• Looking for a good heaphone/microphone combo
    16 replies, posted
So after breaking my approximately thirteen billionth PC headset (via single ears losing sound, earcups breaking off entirely, loud static bursts bursting my eardrums at random etc etc) I've decided to actually look into buying a proper set of headphones with a standalone microphone. I looked around for the headphone megathread I swear used to be around but the search function is turning up absolutely nothing, so apologies for that. Anyway, I'd prefer my budget not to exceed £100 total but I understand that I may be asking for a lot with such a tight budget. I'm hoping for some half-decent build quality (something that doesn't break within 6 months) and sound quality suitable for gaming and general internet usage. I'm not an audiophile by any means, I've always used USB headsets and wouldn't even know what the point of a sound card actually is other than "apparently it makes stuff sound better" so I should be easy to please in that regard. In terms of microphone, again, my standards have never been all that high. I want it to transmit my voice and not pick up every other sound in the room. A small form factor would be helpful since my desk space is rather limited thanks to already having two monitors clogging it up. My searching so far has led me to the Audio-Technica M40X headphones and the Modmic 4.0 as the strongest contenders but this is based on first impressions alone, not only that but the best prices I can find would run these up to £120 and that's assuming I don't need anything else with them (apparently some headphone jacks don't provide enough power or something and you need an amplifier?). So enough blabbering, I need advice from all of you lovely folks. How are the M40Xs? How's the Modmic? Are there better options in both categories? Tl;dr Need a set of headphones and a microphone. Budget of £100 with a little bit of wiggle room. Items should be purchasable from within the UK. Research so far has only led me to the M40X and the Modmic. Thanks in advance.
Can you suggest anything that is a little more durable? I've appreciated the sound quality of all of the gaming headsets I've owned over the years but the one that always lets me down is the build quality. I need whatever headphones I get to stay in one piece for as long as humanly possible, especially if I'm going to shell out double what I'd usually spend on a headset on the headphones alone. In terms of the Modmic, the form factor is exactly why I'm looking into it. I have limited desk space and the desk itself is a little bit wobbly. A freestanding microphone would probably just get in my way and/or end up on the floor every other day. Being able to clip it onto the side of the headphones like I'm used to would be pretty nice.
If you want headphones to last the furthest mile, invest in a headphone stand.
Because putting it somewhere safe is going to save you the hassle of not dropping it or ruining it leaving it where it shouldn't be.
My M50x's have lasted almost decade now, and I've had a $10 zalman clip on microphone fixed to a point on my desk for just as long
Music taste (bass-heavy, balanced etc.)? Open/closed back (Closed = minimal leakage, Open = more leakage but improved positioning)
I don't listen to enough music to say I have any specific tastes, nothing super heavy on bass tends to come up though. Balanced seems like a good call. I live alone so a bit of sound leakage isn't an issue.
if you want something thats going to last buy something that is user servicable, i dunno if the m40x are but most sennheiser headphones you can replace all the parts that get crusty
First off, we are gonna need a ballpark estimate still of your price range still. Like are we looking sub 100? or is this up to 200? Are you willing to consider a mounted mic like a yeti or an equivalent? If you want a headset with no compromises and great quality i still recommend the same one Dimitri uses from Hardware Canuks, the Massdrop edition Sennheiser GSP 300 i think is its name, its like 150$ or something. Here's what to consider. If you get a mounted mic with a arm and pop filter you will for sure have far better quality as long as someone smarter than myself can come here because i have not used anything but a headset mic and a mounted mic from Blue, which as far as i have seen the community say it is not the best. Or you can get an entire new headset with a mic and move to that one for good. Really its up to what you want!
I can stretch to about £130. At the moment I can get the aformentioned M40X with Modmic for £112 from Scan.co.uk so that's the current leader. Definitely not looking for an all-in-one headset, they break every time. I've gone through a solid dozen headsets since I started PC gaming and I'm getting a tad tired of the high failure rate. I would much rather only replace the headphones/microphone individually in future. Form factor for the microphone is where I get iffy because as stated, my desk is pretty wobbly as well as lacking in free space.
M50x isn't a significant upgrade over the M40x. I'd still recommend M100 + BoomPro.
It's something I would consider if I could get both in my budget. Certainly right now I can't see any on Ebay within that price range, not with the mic included at least. Not to mention I want them with warranty included so I can get replacements if they cock up after two weeks.
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