Author Topic: Anyone used or using USB headphones? (Read 300 times)

hubsonfire · « **on:** March 15, 2006, 04:28:19 PM »

Need to replace yet another pair of headphones, and maybe my sound card as well (old enough that it's no longer a supported model). I was looking at the Plantronics Gamecom headsets- instead of connecting to a soundcard, they connect via USB and supposedly free up the CPU and improve audio over lowend/onboard sound cards.

Has anyone used this type of headset in the past? If so, would you recommend them, or avoid them?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:04:41 PM »

Good marketing. USB based sound headsets will always use more CPU cycles than a decent sound card. Always.

The USB bus is very CPU dependent.

buzkill · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:09:17 PM »

GOOD MARKETING OR BOLD LIE........IT'S AMERICA, SO GOOD MARKETING. IF YOU HAVE A CPU THAT HANDLES A LITTLE EXTRA LOAD, USB PHONES ARE FINE

SNO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:08:13 PM »

I have the USB Plantronics DSP 500 and like them alot. I went from onboard sound to these and there was no noticeable difference. The quality of the sound is excellent.

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:31:38 PM »

Ive got both a independent sound card and Logitech USB headsets...some nights I prefer the headset, some nights I skip the headset (and vox) and let the subwoofer on the surround system have at.

I havent had any performance losses uses that, *ahem*, cpu grabbing USB headset.

If your worried about a USB headset robbing you of power to play the game...you've got bigger issues

Estes · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:54:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Good marketing. USB based sound headsets will always use more CPU cycles than a decent sound card. Always.

The USB bus is very CPU dependent.

I've never used a USB headset, but on a related note I have a USB bluetooth adapter thing for my cell phone. And everytime I plug the thing in, my cpu usage goes up to 100% and stays about 50-75% until I unplug it.

And since, I don't have or have ever used a USB headset I'm not sure if the results are similar or not. But, I imagine it would jump up considerably.

SNO · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:39:57 PM »

My task manager shows 1-2% cpu usage back and forth which is perfectly normal, while using Plantronics DSP 500 usb headset

Skuzzy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:51:40 PM »

0 to 1% is actually normal.

Folks are going to say they work fine and they do not hurt performance, but the hardware uses more CPU cycles than a good sound card will. It is a fact, not speculation. It cannot help but use more CPU cycles due to the USB bus being very CPU dependent.

SNO · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2006, 07:18:10 PM »

It uses 1% more than perfectly normal which has no detremental affects on my gameplay and is an improvement from my onboard sound that I was using previously. Thats why I like this bulletin board, you can always learn something. Thanks Skuzzy

Hajo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2006, 10:30:50 AM »

Using LTB USB Dolby 5.1 surround headset. It is reasonablie to...around 70 to 80 dollars and comfortable. I have no problems and have been using them for a year at least.

Of course I'm using an Athlon64 3400 CPU also.