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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: aggiejy on Fri, 03 June 2011, 00:32:46

Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Fri, 03 June 2011, 00:32:46: I telecommute and spend hours on Skype every day. I've been on a quest to find the best mic-quality headset for the past few years, and I've mostly failed. I've bought several, and tried even more, but haven't been blown away by anything unlike my mouse or keyboard.

Most gaming headsets are nice, but too bulky and closed headphones aren't great for talking on the phone. In fact, perhaps single-ear is best? I'd *really* prefer wireless, but nearly all of them I've bought suck. (Freetalk!)

This is what I still use every day... near perfect mic sound quality.
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-DSP-500-Digitally-Enhanced-Multimedia-Software/dp/B00005A9AV
Unfortunately, they don't make them anymore, and the replacements suck. (Plus it's a bit bulky and gives you a nice band of flat hair.)

Any other constant-skypers out there that have better solutions? I'm all ears! Perhaps a desktop mic is better than boom mic?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: HaveANiceDay on Fri, 03 June 2011, 09:41:27: I have the Sennheiser PC161. Good quality, light, comfortable. Using it for teamspeak every day.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 22 June 2011, 19:32:54: Is that what you use to record your sound samples?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: nowsharing on Sun, 26 June 2011, 19:24:45: Hi geekhack.

I'd like to find a quality wireless headset for the same reasons. A good solution might be a bluetooth headset for a cellphone. Mine is found by the computer, but I can't connect to it. Are there any that allow you to use them as an audio source with a computer? Of course the quality wouldn't be as great as mic & headphone solution, but the portability would be handy.

I currently use a microphone with a metal gooseneck stand, together with my SR60s. It works fine but isn't comfortable for long conversations, and it messes up my hair.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Mon, 04 July 2011, 18:53:01: nowsharing: I've tried the bluetooth thing quite a bit, even with a fairly highend set, (http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/voyager-pro) it's really poor quality compared to a quality mic. (Even with things working.) YMMV.

ripster: Thanks for the tip! I was looking at the Yeti a bit. I have a Snowball, but I think I jacked it up a bit during a firmware update. It's stuck on some low gain thing that I have to scream into to even have moderate levels.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 08 July 2011, 12:37:08: I just got a Native Union Moshi Moshi (http://www.amazon.com/Native-Union-Handset-Verizon-Blackberry/dp/B003DKL4JA/ref=pd_cp_cps_1). While not a headset, by far the best thing I've used for voip. Not useful for multitasking (needs a hand) at all though.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Fri, 08 July 2011, 12:38:07: That is sweet looking! :)
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: theferenc on Fri, 08 July 2011, 12:43:38: I was just talking to someone the other day about how I miss the feel of the old phones like that. I might have to look into one of those.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Lanx on Sun, 10 July 2011, 13:31:13: i use the jawbone icon for my cellphone it has that built in noise technology, this is like my 6th bt mic and the ones that all my friends and clients prefer. I always use it, especially when i walk the dog(i talk to clients this way sometimes) and of course when you're outside gust of wind will blow through, this mic is able to cancel it all out (the other ones couldn't, various jabra, samsung, platronics). I've never tried it for skype, i did use a basic lapel mic for teamspeak/ventrillo when i was leading raids in a mmo for 7 years and being that i was the one that talked for 4 hrs straight every night (cuz i told everyone what to do and stuff), everyone found my lapel mic to work well over other "gaming" headsets with a built in mic, all i can offer.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: bcpk on Sun, 10 July 2011, 14:23:35: I use a Giant Squid Audio Labs omni mono.
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-mono.html
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: godly_music on Thu, 14 July 2011, 03:01:48: Very cheap and picks up voice clearly. If you have expensive headphones and don't want to compromise listening quality.

Though the clip may end up a bit too tight for thick headphone cables, you can still fit it to the collar of your shirt.

(http://www.abcelectronique.com/comparateur/informatique/peripherique/audio/micro/photos/zm_mic1_zalman.jpg)
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: arplod on Wed, 14 September 2011, 19:09:00: Quote from: godly_music;380155
Very cheap and picks up voice clearly. If you have expensive headphones and don't want to compromise listening quality.

Though the clip may end up a bit too tight for thick headphone cables, you can still fit it to the collar of your shirt.

Show Image
(http://www.abcelectronique.com/comparateur/informatique/peripherique/audio/micro/photos/zm_mic1_zalman.jpg)

Utter crap.

How about the MMX 300? It's basically a DT770 Premium with a decent mic tacked on - and it is genuinely decent - the 5 year warranty is also reassuring.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Lester on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:23:48: Quote from: arplod;416246
Utter crap.

How about the MMX 300? It's basically a DT770 Premium with a decent mic tacked on - and it is genuinely decent - the 5 year warranty is also reassuring.

Why are those utter crap? I also use them and they're good imo!
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: hcry4 on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:34:59: Quote from: arplod;416246
How about the MMX 300? It's basically a DT770 Premium with a decent mic tacked on - and it is genuinely decent - the 5 year warranty is also reassuring.

I only recommend mmx 300 if you don't mind spending $300+.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:36:27: Wouldn't mind, but I found my DT770s very uncomfortable. I just sold them a month or so ago.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: hcry4 on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:40:23: Quote from: aggiejy;416563
Wouldn't mind, but I found my DT770s very uncomfortable. I just sold them a month or so ago.

Really? I'm using my 770s at work right now and I find them quite comfortable. I guess they could be too tight or small for some people.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:45:03: Yeah, it was the tightness. Kind of like a headclamp after a while for me. I tried to stretch them a bit, but didn't want to break them.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: hcry4 on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:49:44: I'm curious what your current setup is. Headset or separate desktop mic?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Thu, 15 September 2011, 10:53:47: I'm still using the Plantronics DSP500 as linked in the OP. It's a great headset... perfect mic quality. But it's about worn out and it's a bit chunky. I'm still on the lookout for some little lightweight headset (wired probably) that's got some crazy voice quality. There are plenty of fancy voice tube type headsets out there costing quite a bit... but they are all work with desk phones/amps/etc. I want that call-center $300-set quality, but in a USB setup. Something you can leave on your head for 8 hours and not think about it. Turns out to be a hard thing to find in my experience.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: csm725 on Fri, 16 September 2011, 01:45:57: I have a pair of ATH-AD700's along with the Zalman ZM-MIC1 on the way, will let you know how it works.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Gerk on Fri, 16 September 2011, 10:00:52: It's a bit of an oxymoron for a very lightweight setup that also has really good voice quality, especially if you don't want closed headphones if possible .. most of the really good/broadcast quality setups are also noise cancelling closed phone type setups (because most people that care about the mic quality also want good cans with tons of isolation). Check out some of the Sennheiser offerings would be my best suggestion. I don't have experience with their USB product but I've used their normal mic/headphone setups many times over the years for real broadcast stuff and they sound fantastic (not to mention are tough as hell). Warning: not cheap.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: aggiejy on Fri, 16 September 2011, 10:44:58: Quote from: Gerk;417148
It's a bit of an oxymoron for a very lightweight setup that also has really good voice quality, especially if you don't want closed headphones if possible .. most of the really good/broadcast quality setups are also noise cancelling closed phone type setups (because most people that care about the mic quality also want good cans with tons of isolation). Check out some of the Sennheiser offerings would be my best suggestion. I don't have experience with their USB product but I've used their normal mic/headphone setups many times over the years for real broadcast stuff and they sound fantastic (not to mention are tough as hell). Warning: not cheap.

This is true if you're talking about broadcast type stuff. But there are great mics for sets designed for phone conversation, as evident by the plethora of headsets available for office phones. Something looking similar to this:

(http://cl.ly/ABRJ/headset.jpeg)

That particular headset is awesome, I have it. It's about $130, but it requires an amp hooked to a desk phone. (You're paying for pretty much JUST the mic... not much else to it.) I was hoping they had something similar, but in USB. I haven't tried looking into an amp that acts as a USB go-between lately... perhaps that's a good idea.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: csm725 on Fri, 16 September 2011, 10:45:50: Why not a ZMMIC1 and a good set of cans?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Gerk on Fri, 16 September 2011, 10:49:38: I still have a phone (VoIP phone) that takes older-style phone headsets and have one similar to that I've been using for many years so I'm a bit out of touch in the USB headset world. I have a couple but they are cheapish ones with double cans .. but they work pretty well. When at my main workstation I have a small recoding studio setup so I tend to just use real mic's (my main vocal mic is an Audio Technica 4040 (http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/9b6aac05c5aca887/index.html))
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: arplod on Fri, 16 September 2011, 11:59:00: Quote from: csm725;417174
Why not a ZMMIC1 and a good set of cans?

Because it's pretty crap?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: csm725 on Fri, 16 September 2011, 12:00:40: Quote from: arplod;417198
Because it's pretty crap?
How so?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: arplod on Fri, 16 September 2011, 13:04:40: Quote from: csm725;417201
How so?

Pickup at practical clip-on distance, general usability. Just because it seems like a good idea, it isn't necessarily - especially if you're not pairing it with a headphone that's actually better than most decent headsets you can buy for similar money (i.e. better than DT770 Premium). If you're using a Zalman with an ATH-A700 class headphone, you're shooting yourself in the foot twice. Not that it's unusable, don't get me wrong - it's just that the 'audiophiler than thou' types recommending the Zalmans rarely actually have any experience with good headsets.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: csm725 on Fri, 16 September 2011, 13:19:20: You can't be saying a Razer/Logi headset sounds as good as a AD700.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Urglifast on Wed, 21 September 2011, 01:53:43: my Logitech G35's treat me really well. from what I understand the mic works really well and doesn't pick up ambient noises around me.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: arplod on Wed, 21 September 2011, 05:11:05: Quote from: Urglifast;419452
my Logitech G35's treat me really well. from what I understand the mic works really well and doesn't pick up ambient noises around me.

The pickup clarity is pretty good (and a lot better than e.g. struggling with the Zalman clip-on mic), but the reason I don't use the G35 as my Skype headset (the MMX 300 is in that role) is that the mic has a 'radio effect', i.e. that sharp, tinny sound which works really well in games when other stuff is going on, but doesn't actually sound very natural.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Urglifast on Wed, 21 September 2011, 16:18:48: Quote from: arplod;419472
The pickup clarity is pretty good (and a lot better than e.g. struggling with the Zalman clip-on mic), but the reason I don't use the G35 as my Skype headset (the MMX 300 is in that role) is that the mic has a 'radio effect', i.e. that sharp, tinny sound which works really well in games when other stuff is going on, but doesn't actually sound very natural.

that's probably got something to do with the "noise cancellation" software gate. however there is an in software mic EQ, it doesn't help?
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: arplod on Wed, 21 September 2011, 17:37:02: Quote from: Urglifast;419676
that's probably got something to do with the "noise cancellation" software gate. however there is an in software mic EQ, it doesn't help?

No there isn't (a mic EQ). It's just the way the capsule is configured/sounds. The noise cancellation isn't actually by software - it's why the mic (of any headset mic marketed as noise-cancelling) has an input grille both by the mouth and the opposite side. Ambient noise (i.e. sound that comes in through both ports) is rolled off by an engineered behaviour of the mic assembly.
Title: VOIP/Skype Headset or Mic Recommendations?
Post by: Urglifast on Wed, 21 September 2011, 17:55:59: Quote from: arplod;419698
No there isn't (a mic EQ). It's just the way the capsule is configured/sounds. The noise cancellation isn't actually by software - it's why the mic (of any headset mic marketed as noise-cancelling) has an input grille both by the mouth and the opposite side. Ambient noise (i.e. sound that comes in through both ports) is rolled off by an engineered behaviour of the mic assembly.

i could have sworn i had a mic EQ in the software, i'll have to check when i get home.