I’ve been using Skype and Google Hangouts more and more lately and have been looking for a USB headset with good sound and clear mics that’s also comfortable to wear. After two weeks of testing I think I’ve found what I was looking for in the Andrea Electronics SuperBeam SB-405 headset.
This headset has a lot of great features which include:
- a “boom-free” design with dual microphones and noise-canceling technology
- and in-line volume control with mute switch
- an external USB audio adapter that brings digital audio to older machines
a folding design with a case for easy storage- sound shaping and equalization software available for Macs and PCs
- 3D Surround Sound recording and playback
Andrea’s software includes Digital Super Directional Array (DSDA) signal processing algorithm to powers the SuperBeam array microphones for “boom-free” use. This forms an audio pickup beam directed at the user’s mouth to eliminate background noises outside the focused beam. The headset is Skype certified and the digital noise reduction algorithms reduce repetitive background noises for clear communication.
PC users can download the free AudioCommander software to enable and control many of the advanced features of the headset. A separate software package is available for Mac users with most the same features but it lacks the polished user interface of the PC version.
When I first took the headset out of the package, I wondered why the USB connector was separate from the headset itself, and it seemed inconvenient to plug in two 1/8-inch connectors and then have to plug in the USB connector too. This is actually a brilliant move by Andrea, because it increases the headset’s versatility for use with older sound cards while still providing for USB use on newer systems. As an added bonus, the digital processing occurs in the USB dongle, so it saves processor resources on your Mac or PC. Nice. They also sell a mobile adapter for $10 for use with smartphones.
About ten days ago I was part of a support team for Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir and was online for long periods of time using Google Hangouts to communicate with other volunteers. The SuberBeam SB-405 headset worked flawlessly and I found it to be extremely comfortable even after hours and hours of use. I particularly liked the lack of a boom microphone, which always has felt clumsy and makes me feel like a telemarketer. I also used the headset to listen to music and watch videos, and although it was little lacking in bass for my taste, the sound was clean and clear.
Available in black and white, this headset would be a good choice for anyone who regularly uses video conferencing or VOIP applications and I’m sure gamers would find it and excellent choice too. Additionally, anyone who produces how-to videos would enjoy the excellent quality of the microphones for voice-over work. At $149 (street price as low as $90) it’s on the high end of the price spectrum, but the quality earns that price. On a scale of 5 I give this headset a 4.5.
