Luke Skywalker has his light saber. Starbuck has her fighter. Lara Croft has her … well, her tools. In other words, heroes are defined by their equipment. That means every gamer today needs a headset that will provide the best possible sound for voice commands and audio input. 

Gaming headsets should be rated on five qualities: sound, noise cancellation, microphone, cable length and most of all, comfort. 

Anyone who’s left an all-night gaming session with buzzing head and sore ears will want to make comfort the number-one priority. There’s only one way to judge a headset’s comfort: Wear it. Seriously. Clap the thing on your head for at least 15 minutes and let the feeling soak into your body and brain. Check the thickness and softness of the padding. Are the ear cups big enough to encompass your entire ear? Does the ear bud fit comfortably in your ear? Can you adjust the headset? Does it weigh down your head? Keep checking this factors until you find the right headset for you. 

Next, check how real the sound seems. After all, the throb of the engines, the whiz of the bullets, and the grunts and groans of your vanquished foes are key to the gaming experience. Be sure to get a headset with “surround sound.” Check also for a headset with encoded 5.1 digital audio for newer games. In-line volume and mute control will allow setting the proper speaker levels, and a good strong bass is another must. As veterans gamers say, if the explosions don’t rattle your teeth, the game isn’t worth it. 

Microphones are another essential for a gaming headset. Some headsets carry an external microphone to pick up external noise and invert it to cancel unwanted noise. Another kind of noise can be a factor if choosing a wireless headset with Bluetooth or RF capacity. While wireless units allow freedom of movement, they can suffer signal loss and can be susceptible to hisses, pops, static and other audio horrors. If opting for a wired headset, be sure to get one with a cable with a minimum length of 2 meters to allow for plenty of movement. An extra-long cable or additional cable may be necessary if gaming with a console. 

Here are some examples of the latest in gaming headsets:

GameCom’s P20, a portable headset with good versatility for the Sony PSP. All the best is here in an entry-level headset: “surround sound” stereo, noise-canceling microphone, dual earbuds, in-line volume and mute control. A QuickAdjust boom positions the microphone, while GameCom P20’s Flex Grip secures the headset while it ramps up the comfort. 

Plantronics’ GameCom X20 headset for Xbox offers in-the-ear design with Flex Grip, a flexible boom and a noise-canceling microphone.  

Plantronics backs its GameCom X10 headset for Xbox 360 and Xbox with a one-year quality warranty. It features extra cushioning, an over-the-head design, an extended boom a noise-canceling microphone and inline volume and mute controls. 

Veteran gamers ready to shift their playing experience into the highest gear – or newbies who want plunge off the cliff for the rush – can crown their strategies with the ultimate quality of Plantronics GameCom X30 for Xbox headset. This top-of-the-line console gaming headset covers all the bases for quality: noise-canceling microphone, extended boom, single-ear coverage, inline volume and mute, and a hot, hip design that would shoot you to the top of heap in no time.  

Prices run from a low of around $25 for a basic headset to as much as $150 for a console gaming “ultimate experience.” 

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Tags: headphones for gamers, headphones for lans, headsets for gamers, hedaphones for xbox, PS2 gaming, xbox gaming