New headset

[Ketel1]

Im currently look for a new headset. Anyone got any suggestions?

[ChemicalWarrior]

Well, I'm a audiophile, so I strongly recommend against headsets.

To be the best combo is a good pair of headphones and a desktop mic. This way you get the quality of stand alone headphones and a seperate mic.

I recommend brands such as Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, and AKG for games.

You got a budget?

To give you a comparison to what I use: Creative X-Fi -> Electric Avenue PA2V2 Headphone Amp -> Beyerdynamic DT831.

Its an awesome setup, but it'll set you back about $400. But you can get great quality for much cheaper, about $50 could get you something like a Sennheiser EH150 and a nice desktop mic. Which is a great combo.

[Ketel1]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting point. But some concerns. 1 at the present moment i am using on board sound. (no card). I know your laughing Chem . Its tsucks i know. Is it justifible to have a seprate mic with on board sound. Im not really that serious about sound but would like to get into it. As far as budget i would say around $200. Could this get me a card and a decent setup? I never really used a desktop mic. I always like the fact that with a headset the mic is always the same distance from your mouth at all times, do you have an probs with that having a desktop mic?

[ChemicalWarrior]

$200 could get you a really good setup, including card.

First I'll address your concerns about a desktop mic. I've never run into problems, the audio pick up is the same if the mic is one foot away or two or so feet away. Laura uses a desktop mic also to give you an idea.

Before I recommend a setup I need to ask one more question: Do you need to block noise from the outside? Open headphones generally offer higher sound quality per $ but they let in other sounds just like if were not wearing them at all (except for the sound of course). Closed headphones cancel out between 10dB or 20dB of noise from the outside. Basically you dont hear anything. Of course these tend to be more bass heavy (their are exceptions) and dont offer as much sound quality per $.

So, do you need open or closed headphones?

[Ketel1]

I definately need something to cancel outside noise out. I didnt know that a decent desktop mic had good pick up like that. Thats one thing i was worried about.

[{OF}Blong]

Ask mac there is a difference between a destop mic and a headset mic. I sounded completly different on a desktop mic that I did on my headset mic. with my headset I sound like a normal human being instead of a little baby. I have the $28 logitech headset that best buy sells and I love em. I cant hear anything around me (thus having to have one earpiece off my ear so I can hear the kids at night when I dont work the weekend).

[ChemicalWarrior]

Never had such issues Blong. Me and Laura sound perfectly normal, I believe her cousin uses a desktop mic also.

Ketel, I'd suggest something like this below:

Sound Card: Creative Audigy2 ZS - At Newegg for $75

Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-A500 - $100 at Audio Cubes

Mic: Plantronics .Audio 300 - $14 at Newegg

Advantages:

- Sound card will take some burden off the processor and give you special features such as EAX audo processing. Will help FPS a little amount but go a long way in stablizing your FPS.

- The Audio Technica A500 are closed, so they cancel out noise. They have a HUGE sound stage (you can pin point positions easily and can hear from a great distance away, great in BF2). Relativly cheap and very close to their big, and much more expensive brother, the A900 in sound quality. Considered the best on budget gaming headphone by audiophiles.

- The mic is the same one I use and I like it a lot. Its simple, straight forward and works very well, IMO.

Disadvantages:

- Cost, setup is a bit pricy and uses your full budget.

Closing notes:

- If you wanted to save money I'd recommend not getting the sound card. But that's not really recommended doing unless you really want to save money.

[{OF}Blong]

I use eax with my onboard sound and have no issues. yes I can tell the difference between having eax turned on and off. not saying the onboard on my board is the same as his but at least with mine I can tell the difference and it is huge.

[ChemicalWarrior]

And your CPU is getting hit with a much larger load and you're losing performance. Also, unless you have some sort of special chip (which their isnt) then you're not getting anything above EAX 2.0, which is several generations old now.

[Ketel1]

thanks chem. I am doing this cause i can actually hear my cd drive wind up through the headphones.