Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset (JUG-00013) with Clear stereo sound, Plug and Play, Noise-cancelling Microphone for Laptop/PC, Over-Ear

I don’t do a lot of Skype chatting and I don’t make a lot of business presentations via webcam or anything, so I don’t need super high-end headset equipment. Give me the bare bones, make it cost-effective, and I’m a happy camper.

That’s precisely what you get here with the LX-3000. The earphones adjust to fit firmly but very, very comfortably over your ears, even with a big, giant head like mine. The microphone moves up and back, so you can use it as a mic headset or as just regular earphones. All in all, it fit well and was very easy and enjoyable to adjust and use.

The cord is nice and thick and long, ending in a USB connector. This means you no longer have to fiddle with the microphone jack that’s often located in the very VERY back of some PCs! That was a HUGE plus for me. What’s more, right smack in the middle of the cord itself is the volume control pad, with big buttons for increasing and decreasing the volume, as well as a microphone mute button. In case you need to swear at someone under your breath. Uh, not that I’ve tested that. (It works great for that.)

My only gripe is that the sound you get from the mic itself is a wee bit tinny, though it’s not so terrible that I’d return it or anything. Be advised, though, that you’re not getting -crystal- clear sound here. For that matter, not anywhere for under $50. Still, it’s not terrible, and tinny as it may be, the mic picks up everything, even quiet background noises. So it’s definitely a strong mic, just not a super precise one.

Other than that little issue, you’re getting a pretty nice, pretty low-price, pretty high-results little unit here. Fits well, works nicely enough, and has convenient USB connectivity with that cool little button pad for volume control. Recommended.

This is a fantastic headset. I’ve tried other models commonly found at Walmart and Radio Shack, and this one blows them all away – and at a lower price, to boot.

I am hearing impaired and wear behind-the-ear hearing aids. The headset wraps beautifully around the ears, cushioning them comfortably, preventing slippage, and muting ambient sound. They should be very comfortable for anyone without hearing aids, but if you are looking for something compatible with aids, this is perfect.

The size seems quite adjustable – my head is small so I can’t say for sure that it fits large heads, but it seems like it would accommodate a variety of sizes. My 8 year old daughter also can adjust the set to her head.

Because of my hearing impairment, it is critical to have a good maximum volume on the device. The maximum volume on other headsets have not been adequate to meet my needs. Obviously the volume is fully adjustable, so your non-hearing-impaired ears will not be blasted.

The microphone quality is so good that people frequently remark how clearly they can hear me. The position of the mic is easily adjustable. I find it useful to position the mic at the level of my nose (an inch or two away horizontally but at the same level vertically), rather than under it, so my breathing isn’t picked up.

I’ve used the mic for the following purposes:
– Skype
– GoToMeeting and WebEx
– Dragon Naturally Speaking
– Recording the speaking part for a software demo (sorry, I don’t remember what video software I used for this project)

I’ve had this model for… oh, years. I just bought another because my daughter, who is currently 8 years old, was really hard on it (slamming the cord into drawers, dropping it, running over it with the rolling chair, bending the mic every which way), For years. So I won’t say it’s completely immune to abuse, but it’s taken a lot from a child for a long time, and I’m very happy with the value.