THE last time I used a computer stereo headset was almost nine years back.
While it was from a reputable brand and was adequate to listen to and record music at home, the headset was awkward to wear and uncomfortable.
Unlike that headset, the Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Stereo Headset is more bulky.
However, thanks to the generous amount of padding on its headband and earpads, it is a comfortable fit.
So I had no trouble wearing it for up to three hours at a stretch in front of the computer, be it listening to music or making Skype calls.
Just slide the adjustable headband to tweak the fit.
The other moving part in this headset is the swivel boom microphone.
It is designed so that you can mute the microphone by simply putting it back up in a vertical position.
The headset also has two large volume control buttons, so you can use them to directly adjust the volume.
(I fell back into my old habit of adjusting the volume on my multimedia control keyboard, though.)
For music playback, this computer headset fared better than I had expected.
Thanks to its 40mm speakers, I never had to pump up the volume past the halfway mark - it is already pretty loud at 20 per cent.
The bass was surprisingly meaty instead of wimpy and it was a pleasure to listen to the tight, pulsating beats of funk-jazz band Incognito on it.
As for Skype conversations, I found no issues getting the message across.
The noise-cancelling technology it uses helped to reduce ambient noises that interfere with the clarity of calls - such as the television that was playing in the background in my living room.
I only wish that this headset is foldable like the old one I had, so that it is easier to carry around.
But if you are looking to use this mostly at a single location - like at home or in the office - it will do the job.
To play, just plug this headset into a free USB port - no driver installation is needed.
Final say
While it is a tad bulky and does not fold into a compact size, this headset delivers the sounds clearly. Comfortable too.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.
