Headset or microphone?

[Lord Zado]

Guild Wars is coming out next month, so I will be getting teamspeak to play with guildmates. Just wondering which option is better...headset or a microphone? I remember reading somewhere about people getting echoes when using a microphone because it was picking up the sound from the speakers. However, I'd really like to listen to the game through my nice speakers, rather than a headset.

 

[Cares]

Don't get a microphone. Well, if you want to avoid the echo and what a microphone then you'd have to be wearing a headset. The reason there's an echo is because when you talk on the mic, you hear yourself through your speakers and it projects over the mic again. Headsets are better anyways.

Plantronics DSP-500 or if you don't have that kind of cash to spend, Plantronics Audio 90.

 

[gsaldivar]

Get a headset, and use 2 soundcards - One to drive your headset, the other to handle the in-game audio.

http://forum.goteamspeak.com/showthread.php?t=10183

 

[Cares]

I don't understand. If you have a headset plugged into 1 soundcard. How the heck are you going to use the second soundcard to have any sound coming out? What would be plugged into the second soundcard?

 

[gsaldivar]

Voice Chat software (Teamspeak, Ventrilo, etc.) > Sound Card #1 > Headset
Video Game > Sound Card #2 > Stereo/Speakers.

Of course, you have to configure your game and/or voice chat software to output to the card you want. This sometimes requires a bit of tweaking.

 

[Cares]

Too complicated. If you have a headset on, how are you supposed to hear your game coming from speakers? Sure you can hear it but there will be times where it'll be muffled.

 

[boborich]

I will buy a headset.....

 

[trickytraka]

although I don't use microphones etc ... I would prefer a headset ...
it is more convinient!

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Too complicated. If you have a headset on, how are you supposed to hear your game coming from speakers? Sure you can hear it but there will be times where it'll be muffled.

It's not complicated at all.

The original poster wants to use his nice speakers for the game sounds, and a headset for Teamspeak only.

I have my PC connected directly to a decent stereo - my entire room is filled with MP3 & WoW game sound. I have a dedicated soundcard handling Ventrilo chat, connected to a single-ear headset that picks up very little ambient noise, even when I have my stereo jamming LOUD. The in-game voice chat is clear and understandable because the headset is right against my ear.

The two-soundcard setup actually works very well... I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy their existing speaker system without blasting Teamspeak/Ventrilo across their room along with their MP3's...

 

[Cares]

Headphones > Speakers for gaming. More accurate surround sound.

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Headphones > Speakers for gaming. More accurate surround sound.

Probably true if you have sh!tty speakers.

 

[Cares]

No, probably true in all cases. Unless you have bad headphones. I'm talking about FPS gaming. There's a reason why pro gamers all use headphones instead of speakers. One being, at LANs you'd look pretty stupid setting up speakers everywhere, and two is that is simply is better and more accurate.

 

[Lord Zado]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like I will be getting a head set. Been researching them. The Sennheiser PC 150 looks to be the most recommended and they are cheap.

 

[fireontheway]

Get a real Headphone and USB Mic.No feedback or echoe.