Plantronics .Audio 650 Multimedia USB headset |
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By
Plantronics
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Plantronics
EAN: 5033588027591
Label: Plantronics
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Model: .Audio 650 USB
Publisher: Plantronics
Release Date: 2008-08-18
Studio: Plantronics |
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Product Description
The Audio 650 is the ideal headset for your multimedia programmes, voice recognition applications and Internet telephony, combining style, user comfort and exceptional sound quality. The Auido 650 headset is the ideal interface for online entertainment and communication.
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A really flexible solution with dual USB and audio jack connections and very good sound quality, 2008-11-13
Want a digital USB headset for computers and games consoles? Or to you want analogue (jack plugs) to connect to an audio system? Well this one is GREAT as it combines BOTH USB and audio jack plugs. This is a MUCH better solution by Plantronics than having to choose USB or jack plug versions and more than compensates for the slightly higher price. The reason this is so important to me: I had to return a Sandberg GameSet due to confusion caused by a misleading description (I thought it was USB but it wasn't).
Oh yes, I nearly forgot to say: the microphone and audio quality are very good too! Music listening is fine. Fellow online gamers report that my microphone quality is one of the best and VASTLY better than Bluetooth headsets.
Overall, I'm delighted with this headset.
Not ideal for dictating, 2008-09-19
I got these because I spend a lot of time dictating to the computer with Dragon and I thought I'd spoil myself with some higher quality headphones. Unfortunately the design of these headphones means that they completely enclose your ears and seal them in, so they feel like ear defenders and remove you from the real world. That's fine for listening to music, but weird when dictating - I want to hear myself speak. This design also makes your ears get hot very quickly, which is bad news if you use them for long periods as I do (asking for ear infections). I will be going back to cheaper foam on-ear headphones (something like my old Plantronics DSP-300). I cannot fault the quality of these phones; they just weren't for me and I wouldn't recommend them to fellow "dictators".
Excellent Headphones, 2009-01-05
I bought these headphones primarily to use with skype. I have used them to watch a film and also to watch TV shows via the BBC's iPlayer and I must say that the sound quality is fantastic. With a little bit of care adjusting the ear cups they are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end.
I have tried these both on a PC and Mac. I have recently used the microphone feature and I was told "you are very clear, clearer than on the phone!" So that just sums it up really.
They are a little costly but for the quality of the product and what you actually get they are fantastic value for money.
Great headset spoiled by USB nuisance factor, 2008-08-07
Good:
This low priced headset is light, surprisingly smart and well made, and comfortable. Ears get warm after a while of course, but that's all. Whilst the sound quality doesn't satisfy the audiophile in me, it is none the less excellent for playback from computer; high frequencies are clear without being shrill, the mid range pretty transparent, and whilst the bass response isn't subwoofer deep it does strike a good balance between being deep and engaging whilst not being odiously overbearing considering the listener has a couple of cans on their head. VoIP telephony and speech soundtrack recording have shown the microphone to be perfectly effective for these tasks. The boom is also easily adjustable for length as well as being folded up vertically when not in use. The USB connector is "plug and play"; no drivers to manually install, those that are required installing automatically on first usage in a given USB port.
Not so good:
Like probably any other USB Headphones, the USB connector actually contains its own soundcard rather than using the computer's own one. The result of this is that when plugging and unplugging the headphones the computer switches between the respective sound cards and jumps to maximum volume each time in the process. Add the fact that it takes the computer a few seconds to detect the plugging or unplugging and divert the sound output accordingly, and you jump out of your skin each time! I have also found that whilst the Windows volume display graphic (the big horizonal set of bars that pop up when adjusting speaker volume) continues to work correctly with XP Pro after the headset has been installed, it stops working on XP Media Center Edition. This applies both with and without the headset plugged in. Note that although the graphic stops working, the actual volume does obey command. Both of these problems of course don't occur if you use the computer's microphone and headset sockets instead of USB. (the headset lead is terminated with such connectors which are then connected to the USB plug if required)
Bad:
Nothing actually "bad".
Conclusion:
The title says it all; a great headset spoiled by the USB nuisance factor. One star docked accordingly.
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