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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: C5Allroad on Tue, 24 June 2014, 23:10:43

Title: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Tue, 24 June 2014, 23:10:43
I need a new headset to replace my vengeance 1500.
I've been looking at the steelseries siberia elites.
Requirements:
-7.1 surround
-Comfortable
-Something I can beat on and won't break
-If it's a headset, it needs a good mic


And since I don't have a extra PCI slot, I can't just buy a soundcard, that's why I've been looking at USB sound cars like the Asus Xonar U3


As for mics, I was looking at a snowball mic.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: Lain1911 on Tue, 24 June 2014, 23:12:26
I really like my Logitech G35 but you might be looking for something a little more powerful.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: SSIPAK on Tue, 24 June 2014, 23:15:04
I am using Vengeance 2100 and love this thing. I don't know why i didn't try out wireless in the first place.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Tue, 24 June 2014, 23:59:11
How have corsairs recent drivers been?
On my 1500 the newest one with the EQ it didn't allow for as much bass as the 1.1 drivers. The only thing that bothers me is that there is constant beeping.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: Pacifist on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:04:21
Whats the budget? I've heard there's issues with the snowball that the yeti fixed.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: User Was Banned on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:16:26
V-moda Boompro+Philips Fidelio X1?

Or Sennheiser PC360
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: SSIPAK on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:19:34
How have corsairs recent drivers been?
On my 1500 the newest one with the EQ it didn't allow for as much bass as the 1.1 drivers. The only thing that bothers me is that there is constant beeping.
my 2100 is working fine and im using their latest driver. btw I love 7.1 surround sound mode.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:21:36
Whats the budget? I've heard there's issues with the snowball that the yeti fixed.
About $200

How have corsairs recent drivers been?
On my 1500 the newest one with the EQ it didn't allow for as much bass as the 1.1 drivers. The only thing that bothers me is that there is constant beeping.
my 2100 is working fine and im using their latest driver. btw I love 7.1 surround sound mode.
Last I tried it, everything sounded flat, and I couldn't get it sound nice. And that constant beeping was still there.

Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:22:33
7.1 surround on a headset is a gimmick.  I'd avoid anything Corsair or Razer.  Logitech is the only "gaming" brand that has a halfway decent headset.

Get something quality, not Corsair.  If you want cheap, you can't beat the Audiotechnica AD-700 or some Superluxx headphones if you want dirt cheap and the Antlion Modmic or Yeti Snowball for something on the desk or if you want a dedicated headset, the Sennheiser PC 360 (or newer cheaper PC350).
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 00:28:35
7.1 surround on a headset is a gimmick.  I'd avoid anything Corsair or Razer.  Logitech is the only "gaming" brand that has a halfway decent headset.

Get something quality, not Corsair.  If you want cheap, you can't beat the Audiotechnica AD-700 or some Superluxx headphones if you want dirt cheap and the Antlion Modmic or Yeti Snowball for something on the desk or if you want a dedicated headset, the Sennheiser PC 360 (or newer cheaper PC350).
I've been straying away from corsair now. The only things that they make that is good is mice, cases, and PSUs.
I wonder if the mic on the Siberia is any good.

I like audio technica but I would need to buy a USB sound card lol.
I may just consider that lol.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: pichu23 on Wed, 25 June 2014, 04:43:28
Astro A40s? :D
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 08:59:15
Astro A40s? :D
I've worn A50s, they don't sit tight on your head. kind of loose.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: pichu23 on Wed, 25 June 2014, 09:06:36
Astro A40s? :D
I've worn A50s, they don't sit tight on your head. kind of loose.

Really? I wanted to get the a50s but I couldn't justify the price of it. :3 wireless and all it's features looks nice but still.  :-X mind me asking if you have a small head ?  :blank: sorry for going out of topic for a lil bit.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 09:10:11
Astro A40s? :D
I've worn A50s, they don't sit tight on your head. kind of loose.

Really? I wanted to get the a50s but I couldn't justify the price of it. :3 wireless and all it's features looks nice but still.  :-X mind me asking if you have a small head ?  :blank: sorry for going out of topic for a lil bit.
I guess I have an averaged sized head.
But his( the owner of the A50) has a larger head, so I guess it just that would he why.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: davkol on Wed, 25 June 2014, 16:50:24
I usually avoid headsets, but Sennheiser PC 320 accidentally found a way to my place a while ago. Surprisingly good (except build quality though) and quite common around €20 refurbished, at least where I live. I mean, really. Great comfort, unless you have huge ears; pretty nice sound stage; overall quite good sound (don't believe bassheads that it lacks bass).

Otherwise, I'd look into some superlux/takstar/whatever, separate mic and some decent budget-level source.

BTW the xonar U3 is crap, if you ask me. The official drivers are horrible and even without them, it's all over the place (cracking on some setups, great sound on others).
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: User Was Banned on Wed, 25 June 2014, 22:17:09
Why a soundcard when you can get a nice external DAC instead? Then get yourself some decent headphones and you've got good audio and good gaming.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 23:19:34
Why a soundcard when you can get a nice external DAC instead? Then get yourself some decent headphones and you've got good audio and good gaming.
Well, I'm not too savvy with audio.
That would be one major reason.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: User Was Banned on Wed, 25 June 2014, 23:25:03
You don't have to be audio savvy to appreciate good sound. Unless you don't listen to music much, then yeah just get a crappy gaming headset.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: JPG on Wed, 25 June 2014, 23:39:07
Why a soundcard when you can get a nice external DAC instead? Then get yourself some decent headphones and you've got good audio and good gaming.
Well, I'm not too savvy with audio.
That would be one major reason.

If you get a decent pair of headphones and a decent dac/amp, you will get a MUCH better sound, gaming included. Don't have to spend too much, but if you get a Aune T1 as dac/amp and buy decent headphones (in the 150-300$ range from audio technical, beyerdynamic, etc. then you only need to find a mic.

At home I use a beyerdynamic DT-880 with a Aune T1 and the sound is super nice for whatever. But the DT-880 are semi-open (similar to full open) so you can ear more a of 3D effect of the sound, but you can ear whatever noise around you so if you have no noise where you sit it's ok, else look for some closed over ear headphones.

Finding a good pair of headphones is a quest, but at the same time if you take the time to look at reviews and decide what you look for, you will find something nice at a decent price. You can even get the AT-M50. They are 100$ and are supposed to sound very nice for the price.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Wed, 25 June 2014, 23:43:12
Noob Warning***
What aboue the EQ? Would I be able to change that?
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: davkol on Thu, 26 June 2014, 03:21:25
Why a soundcard when you can get a nice external DAC instead? Then get yourself some decent headphones and you've got good audio and good gaming.
Because a mic requires an analog-to-digital converter?
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:04:30
Why a soundcard when you can get a nice external DAC instead? Then get yourself some decent headphones and you've got good audio and good gaming.
Because a mic requires an analog-to-digital converter?
The snowball one is a USB mic.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: davkol on Thu, 26 June 2014, 14:57:08
...which only means it already has an ADC inside. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd prefer to keep my options open, because of cheap second-hand pro gear—I've fallen in love with the headsets I've used at conferences.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 27 June 2014, 09:13:00
...which only means it already has an ADC inside. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd prefer to keep my options open, because of cheap second-hand pro gear—I've fallen in love with the headsets I've used at conferences.
Oh ok...
I'll be reading up on headphones and DACs.

Still wondering about EQ settings with DACs though.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 27 June 2014, 11:37:49
I usually avoid headsets, but Sennheiser PC 320 accidentally found a way to my place a while ago. Surprisingly good (except build quality though) and quite common around €20 refurbished, at least where I live. I mean, really. Great comfort, unless you have huge ears; pretty nice sound stage; overall quite good sound (don't believe bassheads that it lacks bass).

Otherwise, I'd look into some superlux/takstar/whatever, separate mic and some decent budget-level source.

BTW the xonar U3 is crap, if you ask me. The official drivers are horrible and even without them, it's all over the place (cracking on some setups, great sound on others).
Also, what about the Xonar U7?
Is okay?
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: User Was Banned on Fri, 27 June 2014, 20:25:02
...which only means it already has an ADC inside. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd prefer to keep my options open, because of cheap second-hand pro gear—I've fallen in love with the headsets I've used at conferences.
Oh ok...
I'll be reading up on headphones and DACs.

Still wondering about EQ settings with DACs though.

EQ will be adjusted through software, your DAC shouldn't have any effect on that.
Title: Re: Recommendations for headsets or headphone and mic combo
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 27 June 2014, 20:35:37
Oh ok.
Thanks all!