Behind The Head Gaming Headset Suggestions?

Sup all,

So my recent headset is getting a bit old...wires are coming out of their rubber casing...microphone ceases to work (been using laptop internal mic)...I figure it's about time to treat myself to a new one. So, with that said...

I'm trying to find a good behind the head headset, which will be primarily used for FPS games for periods of time as long as 6 hours (on a good day, lol). Therefore, it needs to maintain comfort. I'd also prefer (but, do not require) for the microphone to be flexible (some people refer to it as a "gooseneck", I've read).

I haven't decided (perhaps you'd all like to offer some feedback? I've never used an enclosed headset before and don't see much point in changing that now, unless it helps hearing significantly [I happen to have rather excellent hearing, above norm]) on an open or enclosed headset. I also am undecided on wireless/bluetooth/in-line. I do NOT want to deal with DRIVERS for my headset, however. I'm also indecisive on the usage of a USB connect (regardless of wireless), as I hear from some people that they find it improves sound quality.

For a background idea, I am currently using an old model of the ClearChat Style headset offered by Logitech.

I might go back to this same headset, but I figured, why not look around a bit before I commit myself to another few years with a headset. I am a fan of Logitech peripheral in general (e.g. I use a Marble Mouse).

I'd given some consideration to the Premium Notebook Headset, which has gotten some good reviews here on NBR, with the exception of some minor ear-discomfort from prolonged wearing (which, given my occasional 6-hour sit-downs, is a rather significant consideration in my purchasing). I also am, to a lesser extent, considering the Digital Precision PC Gaming Headset.

Just for a ballpark, I'm willing to spend up to $130, but obviously the cheaper the better. After all, I was content for 3 years with a headset that cost me about $25.

So...Any suggestions? Looking forward to them.

 

Take a look at the SteelSeries Siberia Neckband. It's a nice set and is within your price range.

 

Definitely not a bad selection at all, David. I was really digging it at first, though I didn't care for the x-box 360 and music testing and so forth...I only care for good sound quality when gaming. I have great hearing, but I don't need the greatest quality, per say. Sadly, I have to cross this suggestion off my list, because of all the poor reviews I've been reading about it on Newegg and other sites. I could tell just by looking at the design that it was back-heavy and, sure enough, people everywhere were complaining about it sliding down their neck and hurting their upper-ears. Many of them have to wear hats to keep it comfortable, which defeats the whole point of the behind the head construction.
Great suggestion though, I'd love to hear any others like this you got in mind, because it really had me going there for a while.

Keep em coming!

 

Just for a heads up, and maybe this was just me, but I used the Logitech Digital Precision headset for DoD and CS:S, and it was the most heinously uncomfortable headset I have ever owned.

 

razer pirahna.

 

Pandadeist, I will take that under consideration. It was my second choice between the two, thankfully. I don't think they were designed to fit over panda heads, however.
Donutbob101, I looked into the razer pirahna, but found too many complaints about it in regards to it being comfortable for people wearing glasses...sadly, I wear glasses. :'(

Any more, guys/gals?

 

really? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSg6Qdd034M

 

Even if he said it's comfortable, many said it wasn't from my reading. Regardless, I just realized this is a a above-the-head (not behind-the-head) headset, as I'm searching for. So, no good, sadly. :'(

 

Haha, well, I have a very moderately sized head, and I found it very uncomfortable on my ears, especially with glasses.

Just a question, why is the behind the head part such a big issue? Hairdo?

 

It's not a big issue, but it's a matter of comfort and preference. I've always preferred the feeling of behind-the-head. I spike/bleach my hair, also, so that does pose an arguement for them. It's more a matter of just liking the feel and accessibility of it...I guess I don't care for things on my head, either. Even if my hair wasn't spiked (it isn't always), It's nice to not have to worry about your hair getting flattend in the top-middle or something and then running out the door that way, ha-ha...Perhaps not the greatest reasons, but reason enough for me. Subjectivity is the most important thing, after all, no (I'd rephrase that to be qualia is the most important, but that is a rather difficult to understand word).

 

Yeah, I completely understand. I have long hair, and every time I ear over ear headphones my hair goes ballistic. But, in the end, I decided to suck it up and take quality over my hair.

If you're worried about that, why not get in ear headphones and a zalman clip on mic?

 

You mean those ones you stick in your ears? ha-ha, no thx, it always felt unsanitary to me, lol.
I used to have really long hair...yay for the days of mullets. Now I'm more of a moustache/bearded/spiked/bleached hair guy...yea, I sound weird now, don't I? Perfectly normal looking, though.

 

i have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826235003, and if you can, 5.1 surround sound headsets are nice. movies sound great, and music is awesome. the bass speaker in the headset is BOOMING.

i use them for gaming as well, and i have found that since i've been using these headphones, i have noticed way too many people think i'm cheating just because i can hear exactly where they are and it's very easy to wall people.

if you're looking for circumaural headphones, look into these. i know you said you don't like over the ear headsets, but these are awesome.

 

They don't look bad, but like I said, I'm rather set on behind the head headsets. :'(

 

For gaming there isn't much choice for behind the head. So you are out of luck, I think the steel ones that where posted was one of the only ones i've seen behind the head.(that are "gaming")

Here's some.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106931
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2181214&Sku=L23-7156
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3092939&CatId=2382
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2484470&CatId=2382
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1089587&CatId=2382
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2959482&CatId=2382

 

I know, that's the trouble I'm having. :'(
Thank you for the list.
Am hoping someone out there has similar headset preferences as myself to give their two cents.
With the exception of the steel's, they've all been rather mainstreamed (logitech and the like), which is perfectly fine. Makes it more reputable. I've already gone through the entire list of headsets on logitech's and tigerdirect's website, as I personally know one of the founders of tigerdirect (so, I'll never have trouble with a defective product refund or anything of that nature with this company) and a number of my peripherals have/are from logitech.

Certainly there must be a few behind-the-head headset gamers lurking about the NBR forums? Or some crazy non-mainstream headset suggestions you're all dying to share with me? Ha-ha. Keep em' coming!

 

im searching for behind the head too...your not alone lol..

I have been using the logitech premium headset so far...

 

How do you feel about the premium headset, then? Just fair I'm assuming, since you're on the look-out, too. Anything you found that needs to be steered clear of?

 

its a good headset..im also using the creative x-fi go! usb sound card and the combo is pretty good..

I have a small head and sometimes the "behind the head" part of the head set gets unconfortable but that will all depend on your shape.

The only reason why am looking to try other sets is because youll never know whats out there until you try... theres nothing really wrong with the premium headset for me, sound quality is decent, its not heavy or bulky, its lasted me quite some time depsite all the abuse..i just want to see what else is out there, maybe some 5.1 so i can see what all the fuzz is about lol

But for casual gaming, theyr pretty good...im not the best gamer by any means but i can hold my own and this headset has not let me down.

If you have any specific questions just let me know and ill try and help you as much as i can

 

I do have some initial responses to what you've said.
1. I was under the impression that the Premium's were capable of 5.1 surround sound? I'm second-guessing myself now, I'll have to look into it more.
2. Regardless of whether or not the Premium's are capable of 5.1, I'm pretty sure the Creative X-Fi Go! doesn't support it. So if you want to try out 5.1, you're probably going to need to dish-out for a new external sound card (I've personally been eyeing the Audio Advantage SRM, but I haven't done my research on it yet), as well as a new headset (if the Premium's really don't support it). Also giving thought to the X-Fi Surround 5.1, but it's rather bulky (cheaper, though). This would be the best, but I've read a lot about glitches/errors with it and it's currently not for sale (unless you try e-bay or something like that).
3. As you can probably tell from my #2 commentary, I've also been taken in by the hype around 5.1 lately and I happen to have a 7.1 surround sound set-up in my basement at home (sadly, I'm rarely at home), so I don't feel the necessity to get a 7.1 surround sound card for when I am home, 5.1 is likely more than enough for me.

 

Crap...Well as much as I love the Audio Advantage SRM after having spent an additional hour now looking at reviews, specs, videos, etc...I come to find one major fault with them...They do NOT support Windows Vista 64bit. Figures. I could use my Vista 32bit and xp 32/64bit discs, but then I lose out on directx 10 and/or the additional memory (4GB) I put in my laptop. :/

 

I dont think the premium headset is capable of 5.1 but I could be wrong... either way like you said the x-fi go! does not support 5.1 anyways so...

But im rather happy with my set up, im a very mobile gamer and I need everything to fit in my back pack without it being too bulky or heavy so this works good for me.

And like I said, the main reason why im looking at new headsets is just pretty much to keep an eye out on new things and gadgets i might be missing out on lol.

 

I had the Premium Notebook Headset and I didn't like it at all. It's not worth it in terms of the higher price compared to other similar Logitech headsets. The USB connection always got "confused" with XP and I would have to disconnect the adapter and connect via analog. There was also a comfort issue too. It did hurt my ears after only a few hours. The plastic seemed to sit uncomfortably at the top of ones' ears. In the end they broke because I accidentally jerked too hard when I went to get a phonecall. The cords are not very tough.

I'm currently using the 3Hs but I wouldn't really recommend those either. Portability is good but they also hurt the ears. The wires are well reinforced though. Only if steelseries made a lightweight behind-the-head pair.

 

I'm beginning to think there are no "gaming" or "5.1 surround sound" behind-the-head headsets in existance. Other than the Steel headset.
It looks like I might have to concede to an over-the-head headset...question is, which "5.1" one won't ruin my hair (it grows straight up, spiked, seriously), so, ha-ha, flattening would seriously be a concern.

 

http://www.steelseries.com/us/products/audio/siberia-neckband/information

what about this one?

 

That was the exception I was referring to. "Other than the Steel headset". I already stated the problems with that headset earlier in this thread.

I don't want to jump ship, but, it's proving impossible to find anything (a few days of an hour a day of scouring the web has shown me naught...this is an untapped venue, so it would appear). .

 

Yup the steel is the only one I've seen. Gaming headphones are heavier then cheap ones, that's why they sit on your head.

 

did you get anything yet?

you got me on the hunt for a headset too so come on and show me what you got lol..

 

Yes. I gave up hope on a good headset that was behind-the-head. But, I also refuse on getting an over-the-head headset. So...
I bought the Premium Notebook Headset from Circuit City yesterday. Not going to bother with any external audio cards, because this headset won't be able to utilize 5.1 surround sound, so it would appear after all. :'(
I should of waited, too. Shortly after purchasing my headset from Circuit City they announced that they were liquidating all their assets (i.e. "everything must go" and closing down its stores) as they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy not all that long ago....I probably could of gotten a better deal if I waited a few more days, ha-ha.

 

Yes and no, the CC in my town has been trying to sell off all of their inventory. I was hoping to get some games for cheap but every time I go back they have less and less. All that is really left are the TVs so yeah I'll be waiting for those.

 

the premium headset works great, decent sound too... but in my x1 the onboard sound wasnt as good as my c90s so I bought a little usb soundcard and its a whole lot better.

I got the creative x-fi go! card and i just keep it pluged to my headset...and then i just plug it in the usb whenever i need...its super small

So if you want some better quality or volume you can always look into one of those.

Btw I ordered the steelseries siberia headband HS ill let you know how it is.

 

Cool. Yeah, definatly keep us posted on the steelseries.
And yeah, since I wasn't getting 5.1 anymore, I had been considering ome weaker external soundcards like the x-fi go!, but for now I'm going to see how good the sound is without it.

 

Try this: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/headsets_microphones/devices/358&cl=us,en

or this: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/headsets_microphones/devices/2986&cl=us,en