what gaming headsets everyone using?

Thinking of getting one coos the on board mic on my laptop sucks...Was gonna get a Logitech g35 but have heard bad reviews about them regarding their built quality. So now thinking of a Logitech g330 but not sure and wonder if there were any better ones around the same price.

 

I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell everyone, gaming headsets aren't known for their build quality and even then, surround sound in headphones is really a gimmick, you cannot properly create the illusion of being surrounded with the confined space of headphones (or without actually being surrounded). Pick up a nice pair of headphones, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, Boise, or Beats by Dre (my top picks) and then get yourself a Zalman ZM-MIC1 High-End Microphone Attachment at Xoxide!, I use it for voice overs, game chat, reviews etc. it is fantastic and much higher quality than most built in mics, and cheap to boot. Spend the money on a really good pair of headphones and just get the clip on mic

 

thanks for the link will look into it. Will pair them up with my sennheiser hd 201 that i use for music.

 

I have a G330, it has been tossed around, sat on and walked on and it is still going strong.

 

The Zalman is a crock IMO.

I use the G35 and an MMX300.

No real build quality issues with the G35 yet, although I would say (as I've probably said before) that the plastic earcup pivot pins are potentially suspect in the long term. However they're excellent value sonically (music and gaming audio) and in terms of actual isolation, as well as offering fairly decent comfort. The G35 is exclusively my gaming headset. I really like it overall - despite a rocky start when I bought the initial sets (18 months ago) when they suffered from whining issues in one ear.

The MMX 300 is used for the majority of my Skyping convos.

I use both headsets quite happily for music (the MMX ever so slightly more) and web media.

 

what about turtle beach? Been reading up some good reviews on the hpa2 seems to be good anyone here with personal experience with them?

 

I've been using the Logitech G35 for the last year or so and they have been great. My friends got the wireless version of the headsets at PAX last year and they're fantastic as well. Depends on what your preference in mobility is.

 

I have a TekNmotion PulseWave

 

Usually use my Audio Technica AD700 or Ultrasone Hfi 2400's depending on the game and mood I am in with a Blue Yeti for communication.

 

Listen to the man, he knows what he is talking about. He is the reason I have my awesome setup today, I don't use the zalman I just know its cheap and has decent quality.

 

The zalman is situational, it works better for some people than others based on where they clip it, how loud they talk, and actually it really depends on the hardware it is used with.

It did not work well with my X-Fi card on my desktop even with the same settings for gain/boost it was about twice as loud/clear when used with my cheaper onboard sound card or my usb sound card.

Voice chat is not very demanding, even if the mic is not great I would prefer to have great headphones and not settle for a lesser quality or more expensive headset for the sake of voice chat.

There are tons of cheap desktop mic options out there as well, or you can even go as far as to do a headphone mic mod like I have done.

 

I was on a REAL TIGHT budget but was also trying to buy something that would be decent. Picked up the logitech H530 which is a driverless USB headset. Once you take it out of voice mode they sound great and everyone says its a hell of an improvement over what I had. The mic is bendable and all the controls are on one side of the headset for up down, mute mic, and the sound modes.

Some people were not able to get it to work at all and other complain their not comfortable. I have no issues with it but maybe after 4 hours of wearing them their obviously not comfortable anymore. I can hear footsteps in FPS games that I can not hear without a headset but this is more a trait of headsets than this headset.

But since your looking at the G35 you obviously have a better pick of options due to the money lol.

 

Don't get the clip-on mic...they just never sound good compared to even the cheapest of headset microphones.

Keep your headphones for music and get a good headset for gaming. I'm using the Razer Carcharias, and it's good and comfortable, although I won it for free and I'm not sure I'd pay $80 for it. Check out the Plantronics GameCom 377. It's pretty inexpensive, but it sounds great, both in terms of mic quailty and sounds coming out through the headphones. Solid build quality, too.

 

i use my logitech g930 and my ultimate ears triplefi 10 when i'm tired

 

There are a lot of things to consider, that you will need to prioritize depending on your usage and budget.

(1) Mic quality - Honestly, mic quality is irrelevant for your situation. You're not doing studio-quality recording here. All of the mic / headsets that were mentioned in this thread will be "good enough" for in-game communication, and will be a huge step up from onboard mic. You could buy a $8 Zalman ZM-1 microphone or a $1000 studio-quality microphone, and the person at the other end of your Ventrilo conversation won't care.

(2) Sound quality - Depends on what you're using the headphones / headset for. A gaming headset like the Logitech G35 is going to be fine for gaming, which prioritizes directional sound and low frequencies. It has poor reputation among people who care about movies and music, because it has poor mid-frequency and high-frequency response.

Your other option is to buy high-quality headphones known for their sound quality (e.g. Audio Technica ATH-A700 mentioned by ViciousXUSMC), add a microphone like the Zalman ZM-1 mic, and connect it to a sound card cable of virtual surround sound like a Creative Labs X-Fi. This will give you more versatility, so your will have solid audio quality in situations other than just gaming.


(3) Surround effects - "Virtual" surround sound on a headset can be pretty convincing, and can add a lot of immersion to a game. A gaming headset (Logitech G35) has its surround sound processor built in to the headset, and is pretty good at surround effects. You can also get high-quality virtual surround sound by using any pair of headphones connected to a surround sound processor (e.g. Creative Labs X-Fi sound card w/CMSS3D Headphone mode). Doing the surround sound processor will give you versatility in choosing your sound quality, because you get to choose the headphones that you use


(4) Convenience - A USB headset like the Logitech G35 will only ever be useful on computers. A headset / mic that uses 3.5mm audio connectors can be used anywhere on any device.


(5) Price - An all-in-one USB headset like the Logitech G35 will most likely be cheaper than separate headphones / mic / sound card. But of course, you sacrifice the versatility and sound quality for non-computer and non-gaming use.

(6) Build Quality - Pretty irrelevant considering the hardware being discussed in this thread. Logitech G35 / G330 / G930s are all decent build quality, as are any of the standalone headphones (Audio Technica, Sennheiser) that were mentioned.


So, the main question you need to ask yourself is: How much do you care about non-gaming sound quality, and how much are you willing to pay for it?

 

+rep for that suggestion. Just ordered one myself for $32 shipped from Provantage.

 

I beg to differ...you may not have to spend hundreds of dollars on a professional-grade microphone, but quality does matter, at least if you're using a high-quality voice chat program like Mumble. I know three regulars in my Mumble server who use that Zalman clip-on mic, and they all sound like crap compared to anyone who uses a headset mic. They just pick up way too much background noise.

 

If someone's mic picks up a lot of background noise, then it is a problem with the mic design. Someone operating in a noisy environment should be using a directional boom mic (e.g. on a headset), rather than an omnidirectional mic like the Zalman ZM-1.

I created a recording (link)a few months ago in a related thread of my voice using a Zalman ZM-1. The sound quality itself sounds fine, because I have a benefit of being in a quiet environment.

A cheap mic is going to be "good enough" in-game chat, as long as you get the right mic design for your environment.

 

So my question would be why does everyone keep recommending this crock then?

I didn't have a gaming headset at first, made the mistake of listening to the peer-group advice out there in 'I'm a headphone-phile' land, and spent a fairly long time having the ZM-1 clipped to various phones - including at one time the Orpheus. It's not exactly noisy in my home office, but I know that switching to my first (and it wasn't expensive) gaming headset made a world of difference at the other end.

Only people who buy into the Head-Fi route of doing things recommend the ZM-1. It is crap for any headset-replacement duties, period, and the popular gaming headsets are nowhere near as bad as the hi-fi types claim. Some do actually perform better than the headphones they treasure, even for regular stereo duties.

 

I have never had anybody say my voice quality was bad when I use the ZM-1 also my mumble server/client has built in noise filtering so it will pull out any constant noise like the background if it was being picked up.

I think the problem here is bad settings more so than bad hardware, since the mic is not right infront of you probably cranking up the gain way too high to compensate so you can talk low like if it were a boom mic.

 

Oh please. This is me talking.

 

So whats that mean? I have different views than you all the time.

Also what is the main complaint about this mic? It picks up background noise? Its omni-directional even my $150 Blue Yeti picks up background noise (even better than my ZM-1)

I think the biggest issue with it is by its design, hanging down below your chin where your voice is not directed to it in any way, that is why I wear mine high up and try to talk near it rather than away from it.

 

ZM1 is usually clipped onto the headphone cable which is usually placed in a bad position. I got one from a Zalman 5.1 headphone i got for Christmas. (Worst headphone build ever btw, fell apart in like a month.)

Mic boom headsets are usually unidirectional giving much cleaner sound.

I use a bendy mic boom i ripped out of some crappy headphones. I stuck the boom to my keyboard pointing to me. I wish Razer made a microphone attachment to the Tarantula, instead of a stupid battlelight & webcam.

I might get this instead since theres a mic jack on my keyboard.

 

@flipfire you can always do something like what you already did but do what I did instead.

YouTube - Auidophile Headset Mod

Also that thing you posted from Amazon, if your ok with modding your headphones you can actually add that as well by making a new cable or running 2nd cable and then adding a jack outlet to the earpiece.

I have seen it done by some people on head-fi its a pretty neat mod but I just did it the easy way with velcro where I did not permanently do any mod/damage to my headphones and it let me use it with multiple headphones.

 

I use my Audio-Technica M50 and a clip on mic and I love it.

 

For my PS3 - Astro Mixamp -> Astro A40
For my PC - Xonar DG -> Astro Mixamp -> HD555 or A30's w/mic.
For my laptop - Astro Mixamp -> Ety ER6i or Astro A30's w/mic

 

Yes that'd be really cool but i dont really want to deal with another wire. Plus i sometimes use IEM's.

What clip on mic is it?

 

Would also recommend the same for anyone looking into a relatively cheap headset that will do the job and take a beating. I've had mine for over a year and I frequently drop, kick, dropkick, or fall asleep wearing them. Still running peachily.

 

Sennheiser here. Love it, bought a second pair in case this one breaks, lol.

 

I just purchased my G35 and got it today. Overall it is quite comfortable, but I'm a little concerned about the build quality!

 

I use the Zalman clip on mic. I've been using it for a couple years since I had my Sennheiser HD555's.

 

I bought the Zalman mic when my free one from Creative that I got in 1999 broke. They are both clip on mics and I always sounded clear in games. More than a few times I would get asked what headset I was using because it was so clear. As was said before, the mics are fine for gaming. The important things to consider are placement, settings, and surroundings. If you are in a noisy environment, or can't clip it appropriately (I always put mine on my shirt), get a headset.

 

Desktop, HP: Audio Technica ATH-A700, Mic: Blue Microphones Yeti
Laptop, HP: Audio-Technica ATH-M50, Mic: Samson Go Mic

 

Sennheiser Worldwide - PC 360
I love it to death, no in-line controller = awesome and the volume control is on the ear cup, audiophile quality, steep price though $250

 

I use Razer Megalodon and Creative HS 1100 Arena Surround. Both are great headsets

 

My G35 just arrived a few days ago. Been using it in place of my ATH-A700 for most of my gaming purposes. It's a great headset, and love the gamekeys on it

 

I just recently bought my Asus G73SW and the free headset that came with it was a SteelSeries Siberia. I must say it's an excellent headset.

 

When I'm at home, I use a Plantronics 377. Comfortable, good sound, good mic. Double as ear-warmers when it's cold in my room. The set I bought about a year and a half ago cracked along the left arm, but duct tape solved that problem. I did buy another one for 35$. Guess the duct-taped one is going to be a backup if I have a reason for it.

For when I'm moving around I got a recommendation for a Logitech H165, so that's in the mail.

 

I am currently using the Corsair CA-HS1N USB Gaming Headset. It is easily the best headset I have ever used. I have used various mid range logitech models, and a steelseries, nothing comes close to this headsets build quality and comfort level. I cannot recommend this headset enough! For the price.. nothing is comparable.

 

I have a Razer Carcharias, bought it when it came out (1.5-2 years ago?). I don't play games though; I use it for casual music listening and recording. The mic is "decent". The headphones have impressive sound for the price - quite full with good mids and bass, though it gets thin when you crank 'em up.

Overall no complaints other than the fuzzy earcups, which get dirty fast. I think Razer is offering a leatherette one now - that's well worth a few dollars extra.

 

I'll say. I bought the leatherette ear cushions for my Carcharias, and it's a world of improvement. Definitely a worthy investment...it would be really nice if Razer let you choose which one you wanted when placing your order, since replacements for each cost the same.

 

I agree with this.

However, I currently own a PC350 with the Xonar Xense soundcard - I really wish they would have came out with a similar bundle.

 

Just bought myself a pair of ath-ad700s.

Any of the audiophiles use these with their laptop? Do you use a DAC/amplifier or do you find your laptop drives them enough?

 

I just ordered a Pantronics Gamecom 367 and usb adapter (for PS3 use) off of Amazon. I'm not expecting anything great, but I will be happy with it, especially for the price.

 

The problem is that when you do that, it sounds like you're talking into a cheap mike really close. Full of pops and booms. Pops you can cure (more futzing), booms, no. And if you put it a reasonable distance away, the voice pickup fades logarithmically in terms of performance. The gaming headsets like the ones from Sennheiser and Logitech also have a slightly sharper edge to the sound to help it cut through better amongst other noises. The boomy, comparatively indistinct pickup of the Zalman does you no favours, unless as you said, you put it right against your face and overwhelm everyone else.

Many gaming headsets can approach or exceed some of the recommended head phones in terms of audio performance. e.g. the G35 is about at the level of the ATH-A700, if not better. Sure it won't beat out a DT 770, but it's not a million miles away either. And it can cost the same, or less than the combo (especially if you factor in the cost of an external soundcard for a regular headphone). Why bother with the hassle of arranging cables, etc when you get a better balance of usability and performance with something that's dedicated to the task, especially if you're a gamer first?

IMO the DT 770 is at the lowest borderline point at which you could consider Zalmans as a non-optimal, but viable alternative to a headset if you are determined to have better music performance - and even then, with the DT770 there are arguments pro and con. What would make more sense is e.g. if you were picking something like an HD 650 - which has no headset equivalents which come anywhere near close. For lower-end headphones, if you're a gamer first IMO the gaming headsets as a market is hotting up and many manufacturers are bringing genuine performance to the game - and it seems pointless to me to shoot yourself in the foot by having a Zalman-like contraption hanging off a headphone that a gaming headset could match.

 

I disagree with that statement. Sure you get more bass with the G35, but the ATH-A700 is softer and less bold (though that's preference in hearing). They also have the most comfiest design I've ever worn (kudos to Audio Technica on the wing design). The G35 I have is for mic use only (bought it since it was cheap).

All-in-all everyone has their preferences. I'd rather go the headphone+mic route due to preference of sound quality.

 

That is, as you say, a matter of preference - although you may not be aware that you can tune the tone of the G35. Technically speaking however, the G35 is at that level.

On the flipside, the G35 has genuinely usable isolation whereas the A700's closed design is somewhat less about isolation than lack of leakage.