Throughout the year, we have tested lots of machines with gaming powers. But what about the sound? Even the most powerful gamer laptop sounds in the long run too thin for breathtaking 3D action. That’s why you need a good gaming headset. A decision that your immediate surroundings will definitely appreciate – so they do not have to listen to the noise!
But what should you choose, and what will it cost?
True to tradition, until Christmas we have taken the pulse of the market for gaming headsets, and have tested as many as ten pairs.
The vast majority of the participants are in the premium class, where you can afford to set a little high expectations.
Gaming headsets were once synonymous with flashing lights, vibrant colors and angular designs. This is no longer the case. Most participants are so discreet to look at that you can easily afford to let them lie on the desk. Not least because the neighbor probably also spends his free time on games. Gaming has become a popular sport.
The sound should entertain
When it comes to gaming headsets, you can easily afford to loosen the tie and give a damn in a correct and true-to-life sound. This is about entertainment – and about winning! The explosions on the battlefield must be able to be felt all the way down to the spine. And if the midrange is a bit exaggerated, it just means that it will be easier to hear what your teammates are saying.
With or without thread
The majority of headsets in this test are wireless and connect via a USB adapter. Bluetooth, as you know it from headphones, is not sufficiently secure and precise for gaming. Here, a delay of a few fractions of a second will mean that you are already hit by the bullet when you hear the shot in the game.
However, some people stick to a wired USB connection, typically because the headset’s features, such as light and vibration, use so much power that the battery life will be too short. A single participant (EPOS) settles for an analogue cable connection.
Wireless or not, most still offer the option of analog cable connection, which makes it possible to use the headsets on platforms other than PC, Mac and PlayStation.
All the way around
Most headsets in this class offer virtual surround sound. Here, the surround channels are placed around the listener’s head using clever software and hardware. Some build the virtual surround into the integrated sound card, while others let the control software do the work.
The efficiency of the virtual surround varies from diffuse spaciousness to razor-sharp placement all around. If the effect is to be something else and more than just an effect, the game must be made for spacious sound, and the headset’s sound card and / or software must support this.
This is how we tested
The headsets were of course tested in their natural environment, ie on games, not least 3D shooters, where any surround effects are utilized to the maximum. Beyond that, they were also tested with music and film – again in surround. We also looked at the built-in microphones and any noise reduction.
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