Seeking Recommendations for a Microphone Amplifier

I would first check out the headset manufacturer for a recommendation. You may lose all your fidelity you purchased with a lousy (cheap) amplifier or pay way too much for Skype.

Thanks, went that route first and they didn't carry anything. But like I said... through searching we came across a lot of potential options and configurations... just reaching out to see if anyone had any recommendations.

Then the USB sound card with a microphone input that SE suggested is probably your best bet. Just make sure that it is MAC compatible first.

Yeah, short of an alternative that doesn't require me to go into settings to change audio output from external speakers to USB device, that's likely what I'm going to go with.

Presently, we have an external speaker setup that has a volume control that sits on the desk with a headphone jack build-in. When we pug the headphone portion of the headset into that jack, it auto bypasses the external speakers. If I use the USB device, I have to switch it out in the computer's system settings. Not difficult by any means... just an extra step.

Following up on this thread... went with the above... works great!

Why bother? Although I do not know much about Macs, but assuming that they have built in mike and speakers (which may of course not be true!), you could possibly use the original mike further and just use the headphones for listening.

The neat little USB converter that someone posted, might also be a great move.

Yes, built-in Mic exists but picks up everything going on in the room and sometimes we like to sequester the conversation from the rest of the environment.

Example... wife may be watching TV or Skyping with one set of grandkids while I'm on with another grandchild helping them with math homework. The headsets with built-in mics allow us to speak in a normal tone (non-outside voice) and not have the incoming audio conflict with other environmental activities.

Certainly when the Skype conversation is the only thing going on, we forgo the headsets altogether, but often times they are not so the headsets come in quite handy.

If you are using a MacBook laptop then I would use the built-in microphone and forget the headset mic. If you still want to use the headset mic on a MacBook or if you are using a Mac Pro desktop then a battery operated mic preamp from the electronic store rather than the hi-fi shop will be perfectly adequate (the hi-fi shop will try and sell you something which will offer phantom power and Swarovski crystal encrusted titanium casing without actually offering any better sound).
Alternatively the USB solution in another post would eliminate the battery supply problem and still produce good sound. There seems to be this prejudice against the analogue-digital/digital-analogue conversion which goes with the USB port, yet people accept it in every other A-V context.

They are iMac Desktops so an external preamp is very plausible. But I have noticed they are quite pricey for a small one and the cheaper ones seem overly large.

Was actually thinking about building my own:

http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/micamp.html

What I'd really like to find, but haven't been successful yet is a preamp that will plug into the line-in jack, that has another line-in jack for device connection and a short USB cable for the power supply... self-contained, no batteries required.

Just haven't found one yet.

If you are building your own then the world is your oyster. You could power a circuit from the USB by cutting a cable and using the power lines. Bear in mind, though, that USB offers only 5V, not the 9V your circuit is designed for. You could improve matters by eliminating the LED and the 120R resistor, otherwise you will need to include a DC-DC booster circuit (cheap on eBay).

http://www.amazon.com/iBoost-800-Stereo-Amplifier-Booster/dp/B00CVDN2O0

This might work for you.

Why not use a Bluetooth headset like you would use with an iPhone? They are designed to eliminate some of the ambient noise and they will not require switching like a USB device. Once Bluetooth is paired and connected, away you go!

http://www.amazon.com/Delton-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Wireless-Compatible/dp/B003TY2O76/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1446751473&sr=1-6&keywords=bluetooth+microphone+wireless

If you have a local Best Buy, ask them. They sell Macs.