Hey guys, I'm hoping you can help me find some choices to replace my G930. Unfortunately there have been models with spotty build quality, and mine aonly died after a year. Well, technically it still works, but the charging capability is shot so it has to be wired all the time, and even then if you don't hook it up in the right order the transmitter will reset every 8 seconds or so. I even bought a spare battery when I got it, and when the battery started taking less of a charge I swapped it out only to find it didn't work any better. It's a shame, they haven't made a newer model since around 2010, I don't want to run the risk of getting another lemon.
So, I'd like a wireless headset with at least 5.1 capability (7.1 preferred since that seems to be the standard) that can connect through USB (I only have the realtek audio on my motherboard that does have optical, but it tends to make something like A50's overkill since it can't match a dedicated card). I'd really like something that I can purchase spare battery packs for as well, just so I can use them for as long as possible. It took a little over a year for me to kill the pack in the G930 using it as my main audio source for at least 8 hours a day every day.
So far the one I like the most is the Steelseries H Wireless.....but that's $300. Ouch.
A50's are around that price as well but don't let you use USB since they rely on an external soundcard.
Skullcandy has the same problem.
I've looked at Razer, Asus, Coolermaster, Corsair, Creative, Turtlebeach.......too many brands and too many conflicting reviews the cheaper the cans become. So I figured you guys have practical experience with a wide range hardware and can help narrow down the field.
Those $300 Steelseries are awfully nice.......and my birthday
is in a month.......nah I really shouldn't. Very expensive and I couldn't find any info on purchasing more battery packs when I kill the 2 that come with it in about 2 years. If I had multiple consoles it would be great, I just have my PC and a TV that I could hook up to it. Very tempting though.
Posts
Also, it's worth noting that in the future, don't buy replacement batteries until you need one; their shelf life degrades even if they're not being used, so the spare you have being just as old as the one that's dying means it's going to be dying too.
Over at the Logitech forums, you can get them replaced most of the time, but some people are on their 3rd set of replacements. It's just a defect that becomes worse over time. There's an issue with flimsy connectors (which I don't have or using the cable wouldn't work at all) and an issue with some wiring and a chip going screwy. I got mine on sale so I'm not out too much money.
The battery pack in the one I got last year was from 2010, so there's no guarantee I'd get a unit from the last year or so that might have had the issues fixed.
I am extremely satisfied with them, but I'm not really an audiophile like some are. Supposedly the 7.1 surround software is released and works but I haven't had the time/energy/drive to really test it.
But like I said, overall, I'm very happy with every bit of these. My amazon review is up there and has 10 out 10 helpful rating even haha!
Thanks, I'll give it a read today or tomorrow.
EDIT Just read it, thanks for the input, it's helpful.
This won't improve until the bluetooth bandwidth and codex standards improve significantly (the bandwidth needs to double or triple in order to support FLAC). And even if bluetooth gets on the ball, headsets will need more power than they currently offer, in order to get quality audio. An example of the latter, some of us here are already using headphone amps, pumping out a half a watt to a full watt. If you pumped out that much power to a wireless headset, either the batteries required would be huge, or the usable time of the headset would be horrendous.
Thus, our expensive headphones are all of the wired variety. And we just use whatever for bluetooth headphones, and just deal with the suckatude for the convenience.