Like I said, I'm still skeptical. I'm using the proper plugs but my results are way different from yours. I'm no slouch when it comes to electronics, especially radio communications, so I wonder if your results are typical or whether you are hearing what you want to hear. Have you actually tried listening to music on this headset with mic (3 striped plug) and compared the same music listening to a headset with speakers only (2 striped plug)? If so, are these experiences actually that similar or is there quite a bit of attenuation on the headset with mic compared to the headset with speakers only?