New headset

[Les]

Originally Posted by wannabetheace

...ComTac II tactical headset...Any experience on this beauty . or is it possible to use it like normal headset...

I only know about them what I've been able to gather from looking at their website just now, which isn't much. There isn't enough info there to be able to tell for sure whether they'd be any good for pc use or not. You'd have to ask them if there's any cabling arrangement that can allow the headsets to receive a stereo signal from a computer soundcard (with its 3.5mm in/outs) while also outputting the headset microphone's signal to the microphone input of the soundcard. It looks like the headphones and microphones themselves are capable of sending and receiving the signals, but there aren't enough tech specs to be certain of that either.

In terms of connectivity, it looks like it can be done, without the PTT unit, using dual downlead cables, if they can be made to both end with 3.5mm plugs (and can be extended, as they look a bit short). You might be able to use the PTT unit with the dual downlead setup too, if there's an adaptor to make the cable that would lead to your radio from the PTT unit end with a 3.5mm plug that can plug into your computer's microphone input instead. Looks too like it might be able to be done using one downlead cable (with an adaptor/splitter plugged on the end) if the signal coming from the game is mono not stereo and it shares the stereo downlead cable with the headset's microphone output (game in on one channel, then spread over two headphone speakers ?, microphone output on the other channel). Pricey setup though, when you add it all up, headset (w/gel earseals & cotton covers), PTT unit, radio. Could be 1k.

[RedToo]

Well I purchased some new headphones - went for the Audio Technica ATH-AD700's. The colour was abit of a surprise, a bit of a pink hue to the outside of the earpieces (!) But they sound excellent, the price was good, they are very comfortable to wear over my glasses, and my TrackClip Pro fits on perfectly. A great upgrade from my cheapie headphones.

RedToo.

[klem]

Medusa here, for a few years now. Comfy but a little heavy for some. It's an older version with the separate amplifier.

The only problem I have is in the cockpit when I look down from forward to my lap. There is a passing point at which the sound becomes much louder.

However having listened to various demos where I don't get that I suppose it's something to do with the game sound or perhaps my PC audio (Realtek AC97 on my Asus mobo)

[Les]

Originally Posted by klem

Medusa here, for a few years now. Comfy but a little heavy for some. It's an older version with the separate amplifier.

The only problem I have is in the cockpit when I look down from forward to my lap. There is a passing point at which the sound becomes much louder.

However having listened to various demos where I don't get that I suppose it's something to do with the game sound or perhaps my PC audio (Realtek AC97 on my Asus mobo)

It's mostly an in-game thing I think. When your viewpoint changes in cockpit and your plane's engine sound gets moved around, it can have some unwelcome effects.

You still get it with stereo headphones, but it can get amplified by the different speakers in a 5.1 setup. In fact I can remember being annoyed by the different sound levels with my Medusa's as the engine sound moved between speakers.

In your case all I can suggest is checking the levels between your front and rear speakers, maybe adjusting them in an otherwise un-natural balance to counter the effect, but I'm only guessing.

At the moment, with stereo headphones, I'm getting this odd thing where if I look up, the sound gets louder than when I'm looking straight ahead or down (with no difference between straight ahead and down). Which is the exact reverse of what you're describing. It's not a problem, but I don't see the point of it.

If the sound changes are supposed to be because of my virtual ears proximity to the engine, I'd expect the sounds to get louder if anything when looking straight ahead, or when looking left or right and pointing one ear directly at the engine, rather than when looking up.

Despite the novelty of it, I'm not sure how realistic it is to have the engine sitting right in front of you be all that directional anyway. I imagine it'd be more of an all-encompassing, almost deafening noise, only interrupted by impacts to your plane or nearby explosions. But it's not something I've really looked into or experienced in real-life myself, so I can't really say.

[Les]

Originally Posted by RedToo

Well I purchased some new headphones - went for the Audio Technica ATH-AD700's. The colour was abit of a surprise, a bit of a pink hue to the outside of the earpieces (!) But they sound excellent, the price was good, they are very comfortable to wear over my glasses, and my TrackClip Pro fits on perfectly. A great upgrade from my cheapie headphones.

RedToo.

Glad to hear it. I didn't know about the ppp...pale red (or should I say purple), tint though. Now that I look at it, it's there in the photo's, but I must have dismissed it as a magenta hue in the photograph itself. I doubt it'd bother me, but if it did, I'd probably attack them with a marker pen or something. Anyway, not to worry. As they say, some people are born to stylishness, while others have it thrust upon them.

Good to know the Track-IR clip fits too, I'll probably be upgrading to one of those myself at some point.