Battle of the wireless headsets

We recently took a look at two new wireless headsets available on the market and pitted them against one another. The Creative Digital Wireless Gaming headset HS-1200 and the Logitech ClearChat PC Wireless headset both offer similar functionality, but only one can be worth your hard-earned cash.

Both the Creative and Logitech are rechargeable units that use USB dongles to transmit audio to their respective headset. However, we were much happier with the transmission radius of the Creative. The Logitech gave us up to 20 feet of freedom, but the Creative was able to let us travel up to 60 feet away from our PC. This was especially nice while using the VoIP chatting program Skype.

Speaking of Skype, both headsets worked great using it and we'd recommend either for doing so. That said, the Creative has a hot key on its right earcup that allows you to pick up a call with the push of a button. The Logitech will only give you volume controls and a mute button (which the Creative matches as well). Each headset has a microphone boom that must be angled down in order for it to work. The Creative was much more flexible than the Logitech, but we found each performed equally well.

When we examined overall sound quality, the Creative came out on top. While we weren't thrilled with the EQ software that came bundled with it, the HS-1200 was able to produce a much richer, fuller sound than the flat, shallow experience we got with the Logitech. While our gaming sessions with Counter-Strike sounded much better using the Creative, voice-communication went well with both headsets.

Overall, we were much happier with the performance of the Creative. Not only did it perform equal or better in every test we conducted, the headset can be had for about $10 less. We can only recommend the Logitech if you're using a Mac, as the Creative only works with a PC.

[shirowmasamune]

prices?

[Nazirul]

Nice....the Logitech looks cooler though. But of course performance is more important than looks.
How about reviews for keyboards and mice? They are two most-used input hardware.
Reviews might be useful.

http://nazirulhazim.blogspot.com/

[jimth]

Thanks for all your info. Much obliged.

[ravioli187]

do either work with a ps3

[vbuendia]

I think the concept is great and it is definitively getting better however something more discrete or less bulky would not hurt. If I wear one of those things people are going think that Vince Vaughn had me wear my ear muffs!

[ryanjg11]

Typical useless CNET review. I want to know how the SQ compares to wired headphones. How does it stack up? I've had wireless USB headsets and the quality is far behind wired headsets.

[joecav654]

as far as keyboard mice combos(wireless) check out the logitech wave combo. it's awsome and I only have one negative comment. no lights for numlock ect... other than that this combo rocks!

[MadLyb]

Own the Logitech unit and they work pretty good. They definitely have better range than the reviewer experienced and the clarity is much better than the bluetooth unit (Jabra) I had been using.
I like the fact that there is no software install, but that means it limits the capabilities to a headset, so where the Jabra has lots of media controls, you only get volume and mute. The LED in the boom to show you that you are on mute is very nice touch.

Audio quality is mixed, the Jabra seemed to have a fuller response, but experienced regular dropouts while the Logitech's are rock solid, but seem a little thinner. Compared to my Sony V900 wired headphones, the audio for both is definitely lacking.

These look really comfortable, but they are a little stiff and after a couple hours fo conference calls get tiring to wear.

Biggest pet peeve is keeping up with the dongle. Logitech should have built a clip into the unit to hold the dongle.

[rrmram]

A real report would include pricing and a comparison with the "standard", i.e. wired headsets.