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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: kelbear on Tue, 16 July 2013, 15:28:21
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Hi all~
Just wanted to see everyone's opinions on a good AFFORDABLE gaming headset with a built in mic. I don't really fancy anything that looks futuristic but rather something clean and minimalistic (preferably in all black or some nice colour options).
Thanks!!
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Affordable? Steelseries Siberia V2 was just $38 on 1saleaday two days ago. This isn't the first time that they had this sale, so if you keep your eye out you can probably find one at this price. If not, I would still recommend the Siberia V2 as a very comfortable headset with mic.
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I will not beat the proverbial dead horse any more - headphones and clip-on mic (or desk top mic), but if you want a nice cheap pair of headphones with a built in mic, these are hard to beat.
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-sb45-SB-45-Communication-Stereophones/dp/B00081A2CW/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006916&sr=8-32&keywords=gaming+headphones (http://www.amazon.com/Koss-sb45-SB-45-Communication-Stereophones/dp/B00081A2CW/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006916&sr=8-32&keywords=gaming+headphones)
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For a built-in mic, many people swear by Turtle Beach.
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For a built-in mic, many people swear by Turtle Beach.
I've heard a lot of not so great things about Turtle Beach.
I'd probably recommend one of the Logitech headsets.
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For a built-in mic, many people swear by Turtle Beach.
I've heard a lot of not so great things about Turtle Beach.
I'd probably recommend one of the Logitech headsets.
It's because he's a turtle.
I'd recommend good headphones + a modmic or zalman mic anyday, but go get a Siberia V2 or something if you need cheap.
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You won't find a good headset for under several hundred dollars (and a lot of those are geared for voice, not music/games) so just get separate units or pick the cheapest headset out there.
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Get Beyerdynamic dt770 pro's with a clip-on mic or modmic.
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If you're from EU, you can go the Qpad HQ-85/90 route. Rebadged Takstar headphones that are well received with a microphone added.
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Unfortunately almost any gaming headset, with few exceptions, have that "gamer look". I think Astro and Sennheiser make headsets that do not look silly but they tend to be a little expensive.
One other option would just be going the separate headphones and mic route. That gives you a lot more options regarding the quality and look of the headset. I use a cheap Asus Xonar sound card, Sennheiser HD 518 headphone.
For the mic I use a Samson Go mic. It is designed as a decent mic for on the go, but is awesome for a mic for normal use that does not suck and is affordable. I previously had the Zalman clip on mic but was not really satisfied. I have not experience with the modmic.
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Even though most Razer products are for the nubz...I actually like my Kraken Pro that I got for 80 at Best Buy. Yeah it looks a little silly with lime green, but it has a really good stereo sound system and the mic is actually really good if you aren't planning to sing or whatever. Overrated company: yes...but Kraken as a good headset: yes.
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You could probably get a decent stage mic w/ boom stand and a cheapish pair of headphones for about the price of a gaming headset without the look, though (from personal experience) that boom can get a little annoying. Still, the mic would sound great.
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Used Sennheiser HD600 - $230
Zalman clip-on microphone - $7
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Yeah I would say go with some nice headphones and a zalman clip on/modmic. But if you're on a budget I'm pretty sure the siberia v2's are on ebay all the time for around $40. (I think because they are oem, but you may want to check around to make sure they aren't fakes.)
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Yeah I would say go with some nice headphones and a zalman clip on/modmic. But if you're on a budget I'm pretty sure the siberia v2's are on ebay all the time for around $40. (I think because they are oem, but you may want to check around to make sure they aren't fakes.)
Siberia v2 uses OEM parts, so they can't be fake :P
Turtlebeach and some Russian company I forgot the name of use the same parts.
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You should probably list a budget.
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Don't buy a gaming headset. You will end up living outside in a box made from mechanical keyboards, with no use for the headset.
You should probably list a budget.
Budget? Geekhack members have a budget? :eek:
You start off buying a headset, spending more than you would have liked to since everyone told you everything cheaper is crap. Then you become a regular on Geekhack and you convince yourself that mechanical keyboards are worth the premium over rubber dome boards since the key switches will last 50 million presses. Then you buy a nice mechanical keyboard to go with your nice headset. Then you buy 10 more keyboards with 10 custom sets of keycaps each and think it's normal because everyone on Geekhack is doing it and you just have to try all the switch types and form factors. Then some normal person asks you why you buy so many keyboards and you tell them that you're saving money because you don't have to replace your keyboards as often as you would with rubber domes.
Then they point out that you've spent over $1000 on keyboards and that they've spent $5, and their keyboard has lasted 10 years and is still going. Then your keyboard controllers randomly develop problems, like your right alt registering as right win, making your $100+ keyboards useless. Then you try to sell them and can't, because they don't make replacement controllers. You eventually get fired from your job because you were up all night looking for plastic keycaps and new keyboards to buy instead of sleeping, and you run out of money. Then you sell all your possessions and use your unsellable mechanical keyboards to build a shelter. Then you no longer have anywhere to plug your gaming headset in.
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http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/peripherals/2010/01/03/the-best-gaming-headset/
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Okay, so I've had quite a few experiences with gaming headsets in the past 2 years since building my PC, I'll list each one here:
Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset: Liked the way it fit..... like the way it sounded...... Didn't like the issues with wireless connectivity and popping I had...
Verdict: Returned
Razer Carcharias: Sounded okay, but absolutely in every way shape or form hate the way it fit. It's supposed to be a circum-aural headset, but somehow the earpads managed to not extend far enough around the ear so that each speaker sat literally on the ear.
Verdict: Returned (but I'll chock this one up to me being extremely picky)
Steelseries 7H: FINALLY! I thought, I found a good gaming headset, sounded amazing, mic was good......... and then of course the mic started to go south and I would lose sound in one ear. I learned shortly afterwards that it's a common problem with the 7H.... didn't even bother returning it....
Verdict: Broken
So after 3 different headsets that I didn't like or that broke on me, I decided **** it! I'm just going to use my Sennheiser HD555's and attach a mic to them, and sure enough, it works bloody great, and probably sounds a lot better than all the gaming headsets I tried anyway! Also, it's worth it to say I've had the HD555's for 4 years, with absolutely zero problems...
Yeah, all those people telling you to buy a good pair of audiophile quality headphones and get an attachable mic... I would consider their opinion heavily.... that's my 2 cents!
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I had a pair of Turtle Beach X1's (Throwback!) and they served their purpose as a cheap ($60) gaming headset that gave an advantage in FPS games on consoles and PC. But then again, there were just that, cheap. My next upgrade was to the holy grail of "gaming headsets" the Astro A40 audio system. For a bit more of a hefty price you got the A40's (retail $199) and their "mixamp" which was a DAC + Amp combo that created a synthetic 5.1 surround for the A40s. These can be had still for $250 for the combo and I swear by them to this day. Great, comfortable headphones for anything. Movies, games, music, they worked flawlessly. The Mixamp as well was great. It gave such a sense of immersion that made playing games even more enjoyable. Though, sadly, one day my A40's hit a snag. The left earcup I fear is now blown. I can still hear audio from it, but it is incredibly faint in comparison to the right. Checked all solder joints and they were fine. They had a good life though. I used them for a solid 3 years, so I wasn't too upset. I then tried Steelseries Siberia V2's, and they were pretty darn good sound quality wise when paired with the Mixamp, though they weren't too comfortable for a glasses wearer like myself. Now I get to my final and most favorite headset of them all. My Sennheiser HD518's. They can be had for a decent price of $120 and by far and away have the best SQ of any headphones thus far. Paired with either my Mixamp for gaming or my Aune T1 for everything else, they do everything and anything that I need them to do and I couldn't be happier. Only downside is that it doesn't have a mic, though this didn't matter to me as I use a Samson Meteor desk mic. Another alternative to the mic issue is an $8 Zalman clip on mic.
Headsets I recommend:
Sennheiser HD518's w/ a desk mic or Zalman Clip-on mic
Astro A40's (W/ Mixamp only! Do NOT buy them alone. Spend another $50 and get the Mixamp)
Steelseries Sibera V2's
Headsets I do NOT recommend
Anything Turtle Beach
Anything Triton
Pretty much anything Razer
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Okay, so I've had quite a few experiences with gaming headsets in the past 2 years since building my PC, I'll list each one here:
Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset: Liked the way it fit..... like the way it sounded...... Didn't like the issues with wireless connectivity and popping I had...
Verdict: Returned
Razer Carcharias: Sounded okay, but absolutely in every way shape or form hate the way it fit. It's supposed to be a circum-aural headset, but somehow the earpads managed to not extend far enough around the ear so that each speaker sat literally on the ear.
Verdict: Returned (but I'll chock this one up to me being extremely picky)
Steelseries 7H: FINALLY! I thought, I found a good gaming headset, sounded amazing, mic was good......... and then of course the mic started to go south and I would lose sound in one ear. I learned shortly afterwards that it's a common problem with the 7H.... didn't even bother returning it....
Verdict: Broken
So after 3 different headsets that I didn't like or that broke on me, I decided **** it! I'm just going to use my Sennheiser HD555's and attach a mic to them, and sure enough, it works bloody great, and probably sounds a lot better than all the gaming headsets I tried anyway! Also, it's worth it to say I've had the HD555's for 4 years, with absolutely zero problems...
Yeah, all those people telling you to buy a good pair of audiophile quality headphones and get an attachable mic... I would consider their opinion heavily.... that's my 2 cents!
you must have massive ears
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There are so many available mics. Sometimes I am a little surprised by the popularity of the Zalman clip on mic.
It does its job sure, but the sound quality is not great,. Another problem is that the mic is omnidirectional, designed to pick up sound in 360 degrees. This is probably because , when attached to your cord, the mic is actually quite far away from your mouth. The result is that it picks up anything. This does not have to be a problem, but if you live/game in a environment with a lot of noise, it can be annoying. One way to deal with is is using push-to-talk, though even then depending on circumstances, a mic like this can often have a constant "background noise".
There are much better mics even if you are looking at cheap mics. You can also go up one price category and get something decent. That said, the zalman mic will be sufficient for a lot of people. If however, you use your mic very often or sound quality is important to you in any way, then my advice is to get something better. I really do not think it deserves the praise it gets.
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Okay, so I've had quite a few experiences with gaming headsets in the past 2 years since building my PC, I'll list each one here:
Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset: Liked the way it fit..... like the way it sounded...... Didn't like the issues with wireless connectivity and popping I had...
Verdict: Returned
Razer Carcharias: Sounded okay, but absolutely in every way shape or form hate the way it fit. It's supposed to be a circum-aural headset, but somehow the earpads managed to not extend far enough around the ear so that each speaker sat literally on the ear.
Verdict: Returned (but I'll chock this one up to me being extremely picky)
Steelseries 7H: FINALLY! I thought, I found a good gaming headset, sounded amazing, mic was good......... and then of course the mic started to go south and I would lose sound in one ear. I learned shortly afterwards that it's a common problem with the 7H.... didn't even bother returning it....
Verdict: Broken
So after 3 different headsets that I didn't like or that broke on me, I decided **** it! I'm just going to use my Sennheiser HD555's and attach a mic to them, and sure enough, it works bloody great, and probably sounds a lot better than all the gaming headsets I tried anyway! Also, it's worth it to say I've had the HD555's for 4 years, with absolutely zero problems...
Yeah, all those people telling you to buy a good pair of audiophile quality headphones and get an attachable mic... I would consider their opinion heavily.... that's my 2 cents!
you must have massive ears
I guess..... :p
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There are so many available mics. Sometimes I am a little surprised by the popularity of the Zalman clip on mic.
It does its job sure, but the sound quality is not great,. Another problem is that the mic is omnidirectional, designed to pick up sound in 360 degrees. This is probably because , when attached to your cord, the mic is actually quite far away from your mouth. The result is that it picks up anything. This does not have to be a problem, but if you live/game in a environment with a lot of noise, it can be annoying. One way to deal with is is using push-to-talk, though even then depending on circumstances, a mic like this can often have a constant "background noise".
There are much better mics even if you are looking at cheap mics. You can also go up one price category and get something decent. That said, the zalman mic will be sufficient for a lot of people. If however, you use your mic very often or sound quality is important to you in any way, then my advice is to get something better. I really do not think it deserves the praise it gets.
I agree. I have tried it, and got complaints from other players (sc2 with an mx blue kb). I switched to a desk top directional mic and it was worlds better. I could actually hear all the clicking on the speakers of the other players reverberating back on their mics.
My personal setup:
Audio technica ath-ad500 for gaming when I don't need heavy bass: http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD500-Full-Size-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B000CMLZEG/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1374106720&sr=8-14&keywords=audio+technica+ath-ad (http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD500-Full-Size-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B000CMLZEG/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1374106720&sr=8-14&keywords=audio+technica+ath-ad)
or
JVC HARX-500 for gaming with more bass or movies: http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX500-Over-the-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000NV0SG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374106812&sr=1-1&keywords=jvc+harx500 (http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX500-Over-the-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000NV0SG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374106812&sr=1-1&keywords=jvc+harx500) I picked mine up for $7 on Black Friday just to try them out, and found I really like them. Very similar sound to the HARX700s.
paired with this mic: (it is supposed to be omnidirectional, but it doesn't seem to be more than about 120 deg. usefull area) - I put it on the monitor base with the grill pointing up torward me.
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATR4650-Condenser-Computer-Microphone/product-reviews/B006QSSUK2/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 (http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATR4650-Condenser-Computer-Microphone/product-reviews/B006QSSUK2/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1)
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http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374114755&sr=8-1&keywords=ath+ad700
+
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_y
or
http://www.modmic.com/
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http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374114755&sr=8-1&keywords=ath+ad700
+
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_y
or
http://www.modmic.com/
Go ModMic, That Zalman sounds like you're out at sea in a hurricane... No offense to anyone that has one and likes it. ;D
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i have one(zalman).. and i dont know if it's me or my friend but hearing myself every time we game is annoying as hell. that and the fact the cable is just crazy long. especially when my pc is about 2 feet away at most.
the modmic looks cool, but that price is a little to high for me.
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i have one(zalman).. and i dont know if it's me or my friend but hearing myself every time we game is annoying as hell. that and the fact the cable is just crazy long. especially when my pc is about 2 feet away at most.
the modmic looks cool, but that price is a little to high for me.
Yeah... If you ever want to hear what it sounds like I can chat with you over Skype, TS, or Mumble!
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I only recommend the zalman because its so cheap and I didn't know of any other good cheap mics until the one Badwrench posted. I don't really get complaints about my mic but maybe that's also cause I actually downloaded my soundcard drivers and use the noise suppression and accoustic echo cancellation. But I'm also in a room with little background noise. I'll probably try out a modmic if they ever end up releasing a version with a mute button.
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Get Beyerdynamic dt770 pro's with a clip-on mic or modmic.
Agreed, any decent headphones in the $150 dollar range with the modmic would be the best bet. Much better quality for the money.
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My set up is the Astro Mix Amp Pro + Audio Technica ATH-AD700. Works phenomenally at around $230 if you shop around without breaking the bank :D
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Wow, thanks for all the replies guys ;D! <3
I would reply to each and every posting but I realize that would be one hell of a long post.
I ended up sticking to what most of you have recommended, that is, get a designated desktop mic and just buy a good pair of headphones rather than getting a headset. I've been reading online and it seems that most budget headsets don't really function well in terms of sound and voice so I thought why not just get a mic and headphones?
I managed to find a Blue Snowball mic on clearance at Staples for $40, so I decided to pick up one of those! For the time being, I will be sticking to my regular Sony earbuds but do continue with your suggestions on headphones; I enjoy reading all of your postings (hopefully others will find this helpful too~)
I figure the Blue Snowball mic will function fairly well as a desktop mic.. and if I ever wanted to record my singing.. that's a different story, haha!
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Wow, thanks for all the replies guys ;D! <3
I would reply to each and every posting but I realize that would be one hell of a long post.
I ended up sticking to what most of you have recommended, that is, get a designated desktop mic and just buy a good pair of headphones rather than getting a headset. I've been reading online and it seems that most budget headsets don't really function well in terms of sound and voice so I thought why not just get a mic and headphones?
I managed to find a Blue Snowball mic on clearance at Staples for $40, so I decided to pick up one of those! For the time being, I will be sticking to my regular Sony earbuds but do continue with your suggestions on headphones; I enjoy reading all of your postings (hopefully others will find this helpful too~)
I figure the Blue Snowball mic will function fairly well as a desktop mic.. and if I ever wanted to record my singing.. that's a different story, haha!
The snowball has been a favorite of many people over the years for voice recording, great choice! I was going to get one myself but couldn't find any good deals at the time so the Samson Meteor did what I needed it to do and I love the thing.
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Thanks! Haha I was pretty lucky because my boyfriend and I managed to snag 2 from the clearance basket. If it wasn't for that, we probably would have still been looking for a headset.
My only issue now is that the Blue Snowball looks like a Haro on my desk LOL
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idk about the whole gaming headset thing..
if a headset is good it's going to be good no matter what right? with the sound reproduction etc
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idk about the whole gaming headset thing..
if a headset is good it's going to be good no matter what right? with the sound reproduction etc
Some headphones have better clarity, others have a better soundstage. Headphones are all different, but then again, the DAC / amp you use also makes a difference. My Astro MixAmp creates a virtual Dolby Surround effect that's great for gaming, while my Aune T1 has great clarity though you can tell it's only stereo output.
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This is one headset that is cheap http://www.amazon.com/Creative-HS-800-Fatal1ty-Gaming-Headset/dp/B002DS4HTM I swear by it I had it for 3 years and all of my friends get it. the mic is crystal clear and the sound is actually good unlike most gaming headsets, I no longer use it however because I have DT770s now with the Zalman mic, but it was still amazing for the price, I've had pretty much everything you can think of. Turtlebeach, steelseries, logitech in order of worst to best, logitech is the only only brand I would trust but I don't like USB (For anyone looking for a "Gaming Headset")
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I've got my eye on some cans my buddy recommended. I would just buy a clip on mic when I needed to chat. They're the SoundMagic HP100. My friend is a true audiophile (has spent thousands on headphones alone), so I trust his word. I feel confident recommending these to anyone knowing they have his stamp of approval.
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Don't buy a gaming headset. You will end up living outside in a box made from mechanical keyboards, with no use for the headset.
Budget? Geekhack members have a budget? :eek:
You start off buying a headset, spending more than you would have liked to since everyone told you everything cheaper is crap. Then you become a regular on Geekhack and you convince yourself that mechanical keyboards are worth the premium over rubber dome boards since the key switches will last 50 million presses. Then you buy a nice mechanical keyboard to go with your nice headset. Then you buy 10 more keyboards with 10 custom sets of keycaps each and think it's normal because everyone on Geekhack is doing it and you just have to try all the switch types and form factors. Then some normal person asks you why you buy so many keyboards and you tell them that you're saving money because you don't have to replace your keyboards as often as you would with rubber domes.
Then they point out that you've spent over $1000 on keyboards and that they've spent $5, and their keyboard has lasted 10 years and is still going. Then your keyboard controllers randomly develop problems, like your right alt registering as right win, making your $100+ keyboards useless. Then you try to sell them and can't, because they don't make replacement controllers. You eventually get fired from your job because you were up all night looking for plastic keycaps and new keyboards to buy instead of sleeping, and you run out of money. Then you sell all your possessions and use your unsellable mechanical keyboards to build a shelter. Then you no longer have anywhere to plug your gaming headset in.
Great post, first time I've read it, I lol'd.
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I will not beat the proverbial dead horse any more - headphones and clip-on mic (or desk top mic), but if you want a nice cheap pair of headphones with a built in mic, these are hard to beat.
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-sb45-SB-45-Communication-Stereophones/dp/B00081A2CW/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006916&sr=8-32&keywords=gaming+headphones (http://www.amazon.com/Koss-sb45-SB-45-Communication-Stereophones/dp/B00081A2CW/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006916&sr=8-32&keywords=gaming+headphones)
i'd have to agree.
gaming headsets are generally more expensive as well, so you get more bang for your buck if you get headphones and a clip on mic
but i'd go with those if you really want a headset
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I use a Razer Carcharias; got them a long time ago for $80. I'm not a fan of clip-on mics and was looking for a simple solution (with my benchmark being sound and positional sound through CS 1.6..if they pass that test, then they're good to go). I've been through a lot of headsets and they obviously don't compare to higher-end headphones, but they are still more than serviceable and comfortable for my head.
People also tend to forget that your audio experience is still limited by what you can output. I've had people I've met, as well as clients, have amazing/expensive headphones, only to be using a cheap sound card or even on-board audio. The flip situation is also comically present with people, who spend lost of money on a sound card with features they don't understand or use, on top of using incredibly poor headphones/headset.
I still have an X-Fi XtremeMusic that I got for cheap like 7? years ago or so, paired with my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s and my Carcharias. Solid if underwhelming solution for someone who doesn't do a lot.
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Skimmed through this thread and yes, find a good pair of headphones. State your budget, music preferences, and sonic preferences if you have any. I'll assume you want full sized headphones, since you initially asked for a headset. Now would you be fine with a pair of open headphones or closed headphones? I'll start you off with this linK:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-7-18-2013-philips-fidelio-x1-added