Headset Suggestions?

[VaeVictis]

didn't realize that there were some audiophiles that really know their stuff around here

some of the mid range priced headsets like 50-100$ look kind of enticing... steel series has some really popular ones... not sure what kind of benefits would come from the less popular 100+ price range

reading some reviews, the top ten lists have sets that cost 50$ in nearly the same category as a few 250$ sets

i really don't care if i end up dropping 200$ on a good headset... but it better be worth it, and they better last a few years

[VaeVictis]

i am reading and checking out the headsets you guys suggest but i am looking at others as well... i just need something to replace my good old jvc headphones lol

kinda interested in the sibera V2 from steel series, pretty popular, been around for awhile and is one of those tried and true kind of products...

and for 100$ they are kinda mid range for a quality headset price


guess the problem i am running into is that most of the good sounding headphones, aren't head sets so no mic

[haunted]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/bose-ae2-headphones?src=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CLa3wNCg07cCFWRp7AodBCQA7w&kwid=productads-plaid^34106003642-sku^H65609@ADL4mf-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^14207118122

I have a better version of these, but that's all you'd ever need. Shop around and you can find them for 135.

[haunted]

As far as the mic is concerned, just get a decent one(no more than 20$ prob?) that actually has a downloadable driver where you can control and customize everything. that would likely be far better than any mic that comes with a headset.

[adz1La]

kinda interested in the sibera V2 from steel series, pretty popular, been around for awhile and is one of those tried and true kind of products...

used a pair in tx, wasn't very impressed for how much they cost

as far as headphones not having a mic...zalman makes an awesome mic for like ~10 bucks..clips onto headphone wire..ect

[|iR|Focalor]

as far as headphones not having a mic...zalman makes an awesome mic for like ~10 bucks..clips onto headphone wire..ect

Dunno if that would really be ideal. It would probably work for most gaming applications, but you might also pick up more background noise since the mic wouldn't be situated directly in front of your mouth. That's why the headset style mics will typically have better performance. They are made to sit closer to your mouth, so they will be less sensitive, meaning that if you talk a little louder at times, the guy listening to you probably won't hear any background noises or popping. Desktop mics are pretty horrible for gaming for that reason. You can set them closer to you, but when you go forcing words out that are heavy on the P's, the sharp air pressure will smack the mic diaphragm and blow the other guys ear drums out, plus you'll be picking up noise from the fan in the tower, possibly even some electronic hum. When I used to use a desktop mic for recording, I had to afro-engineer a homemade pop-screen with a metal wire clothes hanger and a t-shirt over it to keep the popping from P's and hissing from S's to a minimum.

If you're really gonna be stickler about purchasing a headset, then just make sure whoever you buy it from allows you to return it if you aren't satisfied with how it performs. Pick the one you think will work the best. If it doesn't, send it back and pick another one until you find the perfect one. Spending lots of money on high quality stuff isn't always necessary. Don't be afraid something will be totally shitty if it lists decent specs but isn't priced very high. Headphones aren't made as heavy and sturdy as they were back in the 80's, but the newer ones will still last a long time as long as you treat them right.

[ex]

If price is no concern:

http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/sennheiser_orpheus_he_90_headphones

FYI best headphones in the world to date.  Also the most expensive. 

Used available:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sennheiser-Orpheus-system-Collectors-item-/120773482406

[|iR|Focalor]

In my opinion... Fucking retarded, plain and simple. Headphones do not and should not require their own amplifier. Most media you'll ever listen to these days will be digital, and the preamplifier section of the stereo system itself should be the only place where valve amplification methods would be wanted or needed, maybe also the power amp section by way of rectifier valve. If I understand the function of rectifiers correctly, they convert rather unpredictable AC currents to DC as well as multiply the voltage, allowing you to drive larger speaker sets. The problem is... that creates a lot of heat which eventually causes the valve to fail under normal operating conditions. Like I said, most media these days is digital. 99% of all stereos sold these days are 100% solid state, meaning they don't feature valves or other diode formats as a means of amplifying the output signal. This is probably because diodes are notorious for failure. Bottom line, 100% solid state products WILL last longer. However, valve amplification techniques do tend to produce a different sound that most refer to as "warm" sounding, so some people still prefer those types of stereo systems.

The stereo itself should be where changes to the tone of the signal should be made. Taking a solid state digital stereo system (which is ALREADY using it's own built-in amplifier) playing a digitally mastered audio CD, listening to it through a pair of headphones,... and then sticking a tube format amplifier between the two!?! That's just ridiculous. The proper thing would be to purchase a REAL tube stereo amplifier with an onboard 7-band, 10-band, or WHATEVER-band EQ section. There is NEVER a need to stick ANYTHING between the stereo and the headphones.

To put it in guitarist terms... this is like putting your distortion pedal in the effects chain AFTER the wah-wah pedal. Sure, you can do it, but it's gonna sound like shit and that's why nobody ever does it.

This little invention is meant to be marketed for the people who have more money and vanity than good sense.

[random]

my suggestion would be to just go to any electronics store and get a comfort feel for them....there is no need to buy 250$ headphones to play games on... the audio in most games is in mono .wav anyways, so it wont make a difference wether you have 30$ or 300$ headphones.

if you plan on using them for music, it wont make a difference either, (unless your entire library is in 24bit .wav / .aiff) highest res you can get on an mp3 is 320kbps, and it still cuts off most of the lows and hi's. The untrained ear will not notice any difference...

another factor is your sound card, if you will be using on board then LOL @ the 300$ headphones.

i have these in my studio - http://en-us.sennheiser.com/dj-headphones-noise-reduction-hifi-stereo-hd-25-1-ii
but i only use them when im mixing down a track, never for anything else, theres just no need.

with that being said, I recommend these - http://goo.gl/50VFE
best bang for your buck. 

[haunted]

In my opinion... Fucking retarded, plain and simple. Headphones do not and should not require their own amplifier. Most media you'll ever listen to these days will be digital, and the preamplifier section of the stereo system itself should be the only place where valve amplification methods would be wanted or needed, maybe also the power amp section by way of rectifier valve. If I understand the function of rectifiers correctly, they convert rather unpredictable AC currents to DC as well as multiply the voltage, allowing you to drive larger speaker sets. The problem is... that creates a lot of heat which eventually causes the valve to fail under normal operating conditions. Like I said, most media these days is digital. 99% of all stereos sold these days are 100% solid state, meaning they don't feature valves or other diode formats as a means of amplifying the output signal. This is probably because diodes are notorious for failure. Bottom line, 100% solid state products WILL last longer. However, valve amplification techniques do tend to produce a different sound that most refer to as "warm" sounding, so some people still prefer those types of stereo systems.

The stereo itself should be where changes to the tone of the signal should be made. Taking a solid state digital stereo system (which is ALREADY using it's own built-in amplifier) playing a digitally mastered audio CD, listening to it through a pair of headphones,... and then sticking a tube format amplifier between the two!?! That's just ridiculous. The proper thing would be to purchase a REAL tube stereo amplifier with an onboard 7-band, 10-band, or WHATEVER-band EQ section. There is NEVER a need to stick ANYTHING between the stereo and the headphones.

To put it in guitarist terms... this is like putting your distortion pedal in the effects chain AFTER the wah-wah pedal. Sure, you can do it, but it's gonna sound like shit and that's why nobody ever does it.

This little invention is meant to be marketed for the people who have more money and vanity than good sense.

Agreed.

[VaeVictis]

well...

i vote the hello kitty headphones random posted become the official headphones of tastyspleen...

get jehar a set and say he has to wear them when ever he is casting for tstv, and have all contributing members of tastyspleen wear them at quakecon

but thats just because it would be hilarious... and why the fuck not

pretty much decided at this point i don't need anything over the 150$ mark, and even the 100$ mark is hard to justify... though, a lot of people are saying the siberia v2 is very comfortable, and i would rather have very comfortable headphones than having a little crisper sound on those extreme ranges...

any thoughts on comfortable headsets?

[haunted]

I'd go for the headphones I suggested, you can find them for 135(opposed to 150 in my link) somewhere I'm certain, then use the remaining 15 for a decent mic/stand or whatever.

You will not be disappointed.

[adz1La]

as far as headphones not having a mic...zalman makes an awesome mic for like ~10 bucks..clips onto headphone wire..ect

Dunno if that would really be ideal. It would probably work for most gaming applications, but you might also pick up more background noise since the mic wouldn't be situated directly in front of your mouth.

what do I know...never played at any tournaments or anything.. /shrug