Logitech's ClearChat PC wireless stereo headset does VoIP, too

What's the use in having a wireless set of cans to rock with and a separate contraption to make / receive Skype calls on? Exactly, thus the Logitech ClearChat PC was born. Of course, it's certainly not the first cordless set of stereo headphones to sport a microphone, but being that it's built on 2.4GHz technology, you can finally take your calling habits wherever you go in the house (well, within 33 feet of the USB transmitter) without fear of static ruining a good pep talk. Quite frankly, it's a little unsightly for our tastes, but those who can overlook that can pick one up (in the US and Europe, mind you) for $99.99 this May.

[RIFRAF @ Mar 5th 2008 12:23PM]

I wonder if they're good enough to play games? I have an old bluetooth headset that had horrible lag which made it useless for games. The VOIP worked great though.

[mr friggles @ Mar 5th 2008 12:26PM]

2.4Ghz? Don't put that near your balls your you'll be childless and baren, probably like the geeks who keep hawking this on enblaaahget.

[mr friggles @ Mar 5th 2008 12:29PM]

meant "OR you'll be childless and barn, like the geeks who keep hawking this on enblahget."

[mr friggles @ Mar 5th 2008 12:31PM]

I meant to say "BAREN" not "barn". I think somebody is messing up my words is typed on purpose.

[mr friggles @ Mar 5th 2008 12:34PM]

^^^^SEE. I wrote "I think somebody is messing up my words >>I

[Andrew @ Mar 5th 2008 2:08PM]

Uhh...

[LondonConsultant @ Mar 5th 2008 2:13PM]

ARGH... it's spelt "barren"...

[mushrooshi @ Mar 6th 2008 6:24PM]

Shut. The. Hell. Up.

[ackthbbft @ Mar 5th 2008 2:22PM]

Always funny to see people defend their misspellings multiple times. I believe you mean "barren".

[chrisaroz @ Mar 5th 2008 12:32PM]

I still don't understand why these aren't Bluetooth!

[Roy Garringer @ Mar 5th 2008 12:43PM]

I like it...
Battery life?
How does one re-charge it?

[w00t @ Mar 5th 2008 12:47PM]

Put a bluetooth logo on it and we'll talk.

[Jesse S @ Mar 5th 2008 12:49PM]

Wireless != good.

[John @ Mar 5th 2008 12:52PM]

Bluetooth, and i'll bite. Otherwise suck it logitech.

[Chip @ Mar 5th 2008 1:00PM]

I have to agree with the rest, what's with the non-Bluetooth? If it doesn't charge via mini-USB or if it's wireless but doesn't use Bluetooth, I won't buy it. Just my little crusade.

[SHoe @ Mar 5th 2008 2:16PM]

Agreed about the USB charging. When Sony redesigned the PSP, that was my biggest peeve. It has the worst implementation of USB trickle-charging ever imagined (if your out of juice you can't charge it because you have to turn-on the USB - duh), when they should have just ripped out the stupid charger plug and used USB exclusively. They'd save on the cost of the extra plug / part, make our lives easier (like I need 20 god-damned chargers...), and could probably have cut the weight and size. Hate to bring up Blackberry again but they have had the USB part down for years now - the way it should be on consumer devices (how ironic is that?).

[ToxicDose @ Mar 5th 2008 1:03PM]

Why can't someone make a wireless headset like the ones that they "use" in the TV show Stargate Atlantis? They makethings smaller or larger, but I like the look of that real thin boom mic.

[Kris @ Mar 5th 2008 1:09PM]

2.4GHz? Ugh. My wireless G7 gets _horrible_ interference from my 802.11b/g network. In fact, every 2.4GHz device I own mangles the WiFi signal. So we're adding headphones to the same frequency?

I'm sorry but that seems dumb to me. Am I missing something here? Every 2.4GHz device I own interfers with one another so I would assume that while this is a cool product, I would get more headaches trying to switch channels on everything if I were to purchase this.

[Andrew @ Mar 5th 2008 2:12PM]

Kris, I experience none of the problems you do, and I use a Logitech MXR, have an 802.11g connection, use a ZX-6000 Lifetech headset and have an Xbox 360 with wireless controllers (which are reported to be death to 2.4ghz spectrum devices), and I experience no problems at all. No breakup, no signal loss, no interfering.

On topic, I'd be more excited if this was bluetooth, like alot of posters. One minor complaint is that looking at the design of the device, it seems to be fixed so that the boom is on always on the left, its not apparently a symmetrical dseign where the boom can be rotated over to be on the left or right (example, 360 wired headset). It's a minor thing, but I use my headset boom on the right, and it just a personal preference, but it can't be difficult to implement. I don't even mind if I have to switch the stereo left/right in my drivers, its just how I roll. And it seems an irritating omission.

[Darc @ Jun 9th 2008 9:57PM]

Flipping over your mic also flips over your sterero, so left-side sounds are coming from the right, etc. In gaming (particularly first-person shooters), that can make the headset worthless.

[tintin @ Mar 5th 2008 2:43PM]

I dont like waffles THAT much!
But if I got them for free, sure i´d take them.

[andyo @ Mar 5th 2008 2:46PM]

Bluetooth audio A2DP has lag! It's OK to listen to music, but no good for movies (you might or might not tolerate it, though), even less for games. Also A2DP is compressed. This is an uncompressed 44.1 kHz digital signal, if I'm not mistaken.

Also the headset profile for Bluetooth, when compared with a wired headset, even the cheapest ones, is absolutely crappy quality.

Add to this that you can't hear in A2DP quality and use the mic at the same time, and this technology is a winner. Besides, the transmitter seems to be just a generic USB audio device, so it doesn't need drivers to install, and your computer doesn't need to be running Bluetooth.

This headset overcomes ALL this problems. I agree that I would like to see different models, though. I also like a thin boom mic with light small headphones.

[WilfordBrimley @ Mar 5th 2008 3:20PM]

Don't bluetooth stereo headsets work as either stereo audio for listening to MP3s (A2DP mode) or shitty cellphone headset audio for calls (HSP mode)? That's unacceptable for applications such as skype-to-skype calls and podcasting.

If there exists a $99 bluetooth stereo headset with a microphone that sounds as good as a wired USB headset, then please point me to it. Otherwise, I'll be giving the Logitech a try in May.

[4cr JaXs @ Mar 5th 2008 5:52PM]

Looks nice, just one problem. THE MIC IS ON THE LEFT SIDE. WHY IS IT ALWAYS ON THE LEFT? Every time I have ever seen ANYONE with a single ear head set it is ALWAYS one the right side. Even on TV Spots. WTF?