Can anyone recommend a good headset?

[hilary]

I'd like to spend something under £40 for a computer headset with mic that's comfortable, stays put, and has reasonable sound quality for recording. I just have no idea what I really need to spend, whether there is any perceptible difference in recording quality between the painfully-expensive and embarrassingly-cheap options, what features/ specifications to look for... anything.

Help?

[jte]

I've brought these for a project at work and we went with the upper end of the cheap kind. For a netmeeting kind of event, software/bandwidth/streaming interference is going to impact sound quality no matter what, so getting an expensive one isn't worth it...

- Jeff

[hilary]

Thank you - good point. Maybe I start with 'cheap but not so cheap it falls apart' and then upgrade if/when I try turning the ebook (what ebook?) into an audiobook as well...

If anyone knows anything about good/bad brands, could you email me?

[candid]

Hilary, sound quality is highly subjective to the hearer. Is there a decent computer store near you where you can actually try a few out?

You shouldn't have to spend a lot to get a decent headset. You can also, in most applications, do fine with speakers and mic, or a headset with separate mic. Just mute the speakers when you record, or turn down the bass to avoid feedback problems.

The best overall mic I've found for a variety of applications is made by Mac, but is compatible with Windows. Its circular rather than the skinny pencil types. Its pickup pattern isn?t too directional, and so its forgiving of minor adjustments.

Jeff makes a good point, in that beyond the certain threshold/limitation of internet use, you will not be able to distinguish a $20 mic from a $200 mic. For high resolution digital studio recording, its a different matter.

For what its worth, I?ve been very satisfied with Boston Acoustics? products.

[hilary]

Thank you! *When* I have something worth mentioning to record, I shall go see if Boston Acoustics are available over here. (Why are these things so much more expensive in the UK than the US? Whinge!)

I knew there would be someone here who understood these things!