How is the quality of the Logitech Desktop Mic?

Sharpsilver

Sharpsilver

Sharpsilver

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I made a previous thread about headsets but this time I'm going against my first thoughts of buying a 'gaming' headset and purchasing a pair of stereo headphones, and then instead use the logitech desktop microphone so that I don't gimp my quality of audio in games and music with these poor headsets.

Can anyone clarify how well the logitech desktop Mic performs with:

Ease of use
Quality of Recording
Noise Cancellation
Distance (Will I need to hunch over everytime I want to talk)

Also, could somebody recommend a good headphones + Sound card combo that will provide me effective positonal audio? For gaming, and Music... I'm trying not to say 5.1/7.1 'surround sound' because apparantly that's a gimmick ;)

The budget between the headphones and soundcard would have be about £130
 
Quality of recording? I would't want to record music with it. OK for PC voice communication.

It's fine for noise cancelling. I'm able to use skype / msn voice communication with speakers rather than a headset and haven't had any complaints.

For gaming positional audio, I'd suggest Xonar D1 or DX. Alternatively an X-Fi Xtreme Gamer or Titanium.
 
Uriel said:
Quality of recording? I would't want to record music with it. OK for PC voice communication.

It's fine for noise cancelling. I'm able to use skype / msn voice communication with speakers rather than a headset and haven't had any complaints.

For gaming positional audio, I'd suggest Xonar D1 or DX. Alternatively an X-Fi Xtreme Gamer or Titanium.
Click to expand...

Apologies, meant general voice quality... wont be recording with it :)
 
I came across some Goldrings DR150, they seem like a decent pair of headphones that will fit into my budget, however which soundcard will it work best with? The Creative Xtreme Gamer or the Xonar D1/DX Sound cards?

I hear lots of people saying that the Xtreme gamer has better positional audio however I'm seeing people defend the Xonars as well..but I'm unsure of which to go for.

Also, are the Goldring 150's a worthy pair of headphones to go with one of these choices of sound card?
 
I have an X-Fi and Goldring DR150 phones, for me it works great. Positional sound wise, 5.1 phones work for some people, but anyone claiming the sound quality is as good as decent stereo phones is either deaf or has never used decent stereo phones. Also, if you have decent stereo phones, they will be good should you wish to use them for music. 5.1 phones for music? Best not go there. :p

For the most part, decent stereo phones and a gaming sound card works for the majority of people. You will always get people say 5.1 phones are true surround sound, that stereo phones when used with CMSS 3D or Dolby Headphones do not work. There are still people who believe the world is flat, so make of that what you will. If 5.1 works for them, that's fine, but there is little point recommending 5.1 phones when the majority find stereo phones and gaming sound card the better option.

Desk mic should be fine as long as you don't have a lot of background noise. The more background noise, lesser sensitivity the mic needs to be, which in turn means you need to be closer for it to pick up your voice. If there is a chance of background noise being a problem, maybe a clip on mic would be better as you will have it close to mouth.

As Uriel said, wouldn't want to use it for recording, unless you care not about quality.
 
I have a set of Goldring DR150s and would recommend them. They're marginally better suited to Xonar than X-Fi.

In terms of X-Fi vs Xonar, I would say they do things a little differently. I would say Xonar has the advantage in terms of front / rear positioning, plus giving an impression of distance. However X-Fi is better for elevation and a number of gaming effects. Overall I would say X-Fi for gaming.

To put it simply, Dolby Headphone on Xonar (except DS) simulates surround speakers in a room. CMSS-3D headphone on X-Fi (at least the full models that support EAX5) simulates the gaming environment, at least in gaming mode.

If you're thinking of using the heaphphone modes for music or movies, Xonar absolutely destroys X-Fi. Barely any competition at all. I would absolutely not consider CMSS-3D headphone for music use, while now I prefer Dolby Headphone in 2 channel mode for music (which gives a decent approximation of listening to stereo speakers) to listening in plain stereo.
 
I have the desktop microphone and I find it superb.

I use it for skype and ts and there are no problems with picking things up
 
Try googling for the Plantronics .Audio 15, i find it to be of better quality than the Logitech. although the Logitech is a good mic.
 
£10< gets you a Labtec desktop "dome" mic - I use it for Vent and gaming and it's great, sound quality is superb too.

Sample recording of music playing through speakers in the background then half way phone ringtone (phone positioned on desk, mic sitting below monitor).

http://robbiekhan.co.uk/root/temp/mictest.mp3
(some minor mp3 compression in the background due to low bitrate but you get the idea)

Perfectly usable for voice comms even when you're laid back at your desk and the mic sitting at the back, heck I can even talk on vent standing in the corner of the room and people can hear me clearly :)
 
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Ordered a pair of Goldring DR150's this morning to go with the Xtreme Gamer SC that's being fitted into my Ultima Vanquish by OcUk :D, with the Logitech desktop Mic coming with the Base unit order.

Looking forward to being blown away by the Quality, the most I've ever spent on a pair of headphones in the past was a wasted £40 on a pair of Plantronics. Audio 510's, and then I stupidly bought a second pair when the first pair's cable got caught in the wheely chair wheel.

Heres a picture of what they look like after years of abuse.

http://img11.imageshack.us/i/dsc02379f.jpg/
 
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