Just a few days ago, Cooler Master introduced their GS750 “Desktop Hub.” According to Bryant Nguyen, the Peripheral General Manager at Cooler Master, “[Cooler Master] wanted to make a product that would serve multiple functions while also decluttering your space.” The GS750 is more than just a headphone stand, sporting many integrated features into the stand itself. Some of these features include an RGB LED base as well as a USB hub that is sure to reduce desktop clutter. At $79.99 MSRP, how does it stand up to competitors such as the Corsair ST100 or the Razer Base Station Chroma both which list at $20 less? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Cooler Master GS750 Desktop Hub review.
Key Features
- Qi Wireless Charging Base
- USB Hub with Two USB 3.0 Ports
- Onboard 7.1 Surround Sound
- Customizable RGB Beam Lighting
- 13 LEDs around the edges for endless customizability
- Software Customization
- 16.7 million colors via software control
Build Quality
The GS750’s build quality is one of the features that make it the most distinctive across other headphone holders. Its aluminum neck for the headphone holder allows it to securely hold any pair of gaming headphones, ranging from the heavy Sennheiser GSP600 to the Cooler Master MH751. Even when applying pressure on the stand with my arms, I never felt as if it was going to break; thus, it should be able to hold any headphones you’ll ever own. The plastic base plate feels sturdy as well, and even functions as a coaster, if you’re lazy. This sturdiness is one of the GS750’s advantages over the Base Station Chroma, as the Base Station Chroma is only a plastic build with no metal in it.
Onboard 7.1 Surround Sound
The GS750 sports an integrated headphone/microphone jack on the right side of its base. This jack allows it to provide 7.1 surround sound and is useful in many open-world games. When combined with the MH751 headset, I didn’t notice any discernible difference when using surround versus stereo sound from the computer’s motherboard. I’m not sure if this was an issue with how I was using it. Nonetheless, this would surely help in open-world games such as GTA V or the Battlefield series.
Cable Management Features
The onboard USB 3.0 ports’ purpose is for providing easy cable management; however, I didn’t find them to be all that useful for its intended purpose. For my mouse/keyboard, I found that their cords were too long to be helpful and would produce a mess of cables on my desk.
Notwithstanding, it was super useful for putting in flash drives, as my computer is in a hard to reach location. It may also be beneficial for the MH752 with its USB sound card; however, we don’t have an MH752 to test with. I would have also preferred seeing a Type-C port to provide future compatibility.
I’m not sure if the plate on the back of the neck is for cable management, but if so, it would also prove to be useful to coil up your headset cable when not in use. Though, I found myself thinking it would take too much time as opposed to just popping my headset onto the neck.
Another thing to mention is that the included USB Type A to USB Type Micro B 3.0 cable is a little too short for my particular desk. The distance the cable covers is about 1 meter. This distance isn’t enough for me to go from my computer (on the top of my desk on the right) to the left side of my desk. I would have also preferred seeing a USB Type C to connect to the GS750, though there may be some requirement that necessitated the use of the Micro B that I’m not aware of.
Compared to the other headset stands out there, the USB ports aren’t all that dissimilar than the competition. Most of the other headset stands offered at least two USB 3.0 ports.
Qi Charging
Qi Charging on the GS750 was one of the reasons why I was so interested in this headset stand. When testing the Qi Charger on my Samsung S9+, I only got about 500mA of charging current which isn’t much compared to most 2.4 amp cable chargers. It took a while to charge my S9+, though if you game for most of the day, there won’t be an issue charging it throughout the day. The base is also a tad bit too short for my S9+, which means similarly sized large mobile phones will have difficulty charging if aligned horizontally. The Qi charger is also centered around the Cooler Master logo, so your phone will only charge if its receiver is close to that logo. If you turn your phone horizontally, larger phones shouldn’t have an issue with charging.
Software
Cooler Master’s Portal software integrates all of its products in one software package, which is convenient. While I do not have any other Cooler Master RGB products to test with, it should be pretty easy to sync up your all your Cooler Master RGB products. I also never had any issues with changing RGB LEDs or the volume on the integrated audio codec. You can also change the 7.1 surround sound audio settings in Portal, allowing for super easy customization of your headset.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Cooler Master GS750 is in a little bit of a weird spot. Priced at $79.99, it only offers a few more features than its competitors. While it’s a good first attempt, I don’t know if I would be willing to spend $79.99 on a headset holder. It offers a host of features that may be worth it by itself. The Qi charger and integrated 3.5mm jack were things that were found to make my life much more comfortable. If you desire a headset holder and have the additional money, this is one of the best headset holders out there. For more budget-oriented consumers, it may be worthwhile to look into more reasonable headset holders.
If Cooler Master dropped the MSRP by at least $10, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this. However, for $79.99, I can only give the GS750 3.5/5 stars. For the GS750’s features and nothing else, I wouldn’t hesitate to give this 4.5/5 stars. If you have the money and want a great headset holder, get the GS750. However, if you don’t have so much money, I recommend looking into other options.
What do you think of this Cooler Master GS750 desktop hub review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.
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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Cooler Master press page to see their newest products. To learn more about service, support, and warranties, click here for their Service-Support page. The GS750 Desktop Hub comes with a 2-year warranty.
FTC Disclosure: Cooler Master provided Beantown LLC with one (1) GS750 desktop hub sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.
