low quality xbox headsets?

[MadOni0n]

I've tried searching but i havn't found much... am i the only one who thinks the xbox 360 headset is complete trash? For $20 i can barely hear people and likewise. Perhaps i'm spoiled and used to a high quality ventrilo when playing pc games but even with a $2 microphone it sounds way bounds better then the xbox mic. This is in reference to halo 3. Perhaps the game compresses it so it causes less lag or something?

Is there any way to optimize it, or any settings i could twiddle with? Secondly, do aftermarket headsets fix the quality problems or does live/halo3 still limit voice quality to a certain extent? If i start looking for a new headset, are there any good budget picks around 50?

 

[Xylitol]

I use the original xbox360 headset and have had no troubles with issues of hearing right, etc.
I heard that the wireless blu-tooth looking microphone/earphone is a lot better quality if you want to use that

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
I've tried searching but i havn't found much... am i the only one who thinks the xbox 360 headset is complete trash? For $20 i can barely hear people and likewise. Perhaps i'm spoiled and used to a high quality ventrilo when playing pc games but even with a $2 microphone it sounds way bounds better then the xbox mic. This is in reference to halo 3. Perhaps the game compresses it so it causes less lag or something?

Is there any way to optimize it, or any settings i could twiddle with? Secondly, do aftermarket headsets fix the quality problems or does live/halo3 still limit voice quality to a certain extent? If i start looking for a new headset, are there any good budget picks around 50?

Its compressed to hell, and its not the best mic, but I dont find it that bad. Its no ventrilo, but the key is that *everyone* has a mic.

You can buy an adapter that lets you use your own mic if you want.

 

[JoPh]

i have the mic that came with the system. works fine.

 

[ViviTheMage]

The mic that came with my system works great...but the wireless bluetooth is much better.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: JoPh
i have the mic that came with the system. works fine.

 

[mugs]

Are you having a problem hearing people (volume) or understanding people (distortion)? Volume has nothing to do with compression. It could be a problem with your controller. Distortion would be the same. I'm sure it is compressed substantially, because there is no value to high quality voice communications as long as the communication can be easily understood. Anything beyond 24 kbps is really a waste for voice. Compression is not causing your problem.

 

[Oyeve]

I have 2 of the original 360 headsets and the Halo wireless one. I prefer the original ones.

 

[Muadib]

You can always set it to play through your tv.

 

[Jules]

I hear ya. Thats why i picked up the Xbox 360 wireless headset because with the wired one i had to have my tv volume low but not anymore.

 

[MadOni0n]

Originally posted by: mugs
Are you having a problem hearing people (volume) or understanding people (distortion)? Volume has nothing to do with compression. It could be a problem with your controller. Distortion would be the same. I'm sure it is compressed substantially, because there is no value to high quality voice communications as long as the communication can be easily understood. Anything beyond 24 kbps is really a waste for voice. Compression is not causing your problem.

let me rephrase, i can turn up the volume that is fine... im referring to what you are calling distortion probably. As in peoples voices sound very much different than how they talk in real life. I see it on everyones xbox and on all of my friends tv it has nothing to do with my equipment. I guess i'm just expecting too much from it compared to skype or ventrilo.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n

Originally posted by: mugs
Are you having a problem hearing people (volume) or understanding people (distortion)? Volume has nothing to do with compression. It could be a problem with your controller. Distortion would be the same. I'm sure it is compressed substantially, because there is no value to high quality voice communications as long as the communication can be easily understood. Anything beyond 24 kbps is really a waste for voice. Compression is not causing your problem.

let me rephrase, i can turn up the volume that is fine... im referring to what you are calling distortion probably. As in peoples voices sound very much different than how they talk in real life. I see it on everyones xbox and on all of my friends tv it has nothing to do with my equipment. I guess i'm just expecting too much from it compared to skype or ventrilo.

Personally I don't have a problem with it, but I do believe the voice is compressed to hell to minimize the bandwidth requirements (a good move IMHO). I've tried the wireless headset and couldn't get used to it, by far my favorite headsets are the original wired ones (not the ones they sell now with the volume and mute controls in-line so that it's compatible with the chat pad).

 

[MadOni0n]

i talked to my cousin, hes familiar with audio. Vent is 44khz 71240 bits bandwidth, xbox probably uses 8khz 13000 bits bandwidth if not then 11khz. Huge difference in compression b/c they probably want to save on server costs.