Best Headset/mic Combo

Real_PUAReal_PUA Join Date: 2005-03-23 Member: 46255Members
in NS General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">Im in the market for one.</div> Im currentyl looking for a good set of headphones that comes with a mic. I already have a decent set of phones, but I want something that sounds really nice. I also want to be able to command effectively and IMO a mic is absolutely necessary.

Help me out bros.
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Comments

  • urinalcakeurinalcake Can&#39;t work a sound card United States Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7799Members
    Even though IMHO this should be somewhere else, I'll go ahead and contribute.
    Altec Lansing
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  • PseudoKnightPseudoKnight Join Date: 2002-06-18 Member: 791Members
    edited May 2005
    Plantronics offer cheap alternatives but with decent quality. They're well known. If you have a good sound card, even the Audio 80 which can be found for under $20 is decent. I used it for a couple years. I thought the sound quality was better than the more expensive DSP400.

    The professional gaming standard is apparently Sennheiser. Decent prices, quality headsets. Most headsets don't offer that great music playback quality, but most people wouldn't notice the difference (or care) anyway.

    If you have a sound card (not built-in), use the regular versions. If you have a built-in sound card, then use the USB versions. Some people prefer cupped headsets that block out surrounding sound better, (even though they pretty much ALL have noise canceling tech) but this can be damaging to your ears in lengthy sessions. Cupped headsets often offer slightly better specifications, too. (though, if you compare an open Audio 80 with a supposedly superior cupped Audio 90 you might find the bass to be muffled on the latter) So long sessions: non-cupped... short sessions: cupped.
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  • GiGaBiTeGiGaBiTe Join Date: 2003-10-07 Member: 21489Members
    i recently got some $35 logitech headphones + mic, all i can say is they are the best set of headphones i have ever had. they are usb instead of just plugging into your sound card, so you dont get that crackling and reverb from the sound card when you use them.
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  • Jabba_The_HuntJabba_The_Hunt Join Date: 2003-01-05 Member: 11850Members
    My planatronics Audio 60's have served me well, i guess they are THE budget headset. But if your just looking for something to play your voice to other players at a good quality then they are fine. If your looking for something to listen to music with, or really want to make sure you hear every sound no matter how quiet/far away then you need a better pair.

    oh and Sennheiser aint just the proffesional standard for the games industry, but most of the music industry aswell <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

    btw, while most built in audio cards are bad if you happen to have a soundstorm you shouldn't have any quality problems.
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    Do a search, there was a thread about a month ago which had examples from uber quality (and price) and the best budget set. I think it was in Off Topic.
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  • HellbillyHellbilly A whole title out of pity... Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 3931Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    I have Plantronics Audio 90 and they are decent, although the build quality isn't excctly top notch.

    The Sennheiser series are said to be top quality, the PC150 and PC155. They also cost much more.
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  • SpetsnazSpetsnaz Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24761Members, Constellation
    <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'>PLANTRONICS = NO NO</span></span>

    Dont get me wrong they are alright headphones, but they break and lose their quality very quickly. I gone through 2 pairs.

    Zalman Head phones with the clip on mic are very very good headphones. I recommend them to any one.
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    No Plantronics. If you're looking for relatively cheap and nice quality, go for the Altec Lansing AHS 502.
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  • AmplifierAmplifier Join Date: 2004-02-19 Member: 26708Members, Constellation
    PLANTRONICS AUDIO90 Stereo Headset with In-Line Volume and Mute Control - Retail

    Been using them for about a year or so, great cheap headphones.

    <a href='http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826106009' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16826106009</a>
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    It's weird, everyone posts links to that pair of plantronics but I bought a cheaper set that hasn't let me down yet and I can't find it on the site I bought from nor do I have any info on the model number.

    In any case, I'd recommend the pair I've got for a quality budget buy. Sorry to be of absolutely no help whatsoever.
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  • comradecomrade Join Date: 2003-11-30 Member: 23774Members
    <b>ICEMAT Siberia</b> has really nice quality and a clip on mic, it's one of the best headset's I've ever used. I like it about 100 times better than my old plantronics.
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  • ZekZek Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 7962Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Plantronics work well for the price, but in my experience they're pretty much a gamble... You never know how long they're going to last before something inevitably goes wrong. Even so, they're so cheap that replacing them once in a while may still be more cost effective than an expensive headset.
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-Spetsnaz+May 28 2005, 08:04 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spetsnaz @ May 28 2005, 08:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'>PLANTRONICS = NO NO</span></span>

    Dont get me wrong they are alright headphones, but they break and lose their quality very quickly. I gone through 2 pairs.

    Zalman Head phones with the clip on mic are very very good headphones. I recommend them to any one. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, get 'em from Zalman.

    <a href='http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=134&code=023' target='_blank'>http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.a...dx=134&code=023</a>
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  • freebirdpatfreebirdpat Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27826Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    I had a Plantronics DSP 400, it broke before the 1-year warranty was up, one of the headphones went bad, and that was after the folding part fell apart.

    Second pair I got with the warranty eventually did the same thing.

    Quite annoying. Spend $70 or so and expecting to get quality that lasts. And mind you I am not a violent gamer that like throws stuff or rips stuff off, I was very careful, nothing more than normal average use and it did.
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  • RobertoRoberto Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14591Members, Constellation
    I really liked the headset that came with my gamevoice, but as that is no longer available I picked up the sennheiser pc150 and I love it. I really would like a headset with noise cancelling headphones for my next purchase, but that might get a bit pricey.
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  • digzdigz be still, maggot Join Date: 2002-05-07 Member: 588Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Sennheiser I have a pair of 150... wow. <i>Durrable</i>, realistic sound, great microphone. This will be the last brand you will ever buy.
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  • StukovStukov Join Date: 2003-03-04 Member: 14308Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    I've owned a DSP-500 for almost 2 years now I suppose, no problems with it at all. Everything still works fine.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    TELEX H-851 USB. Best sounding mic, evar.
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    A problem I've had with the Zalman (great headset technically) is its headband. The material irritates the head, your head can't breathe normally and you get awfully sweaty just there, and using it for prolonged periods of time heats up both your ears and your head.
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  • RushakraRushakra Join Date: 2004-03-25 Member: 27523Members
    Meh, I use a pair of $80 Koss headphones and just put a stick microphone that came with my computer (3 years old now) into my ear like a pencil and put the headphone cups on over that. Sounds great, works well.
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  • DrfuzzyDrfuzzy FEW... MORE.... INCHES... Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21094Members
    I use platronics, their great headphones, but yea, the wires are cheap. Ive gone through 4 of them in the last 2 years from the wires opening up. Fixed one of them, but the rest I cant open up to resolder, so thats another negative to them: their unserviceable.
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  • PseudoKnightPseudoKnight Join Date: 2002-06-18 Member: 791Members
    Yes, besides the wires being cheap, they're pretty decent and you can get them dirt cheap. I've heard alot of bad experiences with Audio 90s, though. I used Audio 80s for about two years before a wire finally failed. I liked the sound quality better than most headsets I've tried. I currently have a DSP 400, but I only got that because someone bought it for me. I would have gone for the Sennheisers if it was my choice. I'm now very interested in the Zalmans. I've been very impressed with their other products that I've bought from them and they have GREAT support.
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  • wallerwaller Join Date: 2004-04-28 Member: 28281Members
    Cheap pair of Audio 60's ftw from Argos, work a treat <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> If you're looking for a more quality pair though, go for the Icemat siberia, i hear they're very good, or if all else fails i'm sure the PC155's wont let you down. <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-waller+May 29 2005, 03:01 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (waller @ May 29 2005, 03:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Cheap pair of Audio 60's ftw from Argos, work a treat <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> If you're looking for a more quality pair though, go for the Icemat siberia, i hear they're very good, or if all else fails i'm sure the PC155's wont let you down. <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Those are the ones I have and they're still kicking after 3 years. I use a Creative Audigy soundcard and the mic works fine.
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  • KurtKurt Join Date: 2005-05-19 Member: 51960Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-freebirdpat+May 28 2005, 12:10 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (freebirdpat @ May 28 2005, 12:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I had a Plantronics DSP 400, it broke before the 1-year warranty was up, one of the headphones went bad, and that was after the folding part fell apart. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Same thing happened to me, left speaker died, and now the mic itself is following. o.o
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  • DC_DarklingDC_Darkling Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18068Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue, Squad Five Silver
    I got a labtec Axis-302 which does a fair job
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  • Omega_DeathOmega_Death Sith apprentice to a box of Cereal Join Date: 2003-08-06 Member: 19042Members
    Here, Sennheiser PC 150. On ebay for $36, that's where I got mine, and two of my friends as well. Fast shipping and processing. Good alternative to the typical logicrap headsets.

    <a href='http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64601&item=5778320768&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW' target='_blank'>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW</a>
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  • Renegade.Renegade. Join Date: 2003-01-15 Member: 12313Members, Constellation
    Plantronics Audio. 90 FTW!!
    Easily adjustable mic, cord clip, volume/mute control.
    very VERY VERY durable. I've tripped my plantronics wire many a time, causing them to go crashing off my desk and sailing across the floor and there still in pristine shape.
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  • BreakthroughBreakthrough Texture Artist (ns_prometheus) Join Date: 2005-03-27 Member: 46620Members, Constellation
    I have the <a href='http://plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat640035/cat1430032/prod5020014' target='_blank'>Plantronics Audio .45 Headset</a>, which comes with a USB sound card (which I do <b>NOT</b> use). I just like the headset <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • curlydavecurlydave Join Date: 2003-10-21 Member: 21855Members
    Get one with surround sound, eg Zalman.
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