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Awesome Headsets for PC

post #1 of 19
11/21/10 at 9:41pm
Thread Starter 

Alright, this is my first post on the site; my friend recommended it to me and it looks like an awesome place for audio advice. 

Anyway... I'm looking for a headset for my computer with these requirements;

- Microphone attached

- Comfortable for long periods of use (Really important)

- Price range: $0 - $80, can extend to $100 if needed

- High-quality audio playback (for the list below)

 

I'll be using this headset for gaming, music (high quality listening & editing), movies, and probably some video chats/conferences. This headset will have to be able to play loud music and not crackle, since I like pumping music (but can't when people are home.) I've been looking at some sound cards too, since I've heard it improves the audio, so I'd like to know if that will affect the headset at all. Thanks in advance. :]

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post #2 of 19
11/21/10 at 9:43pm

Please be nice to this guy! He is one of my friends. I know absolutely nothing about headsets so I couldn't really help. I suggested the Sennheiser HD555, but it has no mic.

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post #3 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:03pm

Lets get this straight from the start, there are no audiophile quality headsets in his price range.

BUT what he can do is take low-end audiophile headphones and use a clip on mic or a desk mic.

 

Best gaming headset in your budget is the Audio Technica ATH-AD700

Use the Zalman Clip on microphone or a Logitech desktop mic

 

If you dont mind sacrificing a bit of audio quality in music/movies for a more simple gaming headphone. I recommend the Corsair CA-HS1

 

Side note: If you dont have a high quality audio card, i would just go with the Corsair headset. Audiophile grade headphones REQUIRE a high quality audio source (soundcard or dac).

 

Have fun :D

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post #4 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 

Oh, last thing. I wanted to know anyone's honest opinion on Creative's Sound Blaster Arena headset. I've been looking at that one and it seems to do what I want.

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post #5 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 

@Xaborus; Thanks for that info... I knew that there wouldn't be a really high quality headset within my price range AND without a card. I'll do a little more research. :)

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post #6 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:14pm

Basically what you want is something with a nice soundstage/imaging for gaming, Under 70$ so you can afford a clip on mic and shipping. 

 

Ad700's do this well, just search for "AD700 Gaming" on this site. BTW if you got these Zero, I would be jealous :D I might have to come steal them for a little....

 

But the Gaming headset Xaborus mentioned is a simpler package.


Edited by Mdraluck23 - 11/21/10 at 10:16pm
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post #7 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlmightyZero View Post

Oh, last thing. I wanted to know anyone's honest opinion on Creative's Sound Blaster Arena headset. I've been looking at that one and it seems to do what I want.



Whatever you do, STAY AWAY FROM CREATIVE.

Stay away from there cards, there headsets, there earbuds, everything.

 

There overpriced and are horrible compared to other brands in the same price range.

 

I also recommend the Logitech G35's for your budget.

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post #8 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mdraluck23 View Post

Basically what you want is something with a nice soundstage/imaging for gaming, Under 70$ so you can afford a clip on mic and shipping. 

 

Ad700's do this well, just search for "AD700 Gaming" on this site. BTW if you got these Zero, I would be jealous :D I might have to come steal them for a little....

 

But the Gaming headset Xaborus mentioned is a simpler package.



Yeah, truthfully the AD700's will blow away any gaming headset.

The problem is that you need a good quality audio card, which will easily run you $100-200 if you dont already have one.

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post #9 of 19
11/21/10 at 10:47pm

Do you really NEED an excellent soundcard? What do you have Zero (it's weird calling you that :D)? AD700's are only 32 ohms. I suppose the soundcard Offers much better SQ, but is it REALLY necessary for just a stereo set?

 

I don't really know anything about soundcards... Seeing as I have a laptop. I am planning on getting a DAC though.


Edited by Mdraluck23 - 11/21/10 at 10:50pm
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post #10 of 19
11/21/10 at 11:11pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaborus View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by AlmightyZero View Post

Oh, last thing. I wanted to know anyone's honest opinion on Creative's Sound Blaster Arena headset. I've been looking at that one and it seems to do what I want.



Whatever you do, STAY AWAY FROM CREATIVE.

Stay away from there cards, there headsets, there earbuds, everything.

 

There overpriced and are horrible compared to other brands in the same price range.

 

I also recommend the Logitech G35's for your budget.



 Creative has not been very good with their support but it's been no worse than Asus's support for the Xonar cards. The latest cards from creative seem to be quite good though maybe not quite to the Xonar Essense level but very close though.

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post #11 of 19
11/21/10 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
Currently, I'm using my mobo's onboard audio card, which isn't amazing but it does what I need it to. Since the AD700's work for my phone/ipod too, it's a big plus for me. I might just grab a pair of those and a clip on Mic and call it a day. I don't think I need a sound card right now but I'll get one later if I need it.
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post #12 of 19
11/22/10 at 4:45am

I just recently went through this as well. Looking for a high quality headset for gaming/music to replace a pair of 7 year old sony headphones and after researching (here mainly) i came to the conclusion that I will be limiting myself because I want a built in mic. My only other 2 requirements were sound quality and closed type headphones (my PC is in the living room so the leaking from open phones wouldnt fly with the wife) so i went with the Sennheiser HD448's and Im so happy I did. Ive never had this much clarity and spacial positioning in games before. In Left4Dead 1/2 for example the second a special zombie does his special grunt I can spin around to his location before he even rounds a corner and is visible...its almost 3D. Im the first one ontop of guys now cuz I can hear where they are coming from so clearly...awesome. Compared to before with the sonys I had a general idea where enemies were coming from via sound but no where near as accurately.

 

Im happy I didnt go the headset route as in the end now that I think about it I play ALOT of different games and only maybe 20% use/need voice chat.

 

As far as sound cards go the only problem I have with creative is their support is lacking. Research the Auzentech Forte. Its got an integrated headamp and runs off the X-fi chip from creative but is is touted to have a better build quality. Just another option to research. Im personally still using the onboard from my ASUS Rampage III gene mobo as I think im gonna run PC>optical out>Gamma2 DAC>headamp>HD448's (and whatever other headphones cross my desk now that im bitten by the bug) instead of going with the Forte.

 

Not sure if any of this helps, i was just in the same boat as you 3 months ago so thought i would share my experience.

 

Good luck and let us know what you settle on and how you like it.

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post #13 of 19
11/22/10 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperF View Post

I just recently went through this as well. Looking for a high quality headset for gaming/music to replace a pair of 7 year old sony headphones and after researching (here mainly) i came to the conclusion that I will be limiting myself because I want a built in mic. My only other 2 requirements were sound quality and closed type headphones (my PC is in the living room so the leaking from open phones wouldnt fly with the wife) so i went with the Sennheiser HD448's and Im so happy I did. Ive never had this much clarity and spacial positioning in games before. In Left4Dead 1/2 for example the second a special zombie does his special grunt I can spin around to his location before he even rounds a corner and is visible...its almost 3D. Im the first one ontop of guys now cuz I can hear where they are coming from so clearly...awesome. Compared to before with the sonys I had a general idea where enemies were coming from via sound but no where near as accurately.

 

Im happy I didnt go the headset route as in the end now that I think about it I play ALOT of different games and only maybe 20% use/need voice chat.

 

As far as sound cards go the only problem I have with creative is their support is lacking. Research the Auzentech Forte. Its got an integrated headamp and runs off the X-fi chip from creative but is is touted to have a better build quality. Just another option to research. Im personally still using the onboard from my ASUS Rampage III gene mobo as I think im gonna run PC>optical out>Gamma2 DAC>headamp>HD448's (and whatever other headphones cross my desk now that im bitten by the bug) instead of going with the Forte.

 

Not sure if any of this helps, i was just in the same boat as you 3 months ago so thought i would share my experience.

 

Good luck and let us know what you settle on and how you like it.


The Auzentech Forte is nice.. but it uses CMSS3D. Many gamers prefer Dolby headphone. Developers too. For example, bad company 2 is coded in Dolby.

 

Dolby headphone is used on all new headsets for a reason.

 

Read more Here on CMSS3D vs Dolby Headphone.

 

 

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post #14 of 19
11/23/10 at 2:18pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for all the info, guys. I tried out Mdraluck23's HD448's yesterday and I love them. They're very clear and as SuperF said, you can hear exactly where enemies are when you're gaming. I listened to some losless audio too, just to test them out. It was an awesome experience and I think that the AD700's would even go beyond these. They're expensive to me, but I have seen what really nice headphones can go for and I'm happy settling on a <$100 pair. I'll post my opinion on the AD700's once they get here and I use them a bit.

 

As far as clip-on mics go, there's really no huge difference between them, right? I'll just get one that sounds good enough on several site reviews.

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post #15 of 19
11/23/10 at 3:55pm

Another good option is the Sennheiser PC 151 that Amazon has for $46.

 

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