Headset and Mouse for under $40?

like the title says, I need a mouse and headset for 40 dollars. I am a casual gamer (mainly rts) so don't need anything too crazy. Anyone know of a good headset and a good mouse that will collectively run me under 40? I'd really hate to push my budget, unless it is really worth it. For example, I'm not shooting for a deathadder caliber mouse, because I don't need one.

Help is appreciated.

 

The cheapest gaming mice these days are the Logitech MX518 and Razer DeathAdder. As for a headset, I highly recommend the Plantronics GameCom 377. It's a stereo headset with great sound and solid build quality.

You can get the GameCom 377 for $27 on Amazon: Amazon.com: Plantronics GameCom Open-Ear Gaming Headset with Full Range Stereo: Electronics

Unfortunately, to get both you'd probably need to stretch your budget to $50 or 60, unless you can find a good deal on eBay. Otherwise, you'll have to pick which one is more important to you. Based on your comment, it seems you'd probably value the headset more, so I'd get that and then maybe invest in a good mouse when you save up $20 more or so.

 

Eh I'll raise it to $50 after tax. I really don't think I need a MX518/Deathadder quality mice. I've used a normal consumer one for years right off the shelf and there is no problem with it, I just need a new one for my laptop. If those are the cheapest gaming mice, than I don't think I want a gaming mouse at all.

As for the headset, is there anything cheaper? I'm really not asking for too much. The Gamecom 377 seems to go beyond my needs. A normal headset with a mic that can be tucked away/retracts when not in use and is durable is all I need.

 

I'd recommend avoiding the gamecon and getting the Koss sb45. I have owned both and the Koss is clear above the gamecon in both build quality and sound quality.

 

The Koss looks nice. The only problem is see with it is the mic seems awkward (doesn't bend/flex) and sticks out.

 

Amazon.com: Logitech ClearChat Style Headset: Electronics

Not sure exactly how much you're looking for, but this is cheap. I've owned two of these and they've lasted me a while each time. Sound quality is pretty good for the price.

 

I've never used behind the head headset. Is there any difference between it and over the head besides positioning?

 

I don't think so. I prefer behind the head or earbuds because I don't like my hair getting messed up

 

Comfort. Some people prefer it. I didn't like how it sat on the backs of my ears. It was very uncomfortable for me. Some people love them though. As for sound quality, you won't get the same level as a full headset.

Edit: Oh yeah, the Koss headset has a lifetime warranty.
As for the mic, I don't notice it. Its far away enough from your face that it isn't an issue. The mic is so sensitive, that if you put it right up against your mouth it would sound terrible.

 

I think I'll buy the Koss then.

And on an off-topic note, lloose I see you have a dv7 (regardless of a different version from what I'm buying), do you find the size to cumbersome? I want a 1080p screen, but not sure I'd like it on a 15.6 inch.

 

If you're looking for a dirt cheap mouse that's still decent, take a look at the Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse. It costs about $10, which leaves the lion's share of your budget for the headset. As far as quality goes, if a top of the line $100 gaming mouse was a 9.5/10, a high end $50 general purpose mouse was an 8.5/10, and a typical $10 off the shelf mouse was a 5/10, I'd give it an 8/10.

It's a wireless laptop mouse, not a gaming mouse though - the lack of gaming-oriented features like adjustable DPI and weights would make any hardcore gamer scoff.

 

I just went with the Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse for 10 bucks. The Explorer was 15ish.

I'm thinking over the gamecom 377, but I have one aesthetic concern. I've looked on youtube about the 377, and it really looks weird on the head. It makes a huge semi-circle/arch which seems odd. Anyway to tighten the headband to reduce this, or is it something to just deal with?

Just like the fact the microphone is hidden away when not in use. The Koss and 377 cost the same after tax/shipping, so no clear cut winner after all...

 

It's extremely comfortable, and it will not slip off your head. The band is adjustable. And yeah, the hideaway mic is a really nice feature.

 

How good are they for skype/music? I won't be gaming with them until probably a month or so from now due to college starting and whatnot. I'm a horrible procrastinator, picking up starcraft 2 would just be too tempting atm...

 

I kind of do. I got a really good deal on it and thought that the size wouldn't be an issue. It is pretty big but with the right backpack/bag I dont notice a difference. If I saw a 15.6 inch one with the same hardware for the same price, I would have gotten that one instead. It was more of a money thing than anything.

Sound is pretty subjective. Its a lot like taste. I prefer the Koss hands down. I look at it this way, Koss has been making quality sound products forever. The Koss PortaPro's are legendary in the audio community as being one of the best headsets ever made. Plantronics make excellent communications devices, but they really don't have the same history of making high quality sound products.

oh yeah, my gamecon headset broke after ~6 months of normal use at my desktop. That wonderful hide-away mic stopped working. Its sitting in a dump somewhere right now. If I would have bought the Koss one first and had the exact same issue, I would still be using a Koss headset because I would have RMAed it and gotten it replaced free with the lifetime warranty that Koss has on all of its products. I like companies that stand behind their stuff.

 

My Gamecom is about 3 years old and still ticking. As for music, I used to use mine as my main music headphones before I bought a separate pair. Very balanced sound overall, perhaps just slightly bass-heavy.

 

If you have a big head, I wouldn't use them for Skype. The 2 things that bugged me were the fact that they would leak at times, and the mic was really quiet for me (probably because I have a large cranium which caused the mic to teleport away from me :c). Don't know if it was a faulty product or something, but I had to get a new headset because of the mic.

 

Is there a headset that fits closer to the head and has a hideaway/detachable mic? I'd like to use these for pretty much everything/everywhere, and the gamecom will really stick out in a library for example when I'm just listening to music and studying

I was also thinking of buying a pair of headphones and a cheap clip on mic instead.

And preferably able to be bought in a nearby store. (I have the major standard stores around here)

 

If you care about mic quality at all, do not get a clip-on mic. Every person I have ever heard talking through one of those was heard through a veil of background noise and static.

 

I see you say this a lot, and I usually sometimes mention that I have not noticed said problem.

I used it and had people comment on quality of sound from it, and other users have also said it worked well for them.

I just got my G930 yesterday and that was a crappy mic! It encouraged me to spend most of my day putting together a video to showcase the microphones I have and compare them to one another.

I have 2 sound samples of the Zalman ZM-Mic1 in here that are totally raw unedited sound samples and to me they sound totally fine.

Why dont you watch this and tell me if you still think it sucks, infact for $5.00 cost its the best bargain of all my mics in terms of price vs quality.

‪Microphone Review / Comparison: Blue Yeti - Zalman ZM-Mic1 - Logitech G930 - Altec Lansing AHS433‬‏ - YouTube

My room is probably the loudest most noisy place I have ever recorded and with the omni-directional design of this mic I gave it the worst possible circumstances and I still feel it performed well.