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LucidSound LS1X Premium Chat Gaming Headset Review

01/14/2020 By Daniel Nguyen

The LucidSound LS1X is a budget option designed for XBOX gamers at an enticing price point of $25. It consists of a lightweight, all plastic design, with all the features necessary for chatting with your friends. However, with only a single ear cup, is it worthwhile for those on a budget or those looking towards a lightweight alternative? So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this LucidSound LS1X Premium Chat Gaming Headset Review.

LucidSound LS1X Premium Chat Gaming Headset Review

Design

The LucidSound LS1X is a single-cupped headset with a mutable microphone. It features a green and black color scheme, in line with the XBOX series (as it is officially licensed). The frame is made entirely of plastic and lacks any padding inside the ear cup though there is some padding on the actual cup and headband.

On the topic of padding and comfort, I didn’t find it to be very beneficial. Though this is a budget option, at a minimum, I would have liked to see padding on the other side of the headset. On this side, there is only a thin foam piece to provide comfort versus the plastic. The part inside the ear cup doesn’t have any padding either and is irritating when your ear rubs up against the plastic.

The 3.5mm cord is very short, so using it on PC isn’t feasible. Nonetheless, it plugs in fine to an XBOX controller.

Sound

Overall, I wouldn’t consider it horrible for a $25 headset. With voice processing in apps like Discord, I found the microphone to be somewhat useful. For competitive FPS games where sound cues are key for pinpointing an enemy, the single-cup design shows its apparent flaws. It’s impossible to determine where an enemy is, as you obviously can’t tell left from right. However, the audio quality is generally acceptable for a budget headset.

Additionally, there’s a nifty mute function by pressing on the outside of the earcup, which also turns to adjust the volume.

Read:   Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Review

Value

I honestly don’t see where this product fits into a budget gaming market. Inexpensive in-ear earbuds are a better alternative on a budget since their design allows them to have stereo audio. In my opinion, stereo is a must-have for any headset geared towards gaming, or else sound cues won’t work as well.

Most gamers have earbuds lying around and work fine with either your computer or XBOX. While microphone quality on earbuds is typically abysmal, I don’t think expecting everything for $25 is fair.

There are plenty of cheap ($30, which I think is a fair price to pay for a decent budget option) headsets sprinkled throughout Amazon. While they’re from no-name brands, I still find those to look more comfortable and appealing than this LucidSound LS1X.


Conclusion

I struggle to recommend the LS1X when there are plenty of better alternatives. While the microphone is admittedly better than most earbuds, I would rather have a stereo audio experience rather than a mono-directional one. The lack of a second earcup makes this a handicap in games where sound cues matter and the comfort isn’t great either.

Overall, I give the LS1X a 1.5/5 rating. There are plenty of other XBOX gaming headsets available from LucidSound. Maybe the LS25, the LS35X, or the LS50X is right for you.

What do you think of this LucidSound LS1X premium chat gaming headset 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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FTC Disclosure: LucidSound provided Beantown LLC with one (1) LS1X gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2019

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, LS1X, LucidSound, Xbox One 01/14/2020

Cooler Master MH751 Gaming Headset Review

07/06/2019 By Daniel Nguyen

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

In 2019, Is This The Best Gaming Headset Under $80?

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

Back around Thanksgiving 2018, the folks at Cooler Master announced their entry into the gaming headset market. Their two new over-the-ear models, the MH751 and MH752, are the first we’ve seen from the global brand. Come October 2019, we’ll see three more models, one of which is their first wireless headset. How did the MH751 it hold up to our testing? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review.

Cooler Master MH751 Gaming Headset Review

According to Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager at Cooler Master, “We wanted to create a headset with a focus on audio quality, mic quality, and comfort. The MH751 and MH752 are a result of this vision. Both are lightweight and can be worn hours on end providing unparalleled sound for all types of use.”

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review
Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

MH751 Design, Fit, & Features

The MH751 is a sleek, black headset with its only visible branding being a silver Cooler Master hexagon. This allows for a stealthy appearance, one in which I would consider wearing in public. The detachable boom mic and 3.5mm cable make portability easy, as you can toss these pieces into a bag and put them together later without the need to untangle a cord. You can also use this headset without a mic, which also leads to a stealthier appearance in public.

The minimalistic design delivers comfort and style while not being a burden on your head due to its light weight of 280 grams (0.62 pounds). The padded headband and ear-cups felt super comfortable and allowed for hours of continued use. The clamping force is also rather reasonable, and the MH751’s design should not be a concern for any eyeglass wearers.

The MH751 features an adjustable headband and swiveling ear-cups, meaning it will fit well on anyone’s head. My head felt snug in the headset, though this may vary for people with rather small or large heads. The swiveling ear-cups also allow it to contour to your head more, which is a much-appreciated feature.

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

However, the fact that the ear-cups swivel 90 degrees away from you does not make sense to me. If you wish to rest your headphones on your neck, you will either be stuck with the ear cups being perpendicular to your chest or the microphone resting on your chest. Neither of these positions is comfortable and make me wonder why Cooler Master didn’t have the ear cups swivel 90 degrees the other way.

The MH751 features an adjustable volume wheel and a mute slider on the cable. I personally don’t like the on-cable adjusters as it is difficult to find in the thick of a battle, especially when you’re trying to mute your microphone before someone else in your household starts trying to talk to you.

On the left side of the headphone is a detachable microphone. The mic quality is not that bad, and would undoubtedly suffice for most users’ needs, especially for dedicated gamers or just for casual Skype calls. However, if you’re seriously looking into streaming or video production, I would recommend a dedicated mic setup; however, this isn’t the fault of the headset, merely the fact that a dedicated setup will always sound better.

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

One final thing–there’s a locking feature on the cord preventing from falling out of the headset.

Read:   Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

MH751 Gaming Performance

While playing Fortnite and Overwatch with the MH751, I found myself able to listen to the various nuances and sounds that one would need to know their surroundings. Even though I was often playing with music, I still found myself able to distinguish sounds that were on the softer end. Overall, I would say that if you are purely gaming, there should be no concerns with your performance during gaming sessions. The lightweight design and comfortable cushions will also help for extended gaming sessions.

While listening to my music, I noticed that treble accents and vocals weren’t emphasized as much as bass tones. However, this is typical of most gaming headsets, and I still had no issue listening to my music. However, if you aren’t planning to super seriously game on the MH751, I would recommend a less gaming-oriented pair of headphones.

MH751 Gaming Headset Specifications

• Driver: 40mm Neodymium
• Cable lengths: 1.5m 3.5mm connector, 0.3m dual 3.5mm cable
• Headphone frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance: 26 ohms
• Sound pressure level: 97 dB ± 3 dB

• Microphone frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
• Microphone pick-up pattern: Omni-directional
• Microphone sensitivity: -42 db ± 3 dB
• Weight w/cables: 280 grams (0.62 lb)
• Dimensions: 5.8 x 3.35 x 8.46 inches

Package Contents

• MH751 gaming headset
• 1.5m 3.5mm connector (removable), 3.5 mm, 4-pole jack
• Detachable microphone

• Multi-language instructions
• 0.3m dual 3.5mm cable (removable), 3.5 mm, 4-pole jack
• Black velvet carry pouch

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

Final Thoughts

The MH751 offers a superb gaming experience with a super comfortable design and sleek but stealthy design. For the price and the feature set it provides (including detachable cables, volume adjustment and microphone mute), it really is one of the best value gaming headsets on the market right now. Therefore, I give this a solid 4.5/5 rating due to its comfort and audio quality, only falling short due to the lack of vocal emphasis in music.

Available for purchase on the Cooler Master website at a price of $79.99, this headset is in the mid-range for gaming headsets. See our Amazon Affiliate Link at the bottom of this review.

Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset review

What do you think of this Cooler Master MH751 gaming headset 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 MH751 gaming headset comes with a 2-year warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Cooler Master provided Beantown LLC with one (1) MH751 gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2019

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: Cooler Master, gaming headphones, gaming headset, MH751 07/06/2019

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

10/31/2018 By Brooke O'Connell

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the folks at Sennheiser introduced many new headphones that would be released throughout 2018. One of these headsets, the GSP 600 pro gaming headset, captured our attention. Some have said that this new model would be the flagship headset for Sennheiser Gaming. It took a little bit of time, but we got our hands on this multi-platform gaming headset. How did it hold up to our testing? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Sennheiser GSP 600 gaming headset review.

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset

According to Andreas Jessen, Head of Product Management Gaming at Sennheiser “In the creation of the GSP 600, we took our very best closed gaming headset and made it even better. The GAME ZERO broke new ground by building a high-quality audio headset that was created entirely around the needs of gamers. With its successor, the GSP 600, we have stayed true to this ethos with a headset that even more perfectly matches the needs of each individual gamer – with an exceptionally comfortable fit that can be tailored to each person, so they can truly become one with the game.”

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

GSP 600 Design, Fit, & Features

The Sennheiser GSP 600 gaming headset is nearly the perfect headset for the avid gamer and gaming fan. The outer appearance is quite attractive with its matte black finish, silver hinge, and red accents. The colors are simple and streamlined.

The user-friendly, quality build of this stereo headset makes it quite durable and designed to last a very long time. The downside is that it’s quite heavy at 395 grams. This can put some unneeded pressure on the underside of your ears and jawline, which if you’re gaming for many hours, can lead to some unnecessary pain.

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset

The GSP 600 has an easily “adjustable contact pressure function” headband and comfortable earcups which provide a good measure of soundproofing during gameplay. The suede-like earcups completely envelop your ears, yet without sticking or getting hot.

Since our heads come in different shapes and sizes, this “adjustable contact pressure function” is most handy. Unfortunately, it will take some time to determine the right position for your head. Also, while there’s a fair amount of padding on the headband, I wish there was more with less separation between the two rows of padding.

There’s a volume dial positioned on the right earpiece. While it is easy to rotate, it’s in an inconvenient spot in my opinion. If it was raised more to the outside of the earpiece, with a slightly rougher surface material, it would be easier to turn.

When you’re in the thick of a game, it’s difficult to manipulate to the level that I’ve found in most gaming headsets. Again, in my opinion, the often seen adjuster on the cable is a much better option, one in which I wish was provided on this headset.

On the left earpiece is the noise-canceling swivel microphone, as well as the cable port. The former worked like a charm. It even goes to mute when it’s positioned up. The cable does cause some noise against clothing one’s hair and clothing. I wish some sort of clip was included.

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Headband Exterior
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Headband Interior

Now, the GSP 600 has a couple missteps in its design. This pro gaming headset is very weighted making it quite the struggle to keep on for long periods of time. For me, the headset became uncomfortable at about the 20-minute mark. It put pressure on both sides of my head, and the weight of it made it too heavy for any form of lengthy gameplay. However, this could just be a preference issue as I usually go more toward the lighter weighted headsets.

(Editor’s note: I’ve worn the headset for many hours over a two-day period without noticing any pain on the sides. Though, I did notice the headband padding somewhat pressing into my bald head.)

If you happen to wear prescription eyeglasses or gaming glasses, you need not worry. As someone who falls into this category, I believe your glasses will fit as comfortably as mine have.

Read:   Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

Sennheiser Gaming Performance

The GSP 600 has terrific quality sound when used on PC. I tested it with Minecraft, and the quality is quite lovely. It enabled you to hear everything you need to, such as zombies, ghosts, and witches. It also provided a nice sound for the music and sound effects.

Even though the headphone frequency response is beyond the range of human hearing, what you’re able to hear on the low and high ends was great.

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review
Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset

I tried testing it on the Xbox One, but for some reason, it would not work with my controller. I don’t know if this is a manufacturer issue, a user error, or both. The device in question is the Sea of Thieves special edition Xbox One S controller. Up until this point, I haven’t had any issues with any other headsets. Currently, I’m in contact with Sennheiser Support to try to resolve the issue. Hopefully, this portion of the review will be updated soon.

GSP 600 Pro Gaming Headset Specifications

• Ear coupling: Circumaural, around-the-ear
• Transducer principle: Dynamic, closed
• Cable lengths: 1.5 & 2.5 meters
• Headphone frequency response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz
• Impedance: 28 ohms
• Sound pressure level: 112 dB SPL @ 1 kHz, 1V RMS

• Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.07%
• Microphone frequency response: 10 Hz – 18 kHz
• Microphone pick-up pattern: Bidirectional ECM
• Microphone sensitivity: -47 dbV/PA
• Weight: 395 grams (0.87 lb)
• Dimensions: 7.9 x 3.5 x 7.5 inches

Package Contents

• GSP 600 black/red gaming headset
• GSA 505 PC Cable – 2.5 meters, 2 x 3.5 mm audio jack, 3-pole
• Thank you note

• Multi-language safety instructions
• GSA 506 Console Cable – 1.5 meters, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack, 4-pole
• User manual

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Package Contents

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Final Thoughts

An analogy we’ve used around here is the GSP 600 headset is hoping for a Mercedes-Benz Coupe but instead getting an SUV. While they’re both Mercedes-Benz vehicles, we would have preferred the former.

As stated in the Design section, this headset is near perfect. The weight and pressure are issues for this writer, but they may not be for you. Set up is super easy, and there isn’t a long mess of cables like with some other gaming headsets. Overall, my impression is a positive one yielding a rating of 3.75 Stars out of 5. This headset is for use with Sony PS4, Xbox One, Mac, and PC.

Available for purchase on the Sennheiser website at a price of $249.99, this headset is in the high range for gaming headsets. As stated above, this is the Mercedes-Benz of gaming headsets so just like the vehicles, the headset is pricey too. Though it can be found on Amazon for slightly less. See our Amazon Affiliate Link here or at the bottom of this review.

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset Review

Sennheiser GSP 600 Gaming Headset

What do you think of this Sennheiser GSP 600 gaming headset 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 Sennheiser press page to see their newest products. To learn more about service, support, and warranties, click here for their Service-Support page. The GSP 600 professional gaming headset comes with a 2-year warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Sennheiser provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Sennheiser GSP 600 gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% her own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2018

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, GSP 600, GSX 1200 PRO, Sennheiser 11/01/2018

HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset Review

08/10/2018 By Hakan Can

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

It’s been nearly a year since its introduction at Gamescon and people are still talking about the HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset. Released in September 2017, the Cloud Alpha is a cross-platform headset compatible with the big three: Xbox, PS4, and PC. Is this HyperX headset an improvement over its earlier Cloud models? More importantly, how does it hold up to our testing? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review.

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

Key Features

• Highly comfortable fit
• Attractive black/red matte finish
• 50mm drivers, dual chamber design

• Stereo sound
• TeamSpeak and Discord Certified
• List price of $99

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review

HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset Review

Per the Press Release

According to Tyler Needles, global audio business manager at HyperX, “The new HyperX Cloud Alpha is the first gaming headset to include our dual chamber technology to deliver unrivaled sound quality. Designed and tested in the HyperX labs, Cloud Alpha delivers the best possible audio performance, comfort, and build quality for the ultimate competitive advantage and will be used by top eSports pros globally.”

We’re fans of the brand so when the opportunity to review the gaming headset arose, we accepted.

Design, Features, and Fit

Except for its slightly larger size and some design tweaks, the Cloud Alpha headset looks very similar to its sibling, the Cloud II.

This newer gaming headset comes in two color options: a black matte finish with either gold or red accents. The gold and red aren’t that bright but somewhat muted.

The ear cups pivot up and down to fit a variety of head shapes. They don’t swivel as this motion is performed with the aluminum frame. Unfortunately, when you twist the frame, you hear an unpleasant crinkling sound.

The headband is rather thick and has the same type of memory foam which incorporates the ear cups. The gold or red stitching is well done with no thread out of place on the received sample.

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

Next up is the flexible noise-canceling microphone. There’s no right way to say this, so we’ll just come out and say the mic is kinda cheap. More on the mic in the next section.

Wrapping up the design are two braided cords. One has an inline controller for volume and mute, the other plugs into a computer.

Read:   HyperX Cloud II Headset Review

Cloud Alpha Headset Specifications

• Ear coupling: Circumaural, closed back
• Frequency range: 13 Hz – 27 kHz
• Cable lengths: 1.3 & 2 Meters
• Driver diameter: 50 mm w/neodymium magnets
• Impedance: 65 Ω
• Sound Pressure Level: 98 dB/mW at 1 kHz
• Weight: 298 Grams

• Driver type: Custom dynamic
• Microphone frequency range: 50 Hz – 18 kHz
• Microphone element: Electret condenser
• Microphone sensitivity: -43 db
• Polar pattern: Noise-cancelling
• Weight w/mic & cable: 336 Grams

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Alloy Elite Keyboard Review

Cloud Alpha Headset – Impressions and Performance

The Cloud Alpha is one amazingly comfortable headset. Yet on the flip side, the microphone feels a bit cheap. Being a plug-in type, it has the feel of an airline microphone. Additionally, the actual microphone control is less than par as well. It’s a bit hard to locate all of the individual spin dials, and the microphone control is a bit ambiguous. For a high-tier headset, these cheap elements lead to a level of disappointment. Plus the set up was a pain too.

When playing YouTube videos, the audio was clear with good sound quality. I found that the headset worked perfectly fine, thus no downside here.

During gameplay of Rainbow Six Siege, the gaming headset excelled, great at finding roamers. I found two or three characters running around, and was able to locate them accurately . However, I noticed a significant problem with the mic as my teammates could not hear. The set up for the microphone is incredibly frustrating with plenty of tweaking taking place. Even after adjustment, it still was hard to use.

Fortnite, Attila Total War, Empire at War were a few of the other games I tried out with the HyperX headset.

The headset performed well during all of these games with zero difficulties. Overall it’s fantastic in its function and has terrific stereo sound, which in turn led to plenty of quality gameplay.

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset Review

Final Thoughts

Cloud Alpha Headset Ratings:
• Use: 7/10 – The use of the headset was adequate. It worked fine when used during the playback of music and while watching videos on YouTube. However, the poorly-designed microphone and the “multi part headset” idea was a horrible design choice that led to a lot of glitchy parts. It would have been wiser decision to have designed towards making the headset either PC or gaming console-specific rather than trying to make every player happy. Seeing as the microphone worked only once during a voice call, it’s receiving a low rating.

• Appearance: 7/10 – The aluminum back structure of the headset is decent while the cheap and fluffy microphone gave the headset a low tier look. The addition of a small and terrible looking volume/microphone control help emphasize this lesser look.

• Gaming: 8.5/10 – In solo player mode, the headset was amazing, however during team play, it was not. It worked only once in all team sessions, so it’s not receiving a higher score. I need a fully functional microphone.

• Comfort: 9/10 – It feels fantastic. It fit comfortably and was reasonably easy to adjust. I liked the leatherette surrounding the top. This allowed for comfortable, long gaming sessions.

Overall Rating: 7.8 out of 10

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review

In summary, the HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset comes with 50 mm neodymium drivers, stereo sound, and in-line control.

The Cloud Alpha performed well in some areas like sound quality, and not so well in others like with the microphone as stated above. The multi-platform approach didn’t serve this headset well.

This gaming headset lists for $99.99. There are plenty of HyperX Cloud gaming headsets available with a variety of features, so compare away until you find the right one for you. It’s available for purchase on Amazon (see link below) for $99.99 as well as the HyperX website.

The headset supports Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and numerous mobile and virtual reality devices.

Within each box comes the Cloud Alpha headset, 1.3 and 2-meter cables, a detachable NC microphone, and a soft carry bag.

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset review

What do you think of this HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset 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.

• Follow HyperX on Twitter
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• Follow HyperX on Instagram

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the HyperX homepage to see their current line-up of products. The HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset comes with a 2-year warranty. Should you need to reach Customer Support, feel free to call one of these two numbers: 714-435-2639 or 800-435-0640 or check out their Support page.

This review was co-written with Gamer Jack Yang who conducted the actual review. All photographs are the copyrighted property of Kingston or Beantown LLC © 2017-2018.

FTC Disclosure: HyperX provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Cloud Alpha gaming headset sample for review purposes. Our writers opinions are 100% their own and are not paid product ambassadors.

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: Cloud Alpha, gaming headphones, gaming headset, HyperX 09/17/2018

Gaming: Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

04/18/2018 By Hakan Can

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

It’s now 2018, and every gaming hardware and accessories maker has begun to put forth their latest creations for the year. Gamdias is no different with the introduction of four new gaming headsets in as many months. We’re fans of the brand so when the opportunity to review the Hephaestus P1 gaming headset arose, we quickly accepted. How does the best of the four headphones hold up to our testing? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB review.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Key Features

• 50mm drivers
• 7.1 virtual surround sound
• Remote control with a vibration feature

• Oversized, vented earcups
• RGB lighting
• $90 price point

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Hephaestus P1 RGB Design

The gaming headset comes in an attractive combination of glossy black along with matte black and gray. When plugged in with the Hera software activated, the headset will produce one of six RGB colors. These colors are yellow, purple, orange, green, blue, and red.

On the left of the headset is the omnidirectional, flexible microphone with its swivel feature. Trailing down the tangle-free 1.8-meter braided cord, you’ll notice the remote controller. On the remote, there are volume controls, a mute microphone button, and the vibration on-off switch. The controller is well-built and rather rugged.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

The headband and oversized earcups of the Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset have ample memory foam padding underneath their synthetic leather surface material. Regarding the adjustable nature of the headset, it’s hard to determine how many notches/positions there are. You see, the headset adjusts too easily; too much for my liking. One can feel the bumps, but as they are not well pronounced, thus counting them becomes impossible. Upon measurement, there’s about 1″ of travel. You’ll find that as you take the headset off, you’ll lose the setting.

The “cooling structure” is most interesting. I found that it worked at keeping my ears cool after hours of continuous wear. My ears were never warm, hot, or sweaty. And when you place the headset on a surface such as a desk, you’ll notice that the vented design allows for the headset to balance itself. It’s neat seeing the headset rest flat on its front side. I like this design aspect.

I would say these ear cups aren’t noise-canceling, and they definitely don’t swivel or fold flat. The latter is just fine by me. The mic is noise-canceling.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

Hephaestus P1 RGB Specifications

• Ear coupling: Closed Acoustic
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Cable length: 1.8 M
• Driver diameter: 50 mm
• Impedance: 32 Ω ± 15%
• Sound Pressure Level: 119 dB ± 5 dB

• Vibration unit size: 30 mm
• Microphone frequency range: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
• Microphone pick-up pattern: Omindirectional
• Microphone sensitivity: -58 db ± 5 db
• Microphone impedance: 2.2 kΩ
• Dimensions: 232 x 100 x 216 mm

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Alloy Elite Keyboard Review

First Impression

Although it’s a personal issue, I don’t like the microphone on the left side. I would have preferred it on the right. Voice quality is good when playing YouTube, and there’s a nice ambiance to it. However, the mic was not very good at voice isolating. It’s pretty easy to notice noises outside of the video game, a bit harder when actual gaming sound was playing but wasn’t too hard overall.

The feature I most wished it had was a pant/shirt clip because of the microphone control placement. I say this because if you stand when you game as I do, the controller keeps hitting the keyboard tray on my standing desk. If you sit, as the high majority of you do, the weight of the controller could become a distraction. I usually reach to my neck to change the volume or mute it, but this control was on my lap. It was tricky in the middle of a game to reduce the volume or mute it.

If you’re a prescription eyeglasses wearer like myself or someone who wears eye fatigue reducing glasses, you probably won’t enjoy the headset as much. The oversized earcups don’t appear to be designed with the glasses wearer in mind. As someone who falls into this category, I highly recommend you wear a pair of contacts.

Gaming Performance

While 7.1 virtual surround sound has its critics, it works very well on the Hephaestus P1 RGB headset. This feature and the optional vibration certainly add to the gaming experience.

We’ve sampled this headset with a handful of games, YouTube gaming videos, and even Unigine benchmarking programs. This closed acoustic headset’s audio quality is as good when compared to many within the $80-90 retail price tag.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Rainbow Six: Siege

The mic is smooth, with no voice cracking. There’s good sound quality as it isolated distinct sounds such as gunshots. Case in point, I could hear a window break, so I was able to kill an in-game character. I also heard two other characters moving through a terminal, and was able to locate and kill them using sound. In another outing, I heard an enemy player get hit by a trap, then went around the corner and killed him. There’s pretty good sound location using these Hephaestus P1 RGB headphones.

Headphones were comfortable on the ear, little soreness around them. They were reasonably soft around the ears, but also firm, so it didn’t hurt after using them for an hour and a half. This headset with its steel headband is heavier than I would have preferred, but not too heavy.

Total War: ATTILA

The headset worked well for this game; the sound was very immersive. There were no discernible differences as the game is a strategy game.

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Final Thoughts

Pros:
• Comfortable, long-lasting fit with no hot ears
• High-quality sound during gameplay
• Remote control for audio level and vibration
• Flexible, adjustable mic a big plus

Cons:
• Earcups could fit better on the lower part of the ears
• Not particularly comfortable when wearing glasses
• Remote control could use a tie/pant clip to affix to clothing
• Headset adjustment moves too easily; it should be firmer

Headset Scores:
• Appearance: 8.5/10 – Pretty, sleek, and good looking. While not a charmer, it’s pretty good looking.
• Use: 9/10 – Microphone was useful and smooth on video calls. When used on YouTube it was good, but nothing spectacular.

• Gaming: 9.5/10 – The simple effect of being able to notice people moving above or around me was incredible. Poor microphone control placement did affect gaming on occasion.
• Comfort: 7/10 – The steel headband weighed down the entire headset, and often dragged the headset off the table. The microphone control was poorly placed, which often became a distraction, and weighed on my lap during gameplay.

The Hephaestus P1 RGB delivers some high-end features for its price: flexible-and-swivel mic, vibration response, a robust controller, and 7.1 virtual surround sound. When tested with competitive shooters such as Rainbow Six: Siege or Counter Strike: Global Offensive, I noticed discrepancies such as footsteps or broken windows. Often, this would let me surprise and kill an opponent. During typical web use such as browsing YouTube or video chatting, the Hephaestus worked just fine.

This headset is in the high-end of Gamdias’s arsenal. If you want a gaming headset with fewer features, feel free to check out one of their other three recently headsets. This model gets the job done at a reasonable price.

If you’re comparing the Hephaestus P1 to headsets from other brands, look within the $80-120 price range. This headset is for use with whatever platforms accept a USB connection, but you’re sure to lose the RGB feature.

I do have to state that it’s a shame this headset doesn’t come with a carry bag.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review
Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES P2 RGB Keyboard Review

The Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset is available for purchase on Amazon for approximately $60 (see link at the bottom of this page.)

What do you think of this Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset 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 Gamdias homepage to see their current line-up of products. The Hermes P2 RGB gaming keyboard comes with a 1-year + 2-months warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Gamdias provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2018

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES P1 RGB Keyboard Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: 7.1 virtual surround sound, Gamdias, gaming headphones, gaming headset, Hephaestus P1 RGB 05/21/2018

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

10/07/2017 By Hakan Can

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

Less than two weeks ago off the heels of the IFA 2017 expo in Europe, Sennheiser surprised everyone and announced an update to its popular GSP 300 gaming headset. What was one model has now become four by the addition of three new color variants. These new versions, the GSP 301, 302, and 303, add some variety to an ever-growing gaming headset marketplace. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Sennheiser GSP 301 gaming headset review.

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Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

GSP 300 Design

So…what’s the difference between the GSP 300 and these new versions? Beyond the color variants, absolutely nothing.

You get the same great wide-ranging sound, comfortable ear cups and headband, swivel microphone, and volume control as you do with the GSP 300 gaming headset. In fact, it’s nearly identical to the Sennheiser GSP 350 except for the Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound.

On the left of the headset is the “broadcast quality noise-cancelling microphone” with its ease of access swivel to mute feature. Just like on its sister gaming headsets, the ease of access swivel to mute feature is back. On the right is another hassle-free feature–the easily accessible volume wheel. There are no menus to navigate, no Alt+Tab to strike. Just turn the wheel and voila.

Like the slightly more expensive GSP 350 headset, the GSP 300 series headsets have the same superb black leather over memory foam earcups. Like my older nephew who reviewed the GSP 350, I’ve worn the satin white on black GSP 301 for many hours consecutively with little-to-no discomfort. I’d even go as far as saying these Sennheiser GSP gaming headsets are the best fitting, most comfortable gaming headsets since I’ve begun this website. That’s no understatement. My love for the GSP 301 and GSP 350 is real!

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

If satin white on black is not you’re preferred color option, there’s the GSP 302 with it’s all black design. There’s also a third option, the GSP 303 with it’s nearly all black design and red “Need for Speed” lettering.

The only downsides to the GSP 300 series are that the ear cups don’t swivel 90°, aren’t noise-cancelling, but get a little warm and wet with extended play. One should expect this with leather or leatherette ear cups.

The vented foam padding on the top of the headset feels terrific, even on my semi-bald head. There’s no heat build up there.

Again, like the GSP 350, this headset is adjustable using a notch system (13 notches to be exact) to fit heads large and small. It’s much more compact when compared to the Game One, Audio-Technica ATH-AG1, or the HyperX Cloud Revolver. Unlike the GSP 350, this headset requires no software to achieve its full stereo sound capabilities.

There’s one last thing that needs mentioning. The cable isn’t braided like the Game One headset, meaning the cable can coil upon itself which can get a bit annoying. I haven’t had this issue, but there are those that always complain when they don’t have a braided cable.

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

GSP 301 Specifications

• Ear coupling: Closed Acoustic
• Cable length: 2 M
• Headphone frequency response: 15 Hz – 26 kHz
• Impedence: 19 Ω
• Sound Pressure Level: 113 db @ 1kHz

• Microphone frequency response: 10 Hz – 15 kHz
• Microphone Pick-up pattern: Noise-cancelling
• Microphone Sensitivity: -41 db ± 3 db
• Weight: 287 grams
• Dimensions: 221 x 101 x 240mm

Package
• GSP 301 white/black gaming headset
• 2 x 3.5mm /1 x 3.5mm combo audio adapter

Contents
• Multi-Language Safety Instructions

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Read:   Gaming: HyperX Alloy Elite Keyboard Review

Sennheiser Gaming Performance

The stereo sound ability of the GSP 301 headset is absolutely terrific and adds to the gaming experience.

I’ve sampled this headset with a handful of games, YouTube gaming videos, and even Unigine benchmarking programs. This closed acoustic headsets audio quality is as good as any at the $99 price point.

Once again, like on the more expensive Sennheiser gaming headsets, the noise-cancelling microphone quality is exquisite. Of the more than a dozen or so gaming headsets withing our sample library, it’s one of the best we’ve got.

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

If you happen to wear prescription eyeglasses or Gunnars while you game, you need not worry. As someone who falls into this category, I can vouch that your glasses will almost certainly fit comfortably; mine sure did.

Final Thoughts

We’re very pleased with the Sennheiser GSP 301 headset, and will continue to put it to great use. It’s not every day we rave about a gaming headset. We’ve seen our share of average and below average headsets this year. Fortunately, the GSP 300 Series is one for the Plus Column, ranking well up there.

The price of this Sennheiser gaming headset is very reasonable and will only set you back $99. It provides gameplay in beautiful stereo sound, a noise-cancelling boom mic, and close to the same level of comfort as found in the more expensive Game One. This headset is for use with PC, Mac, Sony PlayStation 4, Xbox One, among other platforms. If you’re comparing the GSP 301 to other headsets, look within the $80-120 price range.

Sennheiser GSP 301 Gaming Headset Review

The Sennheiser GSP 301 gaming headset is available for purchase on Amazon (see link below) as well as the Sennheiser website. On the latter, you get a free GSA 50 headset hangar.

What do you think of this Sennheiser GSP 301 gaming headset 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 Sennheiser Headphones page to see their newest products. To learn more about service, support, and warranties, click here for their Service-Support page. The GSP 301 headset comes with a 2-year warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Sennheiser provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Sennheiser GSP 301 gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017

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Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, GSP 300, GSP 301, GSP 302, Sennheiser 10/22/2018

Gaming: Plantronics RIG 600 Headset Review

07/26/2017 By Zach Can

Plantronics RIG 600 headset review

Plantronics is back at it again with their series of RIG gaming headsets. They’ve been on a roll the past couple of years releasing gaming headsets in this successful and ever-expanding series. Released late last year, the RIG 600 is cross-platform compatible with the big three: Xbox, PS4, and PC. Is the RIG 600 an improvement over their RIG 400 and Flex LX headphones? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Plantronics RIG 600 headset review.

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Pros:
• Classic, all-black design
• Solid construction, flexible, yet sturdy
• Soft memory foam earcups
• Very comfortable fit
• 40mm dynamic drivers

Cons:
• Only one color pattern is available
• No wireless capability (which is okay)

Read:   Gaming: Plantronics RIG 400HX Headset Review

Plantronics RIG 600 Headset Review

RIG 600 Design and Fit

Upon unboxing the item, the first thing I noticed was how lightweight the headset was at 247 grams. The design is very clean with markings in gold and black. This created a look of luxury. This look is further reinforced by the (gold-stitched) cushioned headband and earcups. The headband is adjustable and can fit a broad range of head frames with its 16 adjustment settings. This comes to roughly 2″ on each side, thus yielding a more comfortable fit. The inside headband is made from a deep black colored, perforated and breathable fabric.

The outer headband surface, as well as the ear pads, are made from a deep black colored vegan leather. These ear pads appear to contain some form of memory foam. You don’t need to worry about which headphone is left or right. A rather large “R” is visible on the inside of its respective ear pad. Cups can rotate 90° degrees in and roughly 10° out. Included in the box are two interchangeable 3.5 mm cables and a splitter which I will go into further detail later.

Plantronics RIG 600 headset review

The Plantronics RIG 600 headset is definitely a step up from the Turtle Beach Call of Duty AW headset that I’ve been using. The former’s pillow–like earcups and headband provide such a comfortable experience that it feels like it isn’t even there. These are a pair of headphones which you can keep on for hours without that feeling of having your temples pinched due to the hard plastic feel of lower-quality gaming headphones.

Read:   Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Headset Review: Oh What Sound!

Specifications

• Sensitivity: 111 dB SPL/V
• Driver Diameter: Dynamic 40 mm
• Input Power: 40mW
• Cable Length: 1.3 meters
• Cable Connector: 3.5 mm dual 3.5 mm Y-adapter
• Sound-isolating earcups

• Headphone Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Microphone Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
• Microphone Pick Up Pattern: Unidirectional
• Microphone Signal to Noise: >42 dB
• Microphone Sensitivity: -45 dB SPL/Pa
• Microphone Impedance: 32 Ω
• Weight: 247 grams

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RIG 600 Features

The RIG 600 is designed with 40mm dynamic drivers to provide a balanced listening experience. I decided to test the headset first on the Sony PS4, and the RIG 600 did an excellent job producing the sounds in Resident Evil 7 Biohazard. With every footstep, I could hear the puddles I stepped in, as well as the blades of grass, and the creaking floorboards. This made an already scary game more terrifying.

Next, I tested the headset on my Xbox One S opting for Final Fantasy XV, a game which offers a beautifully crafted soundtrack, cut scenes, and battle sequences. The headphones did a great job replaying the music with some of the finer details such as sailing on the water and hearing the satisfying sound of a blade striking the enemy. The soundtrack is never loud enough to overwhelm the dialogue which is perfect for this game.

Plantronics RIG 600 headset reviewThe only issue I had with this headset was that there wasn’t an adjustable controller for volume on the 3.5 mm lines. On the Xbox One S, I had to get into the settings to adjust the sound which wasn’t all that difficult, yet might not be obvious to most.

The overall construction is well executed and shows a quality build. The headphones include a port for wired audio.

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Audio Performance

While it doesn’t have the deep lows of a pair of Beats headphones, I was surprised at how good this headset was at providing a balance experience throughout the different genres of music. I found rocking out to the sound of an acoustic guitar for country music to waiting for the beat to drop on an EDM song. It was a very satisfying experience.

Read:   Here are the Audio-Technica Headphones set for release in 2017

Conclusion

Versatility is probably the most attractive feature of the RIG 600. It was incredibly easy to switch and use the different 3.5mm cables between devices. One 3.5mm cable has a mic attached used for gaming, the other music listening purposes. Set up is very easy, no software needs to be installed and is plug-and-play. There isn’t a long mess of cables like with some other gaming headsets.

The RIG 600 gaming headset is quite comfortable even after a handful of hours of continuous gaming. This headset is available for purchase at Amazon (see link below) and the Plantronics website for $99.99. They seem like a good pickup for those who value great sound, comfort, and versatility. If you can find it for less than list, it’s a steal. You won’t be disappointed.

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What do you think of this Plantronics RIG 600 headset 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 Plantronics Newsroom to see their latest announcements. The RIG 600 gaming headset comes with a one-year limited warranty.

This review was co-written with Gamer Jesse Lin who put the RIG 600 through its paces.

FTC Disclosure: Plantronics provided Beantown LLC with one (1) RIG 600 gaming headset sample for review purposes. These writers opinions are 100% their own and neither are paid product ambassadors.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Plantronics and Beantown LLC © 2017.

Read:   Here are the AKG Headphones set for release in 2017

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, Over-Ear Headphones, Plantronics, RIG 600 08/14/2017

Gaming: Patriot Viper V361 & V370 Headsets Review

04/17/2017 By Zach Can

Patriot Viper V361 V370 headset review

Patriot is best known for their DRAM memory, flash and solid state drives, and memory cards, and they have quite the selection for each. Back in 2015, Patriot introduced their first line of Viper Gaming hardware which we covered here. Roughly two years have passed, and their latest line of Viper Gaming hardware is making its debut. First up are the Viper V361 and V370 gaming headsets. They’re nearly identical except the latter having RGB lighting. Both headphones come with 7.1 virtual surround sound and heavy bass mode. Are they a worthy addition to your gaming rig? Let’s take a closer look in this Patriot Viper V361 and V370 gaming headsets review.Patriot Viper V361 V370 headset review

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

Patriot Viper V361 & V370 Gaming Headsets

Design

The Viper V361 has the standard headphone design. It adjusts manually into position like many of today’s headphones. Controls are built into the headset, which we believe is a step in the right direction. We prefer this controller design over a big-and-bulky control box on the cord. There’s a slider for the volume and a switch for the “Ultra Bass Response” which I’ll go into further later. There is no need for a microphone mute button because there’s an amazing swivel to mute functionality. These functions are beneficial into moving the V361 and V370 away from your standard gaming headphone.

Both headsets have a broad range of heads they can fit. The cord is 2+ Meters in length with a stand out red-and-black braided pattern giving it extra durability, making it harder for the cable to coil on itself.

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Both headphones are connected via USB. Each headset comes with two sets of earcups, leather, and vinyl, as the leather earcups can get quite sweaty in the summer.

The V361 lights up red when powered, while the V370 has RGB lighting which is customizable in the Viper Gaming software.

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Specifications

• Drivers: 40 mm Neodymium magnet
• Sub-driver: 30 mm
• USB cable length: 2.2 M
• Headphone frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Sound Pressure Level: 110 db @ 1kHz

• Signal to noise ratio: 60 dB
• Microphone frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
• Pick-up pattern: Omindirectional
• Microphone Sensitivity: -46 db ± 3 db
• Weight: 335 grams
• Dimensions: 20 x 8 x 22 cm

Package
• V361 or V370 gaming headset
• USB cable
• Soft pouch

Contents
• Two additional earcups
• Earcups puller
• Quick start guide

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Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Performance

Patriot’s Viper software must be installed to enable the 7.1 virtual surround sound and configure the RGB lighting. The software works flawlessly for us. After the install, I just had to reboot, and we were good-to-go. The software’s user interface is clean and straightforward. You have options for volume on the mic, speakers.

Looking at the V370 headset, it comes with RGB lighting controls. The lighting controls have options for Static, Breathe, Blink, and Heartbeat. You can set the effect speed for most of them. Heartbeat produced a cool lighting effect as the headset would light up when sound was played.

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The Ultra Bass Response (UBR) system is similar to that on the Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB. Any heavy bass that is played causes the headset to vibrate giving you a slight jolt.

Based on our testing, I’d say these headphones can be worn for up to 3 hours of constant use. Beyond that, they start to become uncomfortable. Our ears were always in contact with the membrane inside the headset. After extended play time, this can cause some redness and irritation, so limit your playtime. I tried to re-adjust this part of the headset but to no avail.

When gaming with the headset, the 7.1 virtual surround sound was most useful by accurately pinpointing an enemy you can’t see. Games such as Penumbra Black Plague and SOMA are taken to that next level of horror. The 7.1 surround sound brought out dread and fear from every corner.

Regarding RGB lighting, it’s one of those personal preference features best left up to you. If it’s something you want, then head towards the direction of the V370. Otherwise, the Viper V361 headset is the better choice.

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Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Conclusion

For a $50 or $70 pair of headphones, these new Patriot Viper headsets truly deliver some high-end features for a low price: swivel-to-mute, ultra-bass response, no control box, and 7.1 virtual surround sound.

These headphones lean towards the higher-end of the spectrum than the lower-end. If you need a gaming headset that gets the job done well at a reasonable price, look no further. These Viper Gaming headphones are worth your time and consideration when looking within the $50-100 price range.

Patriot Viper V361 V370 headset review

The Patriot Viper V361 and V370 gaming headphones are available for purchase on Amazon (see link below) as well as on the Patriot website.

What do you think of this Patriot Viper V361 V370 headset 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.

• Follow Patriot on Twitter
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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Patriot Viper Gaming page to see their newest products. To learn more about service and support, click here for their Support page. The Viper V361 and V370 headsets come with a 2-year warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Patriot provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Viper V361 and one (1) Viper V370 gaming headset samples for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017

Read:   Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, Patriot, Patriot Memory, V361, V370 12/26/2017

Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

04/05/2017 By Zach Can

Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Sennheiser is one of my all-time favorite headphone manufacturers. Their Game One was the first gaming headset I tested, and it was love at first sight. The feel of the soft velvet ear cups on and around my ears for the first time was quite the sensation. It was something that can only be felt once. I promise to give an unbiased review unto Sennheiser’s new GSP 350 PC gaming headset. Will it shatter my expectations, just like the Game One had done to me three years ago? So without further adieu, let’s take a closer look in this Sennheiser GSP 350 headset review.

Read:   Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Sennheiser Design

The first thing I’d like to mention is the ease of access swivel to mute feature on the microphone. Like on its sister product, the Game One headset, the ease of access swivel to mute feature is back. Another ease of access feature is the volume switch on headset making changes to volume hassle-free. There are no game menus to navigate, and no Alt+Tab to strike. Another new attribute of the headset includes its top-notch Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, which I’ll touch more on later.

The plush velvet ear cups present on the Game One headset are not present on the GSP 350 headset. The latter is covered with some superb black leather earcups that I’ve gamed for a consecutive 12 hours and received little-to-no discomfort. The red-colored fabric padding on the top of the headset could use some improvement. The Game One and even Audio Technica ATH-AG1 headset best it with their designs.

The GSP 350 headset is adjustable using the notch system to fit large and small on extreme ends of the spectrum. It’s much more compact when compared to the Game One, ATH-AG1, or the HyperX Cloud Revolver.

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This headset requires software to achieve its full capabilities, such as enabling the Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound. An equalizer function balances for music, eSport, or games, noise reduction and sidetone for the microphone. The sidetone feature is a little weird upon hearing feedback for the first time when I used the mic, but I ended up enjoying it more than having none. The software runs well, better than the undercooked Hera software of Gamdias. I did have a couple of issues with it, but nothing a simple reinstall and restart couldn’t fix.

There’s one last thing. The cable isn’t braided like the Game One headset, meaning the cable can coil upon itself which gets a bit annoying.

Read:   Here are the Audio-Technica Headphones set for release in 2017

Specifications

• Ear coupling: Circum-aural
• USB surround dongle cable length: 1.7 M
• USB extension cable length: 1.2 M
• Headphone frequency response: 15 Hz – 26 kHz
• Impedence: 19 Ω
• Sound Pressure Level: 113 db @ 1kHz

• Transducer: Dynamic, closed
• Microphone frequency response: 10 Hz – 15 kHz
• Pick-up pattern: Noise-cancelling
• Microphone Sensitivity: -41 db ± 3 db
• Weight: 262 grams
• Dimensions: 3.1″ x 8.1″ x 6.8″

Package
• GSP 350 gaming headset
• USB surround dongle cable
• USB extension cable

Contents
• Safety Guide
• Quick Start Guide

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Read:   Here are the AKG Headphones set for release in 2017

Performance

The Dolby 7.1 surround sound feature adds to the GSP 350 headphones and any gaming experience.

Mad Max sounds perfect! Hearing the sandy atmosphere echo through the surround sound was wonderful. Killing Floor 2 caused me a jump every time I heard an enemy directly behind.

No need to fear, the GSP 350 headset packs power into its smaller frame. I find myself having difficulty going back to the standard stereo setting on this or any gaming headphones. Without a doubt, I know that this is going to be my new go-to headset, replacing the HyperX Cloud II, thanks to its sound quality and easy to access features.

Just like on the more expensive Sennheiser gaming headsets, the microphone quality is exquisite. Of the dozen or so gaming headsets withing our sample library, it’s one of the best we have. The software is incredibly easy to use. Even a monkey could figure it out.

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Final Thoughts

As I’ve stated above, this Sennheiser GSP 350 is my new primary gaming headset. It’s a good thing too as I’m a big fan of the Sennheiser brand. When comparing two Sennheiser gaming headsets, you’ll notice there’s a $110 price difference between the Game One and the GSP 350. Even at a lower retail price of $140, the GSP 350 gives you beautiful stereo and Dolby 7.1 surround sound, a noise-cancelling boom mic, and close to the same level of comfort as found in the more expensive Game One.

If Value is an important ranking factor in the purchase of a gaming headset, then it’s safe to say we all know which one has more.

These gaming headphones are worth your time and consideration when looking at the $100-150 price range.

The Sennheiser GSP 350 gaming headphones are available for purchase on Amazon (see link below) as well as the Sennheiser website.

What do you think of this Sennheiser GSP 350 headset 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.

• Follow Sennheiser on Twitter
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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Sennheiser Headphones page to see their newest products. To learn more about service, support, and warranties, click here for their Service-Support page. The GSP 350 headset comes with a 2-year warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Sennheiser provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Sennheiser GSP 350 gaming headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017

Read:   Clarity Smart Speaker Preview

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, gaming headset, GSP 350, Sennheiser 04/01/2020

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Headset Preview

03/14/2017 By Hakan Can

HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset

The All-New HyperX Cloud Revolver S Headset

Days before this past weekend’s PAX East, we started hearing whispers that the folks at HyperX were set to introduce a new product at the annual gaming expo. Knowing what the HyperX product line-up was for the first half of 2017, we were highly confident that the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset was set to make its public debut. We were correct, and on March 13th, it became available for retail purchase.Having seen the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset two months ago at CES, we were looking forward to the released product. We weren’t disappointed.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

• Comfortable fit and attractive design
• Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio
• Directional drivers of 50mm size

• TeamSpeak and Discord Certified
• New, wider solid-steel frame
• Promotional Price of $149

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review
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HyperX Cloud Revolver S Design, Features, and Fit

If you walked around many of the live streaming sets like EVGA‘s for example, you’d notice that the streamers were wearing gaming headsets from the HyperX Cloud family. This should tell you something about the brand.

This new gaming headset is the successor to the popular Cloud Revolver. The HyperX Cloud Revolver S comes with a near identical look to its predecessor, now with Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio, a wider, solid steel outer frame, and a matte black finish.

The first improvement you’ll notice with this Hyper Cloud gaming headset is the vibration that appeared on its predecessor is now gone. No more ‘twang’ sounds. Next, you’ll notice an advanced audio control box and the headset’s Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio capability. (More on sound in our full review.)

Headphone and microphone volumes are controlled by dials on the right with an equalizer button on the left. This equalizer button cycles between 3 modes: Vocal, Flat, and Bass Boost. You’ll find Dolby® Surround and microphone mute buttons in the center.

All-in-all, it’s a nicely designed controller.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

Read:   HyperX Cloud II Headset Review

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Performance

The Dolby® Surround 7.1 sound quality is quite impressive! I briefly got to test this headset with gaming, films, and music. Believe it or not, I was most impressed with Bluegrass music. No Joke.

Like its predecessor, the Cloud Revolver S comes with Circumaural, Closed-back Dynamic 50mm directional drivers positioned parallel to your ears. Frequency response remains the same at a range of 12 Hz- 28000 Hz.

This HyperX gaming headset comes with an attachable uni-directional, noise canceling mic with a frequency response of 50 Hz-18000 Hz.

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset Review

In Summary

This new gaming headset offers plenty of features at a $149.99 price point. Feel free to compare it against other brands and models at this price.

The headphones support Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and numerous mobile and virtual reality devices.

Within each package comes the Cloud Revolver S headset w/1M Cable, a detachable NC microphone, and an advanced audio control box w/2M cable.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

The HyperX Cloud Revolver S gaming headphones come with a 2-year warranty. Should you need to reach Customer Support, feel free to call one of these two numbers: 714-435-2639 or 800-435-0640.

• Follow HyperX on Twitter
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Don’t hesitate to head over to the HyperX homepage to see their current line-up of products.

Feel free to follow Beantown on Twitter, Beantown on Facebook, and Beantown on Instagram.

FTC Disclosure: This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017.

Read:   Silicon Valley Season 3 Release Date Announced for Digital HD

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: Cloud Revolver S, gaming headphones, gaming headset, HyperX, Kingston 05/08/2017

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