Koss R65B Computer Headset

Rating:
Summary: Good headphone
Review: A great headphone for this value. The headband is a bit tight at the beginning but will becomes comfortable a few weeks after you start using it. My only complain is the included microphone is a bit too noisy. Please note that they are no longer include the bias supply so for those people that need it, you will have to get it from Koss directly.

Rating:
Summary: Good sound quality but wish Mic was detachable
Review: I like the headset. It has good sound quality and has held up really well to a year of heavy use. However, having the mic is permanently connected and can be a little irritating when you don't need it.

Rating:
Summary: Great sound and great comfort
Review: I use headphones every day of the week. Either at work or home, I must have my headphones. The Koss R-65B are an excellent choice for the discriminating ear. Great sound and great comfort are this product's best features. The microphone is quite exceptional too - It is ideal for recording voice reminders on your PC while you work. Also, the R-65B comes with an 8 foot cord, which is an essential feature of a good pair of headphones. For the money, you can't go wrong with this purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Plantronics HS-1 better than Koss R65B
Review: Like most reviewers, I found the Plantronics HS-1 a bit uncomfortable so when it came time for another headset I purchased the Koss R65B ... bad mistake. The Koss squeezes your head like a vise. My wife (whose head is considerably smaller than mind) finds the Plantronics very comfortable, but complains the Koss is much too tight. For me, the Koss is pure torture.

The Koss has cords hanging down from both earpieces whereas the Plantronics has a single cord from the left earpiece. A small matter, but if you need to take your headset on and off frequently, you'll appreciate the single cord. The Plantronics has both volume and mute controls on the cord; the Koss has neither.

The Koss requires a battery pack (the Plantronics does not). Their web site says it is required with "some" computers, but I found it necessary on all three computers I tried. It's large (3" x 1" x 3/4") and not the sort of thing you want hanging from your computer, especially if you'll be using it on a laptop.

Finally, the boom microphone on the Koss is a spindly arrangement that refuses to stay in position. The Plantronics boom is solidly built, stays where you put it, and rotates out up out of the way when not needed. Since the Koss R65B and Plantronics HS-1 are virtually the same price, go with the Plantronics; you'll get a much better headset.