Digital Signal Processor for digitally-enhanced stereo sound in multimedia applications
40 mm speakers for superior bass response
High quality microphone with QuickAdjust boom
Aggressive, cool design with strong appeal to gamers
Plantronics introduced the first lightweight communications headset in 1962 and is today the world's leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of lightweight communications headset products. The Plantronics DSP-500 features a digital signal processor for digitally enhanced stereo sound in multimedia applications such as games and music, and two 40mm speakers for powerful bass response. The unit's aggressive design will appeal to gamers, and its premium microphone will adapt to all user preferences.
This review is from: Plantronics DSP-500 Digitally-Enhanced USB Gaming/Multimedia Stereo Headset and Software
3.21.04: First off, I will say that I am an on-line gamer and prefer the best when it comes to my electronics. I purchased the Plantronics 500 headset in March of 2003 and I'm now looking for a replacement. About a month ago, the audio from the left ear of the unit started to go in and out. I decided to dismantle the unit tonight after the left side finally quit on me and I found two places where the very thin wiring has almost completely frayed apart in the actual housing of the unit and where it connects into the headset itself. The sound and microphone on these is VERY good but I am disappointed that just after a year of pampering that they have given out (sorry, only a one year warranty on non-commercial items from Plantronics - which these are).
I also had a few small complaints about the inability to switch back to my computer speakers easily, or that the cord can really get in the way at times due to its long length. This may be good for some applications but the cord will stretch for a good 5 feet, alot more than I needed. They are very comfortable though and even after all night gaming, they still felt decent, unless I had my glasses on and then they can really start to hurt after an hour or two. In conclusion, if they would have lasted me at least another year, I would have rated them 4 or maybe even 5 stars but after only one year of use, I have them falling to 3 stars.
10.25.04: Well, I am back to buy another DSP-500 headset. I went through two different sets since I last purchased these and they do not compare to the sound quality of the DSP-500. I would have to give these an excellent rating when it comes to the sound/microphone/ease of use/etc... they just need to work on how long they last but I have been told by friends that I use them ALOT so an average user will easily get more time out of them than I did. A year for me was pretty good from what my friends say... so I am revising my review to give them "5 stars". This is an excellent headset and easily outperforms others in the $50 range.
11.21.05: Well, it's been over a year now and my second set is doing GREAT! I think I've learned to be a little more careful with my headsets now (or maybe playing BF2 has me more relaxed - hehe). I even have a couple of friends using this headset and they love it too. I tried another "new" set that came out at BB a couple of months back and found them nowhere near the quality of these. I still recommend these, especially since they are still selling for less than 50 bucks. Amazing... the best product I have ever purchased off Amazon....
This review is from: Plantronics DSP-500 Digitally-Enhanced USB Gaming/Multimedia Stereo Headset and Software
I bought the DSP-500 at a Fry's a few weeks back because it was the only nice headset they carried. And that it is--it's a NICE headset. It is engineered like the $130 it originally was--very comfortable, very solid feeling.The DSP-500 is a stereo VoIP/game/dictation/whatever headset. It has two large 40mm speakers that sound quite good. The headset itself is extremely comfortable and uses a pretty standard two-part headband--there is a plastic connection that keeps the two halves together and contains the audio wire, and a rubber bit that supports a lot of the weight of the headset, and keeps your hair from getting in the various sliding joints. The rubber is a bit sticky--maybe that washes out, certainly never tried. The microphone unit is standard stuff, don't know its specs.The major selling point of the DSP series is, to me, it's most questionable and pointless-- the Digital Signal Processor, that box you see on the cable. Basically, it's a USB sound card with built-in sound. Or to less generous consumers, it's an excuse to charge $50 or $70 more. The DSP, I suppose, is nice if you don't have a sound card, or have a bad sound card--not most people, certainly not somebody who would spend this kind of cash on a headset. The DSP is not particularly good, either--there is a LOT of "buzz" in the headset as soon as Windows turns the thing on, that's seperate from any volume. It is quite loud. The sound quality is not great. The microphone acts quite strangely indeed--it has "noise cancellation" which does seem to do SOMETHING, but not anything effective like a good cartoid microphone, and when you're not actively making noise, it records a gawdawful buzzing and clicking. Another reviewer has mentioned some sort of update from Plantronics, which perhaps might fix that problem. Either way, the cheap little DSP is not anywhere near as good as the emu10k1 in the Sound Blaster Live! I have (which is, incidentally, a very nice mid-end DSP). The other issue is, this is a _computer_ mike... only. The only connector is the USB connection. That's an awfully expensive headset for a single use. The one other issue with the USB sound is the way Windows handles it--it treats it as a different audio device, so you must select in the "control panel/Multimedia" dialog which device you want for playback, and for recording; you cannot play to both at once. Also, some software has minor technical issues with things not being "normal."The Plantronics software _appears_ totally useless... it has a few equalizer presets that could possibly be of use... to somebody else. The microphone equalizer is sort of pointless, and the playback equalizer definitely so. Other than that, it has buttons "play movie, listen to MP3" that you can map to different programs. Yawn.So, why am I writing this middling review and giving it 4 stars? Well, on the second bit, because it _is_ a damn good headset. However, I wish to compare it to my NEW headset, the Plantronics HS1. The HS1 is probably not available on Amazon--you can buy it from Plantronics' distributor (...). The HS1 is the DSP-500's older, cheaper twin: Plantronics sells it for (...)and I've not found it available anywhere else. The major difference is the lack of the DSP, but it's not an identical product: the headset itself is minorly different in a negative way: it's a little bit harder, is purple and...
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