Audio without wires might be a good thing for some gamers, but anyone who suspects that there might be the merest possibility of wireless interference will run for the hills before bringing a wireless headset to battle. If nothing else, the HS-1000 shows that Creative knows their market: the headset shares many of the features of its HS-1200 wireless sibling - including the use of X-Fi technology as its sound processor - while soothing the fears of the hardcore by using a wired connection (and obtaining the endorsement of Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel). However, the two headsets are not the exact same product - today, we'll be looking at (and comparing) the differences.

Verdict:

Creative's Fatal1ty-endorsed gaming headset improves upon a few of the problems of its wireless counterpart, and is a very strong product that stands well even without comparison. Unless you desperately need a wireless headset when you game, the HS-1000 is our new gaming headset of choice.

Pros:
+ Comfortable fit
+ Ear cups that surround the ear
+ Consistent surround across different standards
+ Good controls
+ Good general use product

Cons:
- Poor documentation
- Microphone levels are fairly low
- Detachable microphone
- Control LED has a design flaw
- Installation problem in Vista