Logitech 250 Headset
Out of stock |
Similar in Headsets
- Compatibility: Computers Gaming (PC)
- Design: Over the Head
- Usage: Consumer
- Connectivity: Cable
- Overview
-
Reviews
-
Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
Minor problems with the USB headset concept
Pros
Works fine for voice chat, simple USB plug connection, no special drivers needed
Cons
Awkward operation with Skype, poor electrical noise filtering, no manual volume control
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
Works better on some systems than others.
I bought the Logitech 250 USB headset because I thought it might be a convenient voice-chat solution for computers where a USB port is more easily accessible at the front than the microphone and speaker jacks. There are some minor problems with that concept though, particularly for use with Skype, as I'll cover below.
First of all the USB headset itself just a standard headset with a USB plug on the end and little plastic bump on the cable that contains a USB interface chip and headphone amp. The cord is a decent 8 ft. length. USB audio support is built into Windows, so there's no need to install special drivers - just plug-n-play. Unfortunately this model does not have a built-in volume control or mute switch. Logitech makes a more expensive 350 USB headset which has those features along with better sound quality.
As a voice-chat headphone, I'd give the Logitech 250 a medium rating. The plastic top-of-the-head headband fits a little tight, but the swiveling padded earcups make it not too uncomfortable to wear, and they provide some sound isolation. There's adequate range of headband adjustment. The short microphone boom is unobtrusive, sitting to the right side of your face instead of directly in front of your mouth. The sound quality of the headphones is mediocre, with both the bass and treble response quite limited, but it's fine for voice and nothing objectionable for music. Microphone quality is fine, but the sound recorded from it has an annoying background buzz on my desktop computer, indicating inadequate electrical noise filtering (it's ok on my laptop).
Using it in practice with Skype demonstrated some minor problems with the USB headset concept, and some puzzling differences in behavior on different PCs. On my laptop, Windows switches the default audio device automatically to the USB headset when it is plugged in, and switches back to the built-in speakers and microphone when I unplug the headset. Skype will automatically use whichever is the current Windows default audio device when I make or answer a call. All well and good, but unfortunately Skype won't switch in the middle of a call. For example, if I hear a call coming in on the speakers, and plug in the headset to talk, Skype will stick with the speakers. Admittedly that's a Skype-specific problem which might not apply to all voice-chat software, but Logitech does advertise this headset for use with Skype. I'm less forgiving of this oversight than I might be because my Vtech cordless Skype phone has a driver that switches Skype automatically during a call whenever I activate the handset. There is a free utility you can download to switch Skype manually during a call (Wispa Audio Device Switcher for Skype), but it has to be running and resident in your system tray.
Behavior is worse on my desktop PC, which has multiple audio devices, including other USB audio devices. On this system Windows does not switch automatically to the USB headset when it is plugged in, not sure why. I can switch the Windows default audio device to the USB headset manually, but when I unplug the headset, Windows reverts to an unpredictable one of the other audio devices instead of reliably returning to the last one it was using before the headset was plugged in. I guess that's a Windows problem, but it makes the USB headset a little less convenient to use.
The lack of a manual volume control is also a bit annoying for a headset to be used with Skype. When I use a regular headset, I can easily adjust the volume with the manual volume adjustment dial or buttons provided on my desktop or laptop computer. Of course they don't work with the USB headset, so I have to try to find the software system volume control quickly if I get a blast in the ears from an incoming call. Skype unfortunately doesn't currently have a program volume control at all in version 2.5, but apparently one has been added in version 3.0, currently in beta test.
Overall, I guess I'll get used to the minor inconveniences, but it doesn't work as well as I'd hoped, particularly on my desktop system where I had planned to use it.
First of all the USB headset itself just a standard headset with a USB plug on the end and little plastic bump on the cable that contains a USB interface chip and headphone amp. The cord is a decent 8 ft. length. USB audio support is built into Windows, so there's no need to install special drivers - just plug-n-play. Unfortunately this model does not have a built-in volume control or mute switch. Logitech makes a more expensive 350 USB headset which has those features along with better sound quality.
As a voice-chat headphone, I'd give the Logitech 250 a medium rating. The plastic top-of-the-head headband fits a little tight, but the swiveling padded earcups make it not too uncomfortable to wear, and they provide some sound isolation. There's adequate range of headband adjustment. The short microphone boom is unobtrusive, sitting to the right side of your face instead of directly in front of your mouth. The sound quality of the headphones is mediocre, with both the bass and treble response quite limited, but it's fine for voice and nothing objectionable for music. Microphone quality is fine, but the sound recorded from it has an annoying background buzz on my desktop computer, indicating inadequate electrical noise filtering (it's ok on my laptop).
Using it in practice with Skype demonstrated some minor problems with the USB headset concept, and some puzzling differences in behavior on different PCs. On my laptop, Windows switches the default audio device automatically to the USB headset when it is plugged in, and switches back to the built-in speakers and microphone when I unplug the headset. Skype will automatically use whichever is the current Windows default audio device when I make or answer a call. All well and good, but unfortunately Skype won't switch in the middle of a call. For example, if I hear a call coming in on the speakers, and plug in the headset to talk, Skype will stick with the speakers. Admittedly that's a Skype-specific problem which might not apply to all voice-chat software, but Logitech does advertise this headset for use with Skype. I'm less forgiving of this oversight than I might be because my Vtech cordless Skype phone has a driver that switches Skype automatically during a call whenever I activate the handset. There is a free utility you can download to switch Skype manually during a call (Wispa Audio Device Switcher for Skype), but it has to be running and resident in your system tray.
Behavior is worse on my desktop PC, which has multiple audio devices, including other USB audio devices. On this system Windows does not switch automatically to the USB headset when it is plugged in, not sure why. I can switch the Windows default audio device to the USB headset manually, but when I unplug the headset, Windows reverts to an unpredictable one of the other audio devices instead of reliably returning to the last one it was using before the headset was plugged in. I guess that's a Windows problem, but it makes the USB headset a little less convenient to use.
The lack of a manual volume control is also a bit annoying for a headset to be used with Skype. When I use a regular headset, I can easily adjust the volume with the manual volume adjustment dial or buttons provided on my desktop or laptop computer. Of course they don't work with the USB headset, so I have to try to find the software system volume control quickly if I get a blast in the ears from an incoming call. Skype unfortunately doesn't currently have a program volume control at all in version 2.5, but apparently one has been added in version 3.0, currently in beta test.
Overall, I guess I'll get used to the minor inconveniences, but it doesn't work as well as I'd hoped, particularly on my desktop system where I had planned to use it.
