Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset

My wife and I have just gotten hooked on using Skype now that we are very recent Grandparents for the first time and want to stay in touch with my son and his wife who are out of state. We wanted to improve the quality of sound for our calls and get beyond the built-in mic and speakers of the MacBook Pro. Many other reviewers on Amazon rated this headset as an excellent choice for the Mac. They were right! Having just received them and used them, they are immediately recognized by the Mac and show up in the system Preferences Sound settings (to use the headset over the built-in mic and speakers, you'll need to select it there as well as in 'Skype preferences too!). Volume levels are quite high for both input and output so you will have plenty of volume if you need it. The mic is very sensitive and also offers plenty of volume if you need it) The +,- volume and mute controls directly on the headset cable works perfectly with the Mac. The on-screen volume level indicator displays as it would using the Mac keyboard. Sound quality seems excellent (I can hear everything clearly!), even for my poor-average and slowly degrading hearing. I can't rate the comfort of these headphones over a long time of using them in one session, but, other reviewers seem to say they are extremely comfortable. I agree in that the fit over ear is perfect and the softness of the "cushions" on each ear-piece are firm, but, very comfortable and seem of excellent quality so they won't begin to collapse or compress over time. Build quality seems very good as well for an under $20 headset. The ability to use these on a USB connection rather then the input/output jacks of a laptop using two plugs, make them quick to connect and disconnect. I assume they'll work fine as well if we use a pair of these at the same time to share a call or even on a USB2 hub. We're delighted with this purchase and price and of course, that it interfaces with a Mac so very well. The LifeChat LX-3000 is highly recommended for your Mac if you want a great headset without investing a lot into it.

Sound 4/5: It's amazing, the only backfire is that there's a limit to how high these can get, unless you have a program that runs external to the headset, these aren't going to be mind-blowing loud.- Skype: You can actually hear everything, including the fan blowing on their end, and there's an option on the computer that lowers anything on your end playing in the background to hear your friends/family better.- Online Games (Mainstream games, such as League of Legends): I would recommend these, you can hear every single sound effect, the music plays smoothly, you're able to hear everything perfectly volume controlled, not too loud, but decently right.Microphone 5/5: This Mic is really sensitive, everything can be heard, including footsteps or breathing... even the birds that you can barely hear outside. You can tone it down just enough where "you" can be heard, so I love the microphone. If you stream on twitch or do youtube videos, this is what you want, you'll be heard as perfect as an expensive spit mic.Feel 5/5: It's really soft to you ears and I can have it on without any problems for a day (Though I don't recommend then on for too long for stereocilia, blocking your ears for so long). It doesn't hurt and it's really light-weighted. (Note: I usually wear this headset with the left phone on my ear and the right one out, probably a habit from this headset with it's noise cancellation).Price 4/5: I'm writing this review because I need to buy another, but decided to try another headset instead because it used to cost $30 with shipping/handling/taxes overall price, but it was bumped up I see, so I have to move onto another headset, from the increase of the price, assuming $30 was enough as it was. I recommend these headsets at $30 and below, anywhere above and you're over-paying. So at the moment the price for this should be 3/5.Shipping 5/5: If I remember correctly, these were shipped 3 days before estimated, so these will arrive fast. When you buy them, they'll be sealed really well in the packaging of it's box.Other 3/5:This lasts me at least an year before it goes bad: The USB would automatically disconnect itself, noting you that it's giving in. The sound would crackle/static or not even be heard. The Microphone becomes fuzzy or properly not work.- There's a button in between the cord that allows you to be able to mute your microphone and increase/decrease your volume.Overall 4/5: One major problem I have had with this Headset is that it's plastic breaks (Where it stretches from) eventually, I personally don't adjust to it's size and have it in all the way in, but it tends to happen a lot of the time. I usually just Duct tape around it so that it's as if no damage has been done to it (Note: I'm pretty careful with my things, not aggressive or whatever. I don't enjoy anything as small as a scratch or it will bug me). I've bought 2 of these exact headsets and I grew accustomed to it.- I recommend this headset if you use it competitively or casual through the use of the internet

I've owned a total of 5 of these of the past 8 years. Occasionally one of the earphones or the microphone have stopped working (which is why I've bought so many), but it was usually an error on my part (bending the microphone too much, or sitting on them by accident).I've been very impressed by their sound quality. They're no match for a $200 pair of headphones, but the quality is very good for their price.Since they were made back in the Vista days, they seem to have a few small issues with Windows 7+. Even if you turn the volume down the zero, you can still hear the audio. Additionally, if you unplug and replug them in quickly, the audio will sometimes be louder than it's supposed to be. Restarting the computer usually fixes the latter issue.The mute button on the wire is very handy. If somebody walks into my room, I can mute myself instantly so that my Skype friends don't hear our conversation. The downside of the mute button is that it's a bit too easy to press, so when the wire swings and the button hits my chair, it will sometimes mute the mic by accident.The best thing about them is how they feel. They're incredibly comfortable and you can adjust the length of them to make them looser or tighter.Despite the flaws that I listed, I love this headset because its comfort, quality, and price point are a winning combination. My current pair has lasted for 3 years, so as long as you take care of them, you shouldn't have too many problems there.