An update:
Wired Headsets
The beyerdynamic DT-297-PV/80 MKII are terrible. The mic sounds wonderful. The headphones feel like they were designed 50 years ago on a budget. Uncomfortable. Awful connector that digs into your shoulder. I went through two cables in the year I've had them. The mic boom drooped and I had to open it up and wrap it in electrical tape to tighten it up. And after a year, one channel went out, so that experiment is over.
I also ordered these at the same time which are an amazing deal for $40s considering the mic is a condesner. Audio quality if good enough. Comfort is ok. Good back up.
https://www.thomannmusic.com/superlux_hmc_660_x.htm
But we finally have a good option. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS XLR. The mic is fantastic. The audio and build quality is good. Get these if you want a headset with a condenser mic.
Real Time Hardware DSP
I've had so many problems with audio using elgato wave link. The interface and software is decent, but windows changes my hardware inputs a few times each month. It's not fun to end up in calls with a CEO and have to trouble shoot audio. Additionally, while it's great to have VST plugins available, the latency isn't acceptable for monitoring. So I'm currently exploring other options. The goal is to have something I can travel with or switch between computers/laptops with no software dependencies.
Currently on my desk is the Yamaha AG06. It's a great budget option. Has two mic channels and compressor/eq/reverb. Bare minimum. It has a desktop and mobile app that you use to configure the settings, and then those are saved permanently.
I'm also looking at the Steinberg UR22c or UR44c. It's much more full featured as far as DSP (noise gate!).
Wireless headset + Hardware DSP
This is my white whale. I can't crack this. All of the wireless headsets are seemingly impossible to use without a PC/console or bluetooth. Bluetooth could work as many interfaces/mixers/DI boxes will take a bluetooth connection, but the latency isn't acceptable for gaming and that's a deal breaker for me.
The steelseries arctis nova pro have a "dac" base station that have a 3.5mm output and input, which might work to feed into the mixer, but I can't confirm this as their documentation is lacking. The Astro A50s do as well. I may buy and try at some point.
One other option is the Sound Blaster X-5.
https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x5
At the back of the Sound Blaster X5, there is a dedicated USB-A host audio port, for you to connect to a wireless audio transmitter such as the [URL='https://us.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-bt-w4']Creative BT-W4[/URL] or [URL='https://us.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-bt-w3']Creative BT-W3[/URL] - so you can play high-definition audio such as aptX Adaptive (BT-W4), aptX HD(BT-W3) wirelessly to your [I]Bluetooth[/I] headset+. This USB-A host audio port* also works with external USB speakers, microphones, and headsets for extra flexibility.
So if I'm reading this correctly, I could plug the USB dongle of a wireless headset (for example the Razer blackshark has about the best sounding mic on rtings), and pipe the microphone to the DSP and then the compute, and the audio from the computer to the headset. However, I've only found
one person mentioning trying this, and it didn't work for them with the Audeze Maxwells.
At this point, I start thinking, "maybe I could just build a rasberry PI and use it as a USB host", but then I realize I have too many hobbies already. IMO, a USB host audio mixer would be the best option because there are so many audio devices that have a bluetooth dongle, whereas wireless audio devices that have analog IO on the receiver are scant. Additionally, it would allow you to always use the latest and greatest bluetooth tech, rather than being stuck with the implementation integrated into your rig. I did a really deep dive into looking for such a device that can act as a USB host, and found none except the Sound Blaster X-5. If someone is looking for a good startup, or product idea this could be it!
