Plantronics HS1 Gaming/Multimedia Stereo PC Headset

by Plantronics

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001WBQC
• Item model number: HS1
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

From Digital Living Today

Let's face it: hardly anyone uses their computer just for word-processing and email anymore. Nowadays, music and voice have become crucial to many applications, and with them comes the need for a good microphone and audio reproduction. Many consumers have opted for expensive speakers and amplifier systems, but if you want the maximum audio bang for your buck, look at the Plantronics HS1 Gaming/Multimedia Stereo PC Headset. Whether you're using a PC phone or speech recognition software, listening to MP3s or playing "Half Life," you want to have the best possible listening and recording tool you can. At a fraction of the cost of separate speakers and a microphone, this all-in-one headset reproduces stereo sound of a quality that will please even the most demanding audiophile. The microphone delivers noise-free voice transmission for both real-time phone transmission or voice recording, and the headphones boast ground-rocking bass ideal for gaming and music. For those who need the privacy of a headset or simply want high-quality sound at an affordable price, the HS1 is a perfect match.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What's it good for?, September 25, 2000

By 

Mark Philbrick (South Hadley, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plantronics HS1 Gaming/Multimedia Stereo PC Headset (Personal Computers)

Well, It has the absolute best microphone I ever used. Absolutely perfect for voice chat, telephone calls, and voice recognition. The headsets are, however, uncomfortable to wear because it puts too much pressure on your ears. They don't fit over your ears, they go ON them. The tension system is annoying. As far as sound goes; they seem fine for music, have good bass response, but when I play Quake, the bass is washed out and distorted. But still, the mic is the most important thing here. Even with it's flaws; it is still by far the best headset/mic combo I have ever used. Rat Shack Pro-50MX headset is much better sounding, and has awesome bass, but the mic is absolutely worthless. Now if you could somehow mate the mic from the HS1 to the headphones of the PRO-50MX, THEN you would have THE headset. Sigh...

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Headset!, January 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Plantronics HS1 Gaming/Multimedia Stereo PC Headset (Personal Computers)

I just bought this headset, and I love it! The sound and bass on it is wonderful and despite what other people say, I think that they're very comfortable. I have a SoundBlaster PCI128 if you're wondering (sounds great though).

I listen to MP3's, DVD's, talk to people on Dialpad and Netmeeting, and play games, this has been working very well for all of them for me. Hearing the drum beat in Mp3's are very rich and full, hearing sword swings in Gladiator or hearing gunshots in The Matrix sound so good, so if you watch a lot of movies on your computer, this will make a very nice companion. Voices sound very clear and the nice mic goes well if you use Dialpad or Netmeeting/Roger Wilco/Battlecom/Gamevoice/whatever, and the part I was worried about the most was games, and they sound excellent. Playing Unreal Tournament or Half-Life was like a new experience, I can hear the footsteps and the excellent bass make rockets sound so real it's just amazing.

The "automatic tension system" that everybody seems to be complaning is just a piece of rubber plastic across the top, if it does gets annoying, it'd be fairly easy to rip off.

The microphone has crystal clear sound and "slides" easily out of the way and out of sight when you don't need it. It is boom, so if you're playing music while recording a wave, on Roger Wilco, Netmeeting, or whatever, people will hear the music, but barely. I was with somebody on Netmeeting and they were saying that they could hear themselfs through it, but I had my volume up quite high, so that's probably the cause.

The plastic does feel a bit cheap, but it's very durable (I've dropped it many times and it still works). It's a tad bulky, and isn't as nice looking as the model LS1, but I could care less on how I look with a headset on. The volume control on it is very nice, most headsets don't go loud enough, but these go plenty high.

... I recommend it if you need a alternative to speakers or if you need to replace your old headset!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great sound for DVDs, MP3s, & dialpad but damn uncomfortable, September 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Plantronics HS1 Gaming/Multimedia Stereo PC Headset (Personal Computers)

The headphones work great except for the fact that it pinches my ears too much. When I wear my glasses, the tight headphones hurt the tip of my ears. it's very comfortable without my glasses but then I would only be able to listen and wouldn't see a thing. I didn't find a problem with this headphones pinching the top of my head (you gotta shift it around til you're used to it). Everyhtng else is excellent. I purchased this headphones as a sort of everything in one: speakers for everyhting and good microphone. It works well but the only problem is after an hour, my ears hurt too much and i have to take them off. so buy this if you don't wear glasses.