Plantronics .Audio 350 PC gaming headset

The Plantronics .Audio 350 PC communications headset is a budget pair of headphones with an integrated noise-cancelling microphone. The headset's low price tag shows in the sub-par construction, and the sound quality is not awe-inspiring. However for the price it is a good purchase, beating other low-end models in terms of design and features.

You can’t really expect the world from headphones that have a street price that is less than a music CD; this is certainly true of the Plantronics .Audio 350. It's a little flimsy, with the headband constructed out of the same thin plastic as the ear-cups (which sit on your ears and block out a small amount of outside noise). We doubt the headset will break easily, but twisting the headband makes the headphones creak and this may be distracting during wear.

The ear pads are soft and well-cushioned though, while the design of the headphones is modern and stylish. The swing-down noise-cancelling microphone is solidly constructed and functions well. It may not be exceptionally clear, but the noise cancelling does a good job of blocking out ambient noise. It’s more than capable for Skype conversations and multi-player PC gaming.

Sound quality from the Plantronics .Audio 350 headset is acceptable, with treble, bass and mid-range frequencies all decently represented. The problem with using this headset for gaming or movie-watching is the low maximum volume of the headphones. We found that whenever volume was higher than a moderate listening level, bass was prone to distortion and treble became harsh and scratchy.

If you only intend to use this headset for voice communication and listening to music or gaming at moderate volumes, it will serve acceptably. More enthusiastic listeners should steer clear, though.