Pro tip: Don't buy a gaming headset.

[FLOOB]

Save yourself the frustration and money and buy quality headphones that aren't marketed toward gamers, and buy a separate quality microphone. In fact if at all possible avoid buying any hardware that's marketed towards gamers. One thing that I've repeatedly and painfully learned in the past 20 years of pc gaming is that the overwhelming majority of "gaming" hardware and peripherals are overpriced and designed to fail within a couple of years.

[Chalenge]

It's been said many times before, and yet there will be people that will swear the stuff is great.

[Gman]

I took Chalenge's advice on this a while back, I have quite a few "gaming" headsets, not as many as I have mech keyboards, but enough.  I decided to get the Sony MDRs he was using, and haven't looked back.  They were under 130 CDN delivered, not much more than a "gaming" set, and are 10x better IMO. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJIF4E?pldnSite=1

or

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001WRSJ?pldnSite=1

Either cost around $100USD, and blow any "gaming" set out of the water.  Add a modmic, or some other type of decent desktop mic, presto, audio issues solved.  DAC isn't a bad option to add, but you still get good solid sound without one with the MBs out these days. 

[guncrasher]

i have a surround headset.  nothing beats surround sound.


semp

[FESS67]

Microsoft lifechat

2 in 14 years and good mic

[Rich46yo]

Microsoft lifechat

2 in 14 years and good mic

Logictech, like G-35, or something. Cheap ,surround sound, about 7 years and still working.

[aaronr]

I know this is a little off topic but I've been at this stuff since the early 70's and watched a lot of trends I thoroughly believe the terms "gamer" "gaming" have come to represent lower tier products.

I have Asus mobo's and even they changed the term PRO Gamer to PRO gaming in an attempt to somehow make it sound more "professional".

[Bizman]

Thanks for the tip.   

I've never fallen for any "gaming" or "gamer" stuff, but I've been wondering if their price really correlates with quality. Now I know it doesn't and can warn people about it.

This forum has taught me a lot of things, kudos to all who've added my knowledge. 

[Chalenge]

Yeah, I use the same mics that professionals in radio and television use, plus some. If you have an actual interface like this:



- OR -



Then you are MILES ahead of onboard, or USB headphones, and especially single-unit 7.1 audio.

Setting up even just two speakers for audio monitoring is very complex. There is no way in this world that a company can manufacture a single-device 7.1 system that is just inches from your head (or less) and provide for surround-like separation.

[Hajo]

Sennheiser best set I've ever used. They are expensive.

[Chalenge]

Best headphones I have ever tried:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1080926&gclid=CNPPzLGAx88CFYRGXgodBuEIrQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677442%2C&Q=&A=details

[Rich46yo]

Yeah I had a special mixer and 5.1 set up for video back when I was doing it. At most head phones alone will give you the sensation of 7.1 audio but I find it good enough. For instance in single person shooters I can tell if a sound is left/rear, right/front....ect The Logic tech has software that lets you listen to the 7.1 audio of a woman talking and its a pretty good imitation of 7.1 audio. Or 5.1 . Correct me if Im wrong but AH is stereo only correct?

[Skuzzy]

No, Aces High does true 3D sounds.  It's not Dolby or any other encoding.  Aces High has been doing true 3D audio for over ten years.

The audio system, in the game, will create all the channels needed to match the speaker configuration of the computer.

[Rich46yo]

OK, thanks. AH does have good locational audio like when a tank is rolling in you can tell exactly from which way its coming. I'd recommend these G35s for gaming and general use. For about $50 they do deliver pretty good audio.

[Chalenge]

Not everyone can afford to have a sound dampened room for gaming, but if you can afford to commit a room for surround that's the best way to play I think. I'm going to have to fix that up this holiday.