Best £50-70 Gaming Headset?

[Juusuhako]

My good ol' Creative Arena USB Headset broke few weeks ago, and I'm in need of a new one. My budget is as stated in the title, plus/minus a few (for shipping or whatever).

I have looked at Creative Tactic3D Alpha, and Corsair Vengeance 1500.
The Tactic3D gets good feedback regarding sound quality and mic (plus, I love their "Crystalizer" and "Surround" features), however it is apparently a common issue for the mic to stop working after a few weeks of use. Im assuming this is - again - Creative lacking proper W7 drivers.

The Vengeance gets con'd due to its lack of bass, and the fact that you should have a proper USB sound card to get the full effect from it (due to its 50mm drivers). Unfortunatenly I have an X-Fi Xtreme Music, which is jack plugs only.

I really don't have a 3rd option, which is what I hope some of you do. Im open for any suggestions, however I prefer wired.

 

[MadMarc]

A good quality headset with 3.5mm plugs combined with a good soundcard will sound much better than a USB headset. I'd go for something like a Corsair Vengeance 1300

 

[jamesriley94]

Corsair Vengeance 1300?

I used to use Turtle Beach PX3s before I got my proper headphones. They worked really well for the price I paid ( http://www.ebuyer.com/318437-turtle...orce-bravo-px3-headset-ps3-xbox-360-px3-bravo )
I know they're wireless, but the batteries last ages, and you can use them wired as well. If you can get them for a good price where you are I can recommend them.

If you actually want a better audio experience overall - none of the gaming headsets will make the most of the sound card (not that it's fantastic anyway)
But, you'd be better off getting proper headphones such as:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347202675&sr=1-83

And then any microphone. I use:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/multimedia-microphone-24698

And for gaming / VOIP you dont need anything better

 

[Juusuhako]

A good quality headset with 3.5mm plugs combined with a good soundcard will sound much better than a USB headset. I'd go for something like a Corsair Vengeance 1300

Actually, my Z-5500 speakers are plugged into my sound card. Not that I cannot unplug between the two, I'm guessing it might just become annoying having to swap every time I wanna change. Not sure why I didn't think of that... :mellow:

I will keep 1300 in mind for "jack solution", however I would love some USB suggestions aswell.

Corsair Vengeance 1300?

I used to use Turtle Beach PX3s before I got my proper headphones. They worked really well for the price I paid ( http://www.ebuyer.com/318437-turtle...orce-bravo-px3-headset-ps3-xbox-360-px3-bravo )
I know they're wireless, but the batteries last ages, and you can use them wired as well. If you can get them for a good price where you are I can recommend them.

If you actually want a better audio experience overall - none of the gaming headsets will make the most of the sound card (not that it's fantastic anyway)
But, you'd be better off getting proper headphones such as:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347202675&sr=1-83

And then any microphone. I use:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/multimedia-microphone-24698

And for gaming / VOIP you dont need anything better

I considered Turtle Beach Z6A, but it got so bad reviews on Amazon.com/co.uk. And I do want the headset to have the built-in mic, although I realize the overall sound quality is better with a proper Steelseries, but as mentioned above, I have my Z-5500 speakers if I'm looking for some decent music time.

 

[jamesriley94]

Your best option is probably the Corsair 1500 or the Steelseries Siberias then.

 

[Juusuhako]

Your best option is probably the Corsair 1500 or the Steelseries Siberias then.

Im not sure I wanna spend £70 on a headset that needs a proper USB sound card to give its full potential. With the motherboard USB its probably gonna deliver sound that any £30-50 headset can deliver.

Or am I way out of line on that one?

 

[Saltire35]

I'd go for the SteelSeries Siberia v2 which is what I currently have. Can't fault them. (Make sure you have a dedicated sound card though - Asus Xonar DG is only 20 quid).

I'd avoid the Corsair's because they're extremely uncomfortable after long sessions wearing them. (They feel quite comfortable when you first put them on but after a long session wearing them they feel like they're crushing your head/ears). Hence why I gave my Corsair 1300's to my daughter as she doesn't wear them much.

*Edit* If you shop around you can get a SteelSeries Siberia v2 and a Asus Xonar DG (or DGX) for £70.

 

[ruairi.C]

+1 for the siberia v2s. Probably the most used gaming headset used at the moment. Sooo comfortable as well.

 

[Juusuhako]

I'd go for the SteelSeries Siberia v2 which is what I currently have. Can't fault them. (Make sure you have a dedicated sound card though - Asus Xonar DG is only 20 quid).

I'd avoid the Corsair's because they're extremely uncomfortable after long sessions wearing them. (They feel quite comfortable when you first put them on but after a long session wearing them they feel like they're crushing your head/ears). Hence why I gave my Corsair 1300's to my daughter as she doesn't wear them much.

*Edit* If you shop around you can get a SteelSeries Siberia v2 and a Asus Xonar DG (or DGX) for £70.

I already have an X-Fi Xtreme Music. Although I'm not sure if I want a jack plugs headset, yet. You say the Vengeance headset is uncomfy, have you tried HS1A from Corsair then??? Many debates which is better, but frankly I don't know squad.

+1 for the siberia v2s. Probably the most used gaming headset used at the moment. Sooo comfortable as well.

And also the ugliest.

 

[jamesriley94]

Im not sure I wanna spend £70 on a headset that needs a proper USB sound card to give its full potential. With the motherboard USB its probably gonna deliver sound that any £30-50 headset can deliver.

Or am I way out of line on that one?

You pay for the build quality and the comfort as well dont forget.

You will hear a difference though - it isnt just about the sound card outputting the sound - it has a lot to do with the headset itself

 

[ruairi.C]

And also the ugliest.

Dude your not looking at them you'll be wearing them. idk what your talking about what's wrong with the look of them?

And they're just the standard white ones not any special edition or anything what's wrong with how they look?

The black strand isn't actually that far away form the white bar thingy above. The black is elastic so will stretch up to almost the height of it if that's what you're worrying about.

 

[Juusuhako]

You pay for the build quality and the comfort as well dont forget.

You will hear a difference though - it isnt just about the sound card outputting the sound - it has a lot to do with the headset itself

I know... But both here and on feedback (amazon etc.) they say Vengeance is uncomfy in the long run... Its like, theres always something a headset is missing or causes from. There isn't one headset that has it all, it seems.

I really love Creative, but I'm not gonna buy a headset which mic is gonna last a week and/or lacks proper W7 drivers.

Dude your not looking at them you'll be wearing them. idk what your talking about what's wrong with the look of them?

And they're just the standard white ones not any special edition or anything what's wrong with how they look?

The black strand isn't actually that far away form the white bar thingy above. The black is elastic so will stretch up to almost the height of it if that's what you're worrying about.

Haha, the white one at the top, would prefer just the black one. My brother has a pair, and I just think they're damn fugly.
Or, at least on me they are, I'm tiny, lol. But doesn't it use clip-on mic?
I really would prefer built-in.

This is a pain...

 

[jamesriley94]

It is built in - it pulls out.

 

[Juusuhako]

It is built in - it pulls out.

Oh, my brothers current is a clip on, goes on his shirt. Guess its the old version? Im looking at the regular v2, and the Frost Blue Edition (however im very tempted to buy that black/gold edition).

Is the only difference the fact that Frost Blue is USB? And is there any software along? Like, similar to Creative, Thermaltake or whatever.

 

[Juusuhako]

...and before I forget, regarding jack plug issue, I was thinking I could get a jack plug splitter, but will this cause loss of sound quality when its in a splitter and not directly in the sound card?

 

[jamesriley94]

Not loss of quality, but it would need some form of switch box or volume control for both the speakers and the headset - otherwise music or whatever would play through both the headset and the speakers. Unless your speakers and chosen headset both have a volume control

 

[Juusuhako]

Not loss of quality, but it would need some form of switch box or volume control for both the speakers and the headset - otherwise music or whatever would play through both the headset and the speakers. Unless your speakers and chosen headset both have a volume control

Well, Z-5500 can be turned off (or simply "standby"/"red-lit power button") But isnt the signal sent to the speakers either way, its just not being played cus theyre turned off?

The thing is, I could buy a splitter for a few pounds, but then theres splitters for like...£10-12! Dunno if I should go for a more expensive one in case quality in the splitter does matter.

 

[jamesriley94]

Just save yourself effort and get a usb headset.

They're still decent quality. And I'm sure the Steelseries will be good

 

[Juusuhako]

Just save yourself effort and get a usb headset.

They're still decent quality. And I'm sure the Steelseries will be good

Probs gonna think about it for abit. I would love to mix the Steelseries headset with the sound-enhancement features from the X-Fi card, and maybe just try to live with having to swap cables once in a while.

Worst case scenario, I could get a jack-to-usb.

Thanks for your help, and everyone else.

If anyone has more inputs, feel free.

 

[Juusuhako]

Bumping for last opinions if anyone feel like they have something to offer...