Is this possible ... wireless sound headset

[Robert]

Hey,

For some time now, i've wanted to get wireless sound for my PC. I know this
can be done with bluetooth wireless headsets. My keyboard and mouse are
wireless, so would be nice if I can sit far away from the PC and get great
sound too. Anyways to my question ... A while back I bought a Plantronics
USB headset. It sounded ok but when I wanted to use the headset instead of
the PC speakers, I had to go into the control panel, then into sound control
and change the output device from my SB Audigy to the Plantronics set. This
I fealt was a real pain in the ass just for using headphones. So I'm
wondering if Bluetooth sound devices are the same. Idealy, I could have the
wireless headset AND the PC speakers running at the same time (though I
would never do that). When I wanted to use the headset I would just put it
on and turn off the speakers, and vice vera.

So the main thing is ... do bluetooth sound devices install their own sound
hardware component like USB headsets do where I will have to switch between
them in the sound control panel?

One thing I saw in a local stereo store was wireless speakers designed for
home stereo's. So I though to myself if I bought those I could run then from
the line-out of the soundcard?!?! maybe, maybe not ... anyways your advice
is appriciated.

P.S. One thing I would also concern myself with is buying a headset that
uses a lithium-ion battery. I don't like old NiCd or NmH bartteries that
"learn" charge cycles and eventually die out... so If you have
recommendations on wireless headsets in specific i would also value that
info.

Robert

 

[kony]

Hey,

For some time now, i've wanted to get wireless sound for my PC. I know this
can be done with bluetooth wireless headsets. My keyboard and mouse are
wireless, so would be nice if I can sit far away from the PC and get great
sound too.

Sound, yes. Great sound- depends a lot on how picky you
are. Generally speaking, all wireless kills treble
definition if not a chunk of the upper frequency range. If
the drivers (speakers) aren't so great it may not be as
noticable though, but deciding to go with lower-fi parts to
avoid noticing what's missing is a hard decision to make.

Anyways to my question ... A while back I bought a Plantronics
USB headset. It sounded ok but when I wanted to use the headset instead of
the PC speakers, I had to go into the control panel, then into sound control
and change the output device from my SB Audigy to the Plantronics set. This
I fealt was a real pain in the ass just for using headphones. So I'm
wondering if Bluetooth sound devices are the same.

yes
You will have to change it if you use a separate audio
"device".

To avoid this, don't use a separate audio device, get merely
"cordless headphones".

Idealy, I could have the
wireless headset AND the PC speakers running at the same time (though I
would never do that).

How is that ideal?
If you would never do it, what's your point?
This makes no sense, but regardless, if you want to do that,
either use a sound card (perhaps yours already supports it)
with multichannel output and speakers to one channel pair
and headphones to the other. Naturally your sound card will
have to support routing 2 channel sound to the rear channels
as well as where they're supposed to go by default, to the
front channels. Any other option means another audio
device, and the changing devices as you mentioned disliking
above.

Well there is actually another choice, Zalman and maybe
others have a headphone amp with two headphone support, so
you'd plug your wireless phones into one channel and the
speakers into the other. I dont' recall the model # of this
product but it is on Zalman's 'site, shouldn't be too hard
to find.

So the main thing is ... do bluetooth sound devices install their own sound
hardware component like USB headsets do where I will have to switch between
them in the sound control panel?

Forget bluetooth, there's no gain to it here, but yes, it's
a separate audio device and you have to switch it.

One thing I saw in a local stereo store was wireless speakers designed for
home stereo's. So I though to myself if I bought those I could run then from
the line-out of the soundcard?!?! maybe, maybe not ... anyways your advice
is appriciated.

My advice is to not try to avoid wires if it isn't necessary
to (avoid them). If you really want wireless headphones,
buy "normal" wireless headphones, for example, google for
"wireless headphones" and get a pair that has a base station
that plugs into your sound card jack, or maybe a really
fancy set would have digital input (though nothing comes to
mind at the moment but they probably do exist for the right
pricetag). If you just want a name thrown in, check out
Sennheiser's, they make good cans and several wireless
models, about 4 IIRC.

P.S. One thing I would also concern myself with is buying a headset that
uses a lithium-ion battery. I don't like old NiCd or NmH bartteries that
"learn" charge cycles and eventually die out... so If you have
recommendations on wireless headsets in specific i would also value that
info.

You would do well to dispell myths. NiMH do not "learn",
and they do not "die out". In fact, Li-Ion are the shortest
lived of the three types, the most expensive, and the most
demanding of a proper charging technique (though this last
detail is handled by the included charger so mostly a
non-issue). The gains of Li-Ion are higher power density,
longer runtime from any given sized battery pack. In
headphones, that can easily be an important and desirable
feature, a good reason to want Li-Ion, but if your primary
concerns are not that but rather the memory or "die out"
issue, you want NiMH, not Li-Ion.

Having written that, go for Li-Ion as there's no need to
wear an extra few ounces of batteries if you don't have to.