USB headset with good headphone quality and comfort?

Question

I am on a headset for work several hours each day. I also listen to music extensively at work.

I currently listen to Sennheiser HD 380 headphones. My headset is pretty low quality comparatively.

What I would like is a good quality headset which has comparable sound quality and comfort.

My criteria:

• Sound quality comparable to my current Sennheiser headphones
• Preferably over-ear entirely (for ambient noise reduction)
• USB connection (acceptable to have 3.5mm audio input, too)

Answer 1

I recently bought the Logitech G930 ($100) headset for gaming and music and I can honestly say it's the best headset I've ever used.

• Circumaural and fits to ear shape (it isn't circular like most headsets — something that causes a lot of discomfort after an hour or two of wearing it)
• Dolby 7.1 surround sound that sounds almost just as good as sitting in a room surrounded by a 7.1 setup
• USB connection¹
• Programmable keys and volume directly on the headset that can be set to do anything you could ever want (to interact with Windows further than is allowed, see this SU post)
• Extremely comfortable ear pads and headband — the headband is a semi-memory foam and the ear pads are just foam
• Mic that folds up and down — auto-mutes when folded up (one of the best features IMO)
• The companion Logitech software lets you adjust individual EQ frequencies, channel volumes, and talkback volume
• And of course an excellent sound range: 20Hz-20KHz and 30 Ohms

¹ The G930 has a base that connects to the PC via USB, and to charge the headset, a micro USB comes out of the base (a decent length). For the headset to work, a USB wireless receiver can be plugged into the top of the base or directly into the computer. It's a strange setup but it works. Check pictures for more detail.

The connection thing is greatly outweighed by the good features of this headset. You won't notice it after you set it up.

Answer 2

I'm going to recommend the baby brother of Adam's answer: the Logitech G430.

Regular price is around $75.

• It fits over the entire ear (and isn't circular). I can wear it for hours at a time with no discomfort.
• 7.1 surround sound. It works very well in both games and movies.
• Noise canceling microphone. Team mates in games mentioned that the clarity is very good (and were appreciative when I started using this headset compared to my cheap previous one).
• The ear cups fold flat, so you can lay it flat on a desk.
• USB connection with on cable controls for volume adjustment and ability to mute the microphone. It is a wired headset, but the cable 7.5 feet long. This length has been fine for me. The headset actually has 3.5mm connections that plug into the USB dongle, if you wish to go that route.

Finally, I got my set at QuakeCon 2014 and have nice orange padding vs. the blue that you get at retail.

Answer 3

You might consider just adding a microphone to your setup (i.e. "convert" your headphones to a headset), like this lapel microphone from Zalman. That's what I've bought to use with my Sennheiser HD558's to great effect, and it costs around $9.

You could also purchase a USB sound system, like this Creative X-Fi external pre-amp and sound system, which you can get for around $90. I'm not an audiophile (though I enjoy good sound), and I don't think that's audiophile quality - but if you're into good sound without being an audiophile, that's probably a good setup. The upside is, you don't have to change your current headphones and you will get a better sound than other systems, in my humble opinion.

Best of luck with your search, and have fun!

Answer 4

I have a Logitech G930 headset, which I am quite happy with.

On the plus side:

• Good quality speakers
• Good quality microphone
• Good wireless range
• Microphone mute button on the headset
• Microphone automatically mutes when folded up
• Has a practical base with a long wire for charging with a connector of better quality than most other micro USB chargers.

On the negative side:

• If the microphone touches something the noise feeds back through the speakers. (Even if the microphone is muted.)
• If you temporarily move out of wireless range while microphone is muted it gets un-muted as you move back within range.
• You will hear an annoying noise if you stay just on the edge of wireless range.
• The microphone on my first G930 broke after about a year. (But I was happy enough with my experience that I did use the refund I got under the warranty to buy a new G930).

The speakers do cover the ears and keeps out most of the ambient noise as you are asking for. Keeping out ambient noise can be a plus or a minus depending on circumstances, for example you might want to be able to hear a phone or a door bell.