New headset

[albx]

I'm asking a suggestion for a new headset, also for the incoming SOW that with the binaural sound I'm sure will ROCK!! I have seen those http://www.roccat.org/Products/Gamin...d/ROCCAT-Kave/ i don't have any experience with headsets cause i always enjoyed my 5.1 speakers, but can't flight in the evening because it's too loud . please guys give me your suggestion.... thanks.

Alberto

[T}{OR]

I strongly recommend that you read this guide if you're looking into getting the best audio quality from your cans:

http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards...-headsets.html


In short:

• avoid USB headsets
• avoid 5.1 headsets
• avoid anything with mic attached

[albx]

Originally Posted by T.}{.O.R.

I strongly recommend that you read this guide if you're looking into getting the best audio quality from your cans:

http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards...-headsets.html


In short:

• avoid USB headsets
• avoid 5.1 headsets
• avoid anything with mic attached

i already considered not buying a USB, so people here use a stereo headset or not at all? I thought a 5.1 was good for a full immersion...

[T}{OR]

5.1 is on occasions better for positional sound, like when you play FPS games but nothing else. I bet most people don't even know what they are missing with headsets, when compared to a decent set of headphones.

The only headset I can recommend is MEDUSA NX 5.1, or if you have money to throw around and you don't need 5.1 go with the overpriced Sennheiser PC 360.

Since Oleg showed us how SoW will feature binaural sound, I would go with the stereo headset.

[lbuchele]

I have just bought a Logitech G930 headset.
Truth is:it's wireless,Wi-fi,5.1,has a mic built-in,(noise-cancelling),and it's sound really great.
Just google it, you will see that what people are saying in this article about headset it's not true everytime.
What truly makes difference it's engineering quality ,that's all.

[rakinroll]

Philips Cordless...

[Flanker35M]

S!

Using Creative Fatal1ty headset, the jacked version not USB. Quite nicely fills my gaming needs. Sure could buy a better one, but far more important is to upgrade joystick.

[PilotError]

I've been using a Medusa 5.1 headset for about 3 years now.

I prefer my 5.1 speakers usually but you have to consider the neighbours at times, and I have found this headset to be a good alternative.
The only thing with the Medusa is that it comes with its own amplifier, so that's another power supply you need a socket for.

Having seen, or should I say heard about the binaurel sound in the latest update I may well be using the headset a lot more when SOW is released.
Probably would please the neighbours as well.

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by PilotError

I've been using a Medusa 5.1 headset for about 3 years now.

I prefer my 5.1 speakers usually but you have to consider the neighbours at times, and I have found this headset to be a good alternative.
The only thing with the Medusa is that it comes with its own amplifier, so that's another power supply you need a socket for.

Having seen, or should I say heard about the binaurel sound in the latest update I may well be using the headset a lot more when SOW is released.
Probably would please the neighbours as well.

I'm on my 3rd set of Medusa's over 5 a year period.

Seems like the amplifiers are a bit weak they get "scratchy" sounding.

Mind you they are on approx 12 hours a day !!!!

[Les]

I'd suggest getting a good pair of open-backed stereo headphones and a separate clip-on microphone.

For example, for about the same price as the Roccat headset you could get a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-AD400 or ATH-AD700 headphones and a Zalman ZM-MIC1 clip-on microphone.

You don't need a 5.1 headset to experience binaural sound. And really, no offense, but in my opinon the whole 'let's pack three speakers in each ear-cup and call it surround-sound' approach is a bit of a gimmick, even though it does sort of work.

I used to use a pair of AKG K141 headphones, which I liked but wouldn't recommend in this instance. I then tried the Medusa 5.1 headphones but stopped using them after a while (several years). Their overall sound quality wasn't that great and they used different sounding types of speakers for the front and back, which I found annoying. They were a bit heavy too and didn't really fit my (smaller than normal I guess) head, making them too loose and uncomfortable for me. I found the volume control on their cable a bit awkwardly placed too. They did give a nice rumbling vibration when listening to really bassy sounds though, that's the only positive I can think of. All in all, I'd never use a 5.1 headset again.

I replaced the Medusa's with a pair of Audio Technica ATH-AD900's which are much lighter and more comfortable, and the sound quality is better too. I can wear those for several hours before their contact points on a particular part of my (oddly shaped?) ears starts to get uncomfortable.

Some things to look out for in headphones-

Faux leather (leatherette?) ear pads. This stuff tends to get sweaty and break up and flake off, even on really expensive headphones. A soft velour-like fabric is better.

The impedance values on more higher-end audiophile-oriented headphones. Some headphones require more amplification than most computer sound-cards and portable devices can provide, and if they're under-driven they don't sound so good.

Open-backed or closed-backed headphones. Open-backed headphones have a more natural sound and can be more comfortable to wear, but let more of that sound out through the open backs of the ear-cups, and let more surrounding sound in. Closed-backed headphones don't let so much sound out and can in fact work like ear-muffs to block out external sound, but they are containing your ears in cups which can be uncomfortable and less natural sounding.

Comfort. I put comfort and sound quality on an equal footing. The best sounding headphones in the world will sound like nothing at all if I have to take them off because they're too uncomfortable. On the other hand, if they're so light and flimsy I can wear them all day without noticing them, they probably don't sound too good.

Headphones are one of those things where, if you can, you should try before you buy as there's just no way of knowing exactly what they're like otherwise.

At the end of the day though, if you can afford the Roccat's then you're out of the cheapest-nastiest-crap price range, so whatever you get will probably be fine. (Don't get the Roccat's though!!!! lol )

Edit- Just had a look at the first page of the thread T.}{.O.R. linked to here - http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards...-headsets.html and it seems we've come to some similar conclusions. Definitely worth a look.