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Reddit mentions of Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone

Sentiment score: 454
Reddit mentions: 408

We found 408 Reddit mentions of Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone. Here are the top ones.

Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone
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    Features:
  • It has attractive & compact design
  • Localization - English
  • High Sensitivity Headphone Mic
  • 3 Mini Clips for Tidy Arrangement
  • Product Type - Headphone Microphone
  • Localization - English
  • System Components - N/A
  • System Components - N/A
  • System Components - N/A
Specs:
ColorConnector: 3.5 mm
Height1.5 Inches
Length8 Inches
Number of items1
Size10 Feet
Weight0.07 Pounds
Width2 Inches

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Found 408 comments on Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone:

u/SilentHopes · 45 pointsr/buildapc

I've never been an advocate of gaming headsets. You pay for something that's way more expensive than what you're actually getting. You buy a $150 headset, you're probably getting $70-80 headphones with a bad microphone.

You're almost always better off to buy a pair of headphones that suits your needs well and then buy a microphone afterwards. You'll get the better use of your money this way. I've got a pair of Sennheiser HD 558s with a Zalman ZM-Mic1. It clips onto my headphone's cord so I don't have to worry about it being all over the place. Sound quality is good and I've gotten no complaints about static or fuzziness from friends. Otherwise, the Modmic is always a good choice.

If you're looking for something that isn't sound isolating, I would recommend buying a pair of open headphones with an external microphone. The 558s are open, by the way. You get a bit of sound leakage, so other people can hear what's going on if it's loud enough, but you can also hear everything around you. Because of this, you get a more realistic sound.

u/shanulu · 45 pointsr/DMAcademy

VOIP is so good now there is little-to-no reason to have a low quality microphone. Y'all should pitch in and get her one: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/hidetheclown · 28 pointsr/buildapc

Sennheiser HD650s with an O2 amp, and E-DAC. I have a Zalman ZM-MIC1 as a mic, which is great although I'd recommend a free standing one to most people.

I love them, great for what I listen to. Very good for gaming too. You pretty much forget you are wearing them.

u/thePhysicist8 · 24 pointsr/pcgaming

Fear not, for you can still enjoy the wonders of surround sound with Hi-Fi headphones. Most "gaming" headsets use a built-in DAC (and BS marketing magic) to emulate surround sound over stereo. You can do the same thing using Razer Surround or similar software for free.

You'll have to decide between a closed or open earcup design. If you're not already familiar: a closed-back design will give you better noise isolation and more bass response, while an open-back design will give you a wider soundstage and better positional accuracy. 95% of headphones are closed-back, but there are some nice open-back options in your price range.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($100) are a decent option. They're durable, portable, closed-back headphones with a lot of bass response.

The Sennheiser HD 558 ($115) are a steal at that price. They're incredibly comfortable, open-back headphones with a very wide soundstage and warm signature. They'll do much better with surround software.

Both of those options have a relatively low impedance, so you shouldn't have to worry about amping (although they'll still benefit from it). If you're looking for a mic, the ModMic 4.0 is on MassDrop right now. It's a bit pricy, but I've heard great things about the sound quality. If you want something a bit cheaper, the Zalman Clip-On is always an easy option.

Edit:
This might be slightly skewed, because a brick sitting on my head would be more comfortable than the headband on my Q701s.

u/ikeepadreamjournal · 22 pointsr/techsupportmacgyver

If you really want a boom, use an Antlion Modmic or something similar. If you don't mind a boomless mic and only care about audio quality, get this one.

u/LynkDead · 20 pointsr/gamingpc

For that price you could buy some ridiculously good audiophile headphones that would likely blow these away. Pair that with an awesome $10 mic and you'd be good to go.

u/ReusableHero · 20 pointsr/DotA2

I use separate headphones and mic.

This mic you can clip to the headphones cord or I have it sitting on the desk in front of me and have had no problems.

u/DaFox · 20 pointsr/pcgaming

I would recommend avoiding headsets personally. Grab a nice pair of quality headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700's for example, and basically any microphone. This is a very popular microphone, people usually clip it onto their headphone cord.

u/[deleted] · 19 pointsr/codbo

There are ways to do it. I don't know if your using an xbox or a ps3, but either way if you are using the red/white/yellow analog connectors, just slap one of these onto the console's output and then plug in your headphones. that should work for anything using the three red/white/yellow hookups.

However, if your Xbox360 is plugged in via HDMI, you will instead need one of these which plugs in to the component port on the back, and one of these to make it work with the headphones. Note that the xbox adapter comes with an optical port which you will use should you upgrade to high-quality headphones ;)
With this setup you will get audio out to headphones. To get chat in the headphones, go to the preferences, select chat, and output to speakers.

Note that this system doesn't allow for a microphone. You can go ahead and leave the microsoft headset around your neck, or you could get the ever-popular zalman clip-on and this adapter to plug it in to your controller.
They really make this harder than it ought to be :/

Also consider audio extension cables of varying lengths because you'll notice that the adapter cables are not very long.


The easiest way to hook up your favorite headphones is to use an Astro Mixamp. It will include all the needed cables and included a swanky volume knob and a balance knob to adjust game sound and voice levels. Much more expensive, though! At the price for the mixamp, you may as well just buy the whole system which includes a headset as well.

I would link stuff for PS3 using an hdmi cable as well to make an all-inclusive guide, but I simply don't own a PS3 so I can't be certain.

u/JammySTB · 17 pointsr/gamingpc

>but all of the responses are "get a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic"

Because this is the best option.

I personally use the clip on Zalman but I've heard great things about the ModMic. If you got a great pair of headphones(many use the AD700, HD558/HD598, etc) and attached this it would essentially be the same as a gaming headset but with significantly better sound quality and better build quality.

If you're going to be stubborn and not accept this, I reccommend going for the Sennheiser PC360. It's typically around the same price as the HD598 but not quite as good...

EDIT: Added links to some products, note that I only looked them up on Amazon, you can probably find everything cheaper if you shop around...

---

EDIT 2: DarkWingPig mentioned virtual surround sound, which is what draws many people towards gaming headsets. You can add this functionality to any pair of headphones using a sound card such as the Asus Xonar DG, Asus Xonar DS, or the Asus Xonar DX.

I have an Asus Xonar DX and, in my opinion, it can work well in certain games such as Counterstike, where knowing the position of a sound is essential, but I don't use it for the majority of games...

A user over at Head Fi called Mad Lust Envy has created a thread reviewing many different pairs of headphones in relation to how well they work with Dolby Headphone(virtual surround sound).

u/Vortax_Wyvern · 16 pointsr/HeadphoneAdvice

Wall of text ahead. Please, read only if you are really interested...


What I usually recommend when someone ask for advice about gaming headsets is: Gaming headset are crap 99% of the time. They provide very poor sound quality, and any good headphone (literally, even 40$ ones) will sound far better than expensive 300$ headsets. The question is not if headphones are better than headset (the answer is “Hell, YEAH”). The question is, are they better for you?


What are you planning to use your headphones for? Just for gaming, or for gaming and music listening?


If the answer is “just for gaming”, then ask yourself if a Hifi headphone is what you need. Usually games don’t really need high quality headphones, since they provide low quality sound, and you will be more concentrated gaming than listening. In that scenario, everything will serve you, and gaming headsets have the advantage of the integrated microphone.


So, if you want something good for gaming, and just for gaming, with integrated microphone, then the only two headsets with good enough quality sound (aka don’t suck) are:


HyperX Cloud (70$)


Sennheiser G4me One (170$)


Both are good choices. Or go with any fancy RGB headset you find (Logitech, Razer, Corsair, Steelseries, etc), you will most probably don’t notice the difference while gaming.


BUT, if you plan to use them for music listening besides gaming, then keep reading.


Hifi headphones for gaming have the disadvantage of having to deal with the micro thing. None of them have microphone incorporated, and you must either use a desk microphone like this, use a modmic like this one. or if your budget is tight, something like this. The first one requires desk space. The second and third one are detachable micro, with an extra cable you’ll have to deal with. Any of them are a nuisance. Any solution is annoying. All of them are an extra expense that must be accounted. If micro is a must and you are not willing to bother with this solutions, please, go back to HyperX Cloud or G4me One.


Ok, so, you really want some damn good headphones, that also can be used for gaming! Keep reading, please (are you bored yet?).


You can choose Closed back headphones (the classic ones you have already used. Closed back models offer good isolation and do not leak sound. This is your choice when there are people around you, or you want isolation from noisy a environment.) or Open Back headphones (Open back models offer next to no isolation and will leak sound -and allow you to hear what happens around you-, but they are the best sounding models). Open headphones achieve the best sound, soundstage (feeling that sound is coming from around you) and imaging (ability to locate the origin of one sound).


If you are here because you want to get a replacement for a gaming headset, I would recommend you Open back, but since they don’t isolate, you must choose. If isolation is required, get closed back, if that’s not a concern, go open.


Some closed back cans:


Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. 100$. Balanced headphones, very good feedback from lots of people. Typical entry level headphones to the rabbit hole.


Sennheiser HD 598Cs. 125$. Balanced, very very detailed, great instrumental separation. Comfortable as hell, Very recommended.


Beyerdynamic DT770. 160$. V-shaped signature (lots of bass and lots of treble). Great for explosions, movies, and rock. Treble can be harsh if you are sensible. Get the 32 ohm version, as the 80 (may) and 250 (do) need an amplifier to work properly.


Those are some examples of entry-mid level of closed cans. There are lots more, depending of your budget!


As for open cans:


Superlux HD668b. 40$. Those are THE CANS. The best quality for low budget you can get. Hands down. Great soundstage, Bass light. They are not too comfortable, but pads can be changed for a deluxe comfort (extra expense). You are not getting anything better at this price. For gaming in a budget, this are the headphones you were looking for,


Philips SHP9500. 80$. Mid-forward signature. Good soundstage, great comfort. Very detailed. Another amazing quality for the budget headphone.


Sennheiser HD 598 SR. 170$. Very similar to the HD 598Cs, but with open back. Wider soundstage, a little less bass. Very balanced headphones. Super-duper comfortable. Great for long gaming sessions.


Philips Fidelio X2. 250$. V-shaped signature. Those are in another league. Build quality is just.. OMG. Extreme soundstage and imaging. More comfortable than the HD 598. Bass is BOOOOOM!!!. A little pricey, and can be somewhat fatiguing to listen if you are treble sensible, due to high treble.


Well, that’s all. I have selected only headphones that don’t need an amplifier. Now is your turn to research, watch some Youtube videos, read some reviews, and give them a try.


All this headphones are GOOD. No trash here, and all them will make you open your eyes when listening your music if you are coming from standard headsets. You will notice sounds, instruments, that you never realized they were there, even if you had listened this song a thousand times before. Try them, and be amazed.


Welcome to the rabbit hole.


u/SilentSigns · 16 pointsr/patientgamers

I would recommend This clip mic paired with your choice of headphones.

u/cHariZmaRrr · 15 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

http://www.amazon.de/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Mikrofon-mit-Mikro-Clip-Schwarz/dp/B00029MTMQ

if you use this correctly, that mic is the shit while only having a price tag of ~$10

u/melty_dino · 13 pointsr/deadbydaylight

Most likely they are sound whoring with headphones and attentiveness. When I play killer, sound is my greatest asset against the survivors. Things like running and breathing can be picked up by paying attention and having the sound system to do so.

I followed the advice on this post and got these headphones and this mic. Pretty cheap set up for quality audio and voice communication.

u/test822 · 13 pointsr/rpg

the EQing on your voice is way too bassy/muffled/boomy

also recording people off of VOIP is usually pretty bad. you'd have much better sound quality if you made everyone buy mics and record their own audio locally on either their computer or some kind of device and then send you their audio for you to splice in. the downside of this is it increases the chance of screwing up recording significantly if your friends aren't tech-savvy

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499611093&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+clip+on+mic

u/danielkza · 12 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

Just a note regarding sound quality: if you really care about it, even high-end gaming headsets are bad options compared to headphones by companies that specialize in audio, like Sennheiser (only brand I'd buy 'gaming' sets from), Audio Technica, AKG, Koss, Shure, Westone, Beyerdynamics, etc. For the same price, you can likely get way better quality by getting a mic-less headphone and attaching a ModMic or using a standalone mic.

u/super1701 · 11 pointsr/joinsquad

I have a mic, it works, but for some reason squad refuses to pick it up. Anyone have a fix for this? Squad is the only game that it doesn't work in.
EDIT: Turns out my mic was set to USB in steam, just had to change it. Thanks for all the reply's and willingness to help. The mic i use is this good quality mic, but the cord is insanely long.

u/bobbypellit · 11 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Do not buy a headset.

Buy a microphone like [this here] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374138699&sr=8-1&keywords=Zalman+ZM-MIC1+Microphone) and get some decent headphones from Sennheiser (dependant on budget).

You get a lot more quality for your money this way.

u/paupaupaupau · 11 pointsr/gadgets

Another contender...

I have one and am pleased with it for a cheap solution. I clip it onto my shirt using a binder clip.

u/Blueshadeofred · 10 pointsr/oculus

Well I see how it's convenient with an integrated mic, but a very standard desktop/clip on mic will do the job a heck of a load cheaper, and you can spend the excess money on better headphones or an audio card. Also. Less parts that can be broken on the rift.

Edit: actually I take that back. If it's an integrated mic with no sensitive parts (the bar that carries the mic) and if it would be more like a cellphone mic I would be OK with it. Although the voice quality might not be the best this way.

u/ShadowX22 · 9 pointsr/DotA2

While people are recommending headsets that come with the mic. I'm going to recommend something else. Get a high quality set of over the ear headphones. I'm talking something like the Audio Technica ATH-M50S, Audio Technica ATH-AD700, Sennheiser HD555/595 (The 595's are very similar to the 555's but sound better, there are links around that you can mod your 555's to become 595's), or Sennheiser HD380 Pro. And then attach a Zalman Mic to it.

I have a pair of HD595's and absolutely love them, I can wear them all day and not feel it. They are built like tanks and have amazing sound quality. With my Zalman mic, I not only have a headset that has much higher sound quality than any gaming headset, but I can also use it for VOIP.

I used to have a pair of Creative Fatal1ty MKii, but after picking up my Sennheiser's I can't go back to them. The comfort and sound quality is literally night and day.

Although slightly out of your price range, the two companies make extremely high quality audio equipment. If you look through their offerings you'll definitely find a pair of headphones that will fit your budget. If you watch Amazon you can find that they cut prices dramatically from time to time, I picked up my 595's for around $150, and now they're almost $250.

u/ztherion · 9 pointsr/buildapc

Honestly, any headphone marketed as "gaming" will be a rip-off, and pretty much every Xbox 360 headset is crap compared to headphones designed for music listening and production.

You'll get a better deal if you get one of the generic adapter plugs that let you use any headphone and microphone combo with the Xbox. Then get this microphone and a good pair of headphones or IEMs. Here are some threads on head-fi to help you select a pair:

http://www.head-fi.org/a/buying-guide-headphones-by-price-range

http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-96-portable-headphones-reviewed-v-moda-m-80-added-11-27-11

http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-208-iems-compared-clear-tune-monitors-ctm-200-added-12-10-11

u/headphonehalo · 8 pointsr/Games

None, 5.1 and 7.1 headphones are a scam.. or at the very least redundant.

http://www.overclock.net/t/640943/why-5-1-headphones-are-a-scam-with-pictures

If you have to go for a traditional headset, Sennheiser's usually a good bet.

Otherwise you can just buy a pair of high quality headphones and a clip-on mic like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

As long as you avoid koss, bose, logitech, turtlebeach, beats, skullcandy, steelseries, razor and creative, you should be fine. USB headphones are usually pretty bad, as well.

http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide

(As for which of these you can use on consoles, I guess that depends on the console.)

u/thisisnotgood · 8 pointsr/truetf2

> I'm in the market for a headset

I highly recommend buying a nice pair of headphones (ATH AD700 are a favorite for gaming) and then a mic like this clip on zalman or the antlion modmic. You almost always get better sound quality (playback and recording) for the money and a wider choice of headphones.

u/thegodofpies · 8 pointsr/truegaming

Instead of getting a headset I would recommend a Clip-on mic and a pair of headphones as headsets generally have pretty shitty quality compared to getting headphones and a microphone separately. Head-Fi is an excellent resource for finding good ones.

u/GlumChampion · 8 pointsr/gamingpc

Samson SR850s + Zalman Mic. The samsons are amazing and blow every other headset I've heard out of the water. They are the same headphones as the Superlux 668Bs, so perhaps you can find them on ebay more cheaply than amazon.
Here's a head-fi review of the SR850s.

If you want something more expensive, see this Head-fi thread.

u/-c0de- · 8 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

>Get a working microphone, or if you already have one, use it

Here is a great inexpensive mic that you can add to a regular stereo headset: Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone

u/funktion · 8 pointsr/buildapc

this is all you need.

u/GokuDude · 8 pointsr/gamingpc

Definitely look into a Headphone + Attachable Mic Combo

I recommend the JVC HARX900's With a Zalman mic that you can clip on the headphones

If you do end up pushing your budget, I don't really recommend the G35's like the other guy (No offense, really) I do on the other hand recommend the Audio Technica AD-700's, if you get these for gaming they will last you a lifetime, they are built very well too, I love Audio-Technica for that

u/Quinnelton · 7 pointsr/AskGames

You're going to be doing your ears and the ears of the people you're talking a disservice to by getting a "Gaming Headset." I've owned a Steelseries Siberia v2 for a couple years now and I regret it every time I use them.

Average is the greatest compliment I can give them. Average soundstage, average bass, average highs and average mic quality. And if you're going to be spending ~$90 on a head set you want something that will be more than average.

This is what I wish I went with years ago and what I still wish I could justify buying while my Siberia is functioning:

  • $95 Audio Technica ATH-AD700 - "Good for Gaming, Movies (very open soundstage). Good bass response but not bass presence (not thumpy). Comfortable and very very very large." -HeadFi

  • $190 Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, 80 ohms - "BASS!!! Great soundstage for a closed can. Very good movie and gaming can.+ -HeadFi

  • $10 Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone - Clip on mic that attaches to your headphone cable. Everything I've heard about this mic have been glowing reviews, amazing sound and fantastic sensitivity.

    By going with a pair of headphones that are high quality and feature an exceptional soundstage, which basically means how far around you you can hear (good for picking up footsteps and locating bullet shots), and top of the line sound reproduction you're setting yourself up to have the best of both worlds, gaming and music.

    This is all coming from someone who wishes they had more money to spend on audiophile gear. Make sure to check out /r/audiophile as well, they have a lot of good information there as well.

    [http://www.head-fi.org/a/buying-guide-headphones-by-price-range]
u/Robert_Skywalker · 7 pointsr/pcmasterrace
u/ProPencilPusher · 7 pointsr/gaming

I'm gonna be that guy, and say something like Sennheiser HD558 or Audio Technica ATH-M50s with a Zalmann clip on mic or standard desktop mic.

Not as elegant but will sound MUCH better than most, if not all, of the mic + headphone combos.

u/yuv9 · 7 pointsr/buildapcsales

I personally chose the 558s, but I'm using them exclusively on my desktop so I don't have to worry about noise leaking out at home or carrying an amp around with me.

Also for gaming I use this.

Much cheaper and excellent audio quality.

u/guamaniantreerunner · 7 pointsr/truetf2

I got this one and it's great considering I already had awesome headphones.

u/faster3200 · 7 pointsr/gaming

First, let me say this: all headphones are surround sound. You only have two places that you can hear from and headphones literally surround them. Surround sound (5.1, 7.1, etc.) in speakers is nice since in order to hear from all directions without getting too technical you need speakers around you. If you see 5.1 or 7.1 headphones, that means they just stuffed a ton of low quality drivers into their phones and is a good sign they are nothing but marketing and that you should avoid them.

Also, if you see a headset that is usb that means it uses it's own sound card essentially, which may be good or bad for you depending on your setup.

For gaming specifically you want headphones with a good sound-stage. There is no gaming headset on the market that compares to getting some good phones plus mic. Sony MDR-V6 and Creative Aurvana Live (rebadged Denon AH-D1001) are a decent choices for your price range. You can always get a desktop mic, a clip-on mic, or better yet find a Labtec LVA-7330 on ebay and do some simple modding and you have yourself a headset with removable mic.

u/alexistukov · 7 pointsr/hardware

Standard recommendation for high quality headphone/microphone combo is a Sennheiser HD555 with a Zalman Clip-on Mic.

I have them both and I find they work well and that they work well together.

u/SigmaEleven · 7 pointsr/buildapc

Audio Technica ATH-M30x seem to be a good entry-level enthusiast headset but coming in at £60 at amazon I figure you could find better prices elsewhere for that headset. Personally I think it sounds pretty similar to the ATH-M50 while being loads cheaper in my area.

Or the Sennheiser HD 202, it's quite decent for cheap. Also comfortable.

Edit: Here's some cheap clip-on mic in case you game:

  • Neewer - Cheap as dirt and has fairly good reviews.
  • Zalman - Heavily recommended by some but I've heard complaints that it picks too much background noise or such.
u/novel__ · 7 pointsr/truetf2

There's no way you can be on a team without a mic.

Price an issue?

  • This Clip On Mic is only 8 dollars and is pretty high quality too.

  • If you can afford to go higher I can recommend a Blue Snowball for $60.

  • Also, maybe a CAD U1 for $30.

    Even a headset will do. Make sure you enable push to talk and are using headphones.

    Are you afraid? Get over it. Sorry for the bluntness, but consider your team to be friends. People you'd play any game with and still have a good time. If they aren't people you can relate to, don't join their team. It's that simple. Find people you can relate to easily. Find people that won't yell at you. Find people that will crack the occasional joke and laugh at stupid/amazing plays. You will create incredible bonds with these people, and have lifelong friends. These people must be more important to you than a random lobby player, so talk to them!

    And to be honest... most teams don't take people who can't/won't talk. Even if you were Clockwork or Ruwin.

    So, get a mic.
u/logicbound · 6 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

Not a headset... but I went with headphones and mic.

u/NeverQuiteEnough · 6 pointsr/changemyview

Only the uber gamer has a mic and headphones?

My mic cost 8 dollars, it is the size of a quarter and provides perfectly serviceable audio quality, despite the fact that it is currently hidden somewhere under the mess that is my desk.

My headphones are cheap earbuds. My bet is the average household has three of these things, they cost less than a burger and I've had this pair long enough to have forgotten when I acquired it.

One doesn't need an overpriced neon gaming headset to talk to people online, whether it is playing games with friends who've moved out of state or geographically distant family. And it certainly doesn't have to be integrated with the device. If I buy a VR headset today, I would need to make zero changes to my $15 audio input and output to play with friends immediately.

I think you must not have seen this type of mic, otherwise I don't understand how you can hold the view you do.

u/Kinaestheticsz · 6 pointsr/buildapc

He has some good advice. But for the love of all that is holy. Please do not buy a "gaming" headset.

Invest in a good pair of headphones and attach something like a Antlion Mod-Mic to it. You'll end up with far better sound, a similar if not better mic, for around the same or cheaper price as those "high end gaming" headsets.

Something like this: Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 $99 + Antlion ModMic $32 or Zalman Zm-Mic1 Clip-On Mic $6.99

Gives you a set of incredibly good sounding headphones for both music and gaming, and a mic comparable to the one you are going to find on any headset out there (no matter how expensive, unless you want to go super high end).

If you don't like the look of the ATH-AD700s, then browse through this wonderful thread/font of knowledge on headphones at Head-Fi.org: Link.

As for mechanical keyboards, the Steelseries 6Gv2 Cherry MX Black is a good choice.

In terms of mice, I suggest you go to your local computer shop and try out mice there with your hand. You need to find one that fits the way you like to grip your mouse and one that is fit for you. I'd even recommend the same with the mechanical keyboards. A place like Frys is a great place to test them out as the regularly have the mechanical keyboards out on display to test.

u/nubbinator · 6 pointsr/buildapc

Monoprice headphones and the Zalman clip on mic. It's the best setup you can do in your budget. It's the only pair of super cheap headphones that I've actually seen the people at head-fi.org rave about. No headsets are going to be all that great on your budget...or in general for that matter, so go for a separate mic and headphone.

u/Kairu927 · 6 pointsr/Games

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Skip coffee for a couple days and bam, you've got a solid microphone equivalent to those that are installed in many combination headsets.

u/schwat · 6 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

The same headphones I would recommend for anything. ATH-M50s. If you shop around you can find them for ~$100.

http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/top-picks/audio-technica-ath-m50.php

I spent a lot of time shopping around and comparing before settling on those & I have to say there really isn't anything that compares for a comparable price.

Then just get a cheap clip-on mic (like this) and you're good to go.

Whatever you do don't waste money on a "gaming headset". You'll be happier in the long run if you buy a decent set of cans & a separate mic. And DEFINITELY don't be suckered into a pair of "5.1 headphones" that have multiple drivers per ear. A good set of stereo headphones + virtual surround will kick the shit out of them every time.

u/mmmm_goldfish · 6 pointsr/pcgaming

Sorry, it's over budget but here is my setup:

Headphones (Really quite amazing for the price):
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Precision-Sound-Headphones/dp/B0013OWPV4

Clip on Mic:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

If you shop around, you may be able to find them cheaper. I wouldn't have bothered mentioning my setup knowing it's over budget but I researched and scrutinized for a solid month when I made these purchases and these seemed to be as good as it gets under $50

Edit:
Looks like there are cheaper mics with good ratings here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007792%204024&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&PageSize=20

u/mr_roo · 6 pointsr/Games

I wouldn't recommend any traditional gaming headsets, you would do better to get a good pair of headphones and a separate mic. Gaming headsets have good mics, but the speakers are almost always lacking compared to similarly priced headphones.

I've used many headsets from Logitech, Steelseries, Razer, Turtle Beach, and a few other companies, and anything from Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, Denon, AKG, or the multitude of quality audiophile manufacturers, will give you far better audio.


Sennheiser makes the only really good headsets in my opinion, the PC350 and PC360, but they are expensive at around $200, and don't sound as good as the HD598's for about the same price.

Steelseries makes okay headsets, but are over priced for the audio quality. The 5Hv2 and 7H are incredibly comfortable, and the Siberia v2 are quite comfy as well (not if you have a large head though, I have 7 7/8 hat size and was fatigued in an hour). Also their build quality is very good. They produce very accurate locational noise, but be warned as Steelseries headsets have no bass at all at the cost of having very clear footstep identification.

I wouldn't even consider Razer products as their build quality is sub-optimal.

Check out: reddit.com/r/audiophile and reddit.com/r/headphones for all the info you want on good headphones.

Also www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide is a good place to start.

For gaming I use Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and Zalman Zm-Mic1. The AD700's don't have a large bass presence, so bass thumps don't interfere with footsteps and important locational noise (which they produce very accurately). These are by far the most comfortable headphones I have ever had on. The ModMic is also a very good mic option for any headphone.


Do a little research on the audio sub-reddits and you will find the perfect solution for your needs.

u/ronaldgoddamnreagan · 6 pointsr/buildapc

http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00BWUHHYE

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Really good headphones for an excellent price. 7.1 is just a fancy marketing technique and a good pair of headphones is more than you'll need.

Mic is excellent as well, it clips on the cable of the headphone.

There is a white version of the headphones if you want, http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B00CAG1ZG0/ref=pd_sim_MI_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=00MCGHWWKXXYERJ2ZWW6

u/thecrispybacon · 6 pointsr/buildapc

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

I bought one of these that clips on to my headphones cable fine. You can also just fold the collar of your shirt over as well. Might want to get a sleeve to keep it together with your headphone cable. I don't really use a mic often though so I don't mind 2 cables when using it too much.

u/geegeegeegeebaby · 6 pointsr/singapore

>Headphones

I'm tempted to get a pair of Axent Wears, but I'm nowhere stylish ^^nor ^^cute enough to pull off the look.

Honestly, "gaming" headphones aren't renowned for sound quality. IMHO, it's better to get an affordable pair of audiophile high quality earphones like the MylarOne Bijous/Westone UMPro10s/Shure SE215s and then get an attached microphone (Zalman and Modmic are good choices for those). This is purely my opinion though :)

Regardless, Black Friday is coming up, so keep a lookout on Amazon for good deals!

u/twich35 · 6 pointsr/pcgaming

Razer makes good mice, not headsets. Get a Sennheiser
Lower priced
Higher Priced

And just use this mic. It works great, and is very clear. I have never heard of pulsewave as a competitive brand, and that headset doesn't look as sturdy as most Sennheiser's.

u/pumpkinbundtcake · 6 pointsr/pcgaming

Most people would recommend a Blue Snowball but I really like the concept of the Modmic. Honestly though, I used a three dollar desktop microphone I got from Microcenter and, while I wore the headphones to get rid of background noise, I was getting compliments on the microphone quality.

Edit: I forgot about the Zalman clip-on but that seems like such a pain.

u/_Skylake_ · 6 pointsr/halo

$8

Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_9rSpxb0W2PRGG

u/canyousaysanity · 6 pointsr/gaming

i'm using a pair of audio technica ath-m50's (which are used primarily for listening to music but works as a headset just fine) along with a clip on zalman mic.

i understand that this might be a little more expensive than you are looking to spend, but buying a headset for gaming only seems kind of inefficient to me. in reality you can just pick up that clip on mic (which is super high quality) and pair it with some ear-buds you have lying around.

u/G_Sully · 6 pointsr/headphones

Audio Technica AD700 are pretty much the standard audiophile reccomendation when it comes to sub-$150 gaming headphones. Pair it with a Zalman Zm-Mic1 and I can pretty much guarantee you that you will never touch a gaming headset again. The AKGs are a good option but I would opt for the AD700 if you can spare the extra $15. They offer a better soundstage which is critical for gaming as it gives you a better sense of your surroundings.

u/ebol4anthr4x · 6 pointsr/AskGames

No, do not buy surround sound headsets, even if you play CSS. I spent around $100 for my pair of 5.1 surround sound headphones (Tritton was the brand -- the audio division of Mad Catz), and while they were a very blatant step up from the shitty generic Logitech headsets I'd used in the past, they are not even close to the quality you get when you just purchase a normal pair of high-quality headphones, especially considering how much more expensive they were.

Immediately after going through two different pairs of surround sound headsets, I decided to just buy normal headphones and a separate microphone for voice chat. I currently use a JVC HARX900 and a Zalman mic, which will cost you about $70 altogether, but it's well worth it in my opinion. The sound quality is fantastic, and most FPS games are made well enough that you can get distinguish sound coming from different directions, even with stereo headphones.

Surround sound headphones are entirely unnecessary, and I wish someone had been there to tell me that before I bought mine.

As a side note, listening to music on stereo headphones vs. a surround sound headset will make no difference, as pretty much 99% of music is 2 channel anyway, so having 5 speakers makes no difference. Yes, it can be upmixed to 5.1, but if you just buy a good pair of stereo headphones, it will sound equal to, if not better, than the surround sound headphones.

u/sci_comes_1st · 6 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

For question number one, PLEASE get a headset and a microphone BEFORE you start playing. Here is a link to a good mic for a cheap price

u/jcbevns · 6 pointsr/makemychoice

Beater headphones and get this Mic. Zalman ZM

I have a nice set of Audio-Technicas that I use for music but needed a mic. This satisfied ALL my needs.

u/Tacanacy · 6 pointsr/PS4


I've used many headphones/headsets for online/competitive shooters: AKG K52, AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990 (600Ω), HiFiMan HE-400i (the revision), HiFiMan HE-500, HyperX Cloud, Koss Porta Pro, Monoprice Monlith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2, Philips SHP9500, Sennheiser HD598, Sennheiser HD700, Sennheiser HD800, Superlux HD662 EVO, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD669, Superlux HD681 EVO, Tritton Pro+ and Turtle Beach Ear Force XP Seven, and AD700x is the one I recommend regardless of budget unless people have other preferences. Games top out very early, and around the $100 mark, diminishing returns set in hard.



There are three sonic properties that determine the performance of headphones/headsets for online/competitive shooters: soundstage, imaging and (instrument) separation.

Soundstage is produced by the headphone, not the game. It's perceived space and environment of sound. A small soundstage makes the environment around you sound confined or boxed in. With a large soundstage, the environment sounds much more open, spatial and natural. You probably have to experience it yourself to understand it.

Imaging is inherent to the audio content. It's how accurately the locations of sounds/objects are reproduced.

Soundstage and imaging are generally best achieved with open-back or semi-open-back headphones, which means the headphones have cups with grills/perforations/openings that allow sound to freely pass through, unlike closed-back headphones that have cups with solid shells which isolate sound from passing through to some extent. Soundstage and imaging constitute positional audio. You could say they are the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. I don't think stereo, no matter how large it is, sounds fully three-dimensional as virtual surround sound at all times. Dialogues and very loud sounds like tanks, jets, trains, etc. near you tend to sound very intimate and dominate in either ear when you don't face them. Virtual surround sound has its drawbacks too: it compresses and degrades the sound quality. I find it most noticeable with rain, waterfalls and splashing water; they sound akin to white and pink noise. Subtle details become faint or not audible. When headphones already have decent soundstage, imaging and separation, I find that virtual surround sound diffuses the positional audio and the ability to pick up and locate/track audio cues.

Virtual Surround sound varies a lot from processor to processor (CMSS-3D, Dolby Headphone, SBX, etc.) How you perceive it compared to stereo also depends on the soundstage, imaging and separation of the headphone, and how games are mixed. I recommend using a headphone with a large soundstage and great imaging and separation, like AD700x, before deciding on virtual surround sound. If you absolutely want virtual surround sound, then I strongly recommend SBX from Creative, especially over Dolby Headphone.

Separation is how you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. This is only important in games that are competitive.



Attach an Antlion ModMic 4 and you have a headset. Alternative mics: Massdrop Minimic, Neewer, Sony ECMCS3, Zalman ZM-Mic1, Blue Snowball, Samson Go

If AD700x costs too much, then I recommend HD668B. Other open-back options that are well-regarded in the audio enthusiast community are Audio-Technica ATH-AD500x, Sennheiser HD558/HD579 and Status Audio OB-1. I strongly advise against HyperX Cloud if you don't need sound isolation. For closed-back, I recommend AKG K52, Superlux HD662 EVO and especially Superlux HD669 over the Cloud. Status Audio CB-1 is another well-regarded option, which is compatible with the V-MODA BoomPro mic.

u/Ezerus · 6 pointsr/buildapc

how about just a microphone?

Zahlman Zm-Mic1

much cheaper, good sound. Should serve you just fine for VOIP

u/Kaizen336 · 5 pointsr/buildapcforme
Here is my recommendation:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | $169.99 @ Microcenter
CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler | $29.98 @ Outlet PC
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | $104.99 @ Microcenter
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $59.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $164.99 @ NCIX US
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $69.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card | $219.99 @ NCIX US
Wireless Network Adapter | Rosewill RNX-N600UBE 802.11a/b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter | $25.22 @ Amazon
Case | Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case | $49.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply | $54.99 @ NCIX US
Optical Drive | Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer | $14.99 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) | $89.98 @ Outlet PC
Keyboard | Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard | $39.99 @ Newegg
Other| Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Headphones | $99.95 @ Amazon
Other| Zalman Zm-Mic1 Microphone| $8.48 @ Amazon
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1203.51
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-21 23:53 EDT-0400 |

I think this build falls right in the sweet spot for performance vs. price. The CPU/Mobo is a combo at Microcenter, you'll have to add around $20 for tax. A note on the headphones, these are the best headphones for gaming for the price. I strongly recommend against buying any name-brand headset, you will overpay and get a product that doesn't sound as good. Let me know if you have any questions.
u/lachlanlikesathing · 5 pointsr/headphones

I don't know how to attach that mic, but if all you need is a microphone you can try this doohickie: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

My friend has one and uses it with his AD700 for gaming. He is very happy with it!

u/_fortune · 5 pointsr/hardware

Depending on your intended use, I'd suggest the CAL!, Sony MDR-V6, or Audio Technica ATH AD700 with a Zalman clip-on mic.

With any of these headphones plus the mic, you will get much higher sound quality than any headset in the price range.

u/AnderperCooson · 5 pointsr/Metal

If you're looking for something that will primarily be used for listening to music, I'd get a nice pair of headphones and something like this attachable mic. If you're looking for a headset that will also be used for music occasionally, probably just get something in your price range by a reputable brand (Audio Technica, Sennheiser, etc). We'll need a budget before making any actual recommendations though.

u/georgeguy101 · 5 pointsr/pcgaming

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Carcharias-Gaming-Headset-Black/dp/B001PTH0VW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1301801164&sr=8-7

i really like those for purely gaming. theyre comfy so you can wear them forever. they have decent positional sound and good sound quality and the microphone is good too.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU

u/ItsADanThing · 5 pointsr/buildapc

Unfortunately most gaming headsets are quite overpriced, a popular option without spending a lot is this mic that clips onto normal headphone wires ($8) maybe get that and save up for a better headset or some good headphones and a modmic.

For the internet if you have to use wireless get the internal card, if you can run an ethernet cable do that and consider a cheap usb adapter for interim.

u/HorrorBrot · 5 pointsr/Rainbow6

Get a ModMic or a Zm-Mic1 (build a micarms from lego or something else), put it on your hi-fi headphones and you've beaten 95% of headsets on the market in quality for same price or less

u/EphemeralRain · 5 pointsr/buildapcsales

This is a horrible head set. The sound quality is awful, and there's a constant hiss from the USB amplifier. On max bass boost, the bass is muddy and intrudes on the other sound ranges; on minimum bass boost, the sound feels empty and tinny. There's no good middle ground that I found. The soundstage is also horrible, which makes it far from ideal for gaming as you can't really perceive positional audio well.

You will honestly get much better sound quality out of the Koss KSC75 with a Zalman Mic attached, for even a few bucks cheaper.

u/FamousOnLine · 5 pointsr/gamingpc

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

It is under $10. So far no one has complained about it when I am on vent so I guess its not bad?

u/hobojoe272 · 5 pointsr/DotA2

I currently use this combo:

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD555-Professional-Headphones-Channeling/dp/B0001FTVDQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1323130988&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323130978&sr=8-2

I have had plenty of headsets over the years, and this one has been my best purchase. My friends on skype tell me the voice quality is fine.

You are also going to get way better sound quality through headphones rather than a headset.

u/TriggerOrcutt · 5 pointsr/gaming

I've heard nothing but good reviews on the Zalman zm-mic1 even though it looks and costs nothing like quality. I've also heard several sound samples of it and it does backup the reviews. Then it's just up to finding a good pair of headphones. I'm currently in the market for headphones and a mic aswell but I have a bit of a bigger budget. A lot of people suggest the Audio Technica AD700's but I've seen mixed reviews especially when it comes to the headphones fitting properly. If you decide to go for a regular pc headset where the mic and headphones are attached I suggest you steer clear from the Razer Carcharias, it's what I currently have and the audio leaks into the microphone so people on the other end can hear what I'm listening to at low volume. A friend of mine recently go the Corsair HS1 and it sounds really good according to him, but he hasn't been able to use it's mic yet.(his soundcard is a bit fucky) I don't think you can get a really definite answer to what headphone/mic combo is the best because everyone has their own taste in sound. Just try to avoid any phones that have "gamer" plastered all over the box because they generally won't be good for anything OTHER than games.

As a side note, in the end of my hunt for a good pair I'll be going with the aforementioned Zalman zm-mic1 and a pair of AKG K240 MKII's...one major attracting point for these headphones for me is that the cable is modular so when I inevitably break it (I have bad luck with headphone cables) I can just swap to the 2nd that's in the box.

u/redisnotdead · 5 pointsr/pcmasterrace

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

clip theses to your V-Modas.

EDIT: Oh wait you want a USB headset.

Get the cheapest you're willing to afford 'cuz they all sound like shite.

u/crimsonskunk · 5 pointsr/thereifixedit

If you know anyone who has a soldering iron and can get to the wires without breaking the plastic, it's not too hard to solder stuff like this.

Easier solution, get a clip on mic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zGSsDbSZ63XDC

u/Mushnag · 5 pointsr/buildapc

Normal headphones and a separate mic:

u/megazver · 4 pointsr/rpg

You can skip the webcam, if you want. Most games don't use them and the few times I played with the DM that had one, it was just a couple of other players who had one as well and the rest just played without one.

As for the mic, me, I bought something a little fancier, a Samson C01U for 77$ which is roughly equivalent in quality to the twice as expensive Blue Yeti and a pair of Superlux headphones, which is this Taiwanese company which makes really good, inexpensive entry-levels cans, but I also wanted to maybe record myself for Youtube and shit. You'll do just fine with whatever you buy after searching "best cheap headset" or maybe some Superlux headphones (so that people can't hear themselves on your speakers) and a Samson Go or perhaps even a Zalman Zm-Mic1

u/schnokobaer · 4 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

This. Buy the ZM-Mic 1 and if you only have a shitty onboard sound card also buy a USB sound card like this one, otherwise it'll be low volume with lots of noise. Yes, even a $5 USB sound card is better than onboard sound, they are that bad.

So less than $12 in total for very good mic quality, there's really no excuse for having a shitty mic, let alone none.

u/N_Scorpion · 4 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Probably the best bang for your buck. However, if those ModMics are in stock you might want to check them out.

u/funwok · 4 pointsr/gaming

Depends on some things.
Do you want virtual 7.1 simulation/EAX support? If yes, a standard Xonar DS soundcard for around 30-40USD will suffice. That will help with some of the more expensive headphones too, which will need a bit of extra power to drive.

Pretty much every gaming headset uses rather cheap mics and so can we. All voip comm will get heavily compressed, be it with TS, skype or ingame voice, so you really don't need a high quality mic for gaming. Many gamers are using a Zalman mic for around 10USD, but any cheap, sturdy clip on mic will do.

This left us with around ~150USD for a good headphone. There are plenty of alternatives in the <150USD range, I can give you a couple of often recommended options.

The favorite right now in hi-fi circles is the ATH-m50 at around 130USD.

A very comfortable pair are the AKG K271MKII at the same price level.

To complete the our maxing out the budget trio we have the Ultrasone HFI-780.

All three have superior drivers with very good sound characteristics, very decent isolation and are fun enough to listen to for gaming, music and movies.

But we don't really have to max out the budget to get superior sound quality. There are some very decent headphones under 100USD too, which can more than compete with any high budget gaming headset.

Some examples: Sony MDRZX700
Creative Aurvana Live, especially for Europeans where the price is better
similar famous like the ATH-M50 are the ATH-AD700. It's a open headphone though, so gone is any decent isolation in exchange for a better soundstage.

I could go on for a bit, but those mentioned above are pretty well known and tested with the hi-fi community. You should find plenty of reviews and user experience for them. While some of them are a bit more analytical than most users are used to, they are all pretty fun and warm and not so boring like traditional studio monitors.

Even if we look at the lower budget gaming headsets <100USD, many without any 7.1 simulation, we can find plenty of better sound headphones, especially if we don't need a soundcard.

u/Buhdahl · 4 pointsr/hardware

Audio Technica ATH-AD700

Zalman Microphone

Simply superb combination. Throw in a Xonar DG is you want a nice (and cheap) sound card to bring it all together.

u/xdoo675 · 4 pointsr/buildapc

Zalman clip on mic. Best thing ever.

Cheap too.

Edit: Actually, looking at the cx500 I don't think the zalman will be able to clip onto them, so you should look into something like one of the logitech desk mics.

u/R3allybored · 4 pointsr/Tribes

Don't buy into the whole "gaming headset" craze. Find a good pair of legitimate headphones and then buy a mic like this one to go with it.

My friends and I use that mic and the sound quality is crystal clear through both ends. Don't be fooled by a gaming headset being good just because it has a built in microphone. Majority (if not all of them) have terrible quality and are ridiculously overpriced. I know you don't want to order things online, but I'd recommend looking into it. If you're putting $50-$100 into something, it's much more worth it to wait a week for it to come in than settle for a half-assed pair because you can buy it directly from the store.

u/Fusionnex · 4 pointsr/audiophile

Separate Mic! No need to limit your options by only looking at headsets. Get a decent set of cans and get a separate microphone. This is what i did but you can swap out any solid set of cans in your price range. Drop 250 for akg701's Here and get a 15$ 8$ mic, amazing solution if you have the power to drive the headphones. If you are super picky about microphone quality go for a blue microphone.

u/dvtnlx · 4 pointsr/starcraft

If you want to save money and only care about performance/price ratio try this combination in the sub 75 dollar range, which should be sufficient for most gamers. This will net you better quality than anything that is marketed for gaming:






Sennheiser HD 202

Zalman ZM-MIC1

u/Terricz · 4 pointsr/counterstrike

Don't buy into the whole "gaming headset" craze. A lot of it is overpriced garbage. Find a pair of good quality headphones and then buy this mic to go with it.

u/medahman · 4 pointsr/hardware

Well, with audio, quality of sound and product often go hand in hand. My point about the headphone/mic combo stands. The quality on headsets, from my experience, pail in comparison.

For your budget, /r/headphones recommends the [Panasonic RP-HTF600-S] (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RPHTF600S-RP-HTF600-S-Stereo-Headphones/dp/B004MMEI8W) with the [Zalman clip-on mic.] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ)
You can see down in the review section that someone published a video using the mic, and it sounds pretty good.

u/following_eyes · 4 pointsr/buildapcsales

I use this one. Gets the job done, haven't heard a single complaint from anyone. I just clip it to my headphone cable.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418945333&sr=8-1&keywords=clip+on+mic

u/killwish · 4 pointsr/buildapcsales

amp isn't required for these. this zalman mic works great for me

u/Eulers_ID · 4 pointsr/OverwatchUniversity

Zalman mic for 8 bucks on Amazon - Sounds good and uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, so no drivers or BS. If it's not long enough you can get it with an extension cable or pick up a cheap one from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, whatever. It clips onto your headphone cord or shirt or whatever, and if it doesn't hold tight enough you can just put a binder clip on it. It's a great way to not spend 100 bucks on a headset that sounds as good as $30 headphones. Now you can spend that money on something that sounds really great, or beer.

u/DildoFingers · 4 pointsr/CodAW

Don't buy into "gaming headsets". A nice pair of headphones with an external mic will give you way more sound quality. If I were you I would get:

Sennheiser HD 598's- http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1414427164&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=sennheiser+hd+pro+598

Ear Force DSS2 - http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Beach-Force-Surround-Processor-63043006306200/dp/B006W41X36 (not sure what is up with that first picture)

Zalman clip on mic - http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Then you'd need an adapter to hook up a 3.5mm audio to whatever controller you're using. You can simply get a male 2.5mm to female 3.5mm adapter (won't give you chat volume control) or you can use something like this http://steelseries.com/us/products/outlet/steelseries-spectrum-audio-mixer-xb if you're using a Xbox 360.

This setup is almost exactly what I use and it's amazing. I use Sennheiser HD 380 Pro's and Ear Force DSS1.

u/The_Russian · 4 pointsr/buildapc

Could have sworn i only payed like 4 bucks for mine, but here is the default one. That is actually the recommended mic to go with when picking out a headphones + mic vs Headset. Its generally either that, or the high end solution which is to use a ModMic (40 or so bucks). That said, i and several friends use the zalman and have no complaints. Meanwhile, another friend has a razer headset and its the worst fucking thing when being on coms with him.

u/iTomate · 4 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Disclaimer:

I don't know A LOT about audio quality and what to consider when buying topnotch headphones, however:

A few months ago I was looking for a gaming headset (headphones+mic) myself and found the following combination on a German web page (their discussion board is very appreciated in Germany):

Superlux HD 681 - £27 on Amazon

Zalman Zm-Mic1 - £10 on Amazon

I never had expensive headphones before but the guys on the board stated that the Superlux HD681 go head to head with some €150 AKG headphones. I, for my part, have no comparison but I really like them and have yet to find their downside. The mic is good too, but it falls of the cord quit frequently cause I move quite a lot.

I also bought the headphones along with velvet ear cushions like those (£10 on Amazon), which make long gaming sessions very comfortable.

You now spent only about £47 so you still have half of your budget for a nice audio card, enhancing your audio-experience even more.

I hope I could support you a little bit for your buying decision and please excuse me for my bad English. =)

Edit: formatting

u/EbagI · 4 pointsr/Destiny

don't buy a headset.

Buy a pair of headphones and this http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

this advice is pretty much universal for anyone who knows anything.

u/Hopehellsucks · 4 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Lurk r/buildapcsales, There's always posts every few days that pop up for a great pair of headphones. Sennheiser, beyerdynamics, and akg just to name a few. Any of those paired with a standalone mic or modmic or clipon mic will always deliver sound leagues above

u/Hokkupi · 4 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Headphones


AKG K-540

Sennheiser HD-439

Microphone


Zalman ZM-MIC 1

Either of those headphones will do just fine for it's price range plus you don't have to deal with the price premium for headsets. I own the Zalman mic myself and it's pretty decent for the price. If you really need a headset, my only recommendation would be the Skullcandy Slyr.

u/imuya · 4 pointsr/GirlGamers

I responded to a similar thread on girlgamers here;

http://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/1y7ae5/in_need_of_a_good_pair_of_head_phones_wmic/cfhzlua

>My advice is to not buy a headset, and instead get a nice pair of headphones and a clipon mic. The majority of "gaming headsets" provide vastly inferior audio quality, are USB, and are really overpriced for what you get. see: Astro's.

>My suggestion is watch this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rXcJuEsy0

>To get a decent understanding of how headphones work, and what a lot of the general terminology means (Amp/DAC/Ohms/SNR/Digital and Analog signals/etc).

>Then proceed to;

>www.reddit.com/r/headphones

>And they'll probably tell you the exact same thing. A good pair of headphones combined with a clip-on-mic will not only provide the best audio experience for your money, but also the best audio experience period.

>http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide

>This is a good price-range guide for headphones as well.

>in general;

>5.1 and 7.1 are a gimmick, virtual 5.1 and 7.1 dont do anything but allow 5.1 and 7.1 audio channel audio to be played as 5.1 and 7.1 audio channels.

>Generally in gaming, virtual 5.1 and 7.1 can actually muddy up directional sound and make your audio experience significantly worse if the game isnt optimized for that exact audio spartialization.

>You dont want USB if you're going to be using an Amp/DAC or a Soundcard, because it wont actually use your amp/dac or soundcard.

>Popular recommendations are like;

>Audio Technica ATH-M50

>Audio Technica ATH-AD700

>Audio Technica ATH-AD700x

>Sennheiser HD-280 Pro

>Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro

and then a clip-on microphone like this one;

>Zalman ZM Mic1


But the tl;dr is, buy a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic. They will sound better, last longer, and potentially be significantly cheaper.

Also, check out Massdrop for good deals on Headphones and Amp/DAC's.

u/binary_is_better · 4 pointsr/buildapc

Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones $20

Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone $10

Those are the only budget headphones and mic I'd consider. It will sound much better than any gaming headset at even twice that price.

u/Literati · 4 pointsr/tf2

> Get this mic.

FTFY

u/lapin0u · 4 pointsr/headphones

mandatory link for "gaming" headset : http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-5-23-2013-mrspeakers-mad-dog-v-3-2-reviewed

mandatory references for the "mic" issue :

  • best is a modmic, but more expensive & sometimes unavailable
  • second is a zalman
u/formerly_ex9gagger · 4 pointsr/buildapc

I wouldn't buy gaming headsets. Just buy a nice pair of headphones (eg. Sennheiser HD 201) + a nice external mic.

As for keyboards, I'd look into buying a mechanical keyboard.

Mice are personal preference

EDIT:

Here are some link

Sennheiser HD 201

MonoPrice Mech. Keyboard

As for mice as I said it's preference. it also depends on wheter you are a claw-gripper, palm-gripper or whatever. Maybe if you have a store like BestBuy or something around go there and test some mice.


Nice Zalman Mic.

u/bexbeatz · 4 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Get the hd681 from superlux and the zm-mic1 from zalman. Should be around your price and will beat headsets up to 100. Headphones + Mic = Awsome. I use the mic together with my custom one pros from beyerdynamic and it's awsome! EDIT: added the links.

u/huppie · 4 pointsr/BuyItForLife

What part is dying on his headphones? E.g. The headphones themselves, the cable, something else every time?

I would recommend getting something with replaceable parts. In my experience it's usually just the cable that breaks after a few years of intense use. Also, the earpads may go bad after a couple more years.
I have very good experience with Sennheiser products so I did have a quick search for headphones with replacable cables / earpads and a mic if possible. It looks like the Sennheiser HD461 or HD 471 might be just what you're looking for.


However, personally I would recommend against using a headset with a built-in mic and using a separate headset and mic instead. The reason for this is pretty simple: Almost every part on a quality headphone can be replaced and you can get a decent clip-on microphone dirt cheap.

Example: A bit over 15 years ago I bought a Sennheiser HD500 and this microphone. While the microphone died last year, the headphones are still in use by my sister. The cable has been replaced once or twice, the earpads once I think.
I've upgraded to a Sennheiser HD600 eight years ago and in that time have replaced the cable twice (I drag it around a lot, am not careful enough, I know...), it's still the best headphone I've ever had. When my mic died after 14 years of use I've 'upgraded' to this one, it's pretty ridiculous how cheap it is for such a quality mic.

u/phixional_ninja · 3 pointsr/xboxone

You definitely can use regular headphones. If you have a pair without a built in mic, you can add one. I just added a mic to my AKG K550s with these:
>http://amzn.com/B004SP0WAQ

>http://amzn.com/B00029MTMQ

u/Bulit0 · 3 pointsr/hardware

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

I've never had one of those, so I can't vouch for the quality of it, but it appears to be a decent mic.

u/curious42 · 3 pointsr/AskBattlestations

On the subject of headsets, DON'T GET ONE. A pair of headphones labeled as a "gaming headset" is going to be horrendously overpriced for the quality. My suggestion would be to take a gander at this list, taken from the sidebar or r/headphones, and choose something you like in your price range. Then add a cheap desk or clip-on microphone, and bam! better quality for your money. :)


Personally, I have the Superlux HD668b and the zalman mic I linked above. They're hooked in to a Creative X-Fi sound card, but TBH that's only because my cousin gave it to me for free when he upgraded. The onboard sound of any motherboard should be sufficient, and you have what looks like a high-end mobo, so you should be doubly ok.

u/NormalDefault · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

I'd personally get a set of Sennheisers/AKG/Panasonic headphones for about $100 - $150 and then buy a Zalman Clip on Mic. You'll get much better audio performance from a good set of cans than any "gaming" headset.

u/dstaller · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD681EVO-B-HD-681-Black/dp/B00CAG1ZAQ

+

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Will sound better than any "gaming headset" even remotely close to the price.

Get the non EVO version if you can't handle a few dollars over $50.

u/Mathman27 · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

If you really want the AD700, this mic is highly recommended by others (I've no personal experience with it) and significantly cheaper than the modmic.

That would solve your problem with the AD700, but I haven't used others, so I can't comment. One word of note, I believe (and I'm not 100% sure about this, so do your own searching) the AD700s may need a real sound card (not integrated) to support the virtual surround sound feature, which is what everyone says makes them so good. Since that Siberian is USB, it is my understanding it doesn't need a sound card to produce the same virtual surround function. If what I've written is correct (and I'd appreciate it if someone could say one way or another definitively), then the Siberian would likely be the best gaming choice among those three if you're set against getting a dedicated sound card.

Just some thoughts from what I know. Good luck!

u/morto00x · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

Get a Zalman ZM-MIC1 clip-on mic and the Audio-technica ATH-AD700 headphones.

Audio-Technica is a brand dedicated exclusively to audio equipment, rather than gaming. I hope you see my point here.

The Zalman mic is just cheap and works well for gaming purposes.

u/kabutos · 3 pointsr/buildapc

this is the clip-on i use and i have no complaints with it.

headphones are a whole other box of guides/recommendations/features. for that price sony mdr v6's and grado sr60i's come widely recommended though.

u/JoeyBE98 · 3 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

Heard good things on this sub-reddit about this mic for cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374715735&sr=1-1&keywords=zalman+zm-mic1 I don't own it myself though. Look up stuff about it and quality tests I guess. If you have the money to spend I'd get a Blue Yeti/Snowball as they're top quality. I myself have the GameCon 780s and just use the mic on them. I split the audio from the mic and use Audacity to get rid of any white noise, but you can get the same effect by dropping volume of the mic.
EDIT: Sorry about the mobile Amazon link, I was posting via my iPhone. I fixed it now.

u/gravyenema · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

Go with your headphone plan and consider the Zalman ZM-MIC1 for the cheap. Or you can try the Blue Snowflake

u/LiquidDetergent · 3 pointsr/buildapc

Buy this or this for a mic.

Headsets do not deliver good audio quality for their price. At a sub $100 price range you might not be able to tell the difference but a decent pair of headphones with an attachable mic is going to deliver superior quality.

At your price range I recommend the JVC HARX900s and the ATH M30s. I would also look at the Sony MDR-V6s but they're out of your budget.

u/__REV__ · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I highly recommend against "gaming" headsets. They are usually overpriced for the components they use. I went with the route of using a set of semi-open back headphones and clip on mic for a bit. I've since upgraded to a NEWER condenser microphone. Either way:

Cheap but very good quality heaphones

super cheap but decent mic

Also I recommend these earpads. They lessen the low end a bit and make the headphones x100 more comfortable.


edit: just realized that's the "recommended combo" on amazon lmao. Either way its ~52 USD and a great deal. Compare the quality of this setup and its right up there with 100 dollar "gaming" headphones. Also semi-open and open headphones are great for FPS games because of the open soundscape.

u/Greetings_Stranger · 3 pointsr/smashbros

In all seriousness This $7 mic from Amazon is actually really solid. super long cable though! If that bothers you.

u/Merrena · 3 pointsr/Games

How much are you willing to spend?

Currently, I'm using these with this.

u/TheSpazzacus · 3 pointsr/computers

Just a tip, specifically looking for headsets limits your selection and steers you away from otherwise good headphones. You might want to consider buying a clip-on mic like this, and then using the rest to buy some good headphones of your choice.

u/Mephiska · 3 pointsr/headphones

I had an earlier version of that headset for a while. Mine sounded great and I've never been disappointed with Sennheiser sound.

That said, unless you absolutely need a headset, just get some regular headphones and a separate mic. The mic on my Senn's died after about a year and a half, making them almost entirely useless.

For a mic that is easy to deal with I suggest this Zalman mic. Works great, sounds great, and clips right on to the cable.

That frees you up to a TON more choices in headphones.

u/BLACKGlNGER · 3 pointsr/bapcsalescanada

I use a Modmic - would highly recommend it. However, it may not be cheap. Have heard good things about the Zalman Clip On

u/XhanzomanX · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I will suggest that if you can, (enough budget) get a 598 or 558 if you want open backed. If you want closed then ATH M50x. Check out /r/headphones.

BTW: If you don't need mic quality than get a cheap ~$7 clip on zalman mic off amazon.

u/Rechirax · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace
  1. Don't buy a Kraken 7.1. Gaming headsets have shitty audio/mic quality and are prone to break fairly quick(My brother had his share of Krakens)
  2. Buy this instead.
    http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1452731993&sr=8-6&keywords=sennheiser

    http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452732024&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+mic

    This will make the best headset you will have for about the same price range of a Kraken.
u/Unsubscribing · 3 pointsr/headphones

From experience, the AD700 is a pretty safe choice, and they're good for the price range in general. Some people may consider the lows/bass pretty weak (and I can see why), but it seems to make the lows play a much more background role. Overall, I'd call them pretty mid-centric.

I haven't heard the AKG K240, but I've been very curious about their sound overall. From what I can gather, they have more bass than the AD700, but some nice extras to consideer on the K240 are the velour AND pleather pads they come with and that their cable is detachable. Usually replacement pads are around $20 or even more, but to have velour pads as well? Using different material earpads actually makes the headphones sound different (not too drastically though).

So to be different, to satisfy curiosity, and for the nice little extras, I'd get the AKG K240. If you like a lot of bass, I'd stay away from the AD700, but if it doesn't matter that much, the AD700 is pretty safe.

Regarding mics, the Zalman mic linked below is sufficient in most cases at $9, but at times it can pick up background noise. One of my friends uses a very, very old Plantronics mono-speaker headset, and even though it's quite literally from either the 1990s or very early 2000s, it hardly picks up background noise (an attempt at mic spamming through an electric piano completely failed and was reduced to a whisper until he set it on the piano speakers) and is the clearest mic I've EVER heard by quite a bit (infinitely better than the Zalman mic). If you'd consider using it, perhaps you can modify it by twistie tying it to the headphone wire or even using Velcro to attach it to your headphone or your wire. To reduce weight, cut out the Plantronic mono headset's headband and/or sound parts and you'll do great. I have no idea what model it is however.

Zalman:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333784834&sr=8-1

Regarding the Plantronics headset, I tried my best searching for what it could be, but no actual luck. He said it looks much cheaper than the following link though. He found the mic just randomly in his garage. I can't guarantee that this mic is as good as the random garage Plantronics mic though, but it might be a safer risk.

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-Cordless-Phone-Headset-M210C/dp/B000ANJVKW/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1333785004&sr=8-11

u/iamlouie · 3 pointsr/tf2

I use a Senheisser HD555 and a Zalman Microphone Zm-Mic1.

I've used Steelseries/Icemat Siberias before and they were really good. I actually went through 3 pairs due to the cat eating the cord twice and the wires being pulled out once but Steelseries was gracious enough to replace two of them. When my last one broke, I decided to try the Senheisser HD555 and like it a lot more.

I've also used Logitech, Sony, Plantronics headsets/headphones in the past. They're okay. If I were on a budget, I'd just go with Steelseries Siberias.

u/siscorskiy · 3 pointsr/audiophile

haha, yeah anything but true audiophile headphones will lead you to be dissapointed from your sennheisers. I think your best bet for the mic is to buy a zalman clip on mic, then attach them to whatever headphones you want to use.

the zalman, from what i've heard provides pretty dang good quality for the price. and if you don't like it, thats only 9$.

u/platypushark · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

why USB connected?
this type of post gets repeated OVER and OVER again, here's what i've learned.
Generally, the best "gaming" headset would be to get a regular set of reliable headphones from sennheiser, anywhere but bose really.
then add either a zalman external mic or get a modmic.
unfortunately modmic is going through some updates at the time apparently, so you can't really buy them until July 10th, they say.
In addition, it's a good point to add that like gokudude said below, headphones are only as good as the sound output. your best bet would be to invest in a sound card.

u/Ekmod · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

Headset come with microphone already and also some advertise 5.1 or 7.1 surround. Most of the time, I'm pretty sure the 5.1 and 7.1 isn't true 5.1 or 7.1(where there are multiple speakers) but artificial surround sound.

I have the ATH-M50s as well. I bought a Zalman Clip and use them for TF2. They work fine.

u/E-Man1864 · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

No, get a pair of HD 558s + a Zalman Zm-Mic 1

u/CptHacks · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

Something like this would be great

u/shocksim · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

Just as I said in the last headset thread.

Get a zalman clip on mid

And a pair of decent/good headphones. For FPS open back headpones are nice and will give a wide soundstage. Closed back will give better bass reproduction and a narrower soundstage but lots of people play with closed back headphones all the time.

I prefer Sennheiser but there's lots of good brands. Beyerdynamic, AudioTechnica makes some good cheap phones.

I've used 'gaming headphones' when I was first getting into gaming and they sound better than most run of the mill headphones, logitech around the back ones etc, but can't compare to my HD515, HD555's or HD598s. I will say that the clipon mic from the icemats is nice and I'm still using it today _- but the siberia has a retractable mic now so meh.

Icemat's (same design as the Siberia V2) hurt my ears if I wore them for a long time but gave me decent sounds but I would never buy them again considering for $90 I can get 515's or ATH-AD700's for $90 on amazon I would prefer those for sound and comfort.

TL;DR Gaming headsets are overpriced and not nearly as good in my opinion.

u/my_spelling_is_pour · 3 pointsr/buildapc

I have this one and no complaints. Chosen because cheap. Would recommend this over a desk mic.

u/QuipA · 3 pointsr/headphones

Every headphone is bound to break if you let it drop. There are very thin membranes and soldering connections inside the earcup.
The Logitech UE6000 in white is currently available for 65€, that'S an absolutely amazing deal.

The ANC on this headphone is crap though! Just ignore the feature and don't put any batteries into it. If the featured inline microphone isn't good enough, you can cheaply upgrade the mic with a Zalman Clip-Mic

u/doidos · 3 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

I can recommend the Zalman Mic1. It's cheap and good.

u/We0921 · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I use this inexpensive mic and if you're not a stickler for audio quality you could easily use a cheap set of earbuds too.

u/weeaboocookie · 3 pointsr/buildapcsales

no offence for 16 bucks you can get
https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491930393&sr=8-1&keywords=mic+zalman
and any eight dollar earbuds and be better off. The mic sounds better than most of headsets with mic and you can upgrade the earbuds to headphones later on
Edit: grammar

u/rootbeerfetish · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Hi! I'm by no means an expert on the subject but I did learn a few things while pursuing a quality audio experience and its kind of turned into a new hobby.

Simulating surround sound was something I wanted to achieve as well when shopping for headphones a while back. Something I learned is that the headphones themselves can't really do this. The right kind of headphones (and sometimes software) can help this effect but you can't magically turn 2 channels (I.E. right and left) into 4 or more to get multi-directional sound. In gamery types of headphones, the marketing makes all kinds of claims that its the total fault of the headphones but it's simply not true.

The only real way to get a simulated surround effect in your headphones is if the source had this in mind from the get go. And after that good quality headphones can help a bit further. This can be easily demonstrated with this video. Plug in ANY pair of headphones in your house and for added effect? Close your eyes. Seriously even 3 dollar earbuds from the dollar store will work. And what you'll notice is a full high-quality multi-directional, surround sound experience from just youtube and whatever headphones you happened to try. Neat! But how?

Games and movies ect need to have an audio engineer design the sound with this concept in mind known as binaural. In games, this is usually the "headphone" mode in options settings. Or it'll just be on by default. There are times where a game simply won't have it and no amount of software can change that going into your headphones. Software can't magically know that the bullet was supposed to be behind you instead of in front of you.

What does this mean? That you can get virtual/simulated surround sound from pretty much any pair of headphones? Yes! Learning this concept to me was the beginning of something new. I started looking at simple high-quality headphones that could help make the effect even more dramatic.

I learned about open vs closed back headphones. Closed back headphones make you feel like the sound is sort of coming from inside your own head. This is fine especially if you want to block out other sounds from your room or house ect. Open back headphones let sound in your headphones from the outside, allowing for a more natural 3D effect in most cases. I did a lot of research on open back headphones. I ended up getting the AD900x's. I know this might be expensive-ish but there's a good option for optimal sound on a budget.

I got this combo deal for my fiance. You'll get an open back experience to help further the 3d effect you're after and ontop of that these headphones sound fucking GREAT for the money. Seriously makes me mad that I was buying gaming headphones for all these years leading up to what I learned. Check it out.

  • Headphones
  • Replacement earpads. (optional) The stock ones made me and my fiance's ear sweat like crazy. Not comfortable.
  • Microphone.

    Now, this is just a suggestion. Just use whatever you thought sounded better when it came to your logitech's or Beats after making sure headphone mode was on in the game you're playing. Hopefully, I've given you enough to do your own research on the subject. But. For the money? I found this combo to be amazing for gaming and surround sound. Just make sure you always turn on "headphone mode" in games and you'll get the 3D experience you're after. Learn more at https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/

    ----------------------

    TLDR; Some audio nerd info. I'd personally just use whatever you thought sounded better when it came to your logitech's or Beats after making sure headphone mode was on in the game you're playing. Seeing as the surround sound effect is mostly due to the source. If you ever want to try and make the 3D effect more dramatic I linked a suggestion on a budget.

u/The_Dirty_Carl · 3 pointsr/Games

Hell naw. "Gaming" peripherals are notorious for being worse at their pricepoint. If you need a mic, get a modmic or a zm-mic. I have the latter and it works great.

If you're looking for new headphones, head to /r/headphones and /r/HeadphoneAdvice. If you're not a self-identified audiophile, stick to their low-end suggestions. I.E. if you're like me and can't hear the difference between a .mp3 and a lossless format, you don't need to shell out hundreds for a set.

u/enderflame · 3 pointsr/tf2

My friend has had this 8 dollar Zalman mic for a while and it is clear enough to understand words and whatnot. If you're feeling cheap, this will do the job.

u/Mr_SOLVER · 3 pointsr/de

Ich habe die Kopfhörer mit dem Zalman-Zm-Mic1 mehrere Jahre benutzt und war sehr zufrieden. Wenn du das Micro nur für discord, TS, Mumble usw. braucht, hast du hier das Beste für wenig Geld. Das was der Clip bringt ist komplett ausreichend.

Ich hab das Micro immer noch, nur die Kopfhörer hab ich dann nach mehreren Jahren geupgraded (funktionieren aber immer noch einwandfrei).

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/DemonicSnow · 3 pointsr/F13thegame

$6.
https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

I've been using this same microphone for around 7 years now. Huge wire, so you can run it from your mic jack and just bundle it on your desk with a rubber band.

u/justcasual · 3 pointsr/podcasts

You don't need to get super fancy (especially starting off). If you're audio sounds like a phone call, that's going to be an issue that will deter listeners. But mediocre audio quality will not hinder your growth, bad content will.

A few recommendations:

Cheap mics:

This works great as a portable mic: https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Mic-Portable-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001R76D42/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498145879&sr=8-3&keywords=samson+clip

I also used this to clip onto my headphones before: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1498145910&sr=8-6&keywords=clip+mic

Actual mics:

I've heard good things about the Snowball but I've never used it: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Snowball-iCE-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B014PYGTUQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498146044&sr=8-3&keywords=mic

If you want an actual mic, this is the cheap mic I buy all my cohosts. It sounds perfectly fine. I've been using it for over 2 years now: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498146015&sr=8-1&keywords=atr-2100

You don't need a mixer. Instead, I would use zencastr to record the audio. It has a free version but I pay for the unlimited one ($12).
Otherwise, you can just record your own individual audio with Audacity which is free and GREAT!

u/Wilhelm_Brandenburg · 3 pointsr/tf2

If you don't feel like spending that much, try what I'm using currently: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413234166&sr=8-1&keywords=Zalman+ZM-MIC1

Half the price but definetely good enough for these purposes. Just make sure that if you do buy it, to keep it as close as you can to your mouth for best quality.

u/RaZz0r65 · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

yea i love the O2 + ODAC combo unit i have the one with rear power and a fancy aluminum knob i love that thing.

I have it paired up with a pair of DT770's pro 250ohm.

Was it expensive as hell?

Yes

Was it worth it?

Hells yes i have had a line of gaming headsets from low to high budget and none of them can even hold a candle to the current set up.

How ever my brain was like well you now have a pair of fancy headphones and a amp + dac better get a nice mic to go with it.

So now i have a AT2020 with a mic stand shock mount and pop filter for no good reason.

Sense i hardly ever use it but they few times i do i get compliments that i sound great so yay i guess.

But really tho OP get a amp and a nice pair of headphones and a clip on mic.

For around 200usd i would recommend something along the lines of this

Desktop amp

Sony MDR-7506

And

Zalman Zm-Mic

this set up will blow the socks of pretty much any gaming headset out there the only ones that might be on par.

Is prob something like the Sennheiser high end gaming head phones and something like the Audio Technica line of gaming headphones.

But those headsets alone will set you back 250-300+ usd and you will most likely need a amp + dac to unlock the full potential of them anyway so.

u/Hyejii · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Headphones and a mic are gonna give you a better experience than most "gaming headsets". Pick your favorite pair of headphones and add one of these. They're cheap, no annoying feedback to other players, and you will sound nice and clear. It's an extra cable to manage and the wire is pretty thin so repeated yanks or curious pets can easily kill it, but it's only nine bucks for a decent sounding mic.

u/trazz32 · 3 pointsr/buildapcsales

I had a Zalman Clip-On Mic attached to the cable, but it had a fair amount of static. Some say having a better soundcard reduces the static, but I can't comment on that. I just replaced it with a Blue Snowball desktop mic (used from eBay for $30). It sounds really great and is perfect for teamspeak.

u/RandomChileanGuy · 3 pointsr/chile

Has considerado microfonos de clip como este o este otro?

En general es cierto que los audifonos "gamer" son pesimos en su calidad de sonido y te conviene mucho mas comprar un audifono dedicado y un microfono aparte (sea el de una webcam, uno de clip, etc).

Hace tiempo que no reviso como esta el mercado de audifonos en Chile y no se que haya bueno en este momento, pero te recomiendo que revises por Mediaplayer o ve si hay algo decente en el [cyber monday de audiomusica] (http://cybermonday.audiomusica.com/#/category/audifonos-monitoreo). Por ejemplo, aun estando en oferta en Amazon, los sennheiser HD600 te salen como 280 lucas (impuesto + envio) y ahora en audiomusica tan a 245. Algo es algo. Yo tengo los HD600 y los recomiendo por completo, pero se que es un lujo gastar sobre 100 lucas en audifonos (y mas 200)

En general te sugiero que intentes buscar audifonos abiertos circumaurales. El posicionamiento de los sonidos mejora harto y eso ayuda en muchos juegos que aprovechen bien los canales de audio y el rango dinamico. No obstante, creo que casi cualquier audifono de marca reconocida tipo beyerdynamic, sennheiser, grado, etc le ganan si o si a cualquier audifono "gamer".

Lo ultimo que puedo decir es que averigues bien sobre que tipo de sonido buscas, y aparte de los juegos consideres que generos de musica escuchas. Hay gente que le gustan mas detalles en los graves, otros que sean neutros, algunos los prefieren con boost en graves y agudos, y asi. Puede que yo considere cierto tipo de sonido como "el mejor" pero tu los encuentres horribles. Recomiendo que te informes en lugares de reviews e idealmente pruebes algunos modelos (como en mediaplayer que te dejan probar casi todo) para tener una "referencia" a futuro.

u/dramahitler · 3 pointsr/buildapc

I wouldn't bother with cheap headset, as you said they all break. Go with a pair of headphones and a clip on mic. A Superlux 681 with Zalman ZM-mic1 will cost you just over $30 but will net you much better quality and endurance:

https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4DMRC8X0KK1DN889W7NW

u/rtkierke · 3 pointsr/HeadphoneAdvice

AD700x and just grab a
Zalman mic until you can save for a better one.

u/CrackCrackPop · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Ew, my headphones cost 30$. Enough for a gamer tbh.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/superlux_hd_681_evo_wh.htm

I'm still wearing my first pair which is about 3 years old.

Just to mention but the 20$ version of this headphone ( mine is adjusted to play more bass and it's white, otherwise it's the same ) is second best selling of the site.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_rank.html?ar=297906

To be fair for this kind of headphone an onboard audio soundcard probably won't do you any good if you want to spend some quality time listening to music. That's another 15-20$ for a xonar audio card.

In case you're the type that really needs a mic. I have greater audio quality with my 5$ mic than most of my pure headset steelseries fanatic friends. You won't get the recording quality of a propper microphone but hell most of us don't stream.

https://www.amazon.de/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Mikrofon-mit-Mikro-Clip/dp/B00029MTMQ

Getting the quality of this mic any better would involve echo dampening my room before I could even consider a better recording device, that's out of my need.

There you go. Budget audio that will last about 3-5years per investment. Reoccurring investment is about 20-35$ in case the headphone and the mic crap out.

In case your pc casing doesn't heat up above 70°C ( around the soundcard not the cpu) internally that soundcard should last.

If it's about in ears. Panasonic has a pair for 7-5$ which have decent sound and crap out after a year. Most of those just die by earwax overflow so I see no point in dropping 80$ in something that will die just as fast unless you want music while you're swimming. I've been using the Panasonic during workouts and I sweat a lot. I drink about 1,5 liters during one and still feel dehydrated.

Also mind that if you keep your in ears too long you basically have a bacteria hot spot evolving.

u/jojotmagnifficent · 3 pointsr/gaming

I recommend getting a good pair of closed stereo Sennhiesers or something similar. Those 5.1 and 7.1 headsets are a gimmick (you hear perfectly fine 3d with only two ear holes don't you?). Couple with them one of those Zalman clip on mics on amazon and you have a sweet gaming setup that's good for music too.

I recommend closed because it gives better isolation (which works both ways, sometimes people don't want to hear what your listening to as well. I remember these and these getting excellent review, although they are both open headphones, so you may want to consider their use environment first. This clip on mic seems to be pretty highly recommended.

u/S7evyn · 3 pointsr/gaming

Get a set of Sennheiser HD 555's and do this to them. If you want a mic, get a Zalman ZM-1. This is almost always the most upvoted advice.

For headphones, you only need stereo. You only hear in stereo; your brain extrapolates the origin of the sound from the delay between each ear. Surround is useful for speakers, since the origin is actually relevant, but headphone speakers are close enough to your ears that the origin is irrelevant.

u/SensenmanN · 3 pointsr/evedreddit

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

10$ clip on mic, you can use the headphones you already have.

u/happyevil · 3 pointsr/buildapc

I just did all this work to show someone my computer which I named "Maelstrom". It wasn't exactly "unlimited" money but it's pretty damn close. I actually built it though.

Honestly, I spent so much time gathering the links to share with someone I need to post it more than once :P

---

The PC:

u/harpuajim25 · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

Head over to /r/headphones and click on the Headphone Recommendations by Price Range (Head-Fi) link on the sidebar. Choose the type of headphones that fit your budget. Pair them up with and inexpensive clip-on mic and you will have a headphone/microphone combo that costs less than X12's and provides much better sound.

u/saxyphone241 · 3 pointsr/Overwatch

This it the mic I'm using right now. Good quality for how cheap it is.

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/Twak83 · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Headsets are marketed towards clueless gamers, they usually consist of a pretty meh set of headphones with a pretty meh microphone attatched, for way too much.

Headphones are just plain headphones, made for listening to music, etc, slap one of these - http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ on and you have some great headphones and a great mic, for much less.

Think about it like you'd think of pc's, headsets = prebuilts, headphones = custom pc's.

u/Ror_ · 3 pointsr/headphones

Just get one of these. Easiest solution.

u/Butthatsmyusername · 3 pointsr/DestinyTheGame

Here is a headphone buying guide from /r/headphones. http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide#yui_3_10_0_1_1467393181050_522

There are plenty of options there for less than $50.

Getting a cheap pair of headphones and a clip-on mic is often cheaper than getting a headset, and it will sound better too. I linked you to the ones in your price range, just click to expand. Scroll up to find explanations to the colored letters before the headphone name, and for headphone type descriptions.

Here is a quality clip on mic if you need it.

u/KptKrondog · 3 pointsr/buildapcsales

If you have a pair of headphones already (or find a decent cheap pair), the Zalman clip-on mic is really good.

I've been using mine for 2 years now. I bought a good pair of headphones (some Sennheiser model that was on sale for like $30) and I made my own boom. I just took a piece of heavy duty wire that I had already and electrical taped it to the headphones and then the mic just clips onto the wire. It doesn't look ghetto or anything either since the headphones are black. Have to deal with one extra cable (I just wrapped the mic cable around the headphone cable), but it can be managed.

u/ccampo · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

Zalman Clip-On Mic. This little thing is amazing.

u/OJNeg · 3 pointsr/hardware

A clip on mic would have been much easier. They're cheap too.

u/ejackso1 · 3 pointsr/starcraft

It pains me to think that people waste their money on gaming headsets. Oh well, I'll just be here enjoying my Audio Technica AD700s. I try to convince people where I can, but the majority of them just won't listen to me. This used to make me mad, but now I just say "Okay, it's your money bud..."


Anyway, that's a funny mic mod :P
If you happen to have a few extra bucks around, you could grab a Zalman clip-on mic to attach to the cord, or a plain old Desktop mic. You know, just to avoid having a bunch of tape on those HD555s. :P

u/Efflux · 3 pointsr/gaming

If you want a nice USB surround sound one, get this one Logitech G35. I personally vouch for it, others do as well.

If you want one with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, these are nice Steel Series Siberia.

A lot of people will tell you to go with a non-gamer headphone and a clip mic. As you get a bit more bang for your buck.

This is all according to preference though. My preference is in the order I listed, the surround sound is quite impressive. Hope this helps.

u/bobyhey123 · 3 pointsr/NewToTF2

Most people here will tell you to get some nice headphones and pop on this bad boy

u/Hellcloud · 3 pointsr/hardware

I use this with my AudioTechnica AD700, works perfect...

u/Mailstorm · 3 pointsr/dueprocess

Or you can could have a slightly more expensive bundle that comes with a mic that is cheap AND good. I imagine most people have a headset, just don't have a mic. Or you can just throw that with the game. I'm sure you guys can work out the money and make deals.

Another thing to consider is everyone has mics, but don't use them. I can't find the post, but the devs of SQUAD did a hardware survey and found around 90% of the players have microphones.

u/DublinBen · 3 pointsr/hardware

Most consumer headsets are crap. I would recommend attaching this good microphone to a good pair of headphones.

u/SaidTheShotgun · 3 pointsr/headphones

This is what he is talking about.

u/hobofats · 3 pointsr/hardware

at that price range you would get more bang for your buck getting an actual studio quality headset and a clip on mic, like the JVC HARX900 with a zalman mic. I personally use the HA-RX700, which is almost half the price.

"gaming" headsets are a marketing gimmick.

u/SuccessInCircuit · 3 pointsr/hardware

If you're willing to spend $100+, the Sennheiser HD555 and a Zalman clip-on mic are a popular choice for gaming. The HD555 has a giant soundstage and excellent sound quality.


The ATH-AD700 is a good choice as well.

u/ThoughtA · 3 pointsr/buildapc

I have this it is cheap and it is awesome /run-on sentences.

I know it's not a desktop mic, but you would never know that it's the cheap thing it is, and its very convenient.

u/itoldyouiwouldeatyou · 3 pointsr/buildapc

The common consensus seems to be that a good pair of stereo headphones is superior to any amount of drivers in each ear. You simply can't tell direction from that many drivers crammed together like you might be able to with a room full of speakers for a full 7.1 setup.

Personally I have some Aiaiai TMA-1 cans with a very inexpensive Asus Xonar DG sound card and a Zalman MIC-1 mic. I use Dolby Headphone for the surround processing and it does an amazing job.

Most people seem to suggest the ATH AD700 or Sennheiser 555 or similar and they are great cans. Don't buy Bose.

u/Kuusou · 3 pointsr/gamingpc

Buying yourself some stand alone headphones and a mic like the Zalman Mic1 would be a good idea. It's the path I have taken.

I am getting myself some HD558s and I have heard some good things about the ATH-M50s if you like the closed back style. A good friend of mine went with the Audio-Technicas and the Zalman Mic, he says he is really happy with the choice

u/lernaeanviper · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

I have the same headphones and this mic which I think is the same.

The headphones sound quality is fantastic and the positional audio is incredible. Their open nature isn't as good in public areas as it leaks more sound than most headphones and doesn't block out much but it's very comfortable and overall great.

My friend also has the same mic as I do and I've never noticed any quality issues speaking with him - including at higher volume levels. With the low price I'd recommend them for more casual use (i.e. they probably aren't as good for making videos).

u/Vortex60 · 3 pointsr/battlefield3

Sometimes the cheapest mics sound the best. This is the one I use.

u/pawier · 3 pointsr/selfharm

You can get a pretty good clip on mic for $8 on amazon, if that is an option/desire for you.

u/p337 · 3 pointsr/AskGames

Get headphones and buy this mic. For a budget, the smartest thing you can do is decouple your mic and headset. If one breaks, you have to buy a new one. Also, the mics on gaming headsets blow, whereas that 8 dollar mic is pretty good. Then, when you are rich and famous, you can buy a nice pair of headphones and keep your mic.

u/paulmike3 · 3 pointsr/purebattlefield

Zalman ZM-MIC1

Less than $8 with Prime shipping on Amazon (also around the same price on eBay). Clips onto your headphones cord (or broken mic arm on your headset like in my case).

u/ozzyofpi · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Superlux HD668B - These are amazing for the price.

Zalman Mic - pretty decent for basic voice chat. Although if you're streaming or making videos, you'd want something better. It clips onto your headphone cable and uses your computers mic jack.

u/Squarish · 3 pointsr/pcgaming

This one has worked well for me in the past, and are cheap enough to pick up an extra as a backup. Dead simple to use, but may take a little fiddling to find the right placement

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Edit: added link

u/Autoxidation · 3 pointsr/Planetside

This one is pretty cheap and works well.

u/Majinferno · 3 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Simlar to what u/Twak83 and u/Markyy88 said.

Budget line up 1

  • Superlux HD681

    Open back, so you'll be able to hear your self somewhat.

  • for the mic, Zalman Mic

    Maybe the Samson Meteorite Mic instead? Sony clip-on condenser mic?

    I personally got my pair of used HyperX Cloud for $50. They're based off the Takstar pro80, a great pair of budget, entry level hifi headphones.

    Subs to check. r/hardwareswap r/avexchange r/headphones

    Definitely look at this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fD-M1F6L4g
u/Not_enough_yuri · 3 pointsr/headphones

Ohmygod they even look so much nicer! I hope you're enjoying your upgrade, and I hope you enjoy it for a long time after.

Also, check out the Zalman ZM-mic1 or the Antlion Modmic if you're looking to turn those into a headset. Then you can finally dispose of those g930s with a creative ritual sacrifice.

u/JimJamJamie · 3 pointsr/hardware

Couldn't you just get a nice pair of Sennheiser 558s and a Zalman mic? I'd recommend that over 'gaming' headsets any day of the week.

u/tr4656 · 2 pointsr/buildapc
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | $189.99 @ Microcenter
CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler | $84.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | $114.99 @ Newegg
Memory | Samsung 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $49.00 @ B&H
Hard Drive | Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $104.99 @ NCIX US
Hard Drive | OCZ Vertex 4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $209.99 @ Newegg
Video Card | Gigabyte GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card | $499.99 @ Amazon
Case | Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case | $164.99 @ SuperBiiz
Power Supply | XFX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply | $74.99 @ NCIX US
Optical Drive | Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer | $17.99 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) | $90.65 @ Amazon
Keyboard | Rosewill RK-9000 Wired Slim Keyboard | $107.86 @ Newegg
Mouse | Razer RZ01-00280500-R3M1 Wired Laser Mouse | $75.97 @ Newegg
| | Total
| Prices include shipping and discounts when available. | $1786.39
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-25 21:06 EDT-0400 |

Mostly according to that "mandatory" list but I'll disagree mainly on the Blackwidow and the Astro.


That Rosewill is a better quality mechanical (build quality and stabilizer) for roughly the same amount. This monitor and for headphones/headset, headset sound dreadful compared to headphones for the same price. Go for this Ultrasone Pro 550, Zalman mic, and Xonar DG
u/Bahiilein · 2 pointsr/headphones

Correct, the fact that the cable isn't removable is the only letdown. For the microphone you could also use something like the Zalman or the ModMic. The only problem with those would be that you'll have a second cable hanging from your headphones. I'm using the ModMic with my DT770's and after some adjustments to the cable management I'm super happy!

Regarding the Fidelios I unfortunately can't comment, since I have never worn or heard them. Comfort-wise I still think the DT990 are in a league of their own. I have never worn another pair of headphones this comfortable. The velour earpads feel like clouds, never had any problem or comfort issue wearing them, even after hours.

u/ninjawho · 2 pointsr/PS4

In addition to the adapter, I also bought this mic:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works fine with my ATH-M50x headphone

u/47h315m · 2 pointsr/gamingpc

Haha. I got this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

And it works surprisingly well. Just as good if not better than those on the previous headsets I've owned

u/the_lone_mean · 2 pointsr/audio

Check out modmic

Edit- woops did not finish reading, a desktop mic has worked well for me, like a usb mic.



Edit 2 amazon ships to holland right?

u/irrelevant_query · 2 pointsr/buildapc

If I were you id probably get your choice of quality headphones and just get a separate mic.

I use this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ

With my grado sr80i's and prefer it to other headers I've used in the past.


Edit, if I had your budget I'd probably pick up these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0016MOC28

And a mic like the one I linked or another standalone mic. Also before you drop money on expensive headphones check out audiophile headphone round ups and or go to your local audiophile store and test out which headphones you like.

u/Whit3y · 2 pointsr/somethingimade

actually this is what I use. Been using it for a few months now and absolutely love it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=oh_o01_s00_i02_details

u/sl8_slick · 2 pointsr/ProjectAwesome

I FOUND ONE!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

There's a better one but I forgot the name of it.

u/machinehead933 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

You have to tack it onto your shirt collar, or headset cord, but this one is good:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/

Apparently some pros use this mic because the built in ones on some of the headsets are terrible. I've been using this for the last 2 months, no problems, friends tell me I'm very clear to hear.

u/xStigga007x · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

This is the mic I bought along with my HD 598.

Decent for the price. Just failed on me last week, been having them since March 2016.

u/manirelli · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Excellent choice in headphones (just got mine recently as well) Just pick up the 10 dollar zalman clip on mic from amazon or newegg. Works perfect and clips along the entire length of the cable if you so choose. The clipping works much better if you got the ATH-M50S as opposed to the standard coiled cable M50

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=oh_o01_s01_i00_details

Consider grabbing the Xonar DG sound card for a little extra boost

u/TheInsaneVoice · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Here is a good cheap mic I've been using it a bit now no problems, friends say its sounds, fine although it can pick up noise sometimes from my headphones (they leak a lot of sound). Just figured I'd link you one since some people are linking without a mic.

u/koruwa · 2 pointsr/xboxone

Monoprice 8323 + a microphone like THIS + an audio splitter

u/Reum · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I bought this which is a $7.60 mic (with prime shipping) that attaches to your headphones/headset etc. if you have one. Other than that I'm not too good with headsets/mics so good luck.

u/RudeAndReckless · 2 pointsr/EliteDangerous

I use a cheap Zalman mic. Currently only $8USD on amazon. It works great and clips on to your headphones cable or almost anything else. It's not USB, however I have an old USB external adapter that I use with it from my old SteelSeries Siberia. It's not the best mic but for the price it's awesome and works very well for voice recognition and VOIP. The only con is that it is quite sensitive and picks up room noise quite well so if you share a space with others, they will also be quite audible.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ?pc_redir=1407394104&robot_redir=1

Sorry for the bad formatting (iphone).

u/yumyumcabanossi · 2 pointsr/headphones

Or you could get a zalman clip-on mic.

u/christian8807 · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

I'd suggest the ATHM50 with the Zalman Mic.

u/porkchop101 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I have a pair of these Sennheiser HD598 and I couldn't be more satisfied. Very crisp sound and very comfortable you can wear them for 15 hours straight easily. If you want a gaming mic, just buy something like this, it works well and it's cheap.

u/ihark · 2 pointsr/headphones

Oh my bad, haha, maybe I can redeem myself by suggesting The Zalman Zm-Mic 1, despite its ridiculously low price, I've heard great things about it, consider checking out some tests, it performs much better than I would have thought.

u/disintegore · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

> as I'm in the "buy nice or buy twice" camp now.

I think the HyperX Cloud headset is the only one I've heard of that wasn't a total piece of shit. Headsets are pretty much always garbage and should be avoided.

Instead you want a nice pair of audiophile quality headphones. Which model depends entirely on where you'll be using them and what you'll be listening to. 100-150$ is a nice price range for decent headphones.

For the microphone you should either get a desk or regular mic (here's a nice cheap one), a Modmic (which is a tad bit overpriced) or a Zalman clip-on mic. A setup like this will give you better playback and recording quality for the same price or less.

u/LittleHelperRobot · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/186-5399509-2918408?fp=1&pc_redir=1427295120

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

u/jphoenix · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Reading about your grandfather made me think about my own. Yours sounds very much like the man that married my grandmother almost 30 years ago. He's actually not my blood grandfather but he's absolutely wonderful. Incredibly smart and witty, honest and interesting. One of the most fun people to talk to you could hope to meet. As your grandfather was, he's a lover of words. Just being around him everyone's vocabulary gets better! He's a know-it-all but in the way that you WANT him to tell you about things. History is a passion of his and he could tell you the most amazing stories about the past. I love him dearly.

Here's the link you asked for. One of those would be great. Thank you very much for holding the contest! You've actually inspired me to make sure I call my grandparents today and talk to them for a bit. I miss them a lot and I think they're back home from their vacation.

u/SoShibe · 2 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

ATH-AD700X

and

Zalman Mic1

Are what you want.

At this point in time anything else is either too expensive or not as good.

u/how_does_i_reddit · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Might not get the right response from BaPC. I would recommend buying headphones and a clip on mic such as this. I own that mic and it works great. Very sensitive and picks up very little backround noise. For the headphones if you are interested head over to /r/headphones.

u/GenericAccount123 · 2 pointsr/gaming
  1. Buy whatever headphones you want (I recommend a nice open-air pair from Sennheiser).

  2. Buy yourself a Zalman clip-on mic.
u/bh3244 · 2 pointsr/gaming

headsets are always a waste of money, you are always better off getting a pair of head phones and the clipping on a mic like this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1381889717&sr=1-1&keywords=zalman+mic

u/WaLLy3K · 2 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

If you had headphones without a mic, I would suggest getting a ModMic. I use it on my ATH-AD700's and it's fantastic!

If you're looking for a clip-on mic, this one by Zalman might be what you're after.

u/cooldead · 2 pointsr/GrandTheftAutoV

well im using I am using an older version of this http://www.astrogaming.com/mixamps/mixamp-pro-2013-edition

Its pretty great because you can hook it up to any console or pc and just any headphones you like. If you want to get a nicer pair i suggest these.

with this mic http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/SupahNoob · 2 pointsr/HeroesofNewerth

>and just get an external mic.

I use this and it works fucking wonders. Best tech purchase I think I've made in a few years!


ed/

If you're looking for something cheap though: Zalman makes a decent detachable mic, though it picks up all dat background noiz. It's extremely sensitive though, so I'd advice PTT communication! Amazon is saying it's $30, but it should go down soon considering the season. When I bought mine, they were on sale for just under $5 + shipping.

u/InfernoZeus · 2 pointsr/hardware

Most people recommend the Zalman Zm-Mic1 - a steal for $9.99.

u/joan_hickson · 2 pointsr/truetf2

Zalman mics have been recommended forever because they are super cheap and sound great.

right now this is $6 (US) : https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/tootiefruitie · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Have you contacted Logitech yet? They are excellent at replacing broken equipment.

With that being said, does it have to be a headset? Would you be open to a pair of headphones and a cheap clip microphone?

u/huffalump1 · 2 pointsr/techsupportmacgyver

I've definitely set up a SM58 on a mic stand running through my interface to use while gaming. Because this Zalman mic which reddit loves has never struck my fancy...

Now I want to see someone using a Neumann for Counter-Strike.

u/commonplatypus · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Audiotechnica ATH-AD700s

Combined with either This Mic or an Ant Lion from ModMic.

Don't waste your money on headsets with built-in mics or anything targeted at "gamers" from companies like Razer/Steel Series/etc. You'll end up paying audiophile prices for cheap gimmicks and colors. Those companies do not excel at audio equipment and make mediocre peripherals that have been hyped up with marketing and sold at a premium price.

You're not getting your money's worth there.

If it's from a "gaming" peripherals company. Take a pass. They make decent mice and keyboards, but they should stay out of audio equipment.

The items I linked are just examples, but look for a setup of that nature.

Here's a great guide with a ton more information and reviews.

u/SithisTheDreadFather · 2 pointsr/arma

I know this gets brought up in literally every thread about headsets, but seriously: buy a nice pair of headphones and a clip on mic.

I had the Logitech G35s and while I loved them, they had horrible sound reproduction. Fake 7.1 is not worth it. When they broke I bought the Sony MDR-V6 for $60 and a Zalman Zm-1 Mic. It's kind of a crappy mic, honestly, but it's cheap and it works. There are other mics out there that are more expensive and I can point you in the right direction if you'd like.

But those headphones are excellent for the price. Much much better than the G35s and they were cheaper too. If you listen to music at all, the Sonys are infinitely better.

u/troglodyte · 2 pointsr/DotA2

The Zalman mic you're referencing.

I cannot recommend this gadget enough. I have used multiple headsets and been disappointed by every last one of them. Without fail, the headsets had shoddy build quality, uncomfortable earpieces, miserable sound, or some combination thereof.

In grabbing that link, Amazon reminded me that I purchased my Zalman mic three and a half years ago. In that time, I've used it in two apartments on three computers, on headphone cables or just taped to my desk. It's been used and abused and it's still fantastic; my friends regularly praise the audio quality. The ONLY downside is that in a taped-to-the-desk configuration, it will not sufficiently cancel echo from the speakers, but for an $8 mic being used outside of the intended configuration... that's barely a concern.

Whenever anyone asks what to get for a headset, this is always what I answer. Getting a pair of headphones you LOVE and adding a modular microphone is so much more cost efficient, comfortable, and versatile than buying a branded gaming headset, and the Zalman mic fights way above it's weight class.

u/chester_lurks · 2 pointsr/buildapc

/r/headphones usually recommends this.


Its been on my wishlist for awhile haven't made the jump yet.

u/ulzimate · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Something like this is commonly referred to for clip on mics. You can clip it onto a headset wire (although your headset will be wireless, ideally?). I don't know if you can clip that onto your shirt, but yeah, I do mean the kind they have in interview shows.

Built in mics on headsets usually come with the gaming-type headsets. A great-sounding Sennheiser or Audio-Technica headset typically won't have a microphone.

u/somethingmetal · 2 pointsr/gaming

Investing in a good pair of cans and adding a clip-on mic is what I'm doing. Doesn't hurt to have quality headphones for other listening applications as well.

u/TacticalPopsicle · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

Modmic. This brand is probably the most popular, although I use this and it works just fine. The only down side is that there is no mute option so you have to use discord's (or whatever you use) mute function

u/jamvanderloeff · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Zalman ZM-MIC1 is cheap and good enough for voice chat. https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/crabcrabcam · 2 pointsr/linuxhardware

Modmic is good and works well, I'd expect any 3.5mm jack mic to work but some USB ones might have issues.

This is an amazing mic and it's crazy cheap. Not quite as good as the modmic but it holds up by fair in price-performance.

u/crowcain · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

If you are looking for a cheap mic this is the best you can get for the price https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_19?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1501641152&sr=1-19&keywords=microphone. Don't let the price fool there are many demo's on youtube about this mic.

u/Snyperwulf · 2 pointsr/battlestations

Zalman Zm-Mic1 it's the best mic I've used at that price.

u/kaylejoy · 2 pointsr/PS4

There are also cheap mics like the Zalman Mic. You'll need an adapter like this that combines heaphones and mics if you end up choosing one that has a separate cord (Like modmic).

u/Ergheis · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Solid mic. If you want to step the quality up, get a $20-50 USB mic, but this mic will match anything in that $20-30 range of small microphones.

Also, any higher than $50 and you should start researching.

u/fruitykilla123 · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

I think the cheapest I've always seen recommended are the Zalman Clip-On Mics, If you want more quality for a higher price then go for Antlion ModMic 4.0s.

u/Umlautica · 2 pointsr/audiophile

You'll probably get better answers on /r/headphones but in your price range, I would look at a good set of headphones and a separate mic which would still requires you to use a slitter.

  • ATH-M40x closed headphones $79.99
  • Zalman ZM-Mic1 attachable mic $7.27

    Given a bit more budget, you might look at Blue (desktop) or ModMic (attachable) mics in the $40 price range.
u/tom6561 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I have this one and have had it for a couple of years. I had to turn up the boost on my PC for it to be audible and turn on noise cancelling (on my PC only, not my laptop when I used it there), but after that it's actually really good. I think I just got a dodgy one so I'm still wary to recommend, but it is cheap.

u/3ricG · 2 pointsr/techsupport

Personally, I would recommend Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones with a clip on mic. I don't have any gaming headsets, but the benefit to buying this is that you wouldn't have to always use it for gaming. These are some of the best headphones I've used (for the price), and are very comfortable.

Other subreddits that might be able to give you advice:

/r/gadgets

/r/headphones

/r/buildapc

/r/gaming

/r/computers

u/Jo3M3tal · 2 pointsr/headphones

My friend has the headset that is a step up from that. The headphones are ok, but the mic is fucked (he had to buy a desktop mic). You would be better off getting a nice part of headphones and getting one of these or these.

Will sound better for the same price, and when/if you want to upgrade later you will be able to.

u/MyNameIsAdam · 2 pointsr/Guildwars2

The Sennheiser HD-555's are awesome. Way better sound and build quality over the gaming headsets I've used in the past. I use a Zalman Clip-on Mic and guildies have had no issue with the sound quality.

u/ruinevil · 2 pointsr/headphones

Well all the really good headsets are like $300+. Its usually easier to pair decent headphones with a decent detachable mic.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

is /r/headphone favorite.

u/WilliamAgain · 2 pointsr/hardware

You can purchase a microphone separately...I recommend a Zalmna ZM-1

u/adanfoolq · 2 pointsr/leagueoflegends

Just get a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic. Like this one.

u/Rudi-Brudi · 2 pointsr/Rainbow6

PRO TIPS:
If you want the BEST SOUND for the price, DON'T buy Gaming-Headsets! They are overpriced garbage.
Buy a pair of Hi-Fi-Headphones instead and put a clip-mic on.
Look for Beyerdynamic
(http://www.amazon.de/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-PRO-250-DT-990-Pro-Kopfh%C3%B6rer/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453367729&sr=8-2&keywords=beyerdynamic),
Sennheiser
(http://www.amazon.de/Sennheiser-HD-598-ohrumschlie%C3%9Fender-Kopfh%C3%B6rer/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1453367587&sr=8-6&keywords=sennheiser)
or AKG
(http://www.amazon.de/AKG-K612-PRO-%C2%B7-Kopfh%C3%B6rer/dp/B00DCXZY1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453367608&sr=8-1&keywords=akg+612)
and clip this mic on:
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00029MTMQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

If you give a shit on many useless settings in your soundcard, buy a headphone amp instead. (e.g. Fiio E10) It gives you a much much better sound for your headphones at a lower price then gaming soundcards.

Oh and you don't need surround headsets with 7.1 or soundcard settings with surround simulation. Just set it to stereo and the game will simulate the surround sound by itself. You will hear the difference!

u/nyda · 2 pointsr/bapcsalescanada

Gaming headphones are a gimmick. You can have better quality headphones for the same price and buy a $10 mic to clip on it.

Probably the best value you can have regarding headphones are the Sennheiser HD598 or the HD558 depending on your budget.

u/hcranomythgim · 2 pointsr/MECoOp

Just get decent headphones and a cheap mic. Can cost less then $50. This mic and these headphones are good. I play TF2 competitively, and headphones+mic are pretty much always recommended over a headset. Plus, you can use the headphones as headphones to listen to music, whereas most headsets are USB only, locking the headset use into just being a headset.

u/arien12 · 2 pointsr/Guildwars2

Not the most expensive rig in the world, but I love every part of it and recommend it all:

i7 2600k w/ Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO

4x Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 4GB 1600 RAM dual channel

2x GTX460 1GB DDR5 in SLI

Corsair HX 750W power supply

Asus Xonar DG (Dolby Headphone virtual surround) sound card [link]

Logitech G13 gamepad [link]

CM Storm Xornet mouse [link]

Logitech K120 keyboard

Superlux HD681 headphones [link]

Zalman ZM-MIC1 clip-on microphone [link]

u/LezzyFaire · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

Most headphones and music sites (including /r headphones) use the head-fi guide as a good intro to well priced headphones:
http://www.head-fi.org/a/buying-guide-headphones-by-price-range

I would really recommend not getting a headset, as I find them to be overpriced as well as often times flimsy. You get much more sound for your buck by going for a nice pair of headphones and getting a mic like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342654741&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+zalman

Personally I have a pair of ATH-AD700s and I love them to death (although I did have to do the rubber band trick to get them to sit more firmly on my head, not an issue if you have a nice large head though) and with the zalman (which is an AMAZING mic for less than 10 bucks) I couldn't be happier with my set-up.

u/backlumchaam · 2 pointsr/headphones

Zalman Clip-on or AntLion ModMic(out of stock as of now).

u/bebopulation · 2 pointsr/gamingpc

I was going through one headset every 6-8 months. The mic would either crap out or snap off or the headband would break, etc.

I'm about 3-4 years into my AD700 + dedicated mic combo and don't see any signs of failure/wear on either. Most people opt for a clip-on mic like these Zalmans instead of the bulkier type I got, but that's just user preference speaking.

EDIT: The AD700 actually sounds like a good fit for you. They're both light on the head and have HUGE enclosures for your ears. The large headphone cups are amazing for positional audio in games.

u/Kuiper · 2 pointsr/badcompany2

You don't need a mic (just listening to people talk is helpful on its own), but you might want to consider getting one. You can get a crappy one for $3 and an excellent one for $15.

u/soulicro · 2 pointsr/gaming

I personally use Sennheiser HD555. They get more usage out of my surround-sound set, so I guess that counts for something! If you need a mic, get this

u/TheGrapist__ · 2 pointsr/hardwareswap

I like the zalman mics they are good enough for what i do.

u/dood98998 · 2 pointsr/OverwatchUniversity

This one is good price/performance. If you are absolutely cash-strapped, go with this. Don't go any cheaper, at that point you might as well just ferret around a thrift shop (and it would likely be a waste anyway). I use this, but only recommend if you really care how you sound.

u/engram · 2 pointsr/WvWKarma

The reddit HiFi guys recommend a good pair of headphones and this It is what I use if you have heard me on comms and when I switched people kept saying how much clearer I was.

Amazon has some good prices on headsets, can't vouch for either of these but a quick search turned up an inexpensive Plantronics and an el cheapo 5 dollar mic.

It doesn't have to be expensive for everyone to hear you :)

u/DankZXRwoolies · 2 pointsr/SiegeAcademy

Sure!
Amp

The amp is fantastic for gaming but it really shines listening to music with the DT770s. For Siege I rarely put the volume over 36/100 and that's with the gain on low. Basically that means those headphones and amp will blow out your ear drums if you crank it haha. I use the optical link connection on the amp for the most clarity as sometimes transmitting sound through USB can cause interference.


And mic

It's very cheap but don't let that fool you on quality. I was speculative at first but that mic has been traveling around with me for 6 years now and still sounds great. You can clip it to your shirt or do what I did and wrap it around the headphone cord, then clip it on the headphone cord at mouth height to make your own headset.

u/drDroww · 2 pointsr/diyaudio

Well yes and no. (I understand that does not answer any of your questions)

The two leads (wires) coming off the mic are (+) and (-). If you want to make the mic work on its own you will need to get a jack that has T/S (Tip and Sleeve) and solder the (+) to the tip and the (-) to the sleeve. Then you will have to attach the mic to the Sennheisers, which may or may not last. This is a lot of work and the cost of the jack alone is probably more than a new mic that already has means to clip on to the cable of your headphones.

I personally would recommend the Zalman ZM-1 as a replacement. It will look and probably sound better.

(http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ)


If you want an upgrade to the mic I'd recommend the V-MODA BoomPro Gaming.

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJ17WKK/)


And if you really want to drop some cash on Microphones and interfaces check out /r/audioengineering and depending on your needs /r/livesound. ~$200 can get you pro-sumer levels of audio (SM58/AT2020 + Interface)

u/TheTraegs · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

If you get a clip on mic like this one, you can free up a lot of your budget towards getting a set of headphones of better quality. Sennheiser has some pretty good budget headphones.

u/-WB-Spitfire · 2 pointsr/techsupport

Well if you've tried that and still have the same issue, then the issue must be with the microphones you have. Could try this one. http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/

u/swiftlysauce · 2 pointsr/buildapc

avoid gaming headset, buy a good pair of headphones and a seperate microphone, you'll get much better sound quality for the price, especially in the headphones department.

For $70, I would recommend the Samson SR850 headphones with these Velvet earpads because the stock earpads are pretty bad, but the headphones sound GREAT for the price. Build quality is average.

For a mic, the Zalman ZM Mic1 is a common mic. It sounds great and it easily attaches to your headphones cable (those Samson) have a pretty thick cable so it won't fall off).

ALTERNATIVELY:

Superlux HD 668b Identical sounding to the Samsons, but are designed differently, sometimes are cheaper, those earpads are still recommended)

Superlux HD 681 or 681 EVO They basically sound like the 668b/SR850, but just a little worse overall, but you won't beat them for $30. The earpads are still recommended.

u/lwhitit · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I use a modi / magni stack and have a zalmans mic connected to my mobo for mumble. No issues.

u/iknide · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

Check out this mic for less than $10. I use it and it works great.

With that you could either use existing headphones/ear buds that you have or use the exta $45 to pick up a pair of new headphones, perhaps maybe the [Audio Technica ATH-M20] (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M20-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00012F7G4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376858154&sr=8-4&keywords=audio+technica+m30). I use the more expensive ATH-M50 version of the same headset and it works great. I haven't used the M20 personally but I'm sure there of good quality, or you could look into other options in your price range.

Also doing this give you the flexability of choosing the type of head phones you want. Like open, closed, or maybe even noise canceling ear buds.

u/Ajoeee · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

My fiance actually added something to my wishlist the other day, otherwise I would have no idea what he wants me to get him.



He's one of those guys that's just like "I don't want anything for my birthday." or "I don't know, just something cheap."


This and this are what he is currently salivating over.


I'm in love with this goofball.

u/AV3Nguyen · 2 pointsr/headphones

The Cloud's are a fine headset.

Another option would be this mic and the Superlux HD 681 Evo. This will be a better package since the mic is separate (if it breaks, you don't have to replace the headphone) and overall I think it gives a better gaming experience due to its better soundstage.

u/Ludacon · 2 pointsr/lanparty

I use a throat mic for car stuff and while its great because you cant hear wind/music/exhaust/other people in the car. It is utterly terrible for voice quality. I have a hand full of these in my lan bag. If someone forgets a mic, or breaks theirs, or has an utterly shitty mic that either transmits ALL the sound or sounds terrible we loan our one of the zalmans to them. Adjust the sensitivity so its only picking up there voice when talking at a comfortable level and you should be good to go.

u/CakeMagic · 2 pointsr/gaming

100 USD budget for a headset with build in mic, then definitely Kingston HyperX Cloud II.

Absolutely no challenge, there are hardly any other (if any) headset out there that can beat it in its quality (and comfort) for that price.

Alternatively, it's also possible to buy a good headphones without mic and just buy Zalman ZM-MIC 1 to clip the mic on the headphone wire. The mic quality of a separate mic is better than the HyperX Cloud II build in one, but you'd be sacrificing comfort for quality.


If you opt for the HyperX Cloud II, make sure you get the right version. There is a 'Core', 'I' and 'II' version. II being the more expensive one (and 'better' one).

u/Lacho7994 · 2 pointsr/PS4

Yea makes sense. The other Microphone I was looking at was [this] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2E8S89R4FAKQB&coliid=I1AYAFG2JPEGH3) one. I know it's like 30 bucks but it has amazing reviews and would work really well with just clipping it on my headphones.

u/JohnDoeMonopoly · 2 pointsr/NLTP

And if anyone has headphones and would be fine using a clip-on mic, here's one that's currently $9.75 but often goes cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420075766&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+mic

Used it before I got my headset and it's perfect for tagpro.

u/MooseChamp · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

This Zalman clip mic I've been using it for a few months now. Great value for less than $10, it will pick up things behind you including people in other rooms if loud enough, but not noise from my mx blue keyboard which is only like a foot away. The video review is a bit misleading on it's quality, the person is clearly speaking directly into the mic and not in the manner it would naturally be attached to headphones. So the quality can be that good, it just won't when used normally.

u/CapCharlisimo · 2 pointsr/hardwareswap

If you're looking for good headphones for $40, go for these. They're around $50 now, but I got them at $30 so they're bound to go down again. Plus, if you need a mic, just get a cheap clip-on. Sound quality will be much better with headphones + clip-on mic.

u/Romanion · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Try asking in /r/headphones.

Perhaps a Zalman Clip-on mic?

u/SaberToothedRock · 2 pointsr/gadgets

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Small, $10 clip-on mic, assuming you have headphones. I use it, and can verify that it works as well as you'd expect for a dirt-cheap mic. You might have to tweak your settings a bit to get it working at a comfortable volume.

u/CareCupisEmpty · 2 pointsr/makemychoice

Well, I know it's a bit out of the price range, but I love my pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. I went from a set of Razer headphones to these and it's crazy how much more you hear, I even started doing better in CS:GO because I could actually hear what was happening around me. The M50X is the new model, you can get the M50 for a bit less. Have you looked at /r/headphones yet? They have this guide to look at to get a better idea of stuff. I do know that Sennheiser also make some nice headphones that people use for gaming. You'll have to pick up a mic though, I just use a cheap one that works as well as the one on my Razer headset did.

u/wikitiki33 · 2 pointsr/xboxone

For now this may be the best method to avoid needing a new pair of headphones since your cable doesn't detach. only costs a few bucks but you need [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009HW15UG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A31BFY1IB0MQY9), and [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1420697287&sr=8-8&keywords=3.5mm+mic). Ill let you know if I stumble across anything else

u/teh_al3x · 2 pointsr/classicrage

I've only heard good things about the Zalman Zm-Mic1. And you could fix both cables together with tape or something.

u/trocarr · 2 pointsr/Overwatch

i use a combination of these headphones and a clip on mic for a headset. the only thing i don't like is that that particular mic is very sensitive and picks up pretty much everything. it's also excessively long, but you can just tie it up.

also, if your PC is like mine and only has one audio jack, you can use a usb sound card to plug in both

u/ruiwui · 2 pointsr/buildapc

The common consensus is that you're usually better off getting a pair of headphones that are just headphones and a mic. Gaming headsets tend to experience "gaming" markup.

At $70, I'd go for a Zalman mic and Sony MDRMA300. You can check out /r/headphones for more suggestions.

u/Schwermzilla · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Not Sure why the splitter doesn't work properly, I use one of these with my headphones works great but the cord tangling can be a mess if you switch computers a lot.

u/Dog1259 · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I recommend not buying a headset at all. Most headsets are just terrible in either the sound or microphone department. Its easier to just use a decent pair of headphones, like such, then attach a modmic, or something similar.

u/Pi-Roh · 2 pointsr/wow

If you don't mind the extra cables, I would recommend normal headphones that you would use for listening to music. Along with a separate microphone.

Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro

Audio-Technica ATH-M50

Those are two great under 200$ headphones. I've owned both and I prefer the Beyerdynamics since it has a removable cable.

As a separate mic:

Zalman Zm-Mic1

ModMic

Personally I use the Zalman. I simply prefer that style of mic over the boom type that a ModMic has. My friend swears by the ModMic though. On Mumble he sounds fine with it so the quality seems to be good.

If you simply prefer a headset that has a mic in it I would recommend these. I used them before I went over to a headphone/mic setup. The mic is a little muted admittedly, but everything is is A-ok. They're especially comfy.

Siberia v2

u/cyberjip · 2 pointsr/BuyItForLife

I don't have these headphones, but I use this mic, and its very good for how cheap it is

u/SwimmingAshes · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I'd avoid headsets, you can get better value with a mic and headphone for $30.

Superlux HD-681 headphones

Zalman lapel microphone

Optional: The headphones are really great and have a comfortable headband, but some people don't like the earpads, here are some cheap fake velour ones link

u/ZeroPaladn · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I mean, a mic is a mic for most people. You'll be shelling out a lot of money for a high quality one and most games won't keep the quality over in-game voice chat anyways.

$7 for a mic isn't bad.

u/usr192 · 2 pointsr/de_EDV

Same here :( ... ich benutze aktuell das vierte Bluetooth Headset in 10 Jahren. Am Handy funzt jedes Headset problemlos, am PC für Discord & Teamspeak ist's einfach nur zum Vergessen. Ich kenne niemanden, der mit Bluetooth Headsets am PC wirklich erfolgreich ist, alle haben regelmäßig bis unregelmäßig Probleme mit dem Zeug.


Wenn das Headset nicht gefunden wird, hilft nur 100 Mal neu pairen, PC durchstarten und am Ende Treiber neu installieren und beten O_o Da ich gestern zum 1000. Mal mit dem Headset Verbindungsprobleme hatte, zeig ich Bluetooth am PC ab heute den Mittelfinger, USB Dongles sind bereits in den Müll gewandert.



>Gibt es eine einfache Möglichkeit das Problem zu lösen?
>Einen neuen dongle vielleicht?


Anderer Dongle löst es nicht, ich hatte über die Jahre einen Acer, einen Noname und aktuell einen HAMA USB-Bluetooth Dongle im Einsatz, die Probleme sind immer die gleichen.
Meine Lösung: Gestern ein Zalman Ansteckmikro mit gutem alten Klinkenstecker bestellt, das verwende ich dann mit einem meiner Kopfhörer und verwende Bluetooth nur noch am Smartphone, Ende der Geschichte!

u/AndroidMercury · 2 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

I'm in NA as well. I suggest picking up a cheap mic off amazon for $10. http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ this one isn't the highest quality but it works. Giving callouts to your team will help them and result in your team winning more rounds

u/nathris · 2 pointsr/buildapc

No such thing exists at any price. Anyone claiming they have "directional" sound by placing a bunch of drivers millimetres apart is lying to your face. All you're getting for your $60 is a bunch of cheap $10 drivers.

You'd be better off getting a better pair of normal headphones and adding a clip on mic. For <$60 gaming I'd recommend the Superlux HD-681 EVO Black and the Zalman ZM-Mic1

u/Kinkurono · 2 pointsr/brasil

Cara, pra jogo eu tô usando esse aqui para jogo, é razoável https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/Asexual_sarcasm · 2 pointsr/Gaming_Gear

I love my 668B's they don't have a mic so that might be important to you. You could get one of these and it clips onto the cable

u/Limewirelord · 2 pointsr/GlobalOffensive

I'd mute you too. Get a cheap Zalman mic.

u/Sheltoro · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I came here to say this. You can find them on Amazon for $169 and then get a Zalman mic for about $8 to go with it.

Edit: Added links

u/redautumnleaves · 2 pointsr/SiegeAcademy

I recommend giving low-end audiophile-quality headphones a try, with a low-cost separate mic.

Madlustenvy's guide (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-5-6-2019-hifiman-ananda-added.534479/) is a great resource for folks getting more interested in gaining a competitive edge in gaming via sound.

u/undead_drop_bear · 2 pointsr/headphones

i just use the cheap zalman mic on amazon with a headset breakout/splitter cable.

Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_j02nzbJNTF5S2

Besmelody 3.5mm Male to 2 Female Headphone Mic Audio Y Splitter Cable with Separate Headset / Microphone Plugs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVUZGXR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JZ2nzb0KVK8MH

u/ScriptLoL · 2 pointsr/buildapcsales

> Also, would this bleed a lot of sound into a mic?

Not really, unless you have an obscenely sensitive mic. People around you (3-5ft) will be able to hear your music/whatever you're doing, if you like high volume. I found that I like lower volume with these, not because of others hearing my stuff, but because of how crisp and great they are.

As far as mics go, the Modmic is great. This is what I used for a while, but I hated it because it was a 2nd cord I had to deal with. I say go for a desktop mic when they get cheaper TBH.

u/River_Tahm · 2 pointsr/AskBattlestations

Well you can hypothetically get better sound out of a desktop mic but they also usually have a much bigger sound floor and are often omnidirectional, so they tend to pick up way more background noise and tend to be difficult to make work well for VOIP

Big draws for desktop mics though is that you can reap the benefits if you do a lot of media creation (ex if you sit forward to record your voice for a youtube video or something, desktop mic quality will smash a headset), and that a desktop mic allows you to get whatever you want for headphones.

Headsets are usually much easier to manage the sound floor on and direct so they only pick up your voice and not the rest of your room. But the headphone part is usually not very good quality.

This is why the mod mic is so popular, as it allows you to keep the advantages of a headset mic while still buying whatever high-quality headphones you want

Some people don't like desktop mics because of the space it takes on their desk, some people feel like headset mics get in their face all the time.

Truth be told though I think if you spend money on quality parts either are a reasonable solution.

I would strongly advise against cheap gaming headsets though, they are terrible.

However, I've had no issues buying a cheap clip-on mic and sticking it on the cable of a high quality set of heaphones. That last option is kinda the best of both worlds IMO (much like the mod mic except the mic costs like 1/10th the price)

u/dermixxer · 2 pointsr/arma

Back when I was looking for a Headphone+mic combo, people recommended the Zalman and the Koenig.
I eventually went with the Zalman.

I would rcommend also buying the cheapest notebook light You can find, cut off the USB connector and tape the cable around it. This way you can put it around your neck and due to the flexibilty of the lamp adjust the mic better to your mouth.

^This is of course not mandatory, you could simply clip it at the headphone cable ;)

u/TheShiniestHobo · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

This would be my recommendation.
Amazon Link

u/SecretSpiral72 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

>I need a headset that will fully cover my ears or Circumaural that does not have leather pads and is not that abrasive or rough on the skin

Personally, I use the entry-level Sennheiser HD 518s with a Zalman clip mic. I prefer music headphones to 'gamer' stuff, the only catch being that the microphone is omni-directional so it is prone to picking up surrounding noise, though it's perfectly clear.

The Sapphire 390 Nitro is a popular one, the only really not-so-good one is the dual-fan Gigabyte(quality is fine, fans just aren't enough). Since you're water cooling, it might not make all that much of a difference anyway, but the Nitro does come with a nice backplate which might help with the voltage heat dissipation(if it's actually more than cosmetic) since you're sticking an AIO on there.

Oh, the Sapphire card is LONG. I'm not sure if the PCB itself is any larger than usual, but that's worth checking out before you put it in a mITX case.

u/CrisKrossed · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I have this and this, Great sound quality, and really comfortable, and the mic sounds amazing. I've had people tell me they thought I had a professional mic, or something like a blu mic. The headphones you can get on sale for less than $50 normally, especially with the buying season coming up.

u/USB_Hero · 2 pointsr/buildapc

If you were to get these headphones http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B007QKL7MW/?tag=pcp0f-20 and this clip on mic http://www.amazon.ca/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1416454302&sr=1-6&keywords=clip+on+mic are going to have better performance then any "gaming" headset on the market that is a comparable price. You aren't going to be recording professional audio you are just talking in a game so he doesn't need a top of the line mic for just gaming.

u/OverExclamated · 2 pointsr/HeadphoneAdvice

For clip-on mics, the Sony ECMCS3 is an excellent unit.

The Zalman MIc1 is often recommended as well.

u/BotJohn0 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

i5s tend to perform a bit better than equivalent Ryzen CPUs for gaming, and the motherboards are a bit cheaper. So I'd go with an i5 7500 and a B250 motherboard. If you have your own Skylake CPU to use to update the BIOS in the motherboards, go with a H110 or B150 motherboard to save ~$15-20 per computer, but otherwise, the B250 is the best choice. (You don't want to risk getting an older motherboard that isn't updated to boot with the newer CPUs)

I'd swap out the 2 x 4 GB of RAM for 1 8 GB stick so that you can add more in the future when games start needing more than 8 GB of RAM.

A SSD isn't really necessary at this budget, as they're low on storage and all they do over a cheaper HDD is reduce boot times by 30 seconds and load times by 15-60 seconds in some games. A 1 TB WD Caviar Blue is $50, so you save some money over the SSD and get over 4x the storage space.

I switched the RX 480 model to a very similar one because the one you picked doesn't have a price showing. Just get the cheapest 8 GB RX 480 from a reputable brand and site.

The EVGA PSU went up in price, so I changed it to a very similar model that's $20. You could switch the PSUs with 420W Seasonics if you want better durability and build quality.

For a Wi-Fi adapter, I added a $20 USB TP-Link ac adapter. You're probably better off with an ethernet network switch/splitter if your cousins have a wired connection in their house/apartment, though.

> Personalized cases (doesn't need to be extravagant, something like personalized LEDs for each computer?)

Maybe get these RGB LEDs? They're fairly cheap

This build, which uses my suggestions above, ends up saving you about $100 per PC excluding the RGB LEDs and Wi-Fi adapters which add $40 per PC. So you're at $4200 total for the 5 PCs with RGB and Wi-Fi.

> Mice (4)

This is up to personal preference. I use the Logitech G502 but it's a bit expensive at ~$70-80 USD each if you're buying 5 of them. I'd recommend looking at Logitech's gaming mice in the $40-50 range. The G602 is on sale for $40, and the G502 is on sale for $60, so I'd get one of those two. The G602 is wireless, and the difference doesn't seem to be too big, so I'd go with the G602.

> Mousepad (4)

I'd heard good things about the Steelseries Qck and Qck+, and the Glorious PC Gaming brand of mousepads, which are more affordable. I personally use a Logitech G240 mousepad, which I've had for a few years, though the rubber coating on the bottom had started to fall off, so I'm planning on replacing it with a Glorious PC Gaming Extended mousepad. The advantage of the Steelseries mousepads seems to be that they are from a more reputable brand, but the Glorious mousepads are stitched at the edges to prevent the rubber part from falling off (Which seems to be common with cloth mousepads after a lot of wear), and are a bit cheaper.

> Keyboard (4)

I personally use a Corsair STRAFE. If you want to get a mechanical keyboard, the Corsair Vengeance K65 keyboards seem to be a great budget choice at $60 each.

> Monitor (5)

I'd get 23/24" 1080p monitors with low response times (Preferably 5 ms or lower). At $85 each, this 23.6" Acer seems good.

> Microphone and Headphones/ Or Headset (4)

Headsets tend to be overpriced with poor sound quality. Something from the r/headphones wiki in the below $50 range for headphones should be excellent for the price.

Mic-wise, a cheap clip-on mic such as this one for just under $10 should be fine.

If you want to cut down costs more, you could use onthehub.com to get cheaper Windows keys if your cousins' schools are on there. It's a site partnered with Microsoft to give discounts to students and teachers. I personally used it for Windows 10 and I haven't had any problems with my OS (I've been using the key for about 6 months now.)

After peripherals, if you spend $40 per each pair of headphones, and $87.89 on Windows, you're at $1085 per PC or $5425 total. You save $270-320 or so total if you can get the Windows keys from onthehub for $10-20 each. Here's the parts list excluding the mics, headphones, keyboards, monitors, mice, and mousepads.

I'd go with /u/RatchetRussian's suggestion of using Jet.com. I'm Canadian, so I've never used the site, but it seems to be pretty reputable.

> Should I build the computers myself or ask a professional?

You can build it yourself easily with a good YouTube tutorial. I'd recommend this Newegg tutorial or this PCPer tutorial from the sub's sidebar.

> Should I gift them individually or all at once? Christmas or random summer day?

I'd just give them all at once when you finish all of the PCs so that everyone can start playing at the same time, but do whatever you think is best.

I'd also go with /u/Clintosity's suggestion of making sure that there's enough room for 5 PCs. If there's issues with space, you can switch the cases to mATX cases and build smaller PCs.

Hopefully this helps, and good luck with the PC building!

u/Chello02 · 2 pointsr/OverwatchUniversity

This is what I have been using for years while gaming. Good set of earbuds and then drape this over my shoulders. Everyone says i'm crystal clear, and it's about as cheap as you can get.

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1495321047&sr=8-25&keywords=computer+mic

u/xenetic · 2 pointsr/gaming

Forget "Gaming" headphones and get some legit headphones like the Audio-Technia AD700 /w Zalman Clip On Mic

u/Shabbypenguin · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

Nice writeup OP! For those looking to save a bit more.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TMZ1BK

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAG1ZG0

https://smile.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

with a zalman gives amazing sound/audio for under $100 for everything. i cant go back to "gaming" headsets.

u/AZOOOPPY · 2 pointsr/headphones

Philips SHP9500's are great quality headphones for around $50, and are as low as $45.

If you want a mic, you can cheap out with a $9 Zalman clip-on; Or you can buy a V-Moda Boom Pro that runs through the same 3.5mm jack - or the off-brand versions that do the same thing.

u/BootsandPants · 2 pointsr/HeadphoneAdvice

What kind of games do you play? For competitive FPS where positional queues and imaging are important, I'd go with a used HD700 or even HD800. Will be hard to find on a $400 budget, but maybe you'll find the 700.

For more single player or immersive games, you have a lot of different options. This will come down to more of what sort of sound signature you like (bass, mid, treble forward?). I would put the HD600 series here moreso than in the competitive gaming realm.

Honestly, once you get above where you're at now, the diminishing returns become pretty apparent. I don't notice enough difference when gaming between my ATH-AD700x and my HD800 that would make me want to spend the difference for gaming alone. Sure the soundstage on the 800s is wider and the imaging slightly better, but it doesn't translate to that much of an edge in game. The 700x (or 598 in your case) is already leaps and bounds ahead of whatever other fart cannons most other people are using. I'd honestly just stick with what you've got.

As stated in other replies, get a desktop mic, a boom mic, a modmic, or any sort of wired clipon. Most/all gaming headsets are not great, or just OK, and you will be sacrificing sound quality and soundstage going to one of those from your 598s. This mic is $10 and actually sounds pretty darn good. I clip it on to whatever pair of headphones I pick up (depending on the game).

What are you driving your 598s with? You may see some improvement investing in your source.

Save your money and don't buy super fancy cables expecting much difference. Good solid cables shouldn't cost more than $50. It might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think they drastically change the sound signature, at least to my ears.

u/MakesNotSense · 2 pointsr/TMJ

I've been using these with my Android phone: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0117RFPCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Very comfortable. Other earbuds would lead to discomfort, but these have been nice.

​

Unsure how well it works with a PC, it use's one three-pole TRSS connection (2.5mm jack with 3 rings on it; rings for left channel, right channel, mic, so if PC port isn't 3-pole mic input might not be applied.)

​

Alternatively, one can look for clip-on microphones that plug into the microphone port and attach them to some comfortable headphones or earbuds.

​

Not the best noise isolation though - the price to pay for comfort I guess.

​

On my desktop this is what I found works for me:

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=AD700&qid=1562693195&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

with https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=zalman+clip-on+mic&qid=1562693251&s=electronics&sr=8-1-fkmr0

​

for clip-on mics you might want to search for one that does a better job with noise cancellations. I'm recalling the zalman will pickup stuff like keyboard typing. I had to alter gain and other stuff to get it calibrated.

​

There is a less expensive AD500 model as well. I like the Audiotechnica's because they're quite comfortable. However, I know this isn't exactly the typical 'headset+mic' combo that get's used in sales. I got this equipment for video gaming, back when I still could do that years ago.

u/zypo88 · 2 pointsr/apexlegends

$10 Microphone

$6 adaptor

Plus your preferred pair of headphones.

Edit: a word

u/xCentrino · 2 pointsr/buildapc

This https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ is recommended for a cheap decent option along with better sounding headphones.

I'd suggest you check out r/headphones and ask for advice. They'll get you set up nice and good.

u/feedblender · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I've seen this

recommended for a cheap option around here a lot. I'm also interested in finding one!

u/Millillion · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Many people just go with a cheap lapel mic like This One which I believe is the one that at least used to be recommended all the time as a basic model.

u/djnap · 2 pointsr/Overwatch

I've had this mic for a year now. I talk almost nightly on it to friends. They don't complain about how I sound. I clip it on to my headphones.

In general, I recommend this mic and a set of headphones in place of a gaming headset. In general, you'll pay more for a gaming headset than you would for an equivalent mic+headphone.

Edit: I seem to remember having some trouble with this mic getting along with my realtech audio driver. I solved that issue, possibly by using the default windows driver.

u/totallywontstabyou · 2 pointsr/headphones

This is a common cheap option.

This is a more expensive but better quality option.

u/Orwell83 · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

I know you want something for your desk but check this out.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

It's only $8 and I've never had a problem with it.

u/m1r3k · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

I use this (Zalman Zm-Mic1) one. You can clip it to your headset cable or tape it to your monitor or any other stand. Audio quality is really good (at least when the microphone is close to your head).

u/Smile_for_the_Camera · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I recommend getting this microphone to go with it, if you have some problems. I bought this one and that webcam together, and it's great. It's cheap and great quality. :)

u/Sen7ryGun · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

Gaming headsets are shit, over priced, sound bad and fall to bits on the inside of a couple of years.

You can get a kickass Hi-Fi headphone+DAC/amp solution and a clip in mic for less than the price of most gaming headsets that will last year's if not decades.

Gamers are the easiest market in the world to milk easy cash out of with shit products. All you need is RGB lighting and "vidyagaemz" written on the box.

You want a totally fuckin rad pair of bargain basement headphones and a dedicated external sound solution that gets your audio processing outside the EMI/RFI hell that is the inside of your PC case, sits on par with Beyer DT 990s, ATH-M50x and Sennheiser HD598s for sound quality, will live forever and comes in costing less than $120USD for the whole package, including a clip on mic? Take a look at the Superlux HD668b stereo headphones, the Fiio E10K USB DAC/amp and grab a Zalman ZM-mic1 to stick on the side.

Congratulations, you're now the owner of the best bang for your buck Hi-Fi headgear solution getting around and have just entered the world of high quality audio for gaming, music and movies. Time to leave gaming headsets behind.

u/CodePsion · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I got the zalman zm-mic1, and I'm really happy with it. Not a studio-quality mic or anything, but terrific imo if all you need is a teamspeak mic, especially for $8.

u/Chorrbs · 2 pointsr/Twitch

The Zalman Zm-Mic1 clips onto the wire of your headphones and is pretty good quality for under $10.

The Blue Snowball is a great desktop mic to start out with. It's great quality for the price as well. Many people use this when they are starting out and I think it is personally worth the investment. I have loved my since I bought it.

u/Trazac · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

> So PCMR, what should I look for? Higher or lower sensibility, frequency response, impedance or that doesn't mater, also P2 connector or USB?

This stuff is meaningless since is it more or less just manipulated until it fits what the marketing wants it to say, the numbers can say anything. As /u/MrBubles01 said, it tells you jackshit.

I will make a recommendation, one that sort of comes out of /r/zeos as has been suggested. These Surelux HD688B headphones paired with this Zalman Clip-on microphone. Together they will sound better than any gaming headset. The microphone clips onto the cable for the headphones, and not onto your clothes (someone got a tad bit upset when I made this suggestion a few days ago because the thought they would need to clip the mic onto their shirt.)

This is a value buy, for sure, do don't expect them to be the best but if you've never had a nice pair of headphones before then these will 'wow' you.

u/dan1son · 2 pointsr/headphones

Most people just add a lapel or boom mic that plugs in separately from the headphones. https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ type of things. There's also some more "will work with phone" options like https://www.amazon.com/ClearMic-Canceling-Microphone-QuietComfort-Headphones/dp/B0195SUXMM

I'm not sure on your specific use, but really those headphones just aren't made to be a headset and you might have a sub optimal experience attempting to turn them into such a thing. I have some audiophile level headphones that have optional microphone cables and they work ok, but dedicated headsets are better for long voice conversations. I have a very nice bluetooth plantronics headset from work and if I'm on a call those are used.

I'll reserve the bose bashing for someone else. They're very comfy and pretty good at noise reduction. I personally prefer custom tip IEMs for the same use/price, but you be you.

u/jpmoney · 2 pointsr/buildapc

I think you're looking for something like this. I've seen this Zalman one recommended before.

u/InternationalCow · 2 pointsr/buildapc

audio technica ath-ad700

seinheiser 280

[zalman clip on mic] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ)

[mod mic] (http://www.modmic.com/)

The two headphones I linked will have infinitely better accuracy and sound quality than the "gaming headsets" blaze17145 linked.

Get one of the two mics I linked and attach it.

u/xsoccer92x · 2 pointsr/headphones

Yea you should be fine. Damn no credit card? Amazon really is an amazing place to buy stuff from. And if you need a mic, I highly highly recommend Zalman Attachable Mic, sorry amazon again. I am currently using it and it works perfectly and the recording quality is very good for its price.

edit: If you do get a credit card (or even a debt card) use the canadian version of amazon! http://www.amazon.ca/

u/rocks-off · 2 pointsr/gaming

If you aren't able to find what you're looking for, this might be a good suggestion.

You can clip these onto any headset cords you like, and it records in high quality. http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

u/Xenderwind · 2 pointsr/gaming

While I agree with you, he does only have a $50 budget. So with that in mind your best bet would be a HARX700 with a zalman clip on.

u/Enignite · 2 pointsr/hardware

I've found that I can't really hear much when I have my sound playing with my open-air ATH-AD700. Unfortunately they have the side affect of being mini speakers; so everyone else can hear you.

OP: Whatever is in your price range from here (closed is better for isolation) plus this



u/ProteanHero · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Well shit you aren't kidding about high end. In that case, I'm not the guy to talk to. I've got a set of Audio-Technica ATH-M50s out of a Fiio E10, pretty budget setup compared to what you have in mind.

What I can do is parrot conventional wisdom I've read a lot:

For a headset, the simplest way to do it is simply to attach this to your headphone of choice:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324624189&sr=8-1

Most people desire a large "soundstage" for gaming so that you can use the sound to identify where things are and such, adds to immersion. Conventional headphones to point to Sennheiser open headphones like the HD600.

As far a DAC and amps, I've presonally been lusting after some Schiit products. They're bifrost DAC and Valhalla tube amp together fall nicely in your price range, leaving a nice $300 for headphones.

u/twelveoclock · 2 pointsr/gaming

Do not buy "gaming" headsets. They generally have low quality sound for their price. Instead, buy a real headphone (like the ATH-700s), and buy a clip on mic. This way you'll have an entry-level audiophile headphone that you'll enjoy much more. The only downside to this is that the clip on mic has to wrap around the headphone's wires, which makes it bit clunky. However, it's well worth it.

Edit: I actually use Sennheiser HD 555s but those are more pricy than what you were looking at. However, if you can afford them, the 555s are well worth it. They are the most comfortable headphones I've ever used.

u/Dusk777 · 2 pointsr/gaming

Sounds like his mic is the main problem. I too was looking for a new headset recently. A friend asked if I had any decent headphones, which I did (sennheiser hd 25's) so he suggested just getting this mic:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
and tbh it's the best mic i have ever used, i was even sitting on it the other day after it came unclipped and everyone could still hear me.
So for about ten bucks you can get him that mic, and then he can go get a decent set of headphones, maybe: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD201-Lightweight-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312200004&sr=1-6
This will be the cheapest way to get a REALLY good headset setup. Gaming specific headsets cost a lot for a decent one.

u/iTrolling · 2 pointsr/shutupandtakemymoney

I recommend either Sennheiser HD 380 Pro or Sennheiser HD 280 Pro.

I like the 380's over the 280's and I have worn both extensively. On the 280's the main drawback is the tightness of band on the ears; after extended use is can hurt taking them off. The tightness does come with some benefit though; it almost creates a vacuum environment that block outsides sound from leaking in... almost noise cancelling. The 380's have a lighter grip and a lighter construction overall. They do not weigh down on my head as much nor grip as strong as the 280's. Of course, that means sound from the outside does leak in a bit, especially at low volumes, but little can be heard once the volume is turned up. I can wear the 380s for hours, and feel so comfortable I have barely feel them on.

You're probably going to need a microphone as well; I like to stick with the Zalman clip on. I attach it directly to the headphone cord and works great!

As a side note, both of these headphones will need to be burned in to really notice the quality. I work with the 380's for music production and music listening as well. They are really versatile headphones.

u/Deranged40 · 2 pointsr/pcmasterrace

HD 558, and a zalman mic.

When the headphones go on sale, this is under $100

u/onliandone · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme
The 1070 is not in your budget. 900€ for a complete PC including its peripherals means ~700€ for the PC itself. Assuming the GTX 1070 costs 400€ here, 300€ is just not enough for the remaining stuff.

pc-kombo shared list

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6400 | EUR 172,00 @ Mindfactory
Motherboard | GIGABYTE B150M-DS3H | EUR 77,88 @ Amazon.de
Memory | Crucial CT8G4DFD8213 (8 GB) | EUR 26,02 @ Amazon.de
Storage | WD 1TB Blue (1 TB) | EUR 48,95 @ Amazon.de
SSD | SanDisk SSD PLUS (128 GB) | EUR 41,70 @ Amazon.de
Video Card | Radeon R9 380 | EUR 188,34 @ Amazon.de
Case | Cooler Master N300 | EUR 45,70 @ Amazon.de
Power Supply | Super Flower Golden Green HX (450 W) | EUR 69,21 @ Amazon.de
Operating System | Windows 7 | EUR 29,95 @ mysoftware
| Total | €707.74
| Generated by pc-kombo 30.05.2016 |

I' suggest you add to that:

https://www.amazon.de/LG-24MP47HQ-P-AEU-Monitor-D-Sub-Reaktionszeit/dp/B00Y81219K as display, 130€
https://www.amazon.de/CHERRY-KC1000-corded-Keyboard-ultraflat/dp/B00F35N0VI as keyboard, 10€
https://www.amazon.de/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Mikrofon-mit-Mikro-Clip/dp/B00029MTMQ/ as micro, 8€
http://www.thomann.de/de/superlux_hd681.htm as headphone, 20€

You'd end up with 707 + 168 = 875€.


u/Mr_Pickle · 2 pointsr/buildapc

two options

  • mod them. This is more extreme and only if you like that kind of stuff. They look sexy as hell though.

  • Zalman clip. This is a really popular mic and tons of people use it.

    Even if you bought the Astro $300 gaming headphones, you will not reach the level of audio quality of these $50 cans. People who buy those are idiots.
u/ultimanium · 2 pointsr/gaming

I would advise a normal headphones with clip on mic, much better quality, and typically more comfortable.
For example, this

or this

I would be wary of surround sound headsets, as I've found that the drivers all far too close to great an effect for me, and simulated surround sound, via soundcard, receiver ,or ingame, works better.


And this is the Mic I use.

I have used a tritton 5.1 headset, g330, etc, and in sound quality, comfort, and reliability, my sennheiser 555 destroys them. (My trittons practically broke bimonthly while in warrenty)

u/bennylol · 2 pointsr/buildapc

You sure that's 7200RPM? Green drives are usually 5400/5900RPM. They spin slower, and use up less power. A 7200RPM HDD should have no issues running games. Also, sadly the prices are astronomical right now so it's hard to say what HDD to get right now. Bad timing :\

The microphone is USB, which is kind of odd. Since you have a decent sound card, maybe just find a non-usb microphone? They're usually cheaper anyway. A lot of people on OCN recommend this Zalman clip on mic. I have one and people don't complain about my mic.

u/blanketninja · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Do yourself a favour and buy proper headphones, and a little clip on mic like this one to go along with them.

As for the actual headphones it will depend on your budget and what you are looking for (over ear, sound isolation, is it ok if it leaks sound, etc).

u/Shnuggles · 2 pointsr/tf2

Wow, so apparently us UK folk are very fussy with microphones

u/LightSpeedIII · 2 pointsr/leagueoflegends

I know it isn't usb but I highly recommend getting this it is much better than that desktop mic and much cheaper, if you have a desktop, be sure to plug it into the mic port on the rear, not in the front as the port in the front will get all sorts of emi.

u/Hehyeahno · 2 pointsr/gaming

Don't buy headphones.

Get the mic and cans seperately.

Mic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RL84OY/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_g147_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DAEMATS37NA6WMKCDS5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

OR

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1

Cans: Sennheiser 555's or Audio Technica ATH AD-700's . You can get 555's slightly used for $50, a steal at that price.

If do you get 555's, you can do an easy, risk-free upgrade to make them into $200 headphones! Yay capitalism!

Now go buy them because no one will offer better advice.

u/SatansF4TE · 2 pointsr/techsupport

Out of the three you've picked, the Gamecom 780 is hands-down the best.

However, you'd get far better sound quality from a pair of Panasonic HTF-600^1 or JVC HAR-X700^2 headphones and a clip-on microphone such as the Zalman ZM1^3.

Of course, using a clip-on mic is slightly less simple than an all in one headset so you'll have to decide if you'd rather the utility or sound quality.

u/infernux · 2 pointsr/headphones

You'll probably get a variety of different opinions on this board but if I were you I would go with some cheaper Sennheisers such as these. A good clip on mic would be the Zalman ZM.

u/drebin8 · 2 pointsr/headphones

It's usually better to get an external mic anyway, like this one. It's cheap and can be clipped onto the headphones, and the Monoprice headphones will have better audio quality. You can take off the microphone when you don't need it. Alternatively, you can get one that sits on your desk.

It seems like the headset you linked is pretty small and is made of cheap plastic. It may end up breaking, and unless you have a small head, it'll probably hurt to wear it for extended sessions.

With the Monoprices, you may need to bend the top part (blanking on what it's called) to reduce pressure, but the earpads should be big enough to completely encompass your ears.

Unless your budget is extremely tight, I'd recommend getting the Monoprices with an external headset. If you absolutely can't afford $30, then the one you linked may last for a bit. You'll want to replace it probably within a year though.

u/squeakywhite · 2 pointsr/oculus

The Zalman ZM-Mic1 is a popular clip on microphone for those without an inbuilt one. A good alternative if you would prefer to use headphones over a gaming headset.

u/ArmorMog · 2 pointsr/hardware

Don't buy gaming headsets. You get a crappy pair of headphones with a barely audible mic glued to the frame. This is my gaming setup that also works well with movies and music. These headphones have a god like sound stage, and you won't regret them. The mic is good, but there are better available for more money and if you don't like it you can replace it, unlike the crappy mics on gaming headsets. Also if you think the headphones are loose you can put a rubber band between the inner head rests and they fit like a dream.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371750942&sr=8-1&keywords=ath+700

and

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=zg_bs_173454_10

u/aquasharp · 2 pointsr/GoodValue

I attach this to a normal pair of earbuds with a little bit of tape. Pretty good mic for under $10. I use it when I play MMO computer games.

u/K0rin · 2 pointsr/gaming

Don't buy a headset, you can buy a very nice pair of headphones and a microphone for about the same price. I'm impartial to Audio-Technia's ATH-M50s closed dynamic phones, but if you prefer open, ATH-AD700s are also excellent, then just buy a cheap mic like this one.

u/SpookyMelon · 2 pointsr/Games

Not USB, but I use a Zalman microphone that just clips onto the headphone cord. It's cheap, and you can use whatever headphones you'd like with it. The sound quality isn't fantastic, but if you aren't doing anything more than talking to people on Skype or something like that, then you're definitely good with this. If you are going to record audio for Youtube/podcast/other, than you'll probably have to invest in a higher quality microphone though.

u/cogitoergosam · 2 pointsr/headphones

If you have headphones already you can use a clip on mic like this Zalman one. I use it and the quality is fantastic. The cord is really long, so you can either loop the slack or wind it around your headset cord.

If you don't have headphones already, you can pick a set based on your price range and preferred sound without worrying about an integrated mic.

u/Capolan · 2 pointsr/BuyItForLife

Ok - so for a great temp mic get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

this is actually the MIC that everyone uses for this combination. it's great.

the antlion MIC is great, but the 7 dollar one will tie you over nicely.

u/Teasylife · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Anyone recommend some good headphones/headset? I was thinking of getting this headset, or getting these headphones and a Zalman clip on mic. My budget isn't huge, but still want good quality mic and audio. Thanks.

u/Suicidal360Flip · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

Logan reviewed 2 headphones that are less than $50 each. Here is the video.

For the mic you can always just pick up the very popular Zalman clip-on mic or spend more money for a modmic.

Edit: This setup is more about audio quality than comfort now that I took a second to think about it. Sorry. I'll leave it up for people who likes options.

Edit 2: I have owned this headset and I can say they were very comfortable, and at the perfect price point for you OP.

u/imsinking · 2 pointsr/pcgaming

If you want extremely low budget with good sound quality earbuds + mic, considering using Monoprice 108320 and a Zalman ZM-Mic1

pretty much the best sound quality with good mic you will get for under $18 - you can see the head-fi reviews here for the earbuds

although IMO earbuds are not a great choice for gaming and most people find over ear headphones much more comfortable

u/xPurplexAnarchyx · 2 pointsr/headphones

This is a decent mic for its price. ($7.60)

u/ANALCUNTHOLOCAUST · 2 pointsr/truetf2
  1. This is pretty solid and it's only 8 bucks, plus you can use it with whatever headphones you use.

  2. Not sure about everything, but Mumble has that as an option.