Headphones or headsets?

gomezz

gomezz

Well-Known Member
Am I unusual in not being aware that among the headphone cognoscenti that headsets are very different things primarily used by gamers. So that when I went asking about getting a new set of budget neckband headphones (not ear buds) mainly for podcast listening from my phone that because my old pair had a microphone it was wrong to be asking in a headphones forum and got chewed out about it. :o_O:
 
gomezz said:
Am I unusual in not being aware that among the headphone cognoscenti that headsets are very different things primarily used by gamers.
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I don't know. My assumption would be that what I call headphones don't have a microphone (although modern ones may have a hidden one). A headset, at least in my mind, has an obvious microphone with an adjustable position.
gomezz said:
because my old pair had a microphone it was wrong to be asking in a headphones forum and got chewed out about it. :o_O:
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A gentle reminder that you might be in the wrong forum should have sufficed.
 
Yes indeed, a headset has a microphone – set being the operative part of the term (a set comprising microphone and earphones), and it's not a set unless it does. This goes all the way back to military terminology and then manual telephone exchanges. Another example is the 'genset' – a generator set comprising an engine and an alternator or dynamo.

The point is that hi-fi headphones never have microphones, while gamer headsets do not have fidelity as their primary aim in life and will therefore be derided by hi-fi buffs.
 
Black Hole said:
The point is that hi-fi headphones never have microphones, while gamer headsets do not have fidelity as their primary aim in life and will therefore be derided by hi-fi buffs. snobs
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Snobs, not buffs. ;)

Probably also must have cables and not be wireless (Bluetooth) despite the modern almost lossless codecs (APT-X for example) for that 'breed' of forum.

Many decent wireless headphones: in-ear, on-ear and over ear include mics for mobile phone use alongside listening to whatever and are certainly NOT intended for gaming headset use... That's another genre of use, I believe.

Name that forum so we can suggest less 'judgemental' places to ask? I've no advice to give on neck-band earphones but always state a specific budget when asking and whether wired or wireless... (£10-15 or up to £50 may get very different quality suggestions).

Generally Googling the same question might get you a shortlist to investigate more thoroughly.
 
Rodders53 said:
Probably also must have cables and not be wireless (Bluetooth) despite the modern almost lossless codecs (APT-X for example) for that 'breed' of forum.
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The best thing about APT-X is the name, it sounds cool. It's audio quality is not much better than other lossy codecs.
 
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