*TPU's Gaming Headphone/Headset Thread*

[BumbleBee]

I hate those mics

 

[n-ster]

The Zalman mic compares to many of those under 60$ lightweight headset mics. Yes it is somewhat basic, but for me it is all I need. My voice is clear and there is nothing obviously wrong with it. When I game I'm in a quiet environment though, and the chatting is only basic, so I don't really on it much at all

 

[Mussels]

The Zalman mic compares to many of those under 60$ lightweight headset mics. Yes it is somewhat basic, but for me it is all I need. My voice is clear and there is nothing obviously wrong with it. When I game I'm in a quiet environment though, and the chatting is only basic, so I don't really on it much at all

the zalman clip on ones? i find they're very, very loud and pick up all background noise too easily.

 

[n-ster]

Well that's how all my mics have been and it didn't matter as I was always in a quiet environment. It doesn't pick up my mouse clicks or my Black cherry mechanical kbs noises so it doesn't bother me lol

 

[Horrux]

I've had the Xonar DS and it was an awesome sound card. Used it for my SRH440 though. For bang/buck the low end ASUS cards do seem quite good. I also got the Zalman clip-on for like 3.XX$ by taking advantage of a price match policy, and it isn't bad

Oh yes, I have used that mic before, it was included with my "5.1" headset and it is very good. Loud is good, you just turn it down...

 

[AhokZYashA]

just got myself an HD600 from sennheiser for music and gaming,
the low end punch is so addictive for FPS games

 

[BumbleBee]

I have broken three Zalman microphones and they don't have any noise canceling features.

these are supposed to be a little better.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-clip-on-microphone-7080

 

[Kursah]

I use this with a 6ft 3.5mm cable and a couple zip-ties on the LH earcup, works a treat. The HPA2 boom mic works excellent, I've used it for years....though the one BB lists above is probably just as good. The foam mic cover makes a huge difference in what sounds are picked up by the mic. I've picked up a couple other chinese boom mics that were "ok" at best...if you can find a decent boom mic like the turtle beach it's worth the $10-15 imho.

Edit: This is one of the other boom mics I tried that was just OK at best...but for $3.xx you can only complain so much: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/hyundai-soft-neck-laptop-microphone-4468

I like the boom mics for placement near the LH earcup and easy to unplug if you want it out of the way...though more work than a clip on I prefer it.

 

[n-ster]

Be warned, it takes forever for the dealextreme stuff to come lol

 

[BumbleBee]

yeah I remember it taking so long I forgot about it.

I wish I could compare it to the Zalman.

 

[Kursah]

Be warned, it takes forever for the dealextreme stuff to come lol

Yep it ships from China...a lot of these kind of sites take upwards of 3 weeks at times. Remember back in the day when you ordered something off the TV, over the phone, out of a magazine, and they said 6-8 weeks.

 

[n-ster]

Yea my DX stuff took 7 weeks or so and they made a few errors I tried to tell them but I was just frustrated and threw the stuff that they messed up away (ie: wrong battery)

still its so cheap its hard to complain

 

[ufgy20]

hey guys im looking to buy a great headset with a mic attached. some comfortable durable and not above 150$. i am looking at the G930 this time buying brand new not seller refurbished ebay >_< i know the plastic does not last very long for a majority of people. but when i had a working pair they were great i loved them. i have been looking at a few different ones but not sure what to get.. and i will be using it for PC gaming.

 

[Kursah]

Honestly man I'd recommend you take some time to read the first few pages of this thread, with a $150 budget, find a decent pair of heaphones in the $50-80 range or so, buy an Asus Xonar DG sound card, get a cheap boom mic or clip on mic like linked above and in previous pages/posts in this thread and demolish any gaming headset out there. If you can find a pair of JVC HA-RX700's (out of stock everywhere atm), they are large, durable, well built and sound great with that soundcard...much, much better than any headset I've ever tried.

Food for thought. Do some more research, skip the Logitech stuff and get a real pair of headphones that will treat you better, sound better and last longer doing it.

 

[Horrux]

Honestly man I'd recommend you take some time to read the first few pages of this thread, with a $150 budget, find a decent pair of heaphones in the $50-80 range or so, buy an Asus Xonar DG sound card, get a cheap boom mic or clip on mic like linked above and in previous pages/posts in this thread and demolish any gaming headset out there. If you can find a pair of JVC HA-RX700's (out of stock everywhere atm), they are large, durable, well built and sound great with that soundcard...much, much better than any headset I've ever tried.

Food for thought. Do some more research, skip the Logitech stuff and get a real pair of headphones that will treat you better, sound better and last longer doing it.

I could not agree more.

 

[erixx]

If I am allowed, I would simplify it to get a 100 $/€ HiFi headphone like JVC, or similar delikatessen, and a mic, if needed. And buy a decent soundcard if you do not own one.
I have a pair of Sony of that price (XB500) and a SB X-Fi Titanium and it blows my ears off with pure pleasure.
Great part of this thread is too clinical (to not mention a bodily part) for me and I wonder if the same wonderful setups sound the same for a third person.

 

[n-ster]

A used Xonar DS/DG/DX is prenty great bang/buck if you can find one, I've seen a DX in the B/S/T section if I'm not mistaken

I know it is going to be used mostly for gaming but will you be listening to music with it as well? If so what kind and what are you preferences (ie: basshead etc). This should only influence your choice a little if 80%+ is for gaming, but if 30% is for music this might actually matter

 

[Kursah]

Depends on what you're after and how well it can be described. Though no two sets of ears are the same, and no two listeners have the same exact expectations. I've considered picking up a pair of XB500's to try because they are supposed to be some of the hardest hitting, bassiest headphones around...but like my favored RX700's, they're nowhere to be found..they don't ship in the states again till' april. I have been told by many that the RX700's do mids and treble better while not being as full of bass but I do really like the 700's bass level and I'm a total basshead. But I like to hear my music...though I also have no issue using an EQ to help assist the speakers/headphones.

There are a TON of options for good headphones in the sub-$100 arena...just depends on what you're after, what you are willing to live with and without and who's opinion you trust if you can't go try a pair out for yourself. That or take the dive and get a pair and report back...that's the whole point of this thread is to share your experiences and hopefully gain something from reading it. Honestly compared to threads on Head-fi.org...this thread is very far from clinical, which was the goal because I am NOT an audiophile, but I do know what I want and how I want it to sound.

 

[erixx]

Ah, yeah for sure but I and maybe other non audiophiles was getting a bit seasick reading here. Did not know 'more clinical' is an option too, lol. I bought the XB500 last year just because they look good and solid and failure was not expected in that price range, haha. Keep the good stuff coming Kursah!
Edit:

 

[Crap Daddy]

Look for the Sennheiser HD518, I'm very pleased with the quality for the price though I listen music and prefer to game with the speakers on.

 

[Kursah]

Found a pair of JVC HA-RX700's in stock at restockit.com for $39.95 shipped. Totally worth every penny at that price imho. Just picked up a backup pair, I miss them too damn much not to have a set in my collection. They have 6 more in stock as of right now if their website is accurate.

Link: http://www.restockit.com/jvc-ha-rx700-headphones-(t47716).html?prd=1&refterm=jvc ha-rx700


Also found a cheap pair of Monoprice 8323's which supposedly resemble some Kicker DJ headphones that some people really like. These are around $22 before shipping, may be worth a look:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p..._id=1082302&p_id=8323&seq=1&format=4#feedback

People on Head-Fi seem to love em:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/569239/monoprice-hi-fi-dj-style-headphone-review


If my JVC's fall thru I'm getting a pair of these for sure!

 

[ufgy20]

Honestly man I'd recommend you take some time to read the first few pages of this thread, with a $150 budget, find a decent pair of heaphones in the $50-80 range or so, buy an Asus Xonar DG sound card, get a cheap boom mic or clip on mic like linked above and in previous pages/posts in this thread and demolish any gaming headset out there. If you can find a pair of JVC HA-RX700's (out of stock everywhere atm), they are large, durable, well built and sound great with that soundcard...much, much better than any headset I've ever tried.

Food for thought. Do some more research, skip the Logitech stuff and get a real pair of headphones that will treat you better, sound better and last longer doing it.

Hey man thanks i ended up looking around and found this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OWPV4/?tag=tec06d-20 is this what you are talking about??... they look fairly comfortable and like they could fit my big head.. i appreciate you for posting this and helping me.. i guess im mostly "that" consumer that just buys because im told to. i should slow down and plan out my purchases. and i will look into getting a good boom mic.. im just looking for a mic to get my voice to come through clear and sharp. i am looking to do commentary on my videos and i would like to be able to get good sound out of a mic.. but again thanks everybody for helping me with this and helping me save some money

OH and for the sound card i don't think i personally purchased one for my board.... so i should prob pick that up to maximize my sound quality

 

[erixx]

forget good mics on a stand (boom?) for a decent prices.
look for those fixed on your ear, or those bluetooths used with phones, when good, they record good.

 

[Kursah]

Hey man thanks i ended up looking around and found this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OWPV4/?tag=tec06d-20 is this what you are talking about??... they look fairly comfortable and like they could fit my big head.. i appreciate you for posting this and helping me.. i guess im mostly "that" consumer that just buys because im told to. i should slow down and plan out my purchases. and i will look into getting a good boom mic.. im just looking for a mic to get my voice to come through clear and sharp. i am looking to do commentary on my videos and i would like to be able to get good sound out of a mic.. but again thanks everybody for helping me with this and helping me save some money

OH and for the sound card i don't think i personally purchased one for my board.... so i should prob pick that up to maximize my sound quality

That's it for sure man. If those are too spendy for ya, have a look at the Panasonic RP-HTF600 , they are up and coming as a new budget headphone, not as much bass as the JVC's, but a solid value and good sound after none-the-less.

Erixx, the only issues with your mic suggestions is that bt mics are battery powered, a bluetooth usb adapter will most likely be needed for PC (cost?), and if it's fixed to your ear, things are gonna get really uncomfortable and awkward when wearing headphones.

What I mean by a boom mic is like I linked on the last page, http://store.turtlebeach.com/hpa2replacementmicwithtwist-lock.aspx

I used the one off my old set, ran a 3.5mm extension cord from my mic port to my headphones, used two small zip ties to attatch it to my LH earcup, then I plug in the mic when I want to use it...voila, mic when ya want it, not when you don't, easy to manage and those mics do sound pretty damned good for the cheap price they used to run (I think they were like $10-15 shipped).

You could go with a zalman clip on mic, very popular as a quick and ez solution, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/?tag=tec06d-20, or a chinese version (be warned shipping times from the next link take a loooong time) http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-clip-on-microphone-7080 . Another popular option is this, albeit more expensive, people like the magnet attatch setup and mic quality: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IT9P3G/?tag=tec06d-20.

If you want to go with the boom mic idea like I talked about above, I have used this mic ( http://www.dealextreme.com/p/hyundai-soft-neck-laptop-microphone-4468 ), and it works well...it's not the best, but it works well and for basic needs it'll do great...and hey it's super cheap, though be warned dealextreme.com takes weeks for shipping (it's from china). I've had decent luck with them, but if you want something sooner pay more elsewhere.

Honestly any of those solutions should do ya. If you could find an old turtle beach boom mic or who made them for TB...that'd be the golden ticket imho...it was great with my turtle beach gaming headset and still works flawlessly for gaming today with real headphones. Hope that helps!

 

[BumbleBee]

this is interesting

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IT9P3G/?tag=tec06d-20

it's a flexible condenser mic that attaches with tiny magnets. reviews are positive. this is probably much better than a dynamic mic you would find on a headset.