gaming and headsets

[mellowtigger]

Does anyone have a favorite wired (preferably USB-A for now, but I know everything's moving to USB-C) headset with mic for long-term wear? It also needs to be on-ear instead of cuffs that surround the ear, because cuffs dig into my eyeglasses and eventually hurt my head. My employer provided this Microsoft LifeChat LX-6000 headset, which has worked quite well for me. I need a backup, though, and I need something for use at my gaming computer. Microsoft apparently doesn't produce headsets any more, so I relied on their recommendations and ordered this Logitech H570E. I'm open to new ideas though.

I don't normally need a microphone at my gaming computer, but I've joined 2 others in a Discord chat to play in a newly-available (only in Early Access) MMO. Pantheon: Rise Of The Fallen is intended to be a game in the same vein as the original EverQuest. I played EQ1 for many years, and I'm enjoying Pantheon, despite its very rough state at the moment. I originally crowdfunded Pantheon back in 2014, but the Kickstarter failed because it didn't meet its fundraising goal. Apparently they've been limping along financially for a decade, with very slow progress using only a few developers. The prominent designer of both EQ1 and Pantheon died in 2019, which didn't help progress either. Once inside and playing, the game obviously needs a lot of work, but it also obviously takes on many of the features of the original EQ1. There are no maps, no quest markers, and you're expected to explore the world from your character's perspective. I'm still experimenting and finding things that fall short, but the "core" of EQ1 is actually there, with moderately improved graphics. This is definitely a computer game (mouse and keyboard) and not a console game (controller). It has a complex UI, with support for in-game macros, just like EQ1. It has easily accommodated my keybind changes to support my left-handed mousing and right-handed keyboarding.

If you're comfortable spending money on things that are still in development and might never reach full potential or might get cancelled, then I can recommend this one. It runs great on Linux with Steam Proton, with one glaring exception. I was confused and roadblocked for a while because selling items was literally impossible, a necessary step in game. Players on Windows computers are supposed to hold the ALT key and right-click an item to sell it at a vendor. I have to use CTRL-ALT-RightClick instead, but at least it works.

Comments

[mellowtigger]

P.S. Maybe I was wrong about it being only for pc gaming? Somebody is trying out this layout for controller.

[shimmerwine]

I would just like one that doesn't somehow manage to sound muffled or static-y or cuts in and out. We use our phones to answer calls at work, and I really am over trying to type with one hand while on a call. Wearing a mask probably plays into this, too, but I'm not working without one.

[mellowtigger]

I don't know that it's related to your particular issues, but in general I strongly recommend that all live audio connections be wired and never wireless. Not wireless for headset-to-computer, and not wireless for computer-to-internet. Always stay wired. As far as I know, they never solved the wifi half-duplex problem, so no matter how quickly your devices are switching between transmitting and listening... they're still doing only one of them at a time. Wired connections can do both at the same time, resulting in smoother audio each direction. Wireless connections, on the other hand, have a "screaming" broadcast antenna that has to keep itself silent while the receiving antenna switches on to actively gather meaningful signals to process, so they take turns operating.

[shimmerwine]

I completely agree, but there's one problem: iPhones (which are the phone of choice for work) don't have the capability anymore. Idiotic choice. I could use my Android, but the app we use is glacial on there and my socket seems to have a glitch because if I move even the slightest bit it hangs up. I've tried buying a new wired headset and it's still the same. So until I get a new Android (which never happens until the old one dies), I'm stuck with wireless. Or simply answering and typing with one hand - which is what I've reverted to.