Headset / mic recommendations

[Monstar]

Main thing I need is a headset that has a good microphone. Been using Siberia Icemat atm but the mic has turned to shit, so any suggestions are welcome or any opinions on Sennheisers or Steelseries headsets.

Thanks

[delling]

Good headphones + standalone microphone, if you are any kind of audiophile (and it might be more comfortable also)

[kawe]

Sennheisers are very nice, and seem to be generally highly regarded. I've tried a couple of other brands too some cheapo some not, but so far nothing's really touched the sennheiser sets.

http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/private_headsets_pc_pro-gaming_502141
These are what I'm using atm. They're very comfy, have very good sound quality and afaik the mic quality is also good (though anyone who has both met me in the flesh and speaks to me on vent is a better judge than I could be on that). There are a couple of drawbacks, one being that while comfortable, it's also rather good at warming your head. It's also not particularly light (maybe an issue if you get a sore neck easily?). They have great noise cancellation (liek rly gud) too, but this could easily be a drawback depending on what you're after.


I've used these in the past: http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/private_headsets_pc_pro-gaming_500928
and still use the usb adaptor that came with it for the newer ones I mentioned above. They're a lot lighter than the other ones, but I found the earpieces weren't nearly so comfortable (instead of wrapping around your ears softly, they're just pressed against them). After wearing for prolonged periods, I'd get sore ears. Sound quality is not as good as the others to listen to, but I think the mic itself was pretty good? Again better to ask others who speak to me on vent.


Avoid Creative branded USB headsets - their sound chip has some funky potential issues that cause both input and output to go a bit freaky sometimes, only fixable with unplugging and replugging etc. Not to mention they're not that comfy and the mic quality wasn't as good either.

I'd love to be able to tell you about other brands, I know razr and steelseries do 'gaming' headsets, but I've never tried them. That said, I can quite happily recommend a sennheiser headset at least on the basis of good quality.


As for seperate desktop mics, I have no idea but I've been considering one for a while for when I'm feeling too warm or lazy or sore neck or whatever to put on my headset, so if you find something nice let me know

[delling]

I'm still using this bad boy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980186-0914-USB-Desktop-Microphone/dp/B0000ATCOR

5 years or so, and still going strong. USB, so don't have to faff around too much with mixers or anything. Just select device from the drop-down in Ventrilo.

[kawe]

Ah logitech, how I love thy peripherals. 13 quid is a steal too, think I'll grab one of those soon...

[delling]

I think that might be a more-recent version, as I don't think mine has noise-cancellation. But 5 stars, so is probably still great Main thing is it's directional, so not too much feedback.

[Monstar]

Thanks for the input Kawe. Been looking at the Sennheiser HD595 and the PC 350, my mate has the PC 350 aswell and the mic seems good.

[Earthquake]

Thank God You get a new mic.

Im using Steelseries 5Hv2 since march and Im rly happy whit it, working well.

[Palmar]

Going with logitech/sennheiser sounds like a plan. Personally I'm using a logitech headset.

[Tyler]

Headsets are much better from the listeners point of view. No matter how well set up and directional a standalone mic is it will always pick up some extra unwanted sounds.

Over the years we have all had to listen to Dell scraping food from his plate, or when his mouse cable moves against the mic stand, or when he bounces his "leg" under the table etc etc.

So think of your fellow vent users and go with a headset. I also like Sennheiser, but I dont like enclosed headphones so I go with something like http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/private_headsets_pc_voip_502770

[Palmar]

or when he bounces his "leg" under the table etc etc.

:-D

[delling]

What else could I be bouncing? My child slave?

[Palmar]

My child slave?

The plot thickens

[Monstar]

Went and ordered the PC 350s. Just read about the new SteelSeries Siberia v2 
http://www.steelseries.com/news/press_releases/steelseries_introduces_new_siberia_v2_headset
Looks nice and everything but still looks flimsy as shit. My old pair snapped at the side on one of the many occasions I dropped them.

[Smutten]

ICEMAT!