What connections are available?
With gaming headsets, you have three main types of connection to choose from, which are wired, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
Wired headsets, as their name suggests, utilise a cable to make the connection, either as analogue or digital. An analogue connection is generally made through the traditional 3.5mm jack. This technology has been refined over many decades, and provides excellent sound reproduction, although it is susceptible to "electrical noise" causing background interference. With a digital interface, made through a USB, the sound card is located within the headset itself, this eliminates any background static when talking.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology used for transmitting audio between a device and headset. It utilises short-wavelength UHF radio waves around 2.4GHz. Bluetooth has been adopted by a wide range of industries, including PC gaming, mobile phones, and even cars. With this ubiquity, you’ll be able to utilise a single headset with multiple devices once paired. The latest Bluetooth standards boasts theoretical ranges of up to 200 meters, meaning you can keep talking to your squad even if you must step away from your PC.
Wi-Fi is the second wireless technology used in gaming headsets. It also utilises 2.4GHz radio frequencies, but unlike Bluetooth, Wi-Fi uses a proprietary frequency that provides an extended range and is almost lag free. The main advantage of Wi-Fi over Bluetooth is that it does not feature sound compression thus providing outstanding sound reproduction. To connect your device, you’ll usually require a dongle that plugs into a USB port on your computer. What's more, it is plug and play without the need to pair.
