BF3 - headset choices

[crossy]

Hi - I'm looking for a little advice here. Recently got BF3 on the PC (very impressed - think MW3 is going to have it's work cut out for it) and am currently slogging through the single player campaign on normal difficulty (so you get the picture - I'm not that good at FPS's although I enjoy playing them)

Just got a mailing from Overclockers, and in there was a "Plantronics GameCom 777 USB 7.1 Surround Sound Headset" http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...058&subcat=692 so it got me thinking whether that'd be worth getting. The alternatives - as far as I see it - to that are either a simple wired headset (which'd mean plugging into the motherboard's sound hardware, because my Creative Labs card's input is in use already) like the highly-rated Roccat Kave's, or some kind of Bluetooth headset (mainly because I've got a spare Jabra mobile phone kit). Normally I'd look at the Logitech gear - but there's no way that I'm paying £100 for a headset that's not going to get that much use (unless it works with my XBox too).

Anyone got any preferences about this?

Of course, once I've got this arranged, the next problem is actually getting into MP - no clan etc.

[1stRaven]

I had the same issue recently. My old headset broke a wire in the cable so the mike died, which for clan gaming was a bit of an issue.

Which headset you want depends on what you need it for. I chose a cheaper headset which wasn't 5.1 as I could still output the game sounds out the speakers which using teamspeak on the headset. If you want the game alone or game and teamspeak through the headset, then I would recommend a 5.1 setup, at which point the Kave was the one recommended to me by a number of people.

If you are looking for one just for voip/teamspeak use, then I got this one http://uk.store.creative.com/headpho...437-16337.aspx which is nice and comfy as well as using a standard 3.5mm plugs (I dont really like this usb headsets due to past driver issues) It sounds like you have a spare sound card as well (same as me) so that gives you more options.

hope that helps.

[shaithis]

The older Corsair headphones are being dumped at the moment to make space for the newer models.

I recently purchased the HS1A headset and while not amazing, they are well worth the £30 I paid for them......even if they did take a good 30 mins of EQ tweaking.

Supposedly the HS1 headset (same headphones but USB 7.1) are setup fine OTB.

[Digerati]

For the past 3 years I've been using the Creative Fatal1ty. It's not 5.1 but for what you pay you do get a fantastic balance of sound. I was actually able to hear Shaithis' distant cries for help last night ^_^

I've been looking at replacing it recently but more due to wanting a change as opposed to anything actually wrong with the headset, so if you're on a budget it's definitely worth a look.

[augusto]

I'm going thought the same question now. I'm thinking of getting the Speedlink Medusa NX 5.1 to get a better sense of direction.
I've read that some people use a of surround emulation in their sound cards (xfi MSS3d something) and it's good, but not as good as a "real" 5.1 headset.

[brduk]

I'm going thought the same question now. I'm thinking of getting the Speedlink Medusa NX 5.1 to get a better sense of direction.
I've read that some people use a of surround emulation in their sound cards (xfi MSS3d something) and it's good, but not as good as a "real" 5.1 headset.

Speedlink Medusa's are great, extremely comfortable and great quality sound. I run them of my Gigabyte P67A-UD4-B3 motherboards integrated sound and the sound is brilliant on BF3.

They do have an achillies heel though, the inline remote control is very prone to damage as the build quality is average at best. I'm on my third set of Medusa's (just got the NX's) in six years as the inline remote came apart on both previous sets. Find somewhere safe to hang them up when your done playing and you'll be fine.

[augusto]

I decided to get the Medusa. I also considered the Roccat Kave but some people said that the Kave feel too heavy and that it lacks some bass.
Hopefully, I'll get them next week

[hnosyalnif]

The older Corsair headphones are being dumped at the moment to make space for the newer models.

I recently purchased the HS1A headset and while not amazing, they are well worth the £30 I paid for them......even if they did take a good 30 mins of EQ tweaking.

Supposedly the HS1 headset (same headphones but USB 7.1) are setup fine OTB.

I bought the same set at that price as well. Running them through a stereo (Bang & Olufson) so wasn't bothered about not using the USB ones. Pretty happy so far, although a little quieter than the volume is without headphones. Still need to play with the EQ settings a bit though - what settings are you using shaithis?

[shaithis]

From 31hz to 16khz I have:

+8.1, +4.8, +1.1, -1.5, -1.2, -2.9, -3.8, -2.4, -2.9, -0.8

[hnosyalnif]

Cheers, will check those settings out at some point (when I've worked out how to fine tune it on my motherboard settings - doesn't have numbers just sliders).

[crossy]

Thanks All!

Been - as expected - an excellent selection of posts - very informative/useful.

Couldn't find the Creative's or Roccat's locally - shops only seemed to have Siberia's and Logitech's - I suspect that they'd just cleared out for the Christmas rush. Anyway, PC World had a dusty pair of Tritton AX 180's. The price was reasonable, and I liked the idea that one set could do both XBox and PC, so that's what I got, (means I can ditch the just-good-enough headset you get for the XBox). I remembered that various US-based sites seemed to prefer them to the comparably-priced Turtle Beach gear.

Of course, as usual, I got them home and did a quick search and found this review http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/headp...tritton-ax-180 which basically said they were crap. Worse still, the ER reviewer prefers the Plantronics that I started the thread with.

Anyway, I gave 'em a good spin, and while I agree that there's a hiss present, to be honest I can't hear that in the games*. Sound in BF3 was a revelation - really feels like you're "in there". So much so, that I've now finished the campaign mission (am now replaying the missions I liked) and seriously thinking of trying to find a party that needs some "cannon fodder".

* Not bothered about the hiss in music listening either - I've got a pair of Beyerdynamic DT660's that I use for that, so the Trittons are purely going to be a gaming set. Be interesting to see what the sound quality's like on the XBox - with MW3 due to hit my mat tomorrow I'm going to get a chance to find out. Although in that use, the Tritton's are going to be driven by a Turtle Beach DSS box.

[augusto]

[SIZE="4"]
Of course, as usual, I got them home and did a quick search and found this review http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/headp...tritton-ax-180 which basically said they were crap. Worse still, the ER reviewer prefers the Plantronics that I started the thread with.

Headphones are one of those things you can never get 100% right, because each person has a different experience with a different kit. What matters is if you're happy with it and if it fills your expectations.
In the end, I ordered a Speedlink Medusa NX 5.1 from the Amazon Marketplace and it has been just shipped!. I've read (mostly) really good reviews. Now, I need to wait about a few days for it to be delivered .

If you want to add my as a Friend in BF3, my soldier name is FourTetOnFire... I'm looking to find some people to play on PC. All my friends who play BF3 do it on PS3.

[Firdelore]

Headphones are one of those things you can never get 100% right, because each person has a different experience with a different kit. What matters is if you're happy with it and if it fills your expectations.
In the end, I ordered a Speedlink Medusa NX 5.1 from the Amazon Marketplace and it has been just shipped!. I've read (mostly) really good reviews. Now, I need to wait about a few days for it to be delivered .

If you want to add my as a Friend in BF3, my soldier name is FourTetOnFire... I'm looking to find some people to play on PC. All my friends who play BF3 do it on PS3.

Should really tell your friends to play BF3 on the PC

[crossy]

Should really tell your friends to play BF3 on the PC

I got BF3 on the XBox at the weekend (special offer at Game) and I've got to agree - okay the PC version takes longer to get into, but it's just a better game. Although I did manage to find the single shot mode on the XBox version.

[pariahloki]

I've always wanted to check out the Razer 7.1 megalodon headset: seems like a pretty good system.

[imbann]

I vote for the sennheiser pc 360, its great for me, I think this PC serie is designed for gamer, and its speak is loud and clear, dont buy super expensive headsets, especially monster brand..