Customer Reviews

Logitech Premium Notebook Headset

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(55)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I needed to find a headset with a noise canceling microphone for use with Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. I'm currently dictating this review with the headset while my office is being vacuumed, so I would have to say it performs very well.
Sound quality is excellent. The travel case is an unusual bonus that I appreciate.

This is a high quality headset/headphones. Before I go into deep detail why I love this headset, I like to forewarn that I am tech geek and test everything very thoroughly. Furthermore, I am very picky and extremely quick to return things if the product does not do its intent purpose to my liken. In this case, I wanted this headset to be a great communicator headset during Skype calls as well as for me working on the voice recognition software. Onward to this review - here is my + and - of this set of headphones:

Positive:
* Extremely comfortable and multiple settings to fit onto your head correctly.
* Has a USB connector that has its own "sound card" built in. Why is this important? Not all computer/laptop's soundcard can handle voice and sound @ the same time:i.e. when you talk, your customer voices might get blank out in the process... Hence if you have problems with this headset - try the USB doggle, it will runs circle on your computer's sound card.
* The boom mic can be turn backwards to be out of the way when you are not using it. This serve 2 things that are dear to me: 1) I don't look like a dork when I have it on my head when I am just listening to music and 2) it is more inviting to my co-workers to approach to me when they have a question.
* Sound quality is excellent.
* The Boom Mic has a very good pick-up and works REALLY well for Microsoft Vista Voice Recognition software(comes free with its OS - bet you didn't know it even existed, did ya - try it - it is truely amazing considering it is completely free). Hence, this is a very good communication headset. I really wish I can connect this to my cell phone some how...
* The headset is fold-able and has its own hard plastic case that has molded plastic molding inside the case so your headset is well protected in the box(this includes the USB doggle)! Hence the case isn't just a box so you can dump everything in there recklessly. Yes, putting away force you to do it correctly. Personally I thought the case is well thought out and consider as a must if you are a traveler...

Negative:
* It is NOT bluetooth(IMHO, I don't think there is any bluetooth headset will past the voice recognition software anyway) - NOT a huge burden.
* Cord is quite long can be quite trouble some. I can live with it.
* The ear "muffs" is NOT ideal to wear during a workout - will pickup too much sweat. Yuck!
* Did I say it is NOT bluetooth?!

In short, I love this headset a lot and use it throughout my day(listening to music, answering calls via Skype, and read out my dictation to MS Word and Outlook). I really wish I can use this headset with my cell phone somehow... Did I say I really wish this headset is bluetooth capable?

These are a really nice piece of technology, and not limited to Notebooks. I picked them up because the GE set I was using crapped out on me, all kinds of static. It was the right pick, because they're sturdy and well designed.

I use them for IP Telephony and they are really nice. The mic is clear, very little static, and I like the adjustable earpieces.

The mini jacks and USB connections are really nice - in case you happen to blow out your sound card jacks.

The fact that they are foldable, is just a bonus. The carrying case is great if you travel.

Mute and volume adjustment on the wire pod and no static interference when you make adjustments or switch the mic on and off. They are quite comfortable, and you can still hear ambient sounds if you need to.

Over the past four years I have gone through a headset every 9 months. Two were full-sized headsets and three where lightweight. I found that the full-sized headsets lasted about a year and half each and the lightweight about six months to a month. The problem was the same for each one. They lost sound in one ear. I feel that the full-sized headsets lost sound because of tugging on the cord. The lightweight headsets failed because the volume switch malfunctioned, creating loss of sound in one ear. When I add up the costs I can see that I am better off paying for a good headset that lasts instead of a medium or low cost solution that doesn't last long. I decided that I would invest in a Logitech headset because I have had good experiences with their hardware and it promises professional quality, but comes at a price.

This Logitech has a number of nice features. The first is that it comes with a USB adaptor to mini-jacks connection for the microphone and earphones. So you can use this headset with either USB or mini-jack. You can also use this headset with a pmp (portable media player) and a special holder connector is attached to the lead so that the microphone mini-jack doesn't hop around the place when only the earphone connection is in use. This headset also comes with a hard plastic case and the headset itself is able to fold into a horizontal position by twisting the sides near the ears so that the headset lies flat. The case also holds the USB adaptor in a slot.

The earphones fit reasonably snugly. They only go across your ear holes and not over the entire ear so they feel somewhat comfy because they aren't suffocating your entire ears. The earphones can flex on a ball swivel so you can have them tilted upwards or downward and they have room to move in and out a bit. It's a nice touch however the head strap doesn't adjust, at all. This means you are expected to let the tightness hold the earphone in place even though above the ear holders they are wearing like a pair of glasses in reverse. The microphone is nice and stiff. No chance of getting very loose. It is also short. Sound quality on the mic and earphones are pretty good and better than cheaper headsets.

Head wraps have one significant shortcoming. If you rest your head back the plastic bit behind your head sticks into you. So if you do that, go for a traditional overhead strap headset instead. The other is that this sets head wrap does press tightly against the ears and there is nothing you can do about it. It can leave your ears feeling sore after several hours of use.

If this headset can last longer than a full-sized headset (which have the two major disadvantages or being heavy and get very warm during the summers) then it can justify the price and set itself apart from most because it is a lightweight head wrap. Stay tuned to find out if this is the one.

I just can't figure out why innovation hasn't changed this scene more significantly than this. Also I feel we should be seeing wireless at this price.

*** Note: They are still working on 4th december 2008.

pro:
- decent sound, not audiophile quality, but passable
- mic picks up sound fairly well
- included carrying case is great for frequent travelers
-USB adapter, allows me to use headset without crawling behind my desktop and disconnecting the speakers.
- highly adjustable, easy to find the perfect fit
- comfortable and lightweight, you can scarcely notice it

con:
- speaker and mic quality could always be better, sound somewhat muddy
- audio connectors not color coded as typical (pink for mic connector, green for headphone connector), both are black, icon indicating which connector is which can be difficult to distinguish in low light.

As a professional writer, I work at the keyboard all day. If I'm not working on a novel, I write movie and book reviews for different online magazines. I'm very aware of how much damage repetitive motion can cause, and I've known a lot of my peers who've had serious problems: Excruciating pain followed by surgeries that didn't always fix everything.

About ten years ago, I had a cyst removed from my left wrist. At the time, it was causing a lot of pain and interfering with my writing. Since the surgery I've still had problems upon occasion when I work long days.

During the recovery I used a program called Dragon Dictate to write by dictating the book verbally. That turned out to be an arduous undertaking and I wasn't really happy with the speed I was able to maintain or the accuracy of the software. The bottom line was that I typed faster with my hands than I could verbally. With less mistakes.

So I gave up on the idea of using speech recognition software.

A few weeks ago, cornered by deadlines and plagued by some of the old pain returning because the long hours at the keyboard, I decided to try speech recognition software again.

Dragon Dictate doesn't seem to work very well on the new XP operating system. In fact that even read where you weren't supposed to use Dragon Dictate with XP.

However, I found out that XP comes loaded with speech recognition software. I've tried it, that wasn't very happy with it. The accuracy wasn't very good and I got easily frustrated with the microphone, which was a good one.

A few more weeks went by and I happened to see the Logitech Notebook Headset on the shelf at the local Wal-Mart. The price tag wasn't exorbitant so I felt comfortable spending the money to try the system out.

Over the last few weeks I've been totally impressed with the headset. It hears everything very well and manages to negate extraneous ambient sound like the fan I keep in my office as well as television, radio, and kid noises throughout the rest of the house. Those were things I hadn't been able to totally get away from all using the other software and headsets I've had.

After working with the Logitech headset system, I've gotten to where I use it for all my email correspondence and reviews (like this one). Not only is it accurate and dependable, but with the nifty case that comes with it, the headset is extremely portable as well. I often work between two different computers, my desktop and the notebook computer I use, so it's important to have something I can transport safely and easily. This system does exactly that.

As demanding as I am, as much as I depend on systems to function correctly, I'm not one to do cartwheels over a product unless it's really good. The Logitech Notebook Headset is a great device.

In my work I provide support to people around the world. We use Skype extensively. I have this item bookmarked so I can send a link the minute anyone complains about their headset. Once they own this headset, and set it up for use through a USB port, all complaints stop.

I am convinced that the microphone and headphone ports on most laptops are not optimized for full duplex conversation. Consequently, the sound quality in a VOI environment (in that mode) is terrible on every set I have tried including this one. In USB mode, this headset is terrific.

This unit is designed for conversation and travel and exceeds at both. You can find much better headphones if you just want sound quality, but for VOI communication this is the one. I have a desk phone right next to my computer and I use Skype to dial normal phones rather than my desk phone, because no telephone can match the sound quality of this headset. You will love the convenient carry case. I went through three of the cheaper sets before I sprang for this one. They just could not make it through the rigors of travel

This is the most comfortable headset I've owned, and while I haven't tried wearing it for hours, I think it'd be just fine.

When using this headset on Skype, sound quality on transmit and receive is excellent. And the great thing about a USB headset is, you can configure Skype to pipe call audio to the headset, but pipe phone rings to your speaker, eliminating the need for an audio switch.

I can't vouch for how good these things sound when playing music; that's not what I'm using them for. But if you want a good headset for Skype or a similar online service, these fill the bill nicely.

Audio output quality is okay. Definitely not hi-fi, but more than adequate for casual use such as VOiP and listening to music. Microphone gain has to be cranked way up in many applications and the microphone elemenet must be very close to your mouth.

The earphones have a high level of adjustability and the behind-the-head band is nice.

The travel case is very sturdy, but also quite large. The USB adapter is a nice touch.

Overall a pretty good unit, but should be at least $10 - $15 less expensive to presnt truly excellent value.

Jerry

I received these as a gift. I have to admit, I was a little worried at first due to the compact nature of the headphones. Upon listening to them I was pleasantly surprised to find that they exceeded my expectations. The sound is excellent and they do a good job of reproducing low frequencies. They are also extremely comfortable to wear. I can wear them for hours without getting sore ears. They also allow your ears to breathe unlike closed ear designs which will leave you with sweaty ears after those long night gaming sessions. They are also adjustable so you can configure them to be more or less snug to your ear. The microphone works great and the inline mic mute and volume control is extremely handy. It also comes with a handy travel case, great for safely transporting your headphones to those LAN parties. It also comes with a USB adapter for flexibility in connecting to different systems though I highly recommend using the native mini jacks to plug directly into the sound card if available.