Creative Labs HS-980, Excellent Headset

Overall Rating55555

Excellent Headset

I’ve purchased various headsets over the years, several were decent but not very durable, some where durable with poor sound quality. I have had this headset for about a month and I can say that it is the single best one I’ve used. The sound quality is amazing, if you crank them all the way up, the sound fills the room, and when you put the headphones together, its all immediately silenced. While not advertised as noise canceling, these do a wonderful job of muffling out all the other sounds in the room.

They are also EXTREMELY comfortable, like two clouds framing your head in audio bliss. The only downside is that after extensive usage, my ears have a tendency to get a little sweaty, but if thats the only negative — I have no complaints.

All in all, this is an excellent product, I’d recommend it both to the gamers and to someone who just wants to remove the mic and use it has high quality headphones.

Update (7/30/2010): This item is currently on sale here for the lowest price I’ve seen. I also found some auctions for this item here.

The featured review for this product, Creative Labs HS-980 Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII Gaming Headset Black Electronics, was written by W. Cooley.

The average rating for this item is 5 out of 5 stars, according to 3 reviews.

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Reviews (3)

Anonymous Coward

February 6th, 2010 at 10:08 pm    


Overall Rating55555

Exceeded my expectations - long road to these
I spend my time listening to music at the computer primarily to concentrate and/or drown out ambient/family noise. I also play FPS games. These headphones sound just as good as my Sony headphones and seem to fit my head better. I’ve only had them for a day so I don’t know what the durability will be but for the price it’s hard to go wrong.

Prior to these I lived in a pair of Sony MDRV6 headphones for about 11 years until they started to disintegrate. My requirements for a replacement were that they:
- should be less than $100
- needed to muffle sound when nothing was playing
- Should be over ear and closed design
- should have a normal 3.5mm audio plug (not usb)

I’ve bought 4 headsets to replace the Sonys and the HS-980 is the final solution.

First, I had a Logitech Clearchat headset from Best Buy. Fair on the ear design. Lasted about 6 months.
Second, I bought Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000. Flimsy and USB. Good sound.
Third, I had a pair of Plantronics 367 and they don’t even compare to these ones. Plantronics way too big. Mic quality poor. Poor sound quality.

Things I really like about these:
- A bonus feature they don’t mention in the spec is that the mic boom detaches.
- It’s also really nice to be able to fold these flat so that I can put them in my laptop bag.
- They also work well with a normal mp3 player.
- The inline volume/mic control can be clipped onto your shirt pocket or something.

Creative makes great sound cards but has made serious mistakes over the last 15 years with most of their other products (dvd drives, mp3 players, speakers, etc). In this case they got it way right.


W. Cooley

March 9th, 2010 at 10:50 am    


Overall Rating55555

Excellent Headset
Rated 5 stars.


A. Wright

March 13th, 2010 at 9:07 am    


Overall Rating55555

Snipers choice.
First off let me say that i am not a audiphile. I cannot rattle off specs of different sound spectrums off the top of my head. But i am a gamer and i love music and movies. For my purposes these headphones are perfect. While playing Call of duty 4 it makes every bullet whizzing by clearer than other heaphones ive owned. I have a pair of Audio Technica ATHM40FS Precision Studio Headphones as well but i would take these over those.

The Fatal1ty has good bass boom too it which i love. Movies explosions are epic in their sound and music is clear and booming. The earpads are cushy, comfortable and feel sturdy. The in-line controls are well placed and come in handy.

While using Skype the mic has good clarity and sound. The person i was Skyping could hear my every word with no problems. And the mic is removable!!!

I just wish they came with a came with a carrying case or bag. But not a big deal at all. These are excellent headphones for gamers, movie and music lovers at a Great price!


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