Good sound enhances your simulation too. Meet the AudioFX, by eDimensional.
The other day I was testing a voice recognition software, so of course I was in need of a decent microphone. I was also fed up with plugging and unplugging my wife’s Sennheiser earphones from the PC whenever she needed them, so I thought “a great excuse for new earphones with an integrated mike for Father’s day!”. After a little research I went for the eDimensional’s AudioFX Force Feedback, which appeared to offer all the features I required plus an extra which allegedly increases immersion. All that at a reasonable price? Yes.
I donned my new set of AFXs (the microphone bends upwards comfortably out the way) and I launched the demo of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, sound set to high quality, vibration system on and to the max…
Aaaaahhh..! I am a celebrity, get me out of here!
…
I had the chance to work with a sound engineer once, and he elucidated to me the concept of dynamic range. In audio equipment, the concept refers to the range between the loudest to the lowest sounds, without distortion, a microphone or speaker can provide. In practical terms, if a loudspeaker can produce a clear variation of dim sounds and loud ones (the delicate tones of rain, a breath, crystal breaking; a machine gun and the roar of an engine, for example) then the equipment has an acceptable dynamic range.
Suddenly I am in a furious firefight in some battered, semi-destroyed middle-eastern city, and as I run among the rubble, a never ending stream of Arabic-hollering operatives keep Kalashnikov-ing, grenading and rocket launching me and my team. The blows are “felt” because the AFX features not only an incredible dynamic range (you can hear both soft sounds and loud ones with pristine clarity) but a system that detects sounds beyond a certain threshold and triggers an actual rumble vibration in your headset. The resulting immersion blows your mind. You can control how much vibration you get, which is good, for I was getting drunk from the intensity of the trip.
But I bought this for flight simulation, didn’t I? So I selected an aeroplane which I know has a good sound design: the old freeware Bücker Jungmann… Oh, my. With earphones like these you can clearly hear what the sound team intended! The coughs of the exhaust, the sputtering of the cylinders, the blades beginning to rotate… I was covered in oil. Soon I went like a maniac starting-up all the good old birds, and new ones too: the Christen Eagle, the SAAB Safir, the Phantom F-4, the Hovercontrol 412, etc, etc. I had to congratulate Owen Hewitt once more for the terrific sound design of the new Piper too. The omnipresent humming around you is telling you that yes, the engine is vibrating and keeping you airborne. As advertised, this thing does enhance immersion. Certified.
Regarding construction: it’s all plastic but very sturdy. The earpieces are BIG and you look like a DJ at the Ministry of Sound at 4AM, but they are meant to fully cover the ears for noise cancelling. Install is dummy-proof, no software at all, plug this on the mic in, that on the speakers out, and the other one on any available USB port, which is whence it gets the power to generate the rumbles. You can turn the feature off completely and it’ll work as a regular pair of headphones (although an extremely good one). No need to spend on expensive Bang & Olufsens, Sennheisers or Sonys. If you need a fantastic, very high value-for-money headset in which you can enjoy Bach, John Coltrane, ZZ Top, an episode of 24, and the best sound for your FS, get the AFX and pump up the volume, dance, dance, dance!
And hey, what about the microphone?
Uh..? Yeah, that works a treat too. 
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