Gaming headset suggestion?

[Skiz]

Looking for a good gaming headset with which to pwn n00bz. Was considering the HyperX Cloud because of its totally rad name, but I'm not sure it's the best option for unleashing in-game racial slurs and insulting everyones mothers. It has solid reviews but should I go with a 7.1 sorround pair? I hear theyre the tits but I've never tried any. What are you all using?

Edit: And its for the pc.

HyperX Cloud link - http://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-G.../dp/B00JJNQG98

[Tson]

I tried a bunch of them about 8 months back in an attempt to find something that both sounded good and I could be work for long periods. Here's what I went through. At the time I was playing BF4 and spacial audio (sound stage) was key.

What I had had and was replacing after wear and tear murdered them was a set of Corsair 1500 USB Gaming headset which I liked for both comfort and audio but just plum wore them out.

First attempt to replace, on friends recommendation, was a pair of Logitech G430. Found them to be comfortable but the audio was just simply ... meh.

Second and the ones I'd suggest you give a try first, were the Razer Kraken USB with the Virtual 7.1 Surround. These were the audio sweet spot. Loved the audio on these. Still remember how crisp and clear they were. I remember in BF4 that choppers would fly over head and I'd know where they were, how high and what direction they were headed without even looking. Incredible ... but there's always a but. Uncomfortable as all hell. I spent almost a week trying to get used to them. If I put them over the ears they were painful so I'd roll my ears up and stuff em in the cups but at the end of a night of gaming it was like taking shoes off after wearing them all day when they're two sizes to small. God good uncomfortable. I still recommend them for their audio, but make sure they're refundable should you find them as uncomfortable as I had.

Then I went to the Astro A40s. These are highly highly regarded online but I'd say to take that with a grain of salt. No where near as 'spacial' (sound stage) as the Kraken's which I found shocking considering their reputation. But the advantage is you can wear them all day and they feel great. Problem, EXPENSIVE.

So where am I know? Now I've retired the Astro's, but I continue to use the Astro MixAmp that came with them. I use the Astro MixAmp with a $15 dollar set of Koss KSC75's (don't turn your nose up, these are amazing headphones, just check out the rave reviews on places like headfi). And I use a desk standing mic. My wife's Blue Snowball (sounds pornographic but that's what its called).

The good news. The MixAmp is available without headphones.

My recommendation is try the Razer Kraken USB first. If they're comfortable for you ... great. In my opinion that's the best bang for the buck in headsets. You're done.

Linked Best Buy as they're most likely to have one nearby and I recommend having the option to return them should you find them uncomfortable as I did.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/razer-kr...&skuId=8501069

But if I were to do it again, knowing now what I know, I'd get the MixAmp by its self, its available on its own. Pair it with a pair of Koss KSC75's and a good quality desk or lapel mic (not ten dollar stationary store special). Make sure you're using Optical for the MixAmp. In your audio settings you'll see MixAmp show up as an option but that is NOT the optical option, that's USB. Set your defaults to your systems optical output. Huge difference over the USB/MixAmp option. Surprising as I figured digital was digital but that wasn't the case. The sound stage coming from the Optical out was far more expansive and precise.
http://www.amazon.com/ASTRO-Gaming-M...dp_ob_title_vg
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-KSC75-Por...keywords=ksc75
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphon...ter+microphone


Good luck to you.

[Rart]

Honestly to me the most important thing, moreso than 7.1 or whatever other fancy features a headset might have, is making sure that it's a digital, USB connection. There are far too many variables, even ones that can happen in the future if you don't have that issue right now, that can result in static/interference coming through the headset. Which personally drives me crazy and outweighs anything else. Fortunately most of the higher end headsets have USB connections, so it's not as if you're choosing between audio quality and a digital connection. One reason I mention this is as far as I can see, the Kingston headset you linked uses analog connections.

I just use this as it was a fairly cheap, USB headset.

I don't know much about fancier headsets and the extra features they have so I can't comment much on them, but it seems like Tson's got you covered on that.

[Skiz]

I tried a bunch of them about 8 months back in an attempt to find something that both sounded good and I could be work for long periods. Here's what I went through. At the time I was playing BF4 and spacial audio (sound stage) was key.

What I had had and was replacing after wear and tear murdered them was a set of Corsair 1500 USB Gaming headset which I liked for both comfort and audio but just plum wore them out.

First attempt to replace, on friends recommendation, was a pair of Logitech G430. Found them to be comfortable but the audio was just simply ... meh.

Second and the ones I'd suggest you give a try first, were the Razer Kraken USB with the Virtual 7.1 Surround. These were the audio sweet spot. Loved the audio on these. Still remember how crisp and clear they were. I remember in BF4 that choppers would fly over head and I'd know where they were, how high and what direction they were headed without even looking. Incredible ... but there's always a but. Uncomfortable as all hell. I spent almost a week trying to get used to them. If I put them over the ears they were painful so I'd roll my ears up and stuff em in the cups but at the end of a night of gaming it was like taking shoes off after wearing them all day when they're two sizes to small. God good uncomfortable. I still recommend them for their audio, but make sure they're refundable should you find them as uncomfortable as I had.

Then I went to the Astro A40s. These are highly highly regarded online but I'd say to take that with a grain of salt. No where near as 'spacial' (sound stage) as the Kraken's which I found shocking considering their reputation. But the advantage is you can wear them all day and they feel great. Problem, EXPENSIVE.

So where am I know? Now I've retired the Astro's, but I continue to use the Astro MixAmp that came with them. I use the Astro MixAmp with a $15 dollar set of Koss KSC75's (don't turn your nose up, these are amazing headphones, just check out the rave reviews on places like headfi). And I use a desk standing mic. My wife's Blue Snowball (sounds pornographic but that's what its called).

The good news. The MixAmp is available without headphones.

My recommendation is try the Razer Kraken USB first. If they're comfortable for you ... great. In my opinion that's the best bang for the buck in headsets. You're done.

Linked Best Buy as they're most likely to have one nearby and I recommend having the option to return them should you find them uncomfortable as I did.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/razer-kr...&skuId=8501069

But if I were to do it again, knowing now what I know, I'd get the MixAmp by its self, its available on its own. Pair it with a pair of Koss KSC75's and a good quality desk or lapel mic (not ten dollar stationary store special). Make sure you're using Optical for the MixAmp. In your audio settings you'll see MixAmp show up as an option but that is NOT the optical option, that's USB. Set your defaults to your systems optical output. Huge difference over the USB/MixAmp option. Surprising as I figured digital was digital but that wasn't the case. The sound stage coming from the Optical out was far more expansive and precise.
http://www.amazon.com/ASTRO-Gaming-M...dp_ob_title_vg
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-KSC75-Por...keywords=ksc75
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphon...ter+microphone


Good luck to you.

Lots of good info there. I was looking at the Krakens as well since I see them mentioned a lot of places. Not many people satisfied with them long term tho it seems. Agreed about the Astro's but the mic tests I listened to weren't very impressive for the money. Looked at the G4ME ZERO/ONE as well. I also thought about going all out and grabbing the Sennheiser 363D headset. The mic is incredible on that set.

Honestly to me the most important thing, moreso than 7.1 or whatever other fancy features a headset might have, is making sure that it's a digital, USB connection. There are far too many variables, even ones that can happen in the future if you don't have that issue right now, that can result in static/interference coming through the headset. Which personally drives me crazy and outweighs anything else. Fortunately most of the higher end headsets have USB connections, so it's not as if you're choosing between audio quality and a digital connection. One reason I mention this is as far as I can see, the Kingston headset you linked uses analog connections.

I just use this as it was a fairly cheap, USB headset.

I don't know much about fancier headsets and the extra features they have so I can't comment much on them, but it seems like Tson's got you covered on that.

I meant to link the HyperX Cloud 2. This one with digital sound - http://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-G...hyperx+cloud+2

Honestly, I think I've decided to go with the ModMic for $50. Something I stumbled upon when looking at "related videos" on YouTube. It's just a mic that attaches to your current headphones and pops on/off. Sounds pretty damn good too. I was prepared to spend some cash but that seems like a good option.

[IdolEyes787]

http://www.cnet.com/products/v-moda-xs-headphones/ add the optional $30 boom mic.

They're V-modas which means unless you're willing to step up into the 500+ dollar range you get one of the best and definitely most indestructible "use anywhere" headphones out there.With a "gaming headset" you basically get something that you'd only play videogames sitting at a computer on and otherwise is useless.

[megabyteme]

http://www.cnet.com/products/v-moda-xs-headphones/ add the optional $30 boom mic.

I only know about Vmoda from doing some Christmas-time research for my wife to listen to audiobooks on at work. They made my short-list. Amazon has some last-generation M-80 model ones for $109. Adding the boom mic seems like a great pairing for not much more than you'd spend on lesser "gaming headphones".

I'd strongly be tempted to go this route myself. http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-Crossfa...keywords=vmoda

[Tson]

Honestly, I think I've decided to go with the ModMic for $50. Something I stumbled upon when looking at "related videos" on YouTube. It's just a mic that attaches to your current headphones and pops on/off. Sounds pretty damn good too. I was prepared to spend some cash but that seems like a good option.

Check this group buy over on MassDrop. I think it ends in 8 hours.

One thing to add. Remember, and Rart eluded to this, going the route of traditional headset and deskmic/modmic/lapel mic, you're still restricting yourself to analog signal which relies a great deal on your sound card. Which has its inherent issues, everything from a lack of 'virtual surround' to potential signal interference. Digital signal (USB/Optical to DAC) opens up the whole world of virtualized surround. For FPS I like having that sense of direction, most everything else game wise (driving, rts, pacman) you can get away without it.

Oh and another thing you may not have thought of. A lot of people get gaming headphones so as not to keep up the family during those late night gaming sessions. But enclosed headphones that restrict the ability to hear your own voice over the game makes you talk louder. Sure my family weren't being kept up by the sound of gun fire or squealing tires but instead they were being jolted awake by 'expletive expletive expletive' every time a friend would pound me into the guard rails or I'd get killed by friendly fire.

Any time I buy a headset in the future I'll keep that in mind. I need to be able to hear the environment around me while wearing them or I'll end up talking REAL LOUD to compensate. Which is where the KSC75s came in.

[Skiz]

I'll look at those some more. Not convinced on that that style of on-ear headphones. The only other pair I've owned like that were painful to wear for more than 45 mins or so.

[IdolEyes787]

It's a built in safety feature so you don't sit too long and get a stroke from the blood pooling in your legs.

[Gamer_155]

I bought the HyperX Cloud 2 on pre-order. I am VERY pleased with its performance so far. After a 200 hour burn in period, the audio is pretty damn close to my reference studio headphones (Sony MDR-V6) while being extremely comfortable with it's memory foam ear cuffs and headband. The built in audio card is handy as well since it is plug-and-play drivers and only takes seconds for windows to recognize the headset and then setup is done. I personally give them a 5 stars and if anyone asks about headphones, I tell them to go with this pair:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SAYCXWG/