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[Darkmere]

I'm somewhat of an audiophile and use headsets not only for gaming/chat but listening to music and whatnot. My workspace isn't always quiet, so I go for semi-insulating earpieces. I'm not abusive of my hardware, but it does see extensive use daily for when I listen to music while working, or gaming.

So... about two and a half years ago I got these.

Spoiler: About the set that broke, not strictly relevant (click to show/hide)

The fidelity is pretty high, and I didn't have issues with them for about a year and 8-10 months. The cord "stiffened" into the pattern it lays on my desk, which didn't impact functionality, but eventually the connection to the volume/mic controls broke and exposed bare wire. I used electrical tape to shore it up, with no noticeable effects. Today the mount for the right earpiece broke, and it's only holding on by the wire. So... time for a new one.

I used to use junky, low-end headsets that would break in less than a year, but my first experience with the above convinced me that it's a better investment to spend a bit more. That said, the successor to my old pair is here. A decent amount of reviews from that brand indicated that the hardware failure rate is fairly high, so I'm on the fence about buying them again. I'm open to suggestions from any brand or price range, though I probably won't be spending more than about $50 on whatever I end up buying. Thoughts?

[Lectorog]

Honestly, those mid-quality Turtle Beaches are good full headsets. They have a sound balance designed for gaming - you pick up a lot of noises that you might not with generic headphones - but the balance isn't so extreme as to not relay music well. As you've seen, they're pretty sturdy. Comfortable enough. Not much sound insulation, but they're not open. My X12s have been just as reliable as my X11s.

Your best other bet is probably going to the local electronics store and seeing what they have in stock. Most designated companies sell really pricy stuff. That said, the cheap stuff you find on the shelves probably won't last that long.

You could always get a separate mic. Clip-on or standing on your desk.

[Bdthemag]

Turtle Beach is DEFINITELY not sturdy in terms of the wires. I've bought two of their headphones, and the wires would always fray or stop working within a few months. I don't find them particularly comfortable either, and I'd highly suggest getting brands that don't advertise themselves as "Gaming Headphones". Companies that name any of their stuff "Gaming" anything are usually lying out of their ass about the quality of the item in question.

[Lectorog]

Hm. I've had a more than satisfactory experience with Turtle Beaches throughout the few years I've used them, but apparently that's not common. I don't know any brands that make more durable, quality headsets though, so I'm not of much use at this point.

[Darkmere]

Yeah, the wires were certainly lower quality than what I'd expect from that price range, but my X11's didn't just up and die like many have said, either. If there were a way to glue up my swivel-mount I could still use the ones I have for several more months, in all likelihood, with just the frayed insulation taped up.

Regarding separate mics, I don't really have the stable desktop space for a tabletop (and they always sound bad to me when other people use them), and lapel-clip mics both drive me crazy by having something attached to my clothes, and are asking for me to forget about it and yank/break the cord when I stand up with it attached.

The "closest" electronics store would be, at minimum, a 2-hour drive and cost me more in gas than I would save in shipping by just ordering one online. Everything that's within an hour would just have the throwaway garbage models that I've already decided I don't want to buy.

That said, the cheaper Logitech sets I used to buy had pretty solid wiring and connections, with most of the failure rates coming from physical accidents. I have the feeling it'll come down to either the X12's or a similarly-priced Logitech headset, if one exists. I'm not focused enough to do research right now, else I'd have tossed up some more links in the OP.

[Tobel]

I also find myself in the market for a decent gaming headset. My cable snapped on my old Fatality headset when it hooked around my chair.

Which brand carriers the cables that are braided? It seems like every review I read for Turtle Beach or Razer has ups and downs. Is there any generally accepted device? Should I try a Turtle Beach?

[Jimmy]

I suppose I'm the only one here who goes for the lowest priced option and simply replaces them at the first sign of wear and tear? Disposables FTW.

[Darkmere]

I suppose I'm the only one here who goes for the lowest priced option and simply replaces them at the first sign of wear and tear? Disposables FTW.

See above. Actually buying a decent pair lasted me multiple years, so for me it's a better deal in the long run.

I also find myself in the market for a decent gaming headset. My cable snapped on my old Fatality headset when it hooked around my chair.

Which brand carriers the cables that are braided? It seems like every review I read for Turtle Beach or Razer has ups and downs. Is there any generally accepted device? Should I try a Turtle Beach?

I ended up getting a secondhand set that a friend didn't need, so I haven't bought anything new yet to end up recommending. I have noticed, though, that the cords that fray and decay the most have smoother, "plastic like" insulation. The ones that last longer have rougher "rubber like" insulation that's more supple and almost never frays. The Turtle Beach ones had the plastic stuff, and that was most of my problem with them. If you can find TB brand with the rubbery insulation, I bet they'd be a really solid choice.

[Tobel]

I wound up going with Razer BlackShark. Most of the wireless sets had average reviews. I'll just have to be a bit more careful about the cable is all. 

[Nadaka]

This is what I use: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16879261316

Wireless, 7.1 surround, decent quality (but might not be up to certain audiophile standards), battery life of 6 or so hours, works for both PS3 and PC with a USB radio.

Had them since last December, 0 issues.

[Muz]

Goldring NS1500 Noise Canceling Headphones

Easily the most awesome headset I've ever had. Maybe a little above your budget, but they're extremely sturdy. Comes with a casing for travel too, so you don't mash them up in your laptop bag.

All my headphones fail just because I kick the wires hard while they're plugged in, which ruins the connection. No problem, the Goldring has replaceable wires so that you don't have to buy new headphones or solder the wires should the wires get damaged!

I got them on 44% discount, so not sure how much they cost in your area. But so far I'm happy with my deal, because noise canceling means that I'm more productive in the office, and the extra money pays for the future.