One of the features that sets the HS-1200 apart from products like the FREETALK or the Clearchat, is the SoundBlaster X-Fi technology that Creative bundles in. X-Fi delivers some pretty kick-ass virtualization for up to 7.1 surround sound via CMSS-3D and restores clarity lost in many of our compressed music files via Crystalizer. With the accompanying X-Fi package, these headsets deliver gamer-certified performance as well as the versatility that comes with products like the FREETALK and Clearchat models from other companies.
From a pure design perspective, these ear-pads are particularly comfortable for my taste…. Plus, if you’re of the unusually large-headed variety (like me, hat-size 8), you’ll appreciate the fit of the HS-1200.
My favorite part though (and secretly how the HS-1200 really differentiates itself) is the mic boom — it’s simply the best I’ve used on any headset, wired or wireless. The boom is slick to the touch, adjusts its contours with perfectly “plastic” precision — no elastic memory behavior that plagues many flexi-booms, and it is long, allowing you place the mic right where it should be, in front of your mouth. All other headset makers should simply copy this design. It rocks.
Browsing around today, I noticed a pretty amazing price break on the Skype FREETALK wireless stereo headset. 15% off!!! This is the best price you will find a wireless USB headset anywhere, anytime soon. If I were you, I would snag one and start experiencing a better way to use your PC’s multimedia application. This product was our first headset based on our AudioMagic 1st generation chipset…making it to the market late last year. It’s a no-brainer application… and if you take the leap, early adoptor, you’ll find it’s a pretty liberating new category in PC accessories.
Apple. Please help fix this problem. It is causing issues on many USB headset devices. Unfortunately it has been raised as an issue on some of our wireless headset products, basically users complaining about robotic voice, or scratchy voice, or even muffled voice quality. In doing some research, it is clear that this is a problem with other USB-Audio devices as well. All signs are that it points to some emergent issue with 10.5.2 Leopard and so far, Macbook Pros. We’ll see if the fix is identified and resolved. Right now it is a nuisance for Skypers, podcaster, etc.
this is a product that makes you think “why didn’t i think of that?”
Well the folks at Avnera did (way back in 2004!), and we made a single chip that will bring devices like this (and more) to market for years to come, at prices consistent with any other common PC accessory.
Logitech, the number one PC accessory maker in the world, also saw the possibilities right away. At Cebit, Logitech launched the ClearChat Wireless PC Headset. We’ve been waiting for this meticulously designed headset to hit the streets. Looks like we are a few weeks away from it being in stores. This is really exciting, because Logitech is the first customer of ours to take our core chip-set and then, on their own, set out to design a world-class product around it. It has been a long time coming, but we’ve now seen why. Logitech pays attention to every detail, and does take their time to widdle away design risks and functional quirks to arrive at a product that is well-though-out and with some clever details that differentiate it from what else is out there, wired or wireless — Logitech brings crisp, classic industrial design, materials with great feel, and ergonomic expertise to yield probably the most comfortable headset I’ve worn, including those from Logitech’s wired product-line. Among other cool tricks is the microphone boom that illuminates when muted, so people around you can learn when they can talk to you without being heard, and to remind you when it’s prudent to curse the folks on the other end of the call.
People will ask, can’t Bluetooth do this? The short answer is no.
They will say, “if it isn’t Bluetooth, I don’t want it.” The consequence is they won’t be able to use one of the most practical accessories for the PC to come along in years.
You see, BT does not deliver:
The audio quality of uncompressed PCM 48 KHz audio. This headset delivers 1500 Kbps audio, BT only 320 Kbps.
The fixed latency of an isochronous audio signal path - with an end-to-end delay that is less than one frame of video. This means you will hear the bullet shells hit the floor when you see them hit the floor.
Full duplex stereo and voice for gaming. With BT you only get mono voice quality audio in both directions when you give up the stereo. And there is no software out there today that robustly manages the profile switching necessary to put the BT device in the right mode for the application at hand.
Zero installation steps.ClearChat is Plug & Play with Mac OS, Windows XP and Vista, UPDATE: and very soon Ubuntu
While the majority of computer gamers will probably (rightly) say this thing is great for World of Warcraft or whatever, the applications that I use my wireless headset for (in order of frequency) are:
Making calls and attending conference calls via Skype
Listening to music on Pandora or Slacker while I work on my PC
Cool impromptu interview with Creative’s marketing folks by Gaming Shogun. Unfortunately, I think the guy from Creative confused some folks when he said compression technology. This product uses Avnera’s chipset and wireless audio protocol. I can firmly state that this is uncompressed audio. It is full bandwidth, 48 KHz stereo to the headphones, and wideband 16 KHz on the voice back-channel. As he said, the protocol is full duplex. I’ve read some interesting threads around the internet about this interview, and gamers have every reason to be skeptical with all the noise out there in the market, in general. But I am pretty confident the audio quality of this headset will impress even the most difficult-to-please.
Recognized along with other notable products from Blackberry and Nokia, as well as mobile software from Google and Sling Media, it’s humbling and pleasing to note that a product enabled by Avnera’s chips was keeping such good company. And I quote:
FreeTalk Wireless Stereo Headset:This one continues to perform and make my entire PC audio experience - media players, SlingPlayer, Skype calls more enjoyable.
Skype Journal, itself, was recently recognized as one of the Top-25 VoIP blogs on the web. Jim Courtney was keeping good company himself with the likes of Pulver and Malik.
Engadget jumps to lots of conclusions in this recent post about the FCC’s outing of Creative’s wireless stereo headset. I think the guys over there are digging for a scoop where maybe there isn’t one. The LTB reference is unfounded, and the code name “Tag Heuer” is more likely just that, an internally used code-name for the project, rather than a co-branding strategy with the watchmaker.
The graphic shown on Engadget is pulled from the draft user manual. I am hypothesizing that this is a draft because it in no way reflects the aesthetics of Creative’s printed literature. Something I’d imagine they’d want to match.
But enough about Engadget’s take…
Either way, it should be getting more clear that this is a practical, and exciting new product segment. Gamers, VoIPers, Slingboxers, and Slackers rejoice. I would think all you college freshman out there should be jumping all over this. If your dorm experience is anything like mine was, this is the perfect tool to drown out your room-mate’s classic rock, or your neighbor’s obsession with Erasure, and let you study/sleep/procrastinate in your own world.
In my trolling for product chatter related to Avnera, I found myself at one of my favorite corporate-sponsored blogs, Skype Gear, Skype’s own blog on hardware, which merely mentioned the FREETALK wireless stereo headset. But alas, no review yet… we’re looking forward to it when it hits.
What peeked my interest was their mention of the 3 Skypephone. I think we’re heading where I hope we’re heading. More bandwidth for IP-only traffic on my handset, please.
One of the features that sets the HS-1200 apart from products like the FREETALK or the Clearchat, is the SoundBlaster X-Fi technology that Creative bundles in. X-Fi delivers some pretty kick-ass virtualization for up to 7.1 surround sound via CMSS-3D and restores clarity lost in many of our compressed music files via Crystalizer. With the accompanying X-Fi package, these headsets deliver gamer-certified performance as well as the versatility that comes with products like the FREETALK and Clearchat models from other companies.
While the majority of computer gamers will probably (rightly) say this thing is great for World of Warcraft or whatever, the applications that I use my wireless headset for (in order of frequency) are:
