usb headset clarification... suggestions?

[hat]

I'll start by illustrating my situation. I have a set of 5.1 speakers, and my sound card only has 3 audio outs (my speakers take all 3), so I can't use my headset without going behind my computer, unplugging one of the leads for my speakers and replacing it with the headset, then going in the audio control panel and changing it from 5.1 to 2.1 so the sound isn't all jacked up. My computer (or my speakers for that matter) don't have a headphone jack. I think I could cure this issue with a USB headset...

To my understanding, USB headsets act like a front panel headphone jack where when connected the sound is no longer relayed to the speakers and only to the headset. However my understanding of this is very noobish so I need some help here.

 

[Mussels]

USB headsets show up as a seperate soundcard in windows.

you'll just had to toggle between them in windows, and/or set programs to exclusively use one or the other

 

[hat]

How would I toggle between them?

 

[Kursah]

Control Panel > Sound > Playback, choose playback device, or right click speaker in taskbar near clock, click playback devices and choose from there would be the only fast route I know. I've never used a USB headset on my personal rig, but I imagine maybe even just unplugging it would be faster and easier to work with.

 

[hat]

you guys are leet

now how about a cheap (think: hat cheap) heatset that doesn't utterly suck?

 

[Kursah]

The Plantronics .audio 350 I used to run with was decent, it wasn't usb...but the mic was loud and clear and the drivers weren't too shabby...I've seen it sub-$20 before...dunno if there's much out there now for it. Might take a look in the TPU gaming headset thread link in my sig, I can't recall what cheap-o's were good and bad in there...but take a look thru the tpu reviews and you might find what you need.

Many also like the plantronics gamecom1, I've seen that for around $20 for a long time, I guess it depends on just how cheap you wanna go...if you could swing it, the JVC HARX700's kick ass, get a cheap clip-on mic or do a mod similar to what I did with a TB HPA2 mic and you have a very competent headphone that blows away many headphones and headsets that cost much more.

 

[Mussels]

you can look at logitechs, i guess.


i use USB headsets for the mics, i never use mine for playback

 

[Frederik S]

There is not a single USB headset out there that performs nearly as well as a pair of cheap headphones hooked up to a cheap soundcard. If you don't mind spending boatloads of cash you have a few options, spend $149 and get the Megalodon which sound mediocre or the Logitech G35 which sound worse but has a gazillion buttons on the left cup.

Personally I would just upgrade the sound card to say a cheap ASUS/Creative card and buy a decent set of headphones like for instance the JVC HARX-700 which have received good feedback at the Headphone thread. That way you get better sound both with your 5.1 system and when using your headphones.

There is also the cheap way out and that is to buy an audio switch I think the el cheapo ones sell for about $20 (price here in Denmark probably less expensive in US).

 

[hat]

I have an Audigy 2 ZS which still sounds plenty good enough. I already have a headset, but I don't want to dick around at the back and in the control panel options every time I want to change it to use my headphones or speakers... I need a headphone jack of some sort.

 

[DonInKansas]

Get a new case with a headphone jack up front?

 

[Arrakis9]

maybe try this ? dont know if its somthing you'd want to use but it clips on to your existing headset

http://www.quietpcusa.com/Zalman-Microphone-for-51-Channel-Headphone-P510C77.aspx

 

[hat]

Get a new case with a headphone jack up front?

Why would I buy a whole new case? Aren't there things that will fit in the 3.25" floppy bays?

 

[exodusprime1337]

How would I toggle between them?

personally i use a gamecom 777 usb headset from plantronics, if i want it to just switch back to the onboard soundcard, i just unplug it, and when i plug it back in, it automatically goes back to being my headset as primary, it's extrememly easy.

 

[Mussels]

personally i use a gamecom 777 usb headset from plantronics, if i want it to just switch back to the onboard soundcard, i just unplug it, and when i plug it back in, it automatically goes back to being my headset as primary, it's extrememly easy.

i can confirm this works with many programs. i still have some that crash when doing this (teamspeak, call of duty games) - but my media players seem to have no issues with it.