Help finding headset with specific features

[Spotty]

I'm in need of replacing my Razer Tiamat 7.1 V1 headset since the mic has died in them (along with a whole heap of other issues).

I mainly use my headset for gaming, and sometimes watching movies and occasionally listening to music. I am not an audiophile and most of my music is just mp3s, so while sound quality should be good, I don't need it to be the absolute best.

One of the most important features of my current headsets is the controller built in to the headset. The speakers (Logitech Z506) for the computer are plugged in to the headset controller, and then the controller is plugged in to the PC. This means that I'm able to switch between using the headset or speakers just by hitting a button. Depending on what I'm doing, I could swap between using headset and PC speakers at least 20-30 times a day. I don't want to be plugging in or unplugging cables every time I swap. A headset with a controller that allows me to switch on the fly is a must, or, at the very least, a separate controller I can use to toggle between the two. It's a 5.1 speaker so it will need to support at least 5.1. The controller should also have volume control on it for the headset.

Likewise, I don't want to have to find and attach a detachable mic every time I switch from listening to music to playing games, so preferably a mic that retracts in to the ear cup, or at the least a folding mic that is decently concealed. I don't watch a detachable mic that I need to plug in or unplug constantly (tried it before, was a pain, end up just losing the mic), and I don't want a fixed mic in my peripheral vision while I'm trying to watch a movie with the headset. I also don't want to have more than one cable running from the headset, so I'd rather not use a mod mic set up.

 

• Has controller that can toggle between headset and PC speakers (5.1)
• Decent/good quality mic where I don't need to use mic boost just for people to hear me.
• Preferably retractable mic (in to ear cup), or foldable. NOT detachable (annoys me, and I end up losing them) Preferably have some flex in the mic arm for minor adjustments
• Closed back/good at blocking external noise
• Large soft cushioning ear cups suitable for long periods of use
• Not made by Razer
• Preferably no RGB, or RGB that can be disabled. (I don't like my head looking like a Christmas tree).
   

The ability to toggle between headset and speakers without plugging in cables (or disabling/enabling sound devices in windows) is the main thing I am looking for. I can't find anything with a built in controller that would let me swap between headset and speakers other than the Razer Tiamat V2 - which I definitely do not want. If there's an affordable controller panel that can sit on my desk and lets me switch between headset/5.1 channel speakers with the push of the button and adjust volume, then I could consider using that + any standard gaming headset, but I'm not really sure what that would be called and what to search for.

Bonus points if it has a exoskeleton over the head strap that I can hang off my headset holder (wall painting hooks nailed in to the side of my desk).

[EsaT]

If you're expecting headphone/-set to include selecting output device you're really looking to wrong place.

That would job for sound source device.

That's why most above cheapest level sound cards have separate speaker line outs and headphone output.

Though don't think all of them would have it as easy as with SBZ Switcher's hotkey control.

 

[Spotty]

13 hours ago, EsaT said:

If you're expecting headphone/-set to include selecting output device you're really looking to wrong place.

Yeah, you may be right. So far the only ones I've found that have it are the Razer Tiamats, the ASUS ROG Centurion, and the ASUS Strix 7.1.

I think I might go the route of finding a separate device to act as the switch/controller for the speakers and headset.

I don't need it to be a full audio mixer deck, but just something that allows me to toggle outputs between headset/speakers at the touch of a button. Preferably with basic volume control and if possible a mic mute button as well, though that isn't completely necessary. Something that can support one set of 5.1 or 7.1 output for my current speakers alongside a separate stereo output & mic input for a headset.
Going that route with a separate device to handle it and then plugging the headset/speakers in to it, means that I can choose from most other headsets and just plug it in to the controller - it doesn't need to come bundled.

I'm not even sure what such a audio switch controller is called, and most of my searching only turns up DACs or mixer panels. I'm guessing most audio mixing decks will allow me to switch outputs pretty easily? Even if it's just a basic, PC compatible compact audio mixer (that supports at least 1x 5.1 or 7.1 output + 1x stereo output for 3.5mm jacks) with a toggle switch for outputs then I guess that will work too? Honestly not a sound person so trying to look through mixers I have no idea what I'm looking at.

 

13 hours ago, EsaT said:

That's why most above cheapest level sound cards have separate speaker line outs and headphone output.

I'm using motherboard 7.1 audio on my Z170x.

 

13 hours ago, EsaT said:

Though don't think all of them would have it as easy as with SBZ Switcher's hotkey control.

I'd really prefer a hardware switch on my desk, and I'd rather not use the front audio ports, but I'll keep that in mind if I can't find what I want.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Spotty]

Here's a picture of the current set up I'm using. Hopefully this explains it better.

 

The control panel is attached to the headset, so in order to replace the headset I'm looking at finding something I can use to replace the controller that will let me have it set up in a similar way.

Both headset and speakers (5.1) need to connect to it and it needs to have a switch that toggles between the output modes (speaker/headset).
I push the button- noise stops playing through speakers and starts playing through headset instead. And vice versa.

So I'll need a audio control panel(?) that will let me plug in my 5.1 speakers as one output, and also let me plug in a headset (stereo) as another output, and be able to toggle between the outputs. It will also need a 3.5mm mic input jack for the headset mic.

[EsaT]

5 hours ago, Spotty said:

I'm not even sure what such a audio switch controller is called, and most of my searching only turns up DACs or mixer panels. I'm guessing most audio mixing decks will allow me to switch outputs pretty easily?

There are plenty of audio switches made for swapping signal between different output devices.

They're just for stereo signal, or then some optical TOSLINK, HDMI etc switches.

And not designed to deal with different channel configuration devices.

 

Any recording/mixing equipment aren't likely to handle different channel configurations any better.

AVRs again can handle headphones, but those are intended for themselves driving speakers and might lack analog line level outputs.

Also apparently their headphone output commonly works by muting speakers when you plug headphones into them.

Not to mention being really bulky.

 

Also those would be certainly expensive compared to what Sound Blaster Z costs.

(it has headphone output in rear)

And to get best sound you'll need settings changed when swapping between headphones and speakers:

"Direct" 5.1 from game when using speakers and then binaural sound simulation for headphones.

If game itself just produces good source audio good headphones can even give sense of distances besides directionality.

 

 

As for headset if I were myself looking for closed design headset would likely get Beyerdynamic MMX300 based on DT770.

(QPAD QH-1339 is custom coloured "first gen" MMX300)

 

[Spotty]

48 minutes ago, EsaT said:

There are plenty of audio switches made for swapping signal between different output devices.

They're just for stereo signal, or then some optical TOSLINK, HDMI etc switches.

And not designed to deal with different channel configuration devices.

Hmm, that could be why I've had some difficulties finding what I've been looking for.
 

48 minutes ago, EsaT said:

And to get best sound you'll need settings changed when swapping between headphones and speakers:

"Direct" 5.1 from game when using speakers and then binaural sound simulation for headphones.

Good point, I didn't think of needing to change the settings when switching between 5.1 (speakers) and stereo.
My current set up uses a software/driver based approach to handle this, where there are Razer sound drivers installed which pass through the audio to the standard driver for the speakers. There's a toggle on the controller to switch the headset between surround and stereo mode and I think the razer sound drivers handles that switching between surround output and stereo output automatically depending on what mode it is in. (Or at least I think that's how it works).

Spoiler

 

48 minutes ago, EsaT said:

Also those would be certainly expensive compared to what Sound Blaster Z costs.

(it has headphone output in rear)

That'd help with the issue of having to unplug/plug in things every time I want to swap, but I could also just solve that issue by getting a USB headset and keeping the motherboards 3.5mm jacks for the speakers. Either way I'd still be swapping outputs through the system rather than a hardware toggle.

Thanks for your help so far, seems like I still have a bit more research to do and I may have to think of another solution or compromise on some things (like accept that I will need to stop being lazy and have to switch outputs through windows sound settings :D).

[EsaT]

5 hours ago, Spotty said:

That'd help with the issue of having to unplug/plug in things every time I want to swap, but I could also just solve that issue by getting a USB headset and keeping the motherboards 3.5mm jacks for the speakers. Either way I'd still be swapping outputs through the system rather than a hardware toggle.

That would mean them being separate audio devices needing to switch default Playback device through that Windows sound setting screen.

Making quite a few clicks.

With Sound Blaster Z playback device windows (and games) see stays always same with actual output switching done by sound cards control software. (+ hotkey automation from SBZ Switcher)

[Spotty]

Well, still been looking.

Found the Asus Strix Raid Pro sound card which comes with a control panel.
https://www.asus.com/Sound-Cards/STRIX-RAID-PRO/overview/

The control panel has a headphone 3.5mm and a mic 3.5mm jack on it. The panel then connects to the sound cards. You switch between speakers/headset by pressing the volume button. It will support my 5.1 desktop speakers as well as any analog headset, so that means I'm able to use any analog headset with it.
The only downside I'm seeing is it doesn't have 2x mic in jacks for me to also have my condenser mic plugged in to it as well, so I will either need to have that plugged in to my motherboard mic jack or switch between it and my headset mic on the controller.

I've never used Asus sound cards before, so not sure if they're any good or not? I suppose they can't be worse than motherboard audio.
I'm mainly interested in it for its control panel and ability to toggle between headset/speaker outputs.