Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with headset

Headset For WoW

Yasuo — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:10:19 -0800

Recommend me a headset for a friend who plays World of Warcraft. I dug up some old MeFi threads dated a few years back asking the same question, but I'd like recommendations to newer products please. I have no knowledge of how Ventrilo works on World of Warcraft, nonetheless what to look out for in terms of compatibility. My budget is $50, and preferably something I can buy at a local Best Buy, Target, or Wal-mart for some last minute Christmas shopping!

bluetooth headset options

boo_radley — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:53:00 -0800

Is there a bluetooth receiver that will function as a mic but allow me to use my own earbuds? I'm pretty tough on headphones. While I'd like to get a nice a2dp headset for my G1 phone, I worry about having a cord fray, or having a headband snap in two.

Get words to mah team!

razzamatazm — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:21:56 -0800

Is it possible to connect a Jawbone headset via bluetooth to an intel mac bootcamp'd into XP? I have tried multiple bluetooth stacks, and it seems like I've gotten close, but so far no cigar (or Team Fortress 2 chat). Does the hive have any experience with this conundrum? For what it's worth, I do have a seperate bluetooth dongle that I can plug in. It's very generic so I can't give many specifics.

Trouble with Logitech USB 350 headset under OSX 10.5.7

oxidizer — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:27:41 -0800

I've just upgraded a G5 tower from 10.2.x to 10.5.7. The upgrade went off without a hitch... but... i do have a problem using my Logitech USB 350 headset with the system now. When making a call with Skype, for example, the headset will typically work for a while (several minutes) before suddenly throwing out massive amounts of horrible noise via the mike channel. When this happens, I can hear the other side of the conversation just fine, they however can't hear anything except an aneurysm-inducing noise. If I hang-up and restart the connection, the game repeats. Sometime the noise sets in sooner, sometimes later - however, it always sets in. Facts: 1.) This headset worked without a hitch before the upgrade (from 10.2.x). 2.) Audio settings on a system level and within Skype are correct. Does anyone have any clue as to what is going on and what might remedy the situation?

Seeking bluetooth headset recommendations

adamrice — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:27:41 -0800

Please recommend a Bluetooth headset that's good for both listening to music and talking on the phone. I plan to pair it to both my Mac and my iPhone (not at the same time). In-ear and on-ear are both OK.

Can I use a standard 3.5mm headset with the Xbox 360 if I have a 2.5mm adapter?

GilloD — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:35:40 -0800

Is it possible to use a standard headset with the XBox 360 if I snag a 2.5mm adapter? More inside. So, I lost my XBox 360 headset a while ago. That was fine for a long time, I wasn't really playing much and almost never online. Now, for a variety of reasons, I'm playing online semi-frequently and not having a headset is really bumming me out. I poked around online and found the pack-in set for 20 bucks and while I guess that's fine, I have an absolutely functional headset here at work I'd like to use.

It's a standard headset, 3.5mm jacks for mic-in and audio-out. I know the controller on the 360 only accepts the 2.5mm sub-micro for something and then has weird plugs on the left and right for something else.

As I have a totally acceptable set of headphones, I'm really only interested in the mic. Can I take my functional 3.5mm headset, pop a 2.5mm adapter on and go for it? Or am I going to need to pay out for the approved headset?

How could I hack a phone receiver to act as a PC audio device?

bartleby — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:10:33 -0800

Can I use the RJ11 (modem) port on a PC to plug in a phone handset and use it as an audio device? Trying to help a Skype user who has trouble with headsets but knows how to pick up a phone. So I've got a relative who's had to cut out phone service and move to Skype for budget reasons. They love Skype, but find that when it rings, they just can't make it to the computer and get the headset on and activated in time to catch the call. They also don't like the speakers/mic option, since this makes every call a speakerphone call.

And we both know that there are purpose-built Skype phone devices out there, but they can't afford to buy any of them (and won't take one as a gift - stubborn SOB).
But they know how to pick up a phone and already own several.

So I'm thinking that perhaps there is some way to plug a plain ol' phone into their RJ11 modem port and somehow get the system to use the receiver as the speaker and mic. Skype rings, you pick up the phone, the sound comes out of the phone.

I know that they'll still have to use the computer to dial; I'm just trying to find a way to repurpose an old phone receiver as a PC headset alternative.

As another option, they also own a cellphone headset that they like, but it's got an 1/8" plug connector like most of them do; is there a dongle out there that would adapt that for USB? That would solve the problem too, and they'd probably believe me if I told them it only cost a few bucks - even if it didn't.

You don't need to hear me gasping for breath.

Netzapper — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:20:03 -0800

I have a Motorola SX900 Talkabout FRS/GMRS radio. I need a compatible headset with a boom or throat microphone and push-to-talk, for somewhere in the $20 range. The slimmer the better, but I'll take pretty much anything. I do not want a VOX (voice activated) microphone. I also do not want an earbud/capsule microphone headset (like the sort commonly used with cellphones).

None of the Motorola headsets have what I'm looking for. Their PTT models all have inline capsule mics, which aren't going to work.

This would be the perfect form factor, if it were PTT. But, it's VOX, which just isn't going to work... my communicational partners hardly need to hear me cursing or gasping for breath. And they do need to hear the first second of my communiques. Every VOX product I've ever owned has pissed me off within minutes of first using it.

I've found a couple of tactical-style throat microphone headsets. But, $300 is about ten times my budget on this.

(I also tried modifying another headset to work... busted out the soldering iron and everything. Unfortunately, I had no success in that endeavor. It's like those wires are made of fairy hair.)

Why is my USB headset/mic only buzzing when I use Dragon Naturally Speaking?

omnigut — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:43:56 -0800

buzzing noise in Dragon Naturally Speaking, but not on other programs. Using VMWare fusion to run DNS on my Mac, and recording/listening through a Dinex USB headset with microphone. Any suggestions? Hi. Here's the problem:
There is a changing amount of buzzing when I use DNS (version 10). Sometimes a lot, other times only a little. There is always some. I'm using it on my mac (OS X 10.5), running VMWare Fusion to run it on Windows, as necessary.

When I heard the buzzing noise, I thought it had something to do with the mic, but there doesn't seem to be a problem on Photobooth, so I'm guessing it isn't hardware problems.

So I thought it was the fact that the USB headset/mic was being shared by both the mac and VMWare. So I changed all the mac settings, trying different combinations (also changing VMWare's sound settings, and then the control panel's sound settings) all to no avail. Also, when I downloaded "Free Sound Recorder" to use with VMWare fusion, the noise was a lot less, almost inaudible. So I think it's actually DNS that's messing up.

Please help. I'm trying to overcome pain in my wrists, and all this trouble is just exacerbating the situation. Thanks!

Looking for headset for Samsung Mobile (cell) phoine

olddogeyes — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:03:29 -0800

I am looking for a new *wired* headset (headphone / microphone) for my cellphone... My current cellphone is a Samsung SCH-R430 (also called a MyShot). The thing that makes it hard is that this phone has a proprietary headphone jack (see picture here) - not a standard one. Ideally here is what I am looking for:

Wired
Over the head style with TWO ear pieces - ideally sound would come out of both - realize it won't be stereo as phone doesn't support stereo. Bonus points for ear piece that covers the ear (to drown out sound) like the ones broadcasters and DJ's use...
Boom mike
Don't need it for music - just for making calls.
Has to plug into the R430 port OR if anyone makes a dongle that converts R430 into regular headphone jack...

*or* If this doesn't exist, does anyone make a Bluetooth headset like above (over the head, two speakers, boom mike)?

LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE

Many thanks!

There's a Conference Call in my Pants...

GamblingBlues — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:43:38 -0800

I've got a Motorola H500 Bluetooth headset, and the damn thing keeps making phone calls from my pocket. Is there a carrying case that I can rig up that will fit my needs? So, I've seen this question, and tend to agree with this statement by Lokheed, "as near as I can tell bluetooth headsets are universally designed for borg people who want to walk around 24/7 with a piece of technology in their ear, and not for people who want to carry the technology in their pocket and only actually use it when they want to talk on the phone."

I want to carry it in my pocket. I don't want a new headset, I want to see if there's a better option. I'm a guy, and that means we're looking to come up with something that can fit in a front pants pocket, doesn't have sharp corners, and is rigid enough to not press down on the dial-out button when I sit down.

I'm going to see if an Altoids tin is thick enough, but I'm pretty sure it's not.

Any other suggestions? Homebrew solutions?

I have to wear this headset, can I make it play music?

cobaltnine — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:46:09 -0800

Is there any way to turn my Plantronics wireless headset into a music device, when it's not in use for taking phone calls? I'm at a job where I have to take calls, and I have this Plantonics wireless headset. The headset interfaces with the phone, not the computer. I wear the headset most of the time.

However, when it's quiet, my boss puts on music from her office. Terrible, terrible music. The 'music' from CATS, seriously. If I could somehow get the headset to play decent music, I'd be slightly happier in this miserable job. I have absolutely no experience with wireless devices but I am desperate enough to learn.

Oh, and I do not own an ipod (I have an iriver) and I will not purchase one.

blackjack II, electric boogaloo

fillsthepews — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:41:23 -0800

I got a cheap blackjack II, and I'm happy with it for the most part. However, I'm having trouble finding a headset/hands free set up for my car... I'm trying to avoid a bluetooth for price concerns and also, well - I find them dorky. I'd prefer a headset that sits around the ear like these or these. I cant seem to find one for the blackjack II, and opted for an earbud. The earbud suuucks, and doesnt seem to actually stay in my ear. The problem seems to be the jack that plugs into the phone is weird (see link for photo).

Does anyone have a blackjack II and have a good headset? I've tried lots of googling, but to no avail. I'll break down and buy a bluetooth if I have to, but for the small amount of time that I'd use the headset in my car (cali law) it just doesnt seem to make sense.

Bluetooth headset reccommendations for iPhone 3G.

ChazB — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:26:18 -0800

iPhone 3G filter: I'm about to purchase and iPhone 3G and need the help of the hive mind to determine the best bluetooth headset to get. The major issues are:

1). Ear bud headphones do not stay in my ears no matter what. I only use in ear headphones with my iPod touch as the rubber covers hold them snug in my ears. This means that Apple's bluetooth headset for iPhone is out of the question as are other ear bud type headsets.

2). The iPhone must properly pass off voice calls to the headset while the iPhone is connected to my AUX in on my car's stereo through the headphone jack or through the use of a FM transmitter (recommendations for these welcome too).

favorite USB headset?

nadawi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:14:39 -0800

What is your favorite USB headset with a mute button? Bonus points if you know it works well with VOIP/avaya softfones. i'm hoping for something i can buy at a retail location (radio shack, circuit city, target). i'm in denton/lewisville tx. also, it'll be worn for 8 hours a day, so something vaguely comfortable and full of noise reduction would be awesome.

Good Midrange iPhone Headset w/ Controls?

inkedmn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:36:16 -0800

Looking for the best aftermarket iPhone headset I can afford so I don't have to keep switching between the standard white set and the over-ear headphones I use at work. I'd be willing to spend about $100, more if they were exquisite, but I'd love to stay around $50. It's worth noting that I'm not any sort of audiophile. Most of my music is encoded at 192kbps or higher, and I'm not the sort of fellow who scoffs at anything less than lossless encoding, etc. I'm mostly just looking for something better than the stock headset (but that still has the iPhone controls for pausing, answering calls, etc. built in).

Thanks!

bluetooth headset as PC presenter remote?

nolnar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:25:40 -0800

bluetooth headset as PC presenter remote? requirements: inexpensive; two input buttons; work with some free software Hi, I need a presenter device for wirelessly changing slides in presentation software (like powerpoint) during presentations.

There are various presenter devices for purchase but the ones available to me are ridiculously overpriced and/or require that a much to large dongle is connected to the PC.

However, my laptop has bluetooth support so I'm looking for a bluetooth headset or other bluetooth device that can be used as a presenter tool, a device that fits this description:

1. inexpensive
2. at least two different input buttons
3. some free PC software/script can tie the input to commands, for example send "next" and "previous" slide commands to the presenter software.

I rule these things out, so please do not reply about them at all:
- bluetooth mouse (too big!)
- bluetooth phone (don't have one so too expensive!)
- regular non-bluetooth presenter devices (off-topic!)

Phone+music stereo headset?

jckll — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:43:13 -0800

I’ve just started using my first PDA/Smartphone (Blackberry 8820) and I need some recommendations for a headset. I know there are tons of questions already—and even more online resources—for finding the best Bluetooth earpiece, but I’m not looking specifically for your standard Bluetooth. I want an iPhone-style headphone plus microphone combination. I’ve looked around a lot, and there are a bunch of stereo headphones, but scant information on them. There are of course the wired stereo phones—exactly like the iPhone headset. There are models that look exactly like the iPhone headset, with standard, earbud, wired earpieces, but they are connected to a Bluetooth dongle that hangs from your ears or clips to your belt. (1,2,3) Then there are your standard Bluetooth earpieces with a connectible earpiece for your other ear. Finally, there are over-the-ear headphones, which I don’t want.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a particular style of stereo headsets with mics? Am I better off just getting a pair of wired headphones with a microphone attached? Are the Bluetooth models any good? (Bonus points for a model recommended—or advised against—by personal experience, and double bonus points if I can connect my SHURE e3c bud headphones instead of relying on crappy Plantronics acoustics!)

"Ultimate" Bluetooth Frustration

Kadin2048 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:34:48 -0800

How do I get this Bluetooth headset working with Skype on Windows Vista? The S.O. is leaving tomorrow on a long trip, and I said I'd install and set up Skype with her Bluetooth headset (a Motorola H700) so she could use it while abroad.

I've done this without problems on my Windows laptop, which runs XP. Once I paired it, the audio seemed to basically just work after I set it in Skype's options. Unfortunately, she just got stuck with a Vista machine, and I can't get it to work. I can pair the headset with the machine, but it always reports itself as "Disconnected" in the 'Audio' tab of 'Bluetooth Devices.' Hence, nothing happens.

The machine is a Dell M1330 running Vista Ultimate 32-bit, the headset is a Motorola H700. The machine's BT chipset is a "Dell TrueMobile 355", which Windows says is running the latest drivers (6.0.6.6000.16682, dated 6/21/06). The "Bluetooth Hands-free Audio" device appears in Device Manager and claims to be working properly; it's also using what Windows says is the latest driver from Broadcom (6.0.1.3100, dated 11/3/06). The Broadcom Bluetooth Update page hasn't been of any help either; it's apparently XP-only.

I've found a few other people reporting problems getting BT headsets to work under Vista, but no solutions. I know next-to-nothing about Vista, except that it's apparently a royal pain. I've tried rebooting, deleting and re-pairing the device, invoking various gods, all to no avail. Is there anything I'm missing, here? Or is this combination just broken?

Alternately, does anyone out there have a Bluetooth headset that works under Vista that they'd like to recommend? I'm under a very tight time crunch, so one that I could acquire in the DC Metro area on a Sunday afternoon would be preferred. I'm not averse to spending money if that's what it takes (unfortunately solutions involving a new laptop, or ~~down~~upgrading this one to XP, aren't practical given the time I have left).

Bluetooth headset recommendations?

piro — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:45:24 -0800

What's the best bluetooth headset out there these days? Preferred specs inside. Obviously there are tradeoffs between weight, comfort, sound quality, battery life, aesthetics, etc... Nevertheless, given the unranked priorities of comfort, sound quality, and battery life, what do you recommend?

Extra points to headsets that charge via a standard USB-Mini-USB cable (like this).

Is the headset I'm looking for extinct technology?

Eideteker — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:53:20 -0800

I am looking for a headset for my phone. I cannot find what I'm looking for anywhere. Are you a bad enough dude (or dudess/ette) to help me? I have a Treo 680. I am looking for a headset that has the following:

2.5 mm jack. I do not want to also need an adaptor, which adds bulk and can be lost.

Over-ear or on-ear headphones for both ears. No earbuds (they don't work with my ears), clip ons, or behind the back of the head (the latter two pinch over time).

Boom microphone. It's not hands-free if you have to lift a little dangly microphone to your mouth.

Stereo.

My current headset does all of the above (on-ear, boom mic, 2.5 mm) but stereo, and it's now dying. It's also going on 10 years old and was originally designed in the age of cordless (not cellular) phones. Now that cell phones are here and have been for some time, it seems impossible to find a simple headset like this that I can use for both calls (hence the boom-mic) and for listening to music (hence needing both ears covered).

I would like to avoid Bluetooth, due to the additional power drain and the need for yet another charger.

I get sniped whenever I stop to type

lou — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:32:03 -0800

Suggest a good gaming headset? I've been playing Team Fortress 2 on my PC and figured it's about time to invest in a headset with microphone (for better teamwork, etc) but since I have no experience with these things I didn't want to pick one at random and risk shoddy quality or compatibility issues with the game I'm playing. Maybe the hivemind has some ideas? Here's what I'm considering:

- Is it possible to have a headset where I sometimes use the earbuds for sound, and other times have sound come out of my speakers, while I still use the microphone? I really like sound coming out of the speakers when I know it won't piss off the roommates. I don't know if this means detaching the earbuds, or what.
- Bluetooth? Does this mean I can get a headset that will also work with my phone (bonus, not really important). If I go Bluetooth will it come a receiver for my PC (since it doesn't already have one built in) If I do it, range and battery life should be as good as possible.
- Comfort's not really an issue - I don't plan on playing for hours at a time.
- Sound quality should be decent, shouldn't make me hate listening to it.
- Cost - I don't know if I can find the perfect set for less than $50-- unless you know something I don't! Less than $100 is good.

Thanks.

bluetooth for the whole family?

epersonae — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:51:31 -0800

Seeking bluetooth headset advice: something that will work with two different phones, good durability & sound quality, w/out breaking the bank? I am overwhelmed by the options.... I have an MDA; mr. epersonae has a Motorola V195.

I'd like to buy us both bluetooth headsets. I have a hunch that it would help both of us if we had the same model, but there are so many billions of headsets that I'm not sure where to start.

(I already bought one headset for myself; a stereo set for listening to music. It's pretty crummy, because I bought the cheapest one. I don't want to make that mistake again!!!!!)

He wants to talk while driving/biking, so ease of use & durability are important. My phone sux for talking on the phone, and I often have trouble understanding conversations in noisy environments, so sound quality is important.

Any suggestions for either good headsets, the kinds of things to look for, or places to get good reviews? I find Amazon a little overwhelming for this sort of thing.

Bonus points for something that will also talk to our MacBook. :)

A Bluetooth headset that won't redial in my pocket?

vorfeed — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:02:50 -0800

ARGH! My phone is driving me nuts. Please help me find a Bluetooth cell phone headset that won't ass-dial people! I've got a Samsung u540 cell phone and a Motorola H500 over-the-ear bluetooth headset. I keep them both in my cargo pants pocket. The big, shiny, oh so easy to accidentally press button on the headset is constantly getting hit while in my pocket, thus activating the redial feature. It was funny the first 10 times I left my friends a five minute long I'm-in-a-store-somewhere-or-maybe-on-the-bus voice mail, but now it's driving me crazy. Help me stop ass-dialing people!

Can you recommend a quality over-the-ear bluetooth headset that won't do this? By this, I don't just mean "doesn't do it for you", because my boyfriend has the same headset and he says it doesn't do this. I'd prefer a headset that flips quickly on and off without dropping the bluetooth connection while it's off, or has a lock button, or has some similar feature so that it cannot dial people while it's in my pocket. I never use the redial or voice dial features, anyway -- I only use the headset button to answer calls and hang up.

Extra points for voice clarity. Thanks for any advice you can give!

ipod+bluetooth+running?

meeshell — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:59:17 -0800

productreviewfilter: I am considering buying the Sony Bluetooth Wirleless Transmitter for iPod along with the Sony DRBT21G/B Stereo Bluetooth Headset for a birthday gift for a friend who runs on a treadmill most of the time, outside sometimes. Have you used these? is there a better combo that might be preferred by a runner? Thank you in advance!