Sony Playstation 3 Wireless Stereo Headset on Ubuntu Linux
Recently I decided to purchase a headset to allow me to be heard more clearly when using Skype. Given that I’m also a casual gamer (PS3, primarily), I figured a headset that would also be compatible with the Playstation 3 would be ideal.
After looking around (at length) at the options, I decided to go with Sony’s Wireless Stereo Headset, which is produced specifically for the PS3. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be Linux-compatible or not, but now, after having used it for a while, I can say with confidence that it is.
Linux compatibility worked out of the box. (I’ll note here that I’m still running Ubuntu 11.04 on my Samsung Series 9). I didn’t have to tweak any audio settings, conf files, or download any packages. I just had to insert the USB wireless adapter, switch over to the headset in Sound Preferences, and everything worked great.
By way of a general review: while I’m not an audiophile, the sound quality on the headset strikes me as pretty good. The microphone clarity is excellent (far better than my phone, I’m told), and the battery life does seem to last the advertised 8 hours or so. They’re comfortable to wear, have a well thought-out design (convenient mute button, retractable mic, etc), and the wireless range seems to be 20 or 30 feet or so.