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I have a pair of these and love 'em. Great sound. HPA2
It has volume control, but I'm not sure about a mute button though.

 

[TestedAcorn]

Well do you want the mute button for yourself or do you want it so you can mute everyone else? If you want one so that you can mute yourself get http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826106932
It's a cheap but very dependable headset, has volume control and a little slider thingy to mute yourself, and with on the fly volume control, you dont really need a mute button for other people, just yourself.

 

[potato28]

What your asking for is leading into the area of separate headphones and mics. For $110 you could get a pair of A-500's from Audiocubes, and use a clip-on mic like the Zalman from Newegg. This won't have the mute mic function, and the volume will be controlled by the source, but this will overall be a better choice for positional gaming.

 

[videogames101]

I LOVE my Sennheiser PC166,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826106164

the mic is just amazing, and the sound is just as great.

 

[Joeygates]

To answer questions
.
I'm looking for a set with the mic and headphones included.

I want something that is good quality and comfortable.

The 2 I've narrowed it down to are both by steelseries:

5H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...N82E16826249016&Tpk=5h

Icemat Siberia
http://www.steelseries.com/us/...a-full-usb/information

Both seem nice. The 2nd one seems a little more delicate so I'm likely to go for the first.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[matas]

Razer Baracudas

 

[idiotekniQues]

i would stick with the sennheiser pc 150' or 166's over some over-gimmicky over-hyped gamers brand.

sennheiser is a long time maker of ultra high quality headsets and audio equipment, and their stuff is top notch. it is pretty simple, you will get the best quality headphones for the price, and that translates into good positional sound. im willing to wager they are better than a rebadged gamer's brand.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
i would stick with the sennheiser pc 150' or 166's over some over-gimmicky over-hyped gamers brand.

sennheiser is a long time maker of ultra high quality headsets and audio equipment, and their stuff is top notch. it is pretty simple, you will get the best quality headphones for the price, and that translates into good positional sound. im willing to wager they are better than a rebadged gamer's brand.

QFT, after clarification from OP this seems like the best option. Don't fall for any of the 5.1 gimmick though, a quality headset(the sennheisers) will be much better for gaming.

 

[CaptainJackSwallows]

plantronics audio .370

 

[Capt Caveman]

For FPS gaming, nothing beats the Medusa 5.1's

 

[novasatori]

lol I use that logitech headset that was linked at newegg and never had a problem with picking up directions by audio

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826106932

that one - its hella cheap, but has lasted me like 2 years now, longer than my plantronics headset lasted, and is just as good imo
the only thing I don't like is the over ear plastic starts to hurt after like 3 days of 10hr+ a day gaming, I started wrapping tissue around it tho and its no problem.

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: CaptainJackSwallows
plantronics audio .370

I got a pair of plantronics but I don't remember if it's a 370 model. Mine have the 3.5mm plugs but it's awesome sound and nice mute/volume control for the mic makes it a winner in my book. I really dislike USB headsets since I have a Creative Audgiy2 ZS LiveDrive front adapter unit with my sound card.


OP -> Other then this I got a stand alone Logitech mic for my other pc which works great and really is just as good the head set mention above along with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT250 headphones which are freaking awesome despite being 5 years old. To bad Beyerdynamic doesn't make gaming headsets.

 

[konakona]

Honestly, I dont see why some prefer to have headsets as opposed to better headphones + mic. People in audio hobby generally dislike headsets for a reason - they are usually much worse in the same price bracket.

The microphone I have is a logitech USB that I bought a few years ago. Has a nice glowing LED that works as a on/off switch. No need for any driver installation, makes itself the default recording device upon plugging in. Never had/saw/used a heaset that had a better built in mic than this neat little thing which set me back like $15 shipped. Headphones > headsets, hard to argue there.

Do you go to lanparties a lot? Just curious to see why headsets are needed for gaming (not like you are going to be tilting your head all over the place and looking away while gaming)

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: konakona
Honestly, I dont see why some prefer to have headsets as opposed to better headphones + mic. People in audio hobby generally dislike headsets for a reason - they are usually much worse in the same price bracket.

The microphone I have is a logitech USB that I bought a few years ago. Has a nice glowing LED that works as a on/off switch. No need for any driver installation, makes itself the default recording device upon plugging in. Never had/saw/used a heaset that had a better built in mic than this neat little thing which set me back like $15 shipped. Headphones > headsets, hard to argue there.

Do you go to lanparties a lot? Just curious to see why headsets are needed for gaming (not like you are going to be tilting your head all over the place and looking away while gaming)

I have the USB logitech mic too, its about $30 in stores (i got it for $16) Best sounding microphone out there for $16. Just a set of really nice headphones + desktop mic will easily beat any headset out there.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: swtethan

Originally posted by: konakona
Honestly, I dont see why some prefer to have headsets as opposed to better headphones + mic. People in audio hobby generally dislike headsets for a reason - they are usually much worse in the same price bracket.

The microphone I have is a logitech USB that I bought a few years ago. Has a nice glowing LED that works as a on/off switch. No need for any driver installation, makes itself the default recording device upon plugging in. Never had/saw/used a heaset that had a better built in mic than this neat little thing which set me back like $15 shipped. Headphones > headsets, hard to argue there.

Do you go to lanparties a lot? Just curious to see why headsets are needed for gaming (not like you are going to be tilting your head all over the place and looking away while gaming)

I have the USB logitech mic too, its about $30 in stores (i got it for $16) Best sounding microphone out there for $16. Just a set of really nice headphones + desktop mic will easily beat any headset out there.

sennheiser actually has decent sound quality headsets for each price...

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: konakona
Honestly, I dont see why some prefer to have headsets as opposed to better headphones + mic. People in audio hobby generally dislike headsets for a reason - they are usually much worse in the same price bracket.

The microphone I have is a logitech USB that I bought a few years ago. Has a nice glowing LED that works as a on/off switch. No need for any driver installation, makes itself the default recording device upon plugging in. Never had/saw/used a heaset that had a better built in mic than this neat little thing which set me back like $15 shipped. Headphones > headsets, hard to argue there.

Do you go to lanparties a lot? Just curious to see why headsets are needed for gaming (not like you are going to be tilting your head all over the place and looking away while gaming)

being a gamer who uses vent a lot, i tried using a desk mic and a headset just works better.

that is why after trying a couple different brands i read a lot about sennheiser who i knew is known first for top notch headphones. i think they break the mold by not sacrificing headphone quality to get the boom mic in there and making it a headset.

also, the mic quality is top notch.

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: swtethan

Originally posted by: konakona
Honestly, I dont see why some prefer to have headsets as opposed to better headphones + mic. People in audio hobby generally dislike headsets for a reason - they are usually much worse in the same price bracket.

The microphone I have is a logitech USB that I bought a few years ago. Has a nice glowing LED that works as a on/off switch. No need for any driver installation, makes itself the default recording device upon plugging in. Never had/saw/used a heaset that had a better built in mic than this neat little thing which set me back like $15 shipped. Headphones > headsets, hard to argue there.

Do you go to lanparties a lot? Just curious to see why headsets are needed for gaming (not like you are going to be tilting your head all over the place and looking away while gaming)

I have the USB logitech mic too, its about $30 in stores (i got it for $16) Best sounding microphone out there for $16. Just a set of really nice headphones + desktop mic will easily beat any headset out there.

sennheiser actually has decent sound quality headsets for each price...

I use Sennheiser headphones (which are really good) + Logitech USB mic (which are the best). There is no way a headset will ever come close to the quality of incoming and outgoing sound.

 

[konakona]

sennheiser actually has decent sound quality headsets for each price...

yeah, but you could do better with same amount of $$$ imo.

being a gamer who uses vent a lot, i tried using a desk mic and a headset just works better.

that is why after trying a couple different brands i read a lot about sennheiser who i knew is known first for top notch headphones. i think they break the mold by not sacrificing headphone quality to get the boom mic in there and making it a headset.

also, the mic quality is top notch.

I see. I believe you when you say it works better; come to think of it, I just dont use the mic for gaming much at all... After all, audiophiles can be very finicky about things, so the gamers might have different priorities I am sure. At least it is kinda hard to go wrong with sennheiser if you like their sound

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: konakona

sennheiser actually has decent sound quality headsets for each price...

yeah, but you could do better with same amount of $$$ imo.

being a gamer who uses vent a lot, i tried using a desk mic and a headset just works better.

that is why after trying a couple different brands i read a lot about sennheiser who i knew is known first for top notch headphones. i think they break the mold by not sacrificing headphone quality to get the boom mic in there and making it a headset.

also, the mic quality is top notch.

I see. I believe you when you say it works better; come to think of it, I just dont use the mic for gaming much at all... After all, audiophiles can be very finicky about things, so the gamers might have different priorities I am sure. At least it is kinda hard to go wrong with sennheiser if you like their sound

agreed, if you are looking for pure audio quality headphones, best off sticking with just headphones.

i dont use my sennheiser headsets to relax and really get into music, even though they are respectable, but i have them for gaming and positional sound.

i have a pair of akg k501's to listen to classical with.

a set of UE super.fi 5 pros for my zen vision for portable use.

a set of pioneer hdj-1000's for when i used to dj.

savin up for triple driver IEM's custom fit one day, and also a top notch set of headphones that are audiophile quality for more electronic/rock/alternative since the k501's are best suited to other kinds of music.

and i have to do more reading on quality amps to get these good cans the right clean signal, but again, that will take up some saving as well.

i know some gamers that swear by a desk or clip on mic, so i am not saying that is out of the question. however, a lot of people just really dig the headset mic built in, myself included, it really depends on personal taste.

but if you use a mic a lot for gaming, most gamers like a headset, it just works more seamlessly for most.

especially if you are in a clan, communication is of the ultimate importance, and even if you just pub, using the in game communcation like with most multiplayer games these days can add a great teamwork element to any online gaming experience. thus the microphone becomes an important part.

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: videogames101
I LOVE my Sennheiser PC166,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826106164

the mic is just amazing, and the sound is just as great.

I have the same headset, it is by far the best headset I have had the pleasure of using.

 

[DjUnternull]

siberia icemat w/ sound card and usb , the usb card is 7.1 it rocks for gaming i hear guys coming from miles away has its own sound and mute button.I play counter strike competitvely and im telling you i hear guys around the corner coming from miles away.