Looking for gaming headphones (with mic) please advise (FAQ filled out)

I know there's no FAQ for this but I will make one up haha:

1. What will you be using the headphones for?

Online games where I would need to talk to other players and also hear them

2. What size headphones are you looking for?

I would say as compact as possibe, even the kind that fit in my ears

3. What features do you need on these headphones?

I would like them to be USB. I would like them to be as compact as possible. Finally I need to be able to listen and talk in onlime games.

What is your price range?

For the right headphones my range is unlimited...I would assume $20 - $150.

Ok, I filled out the headphone FAQ, can anyone help?

Lastly...I have never played online games where I could actually chat to other players with my headphones and mic etc...how does that work with the game's sound? Does the sound from the game come through my headphones as well? Or through the speakers on my PC?

Thanks!

 

It really doesn't matter which ones you get, I have a headset that I use on the PS2. You can use Teamspeak if you want to use it, it is a good program.

 

Well i dont know anything about this, but I use my headphones and the mic on my laptop...

Though ppl have trouble hearing what I say

 

1. What will you be using the headphones for?

Gaming--- period

2. What size headphones are you looking for?

I'd prefer something like the noise-cancelling style

3. What features do you need on these headphones?

No integrated microphone. Wireless would be sweet, but probably impossible with portability. Just clean sound, good low:mid:high ratio and did I mention wireless or bluetooth?

What is your price range?

I can't put a price on quality. Well, under $200. I'm replacing my desktop rig totally and I'd normally drop about that much on a set of desktop surrounds.



I use Teamspeak regularly. I'm in a game squad that plays America's Army. I need to hear that opfor in the distance and still be comfortable. I'm used to the full-size studio monitor style of headphones. I own a pair of sony's (wired) that are almost full ear. They don't cover the ear entirely, but the pads are as big as my ear. (wal-mart-- $20)

 

I hear those USB headphones from Logitech are great. Cheap too~!

Like everyone else said you can use anything, but if you're interested and are a stickler for quality then you might be looking for a headset and microphone separately.

Like sennheisers and any old microphone will do.

Cheers,
Mike

 

have you ever thought of going wireless? im getting the motorola ht-820 for christmas. it's a new bluetooth stereo headset. i have the logitech gaming headset and i cant stand the 6 foot of cord

 

Medusa 5.1 Surround Headset can be very helpful in FPS games as it supports 5.1 surround sound. it has an USB version too, which may be interest to you.

 

We're about to review a set of Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA that sound like something that might work for you. MSRP of $100.

 

ccbr01 - I'd be really keen to hear your opinion of the Mot bluetooth headphones. I just bought a pair of icombi BT headphones. They seem to work well with the ipod using the supplied dongle, but don't work very well when paired to the 9300's built in bluetooth. The main problem is that the sound drops out for several seconds at a time and this happens every couple of minutes. There's also a noticeable delay in the audio, which is just bearable for gaming but not for watching movies. I'm using the latest Toshiba stack & firmware downloaded from Dell (4.00.11D). I'd be interested to know if the Motorola headphones work better.

 

I love my HT-820 headset. I can pair up the headset with my computer and my motorola e815 at the same time. so when i am streaming music through A2DP and a call comes in, all i have to do is press a button on the headset and it switches from stream to cell phone. when i get done with the call, it switches back. However, I dont have the internal Dell Bluetooth. I heard that it wasnt the best that it could be. Anywho, I have the Bluetake BT007si. With the bluesoleil software, the headset gets great connection. On a side note, my motorola e815 can play mp3s. I've called motorola and they said there will be a firmware update for the phone soon that will support A2DP from mp3 phone to headset.

Edit: Here is the Motorola Stereomoto HT-820 website ( http://direct.motorola.com/ens/BTStereoHS_Web_ProductHome.asp?country=USA&language=ENS)
Here is the Bluetake BT007si website
( http://www.bluetake.com/products/BT007Si.htm)

 

Thanks for the reply. Have you tried the HT 820 for gaming or DVD on the 9300? Any lag in the audio? (i.e. lips out of synch on video).
I'm now pretty sure the dropouts I'm getting with the icombi headphones are caused by the internal bluetooth and/or toshiba stack on the 9300. I thought it might be interference with 802.11 and my bluetooth mouse, but I'm listening to the ipod using the headphones now while typing this on the 9300 and there are no dropouts, so that seems to rule out interference.

Glad you like the Mot headphones - I was seriously considering those, but I had a gift to exchange at the Apple store and got tempted by the icombi 'phones...

 

I understand your problem now. A2DP takes all of the 768kpbs bandwidth. With your bluetooth mouse, that is what is causing the lag. I've read reviews of A2DP and that is where I read about how it used the full bandwidth. So try the headphones alone and you will get better connection.

Edit: I don't know much about the Bluetooth v2.0 (3meg transfer). Try to get your hands on a dongle that is v2.0. I see A2DP to the headset being the 768kpbs, leaving 2megs left. I don't know if what I am saying is true, but it would be something to look into.