Headphones for gaming/skype/music, ~US$80?

So, I have just travelled to the US for a year of study. Which means I will be undertaking the dreaded 'long distance relationship'. Which means I need a new headset for (a) frequent skype sessions; and (b) the gaming that I now have time for :-D

I would really appreciate your recommendations for something that meets the following criteria:

• As I am now a student again, budget = tight. Around $80 would be the upper limit; cheaper = better. Ultimately, it's about getting value per dollar. If you think I can get an infinitely better headset for $100, please let me know. Equally, if you think an $80 set will not be materially better than a $50 set, then I'd definitely like to hear it.
  
• Portability is not critical; will be using these at home most of the time (I have some IEMs for when I'm on the move). Every now and then I'd like to use these when travelling -- is there anything on the market with a detachable microphone?
  
• That said, the microphone has to work reasonably well; nothing worse than a conversation of circular 'sorry, I can't hear you'.
  
• Circumaural is probably best, as I would prefer not to subject my housemates/neighbours/people sitting next to me on long trips to my taste in music.
  
• Nor do I want to hear their music/the aeroplane's engines; noise cancelling is probably important.
  
• Speaking of taste in music: I like alternative/rock (think Muse, the Kooks, etc). Am not too much of an audiophile, and appreciate that my budget is probably too small to get anything with fantastic sound...
  
• Music will be played by either a laptop or an iphone.

Please let me know if I've neglected to provide any necessary information!

Also, please let me know if I'm completely dreaming when it comes to finding something that does all this at this budget.

I've seen the LogitechG35s; they appear to meet most of the above, except they're a bit expensive and the microphone looks very attached. What do you all think?

Thanks very much in advance.

Cheers!

 

Sorry to move the goal posts so quickly, but would a better solution be a $20 set for skype and then a more expensive set with no microphone for music and gaming (don't need the microphone for the games I play).

 

Personally I'd just go with the Logitech G35's for both.... I use them for all the things you listed and there perfect, yes PERFECT.

OR

Amazon.com: Creative Labs HS-1000 Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset with Sound Blaster X-Fi Technology (Black): Electronics


However after seeing your new goal lets see what I can find.

For your "gaming" needs I'd go with this deal.

Amazon.com: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle: Electronics

And for your skype needs i'd go with these.

Amazon.com: Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset: Electronics

But honestly I see no reason to get two seperate headphones when most gaming headsets have a retractable or "movable/detachable mic".

Have fun.

 

Hands down, the best value for the price headset is the Plantronics GameCom 377:

Amazon.com: Plantronics GameCom Open-Ear Gaming Headset with Full Range Stereo: Electronics



It's stereo, circumaural, sounds like sets that cost way more, and it's $30. The microphone is not detachable, but it tucks away inside the headband so it's totally hidden. Mic quality is great too, judging by what my teammates tell me on Mumble. And despite the name, music sounds pretty good on these.

 

The MMX 2 is $79

Amazon.com: Beyerdynamic MMX 2 PC Gaming Multimedia Digital Headset with Microphone: Video Games

These are not, as you can plainly see, the coolest looking set out there. But they provide a very high bang for the buck in terms of sound quality and mic quality.

The DT231/235 - the headphones these are based on - can be put on straight after listening to e.g. the Stax Omega II (a $2,000 electrostatic headphone) and you don't actually feel like you've entered the depths of budgetphones. The mic is also definitely a step above some I've used in the Plantronics stable.

However, what these don't offer (and neither do any of the recommendations above) is useful isolation, seeing you talk about airplane engines.

 

Between the Plantronics Gamecon 377 and the Creative Fatal1ty HS-800 wich of them would you recomend?

 

I know you're looking at Circumaural, but I would seriously consider the Sennheiser PC300 G4ME headset. They are IEM's with an in-line mic.

Fantasic sound, excellent mic, and blocks external noise well for when you are on a plane/train and want to listen to music.

 

For the price/discount that there offering I'd definitely go for Creatives HS-800. It has beyond just stereo sound and for the price to quality your good to go.

This is hard for me to say because I HATE companies endorsing their products to "pro" gamers..... BLAH!

 

Read my above post.


Cool story though >_>

 

im using the razer moray + loving it since day one was 60$ USA

 

I have a fun idea. Let's (like every other thread out there) continue to suggest items that have nothing to do with what hes asking for. THATS SMRT. Comon guys what your doing might as well be considered as "post boosting".

 

Thanks everyone for your advice (both on and off topic!). Plus rep all round. I have ordered a set of the Beyer Dynamic MX 2 that Vogelbung referred to. The creatives and plantronics were also contenders, but there were too many mixed reviews for me to take a risk on these more economical options. That said, there's a general paucity of reviews for the MX 2; only time will tell whether this is a good thing!

Thanks again for all your help.

 

Hope you like'em.

The only seriously variable like/dislike element is the comfort I think. The kinda-supraaural earcups don't get sweaty (thanks to the velour pads) but the shape means a lot of variation in wear comfort depending on ear size/sticky-outness.

 

Really quickly, circumaural does not equate to isolation. Instead, sound blocking is more a function of whether or not the housing is closed or open backed. In your case, the MMX 2 are closed.

 

Well - it also extends to the design of the phone whether it actually offers any isolation. The MMX 2 is of a closed design, but offers comparatively little isolation for a closed phone, as previously remarked.

Open or closed differentiation is simply whether the direct back of the driver is open to the surrounding air or is blocked off in some way. The only 'guarantee', if any could be given, of a closed-design phone is that it leaks sound much less to the outside than an open-backed phone, and that the bass is usually stronger. Whether the phone offers any inbound isolation worth talking about is a factor of the acoustic seal your ear forms with the sound-producing chamber. This varies wildly.

 

I'm on steelseries and I'm really happy about them....

Amazon.com: SteelSeries 5H v2 Headset (Black): Electronics

 

Yeah, that's thoroughly true, and can make or break a headphone (i.e. T50RP vs. T50RPv2).

The funny thing is that the two planar headphones that I'm working with to write a review flip the bass response rule of thumb onto its head. The modded semi-closed pleather-padded T50RPv2 are overdamped and have rolled off, albeit tight, bass, while the open velour-padded HE-6 have scary good extension and impact.