Creative Labs HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset (Black)

by Creative Labs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 2.4 x 10.8 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002BH3JDA
• Item model number: HS-980
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #67 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Headsets & Microphones
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 3, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

When it's time to get serious about gaming, it's time for Creative Labs' Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MKII. Designed in conjunction with Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel to perform at the highest levels of MMO and competitive play, this second-generation gaming headset offers extreme comfort for hours of continuous use, clear voice communication, and dynamic, precise sound.

CommandSound: Powerful Neodymium Drivers for Precise Sound
When you're in the middle of battle, you need every advantage you can get. Thanks to two large 40 mm drivers powered by powerful neodymium magnets, the MKII will capture every rumbling explosion, whizzing bullet, or clanging sword on armor in vibrant detail. By accurately producing every massive or subtle audio cue, the MKII will give you the edge to hunt down your enemies with ease.

The headphones are designed with an over-the-ear fit that provides maximum sound isolation, further enhancing sound quality so that you can concentrate on the gaming at hand. Add the system's audiophile-grade eight-foot oxygen-free copper (OFC) cable with gold-plated stereo mini plug to the mix, and you've got a headset that delivers extreme clarity throughout.

BattleTalk: Noise-Canceling Microphone for Clear Communications
The MKII features a high-quality, detachable noise-canceling microphone that lets you

1. The ergonomic cushioned ear cups offer sound isolation and all-day comfort. 2. Inline controls make changing volume and muting the microphone quick and easy. 3. The noise-canceling headphone ensures clear communication.

communicate with confidence, knowing that your commands will be clearly understood. The headset also features conveniently placed inline controls that let you easily adjust your sound level or mute the mic on the fly for private conversations.

For the best possible communication experience, pair the MKII with a Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium series sound card and experience the proprietary noise-cancellation features of Silencer technology. By isolating the sound from your voice from other sounds, such as background noises in your gaming space, Silencer technology delivers the unsurpassed voice quality that will help you stand apart from your competition.

ComfortGear: Design for Hours of Comfortable Use
Thanks to several plush design features, the MKII will give you hours of continuous, comfortable use. While your competition will be wearing down from user fatigue, the MKII is so comfortable, you'll hardly know you're wearing a headset.

The lightweight, precision fit steel-core headband features generous padding and notched adjustment points that provide a custom fit around your head. The plush, ergonomic velvet ear cups are built with memory foam, which allow them to more precisely fit the contours of your ears and provide superb comfort for extended gaming sessions. The ear cups are also reversible and can be folded flat for compact storage.

The Fatal1ty Series lets you use the same gear Johnathan Wendel and other pros use.

Silencer technology provides smart noise-supression when used with a SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium series sound card.

Fatal1ty Brand: Battle Tested by Pro Gamers
Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel is widely considered to be the most accomplished professional PC Gamer in history, having earned over $500,000 in prizes and reigning as the holder of 12 major championships. In April 2009, Wendel set a Guinness World Record for most frags in an hour--a remarkable 672 frags in 60 minutes. As the worldwide ambassador of gaming, Wendel ensures that the Fatal1ty brand name only goes on the very best products that have been battle tested by pro gamers around the world.

The Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MKII is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Headset, boom mic, stereo to mono adapter.

Gaming Headsets	HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset	HS-800 Fatal1ty Gaming Headset (Analog)	HS-1000 Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset	Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset
Headphone Quality	Ergonomic ear cups with sound isolation	Velvet Padding	Velvet Padding	Ergonomic ear cups with sound isolation
Audio Speaker Size	40mm Drivers (Full-Spectrum)	40mm Drivers	40mm Drivers	40mm Drivers (Full-Spectrum)
Type of Microphone Support	Dual Noise Canceling Microphone	Noise Canceling Microphone	Noise Canceling Microphone	Dual Noise Canceling Microphone
Removable Microphone?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Connection Type	3.5mm jack	3.5mm jack	USB 2.0	USB 2.0
Inline Volume / Mute	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sound Control Location	Along the cable	Along the cable	Along the cable	Along the cable
Sound Control	Volume control / Mute on and off	Volume control / Mute on and off	Volume control / Mute on and off	Volume control / Mute on and off
Silencer Tech Enabled	Yes (with Sound Blaster Titanium Series Sound Card)	No	No	Yes
Voice FX Enabled	Yes	No	No	Yes
X-Fi Enabled	Yes (When used with an X-Fi Sound Card)	No	Yes	Yes
Ideal For	FPS Desktop Gamer / MMO (Recommend Sound Blaster TI Series Sound Card)	Everyday Desktop Gamer/ MMO (Recommend Sound Blaster Sound Card)	Everyday Desktop or Laptop Gaming / VOIP	MMO / FPS / Competitive LAN Gamer

Product Description

Creative Labs Fatal1ty Pro Series MKII headset is the ultimate in full on gaming communication. The Pro Series MKII is high-end with ultra-comfortable over-ear memory foam padded earcups for comfort during those extended gaming sessions. Includes inline mute and volume control for your convenience. This headset is ultra-portable with a foldable feature for easy storage and traveling. The proprietary Silencer technology is a noise suppression system that works by using two high-quality microphones in the headset, one on the boom mic and one on the earcup. Noise arrives at different times across the two microphones allowing each noise to create a “noise signature” that is able to be separated from the actual intended voice transmission. Use headset with the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Card to create the full Silencer experience. (Sound Blaster X-Fi Card sold seperately.) Headphones include driver units of 40mm Neodymium Magnet and a frequency response of 20Hz ~ 20kHz. The Microphone includes a Noise-Canceling Condenser (x2), Frequency Response of 80Hz ~ 16kHz, Impedance: <2.2kohms and Interface: 1/8-inch / 3.5mm gold-plated stereo miniplugs with Oxygen- Free Copper (OFC) cable.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeded my expectations - long road to these, February 19, 2010

By 

Anonymous Coward - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Labs HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset (Black) (Personal Computers)

I spend my time listening to music at the computer primarily to concentrate and/or drown out ambient/family noise. I also play FPS games. These headphones sound just as good as my Sony headphones and seem to fit my head better. I've only had them for a day so I don't know what the durability will be but for the price it's hard to go wrong.

Prior to these I lived in a pair of Sony MDRV6 headphones for about 11 years until they started to disintegrate. My requirements for a replacement were that they:
- should be less than $100
- needed to muffle sound when nothing was playing
- Should be over ear and closed design
- should have a normal 3.5mm audio plug (not usb)

I've bought 4 headsets to replace the Sonys and the HS-980 is the final solution.

First, I had a Logitech Clearchat headset from Best Buy. Fair on the ear design. Lasted about 6 months.
Second, I bought Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000. Flimsy and USB. Good sound.
Third, I had a pair of Plantronics 367 and they don't even compare to these ones. Plantronics way too big. Mic quality poor. Poor sound quality.

Things I really like about these:
- A bonus feature they don't mention in the spec is that the mic boom detaches.
- It's also really nice to be able to fold these flat so that I can put them in my laptop bag.
- They also work well with a normal mp3 player.
- The inline volume/mic control can be clipped onto your shirt pocket or something.

Creative makes great sound cards but has made serious mistakes over the last 15 years with most of their other products (dvd drives, mp3 players, speakers, etc). In this case they got it way right.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Headset, February 24, 2010

By 

W. Cooley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Labs HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset (Black) (Personal Computers)

I've purchased various headsets over the years, several were decent but not very durable, some where durable with poor sound quality. I have had this headset for about a month and I can say that it is the single best one I've used. The sound quality is amazing, if you crank them all the way up, the sound fills the room, and when you put the headphones together, its all immediately silenced. While not advertised as noise canceling, these do a wonderful job of muffling out all the other sounds in the room.

They are also EXTREMELY comfortable, like two clouds framing your head in audio bliss. The only downside is that after extensive usage, my ears have a tendency to get a little sweaty, but if thats the only negative -- I have no complaints.

All in all, this is an excellent product, I'd recommend it both to the gamers and to someone who just wants to remove the mic and use it has high quality headphones.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snipers choice., March 13, 2010

By 

A. Wright "yetums" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Labs HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset (Black) (Personal Computers)

First off let me say that i am not a audiphile. I cannot rattle off specs of different sound spectrums off the top of my head. But i am a gamer and i love music and movies. For my purposes these headphones are perfect. While playing Call of duty 4 it makes every bullet whizzing by clearer than other heaphones ive owned. I have a pair of Audio Technica ATHM40FS Precision Studio Headphones as well but i would take these over those.

The Fatal1ty has good bass boom too it which i love. Movies explosions are epic in their sound and music is clear and booming. The earpads are cushy, comfortable and feel sturdy. The in-line controls are well placed and come in handy.

While using Skype the mic has good clarity and sound. The person i was Skyping could hear my every word with no problems. And the mic is removable!!!

I just wish they came with a came with a carrying case or bag. But not a big deal at all. These are excellent headphones for gamers, movie and music lovers at a Great price!