Headphones with mic recommendation?

[mjmorrow]

My headphones with mic died a while ago. I want to try to get back into playing with my multiplayer squad, so I need to buy a new set. Any recommendations, for under $100? :thumbup: MJ

[Scoggs]

I have the HyperX Cloud. The first one. I have it running through a Turtle Beach DSS2. Love it so far and I haven't any complaints about the mic in my TS. Mic is detachable and can be adjusted. Just like to point out that I am not an audiophile. It sounds great to me and recommend it. Like I said though I have v1 which didn't come with the USB dongle. I think it was $80USD and I think you can still pick the one without the USB sound card.

[Devrim]

Logitech G230 is doing great for me. Mic is very good and crisp.

[Sierra99]

I just picked up a set of TurtleBeach PX22. You Can find them for less than 60.00 if ya look. Great sound, comfortable and they have seperate volume controls for Teamspeak and Game volume.

 

Sierra

[RoflSeal]

I have Plantranics 788 and its pretty good.

[TomOnSteam]

My advice would be to buy a $99 headphones, and a $1 mic from ebay or similar.

 

Because headsets (headphone + mic in one unit) are generally overpriced for what you get.

 

If you were to buy a headset for $100, you're getting the equivalent of say $40 headphones and a $5 mic.

 

But if you buy them separately you're getting a much better product for the same money.

 

 

 

Something like a Sony MDR, Audio technica, Philips Fidelio, Sennheiser, AKG , Beyerdynamic etc. These brands all make set in your price range, and will sound several factors better than a headset (especially a gaming brand one).

 

It's not hard to put on a $1 microphone with a bit velcro backed 3M tape or if you want a turn key solution grab one of these : http://www.modmic.com/

Edited January 28, 2016 by TomOnSteam

[Mtnbiker1998]

I've got a Steelseries Siberia V3. I'm no audiophile so I have nothing to say in that regard, but its very comfortable, trackir mounts on it fine, and I've never gotten a complaint about the mic (which retracts into the ear when not in use.)

 

The rgb LEDs are by far the most pointless thing ever, but the version without them had some bad reviews, something about the 3.5mm audio jack. The LED versiois USB.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O07QAJE/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1454033908&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=steelseries+siberia+v3&dpPl=1&dpID=51WCIjxBMUL&ref=plSrch

[Jateu]

I'm running hyperx cloud 2 through my sound blaster zxr. The sound quality and depth is amazing. Would highly recommend. The on board sound cannot match a separate sound card for quality. I can hear air rushing over the A10's wings at times and can hear wing a body flutter now and then as well. It really is worth paying for good quality card and headphones.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Jateu

[Chicki]

TomOnSteam, your concept is very interesting. Makes a lot of sense. What search keywords would get me to an appropriate mike? Can you provide a couple of links? Thanks pal.

[firmek]

My advice would be to buy a $99 headphones, and a $1 mic from ebay or similar.

 

+1. Dont buy the headset but headphones and a mike. As for a mike please check the ZALMAN zM-MIC1. It's cheap, easy to attach and provides a good quality voice input. For the headphones I would suggest to look for one from audio equipment manufacturers (like Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, etc...) rather than computer equipment brands.

Before deciding read about the difference between open and closed headphones.

Edited January 29, 2016 by firmek

[Gunfighter6]

The mic makes a big difference and I like the mic on the turtle beach X12 and it's not really expensive. I think you can even try them out at either Target or Best Buy.

 

FYI, I also have a separate mic that is not part of a headset and I find myself keep going back to the X12.

[TomOnSteam]

TomOnSteam, your concept is very interesting. Makes a lot of sense. What search keywords would get me to an appropriate mike? Can you provide a couple of links? Thanks pal.

 

Sure, I use this exact one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-5mm-Jack-Adapter-Head-Wore-MIC-Flexible-Headset-Studio-Speech-Microphone-/141362479898?hash=item20e9dc431a:g:JYwAAOSwGvhT2J2m

I've just snipped off the headset wire, and used blu-tack to attach it to my left headphone. Sure it's an extra cord, but you can use a bit of velcro or whatever to help keep the cords together.

 

You can also use something like this, but they pick a little bit more room noise, which means you have to use Push-To-Talk (otherwise pets/kids/tv can annoy other players).

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-5mm-Plug-Clip-On-Mini-Mic-Microphone-Studio-for-PC-Laptop-Desktop-Notebook-BU-/251822468159?hash=item3aa1c9ec3f:g:ag0AAOSw-W5UsIms

 

The quality is plenty for voice chat since most of programs will compress the audio anyway to keep your game from getting network lag.

Edited January 30, 2016 by TomOnSteam

[Jateu]

There are alot of amazing gaming head sets out there. I understand everyone wants to get the very best out of your sound. But working with ears there is alot of function lost from your ears as we all get older. So truly spending a whole hunk on money on super high end head phones may actually be pointless. Please all keep that in mind. That some time what your ears can give you is more important than what a device can do.

[TomOnSteam]

There are alot of amazing gaming head sets out there. I understand everyone wants to get the very best out of your sound. But working with ears there is alot of function lost from your ears as we all get older. So truly spending a whole hunk on money on super high end head phones may actually be pointless. Please all keep that in mind. That some time what your ears can give you is more important than what a device can do.

 

In that case it would make a lot of sense to get hi-fi headphones so they produce more frequencies to make sure you getting as much sound as possible.

[Jateu]

More complex than that but it's not all about spending alot of money on something you really don't understand. That's all.

[hansangb]

For example, if you have mid range hearing loss, no headphone will bring it back!! It simply won't matter because your ear/brain can't use it.

[TomOnSteam]

For example, if you have mid range hearing loss, no headphone will bring it back!! It simply won't matter because your ear/brain can't use it.

 

My theory was then you'd want headphones that can hit accurate frequencies near mids, well below and above. Since many sounds have a range of frequencies to create the sound, the you'd at least hear some of it.

 

E.g. an engine sound might be made up of a high pitch whir, a mid freq hum, and a low end rumble. If your headset cannot make the high and low portions of it you would hear nothing. But with hi-fi you might still hear the low and high, even if your ears are unable to pick up the mid.

 

But if you only have headphones that can create the mids, then you'd hear nothing at all.

 

 

I guess a buttkicker or gamer cushion Andre sells here would be great for people who have hearing loss, as they would be able to feel some of the sounds.

[Jateu]

Great idea there

[hansangb]

I never should have taken off my hearing protection during live fire and on the grenade range. And .50 caliber Ma Deuce going down range is awesome but is it worth hearing loss? LOL. Old enough to know better, young enough not to care. Dangerous stage of young men! :)

[HeadHunter52]

I just picked up a set of TurtleBeach PX22. You Can find them for less than 60.00 if ya look. Great sound, comfortable and they have seperate volume controls for Teamspeak and Game volume.

 

Sierra

 

+1 on the PX22. I run one, and the guys on the other end of TS say it's plenty clear. The in-line amp and volume controls allow me to separately adjust in-game sounds and TS sounds. Very handy balance feature. The amp also has in input for a cell phone cable, so you can answer a phone while playing, and converse without taking off the headset. I'm not using that at the moment, but it's a nice feature for pilots that need to stay connected while "disconnecting."

 

The only drawback I've experienced is that ShadowPlay will not record both audio channels. TeamSpeak audio coming IN uses a USB connection. Game audio is via the speaker port. So my recordings get everything except the other guys' voices.

 

I can set both to default and get it all just fine, but the separate volume controls are bound to one dial at that point.