Gaming headset / add on headset mic recommendations

Apologies in advance, this got longer than I thought it would.

TLDR - I want recommendations for a cheapish decent mic with a mute button with a 3.5mm plug I can combine with existing headphones; OR I want recommendations for a decent wireless gaming headset that isn’t too gamery and I can easily use as headphones with an iPad Pro.

Ok - I have a pretty silly ‘problem’ I’m hoping the brains trust might be gracious enough to assist with. I know there’s a lot of gamers on here who’ve probably gone through some of this thought process.

I’m in the market for a gaming headset but I don’t want a ‘gaming’ headset. I would rather go with an audio brand than a gaming brand or a brand like Jabra aimed at enterprise headsets (I’ve been using my work one which is fine honestly but I’d prefer wireless).

My wishlist is this:

  • wireless dongle
  • bluetooth
  • direct usb connection
  • hardware mic mute
  • built in mic in addition to a boom mic
  • PC and iOS compatibility
  • can work wirelessly alongside a usb audio interface (not a deal breaker but it would help justify the purchase)
  • fairly neutral frequency response
  • basically a headset that will work for everything

Things I don’t care much about:

  • simultaneous bluetooth (ie calls/music from mobile while game sound from PC)
  • RGB / general gaming nonsense
  • spatial audio/footsteps enhancement stuff
  • wireless latency at audio standards
  • don’t want one with a trrs or combo xlr/trs connector

This is a bit self indulgent because I have plenty of mic/interface options. They’re all just a bit clunky for this purpose.

Current Options:

  • use my Blue Yeti Pro in usb mode with headphones plugged in (tbh I’d rather use the work headset)
  • keep using the work headset
  • use my Zoom H5 and headphones (same as the yeti, feels clunky)
  • buy the Beyerdynamic USB cable for the DT900 ProX. Well priced option but I don’t think there’s a mic mute button - really want a button
  • buy a lav/lapel/headset attachment mic with a 3.5mm plug. Struggling to find a cheap decent looking option with a mic mute button. And at a certain price point a new headset makes more sense.

The Audeze Maxwell seem to check most of the boxes. I don’t really want to spend those kind of dollars (around $500 Australian) if I can’t use the wireless dongle alongside an audio interface in Windows. I’m not expecting super low latency but just sequencing gear and listening back could be good. Also the weight scares me a bit, as much as my HD280s and 900X combined.

So I’d spent maybe one hundred bucks on something that gave me better audio than I’ve got now and didn’t make things too clunky.

I don’t want to spend $2-300 on something that ticks half the list, I’d rather spend the $500, if that makes sense.

I didn’t read the whole long ass post (sorry), but my hands down favorite gaming headset of the last 10 years is the Steelseries Nova Pro.

Can’t say I blame you haha.

Looks like there’s a few different Nova variants, are you using ones that have the larger base station thingy?

Yeah; it’s not a conventional base station for the headset, which I love. It has two batteries that can be hot swapped and multiple inputs to switch between/mixed. +ANC and a mic that can be tucked away? Easy tactile mute button… this headset is infinitely better than Astros, Turtle Beaches, Logitech, Corsair…

https://a.co/d/5FwqV0l

Thanks for the tip making me look twice at the steel series options, I ended up ordering the Nova 7 wireless (non-pro version) as I saw a pretty decent discount locally.

The pro base station thing did look cool but I preferred the low profile dongle of the 7 for use with a tablet as well as PC.

Edit: I’m actually pretty impressed with the wireless latency on these so far, I’ve only tested with some iOS apps using the wireless dongle and to my ears no perceptible latency playing synth or drum pad apps via the screen or a midi controller also plugged in via usb.

I have had the Kingston hyperx 1 and 2 (cloud or something). They’re less than $100, very comfortable, and sound good - enough that I don’t feel any need to switch to studio phones for critical listening. I tried adding a sticky mic to fancier headphones and it was an annoying disaster. Sent it back.

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