Music to a gamer’s ears

SINGAPORE — Christmas is over, and if you have received a box full of games to play — or maybe even a new PlayStation 4 — it might just be time to considering a pair of professional gaming headphones. The right pair of headphones can make all the difference in giving everyday gaming that extra kick that any gamer can appreciate. TODAY has scoured the multitude of headphones that were recently launched and picked out a few that will not disappoint even the most hardcore of gamers.

A TREAT FOR THE EARS

This would have been a perfect Christmas present to the ears: It’s hard to take off the SteelSeries Siberia Elite gaming headset the moment you put them on.

The Elite is futuristic and sleek, severing much bulk for a more lightweight look and feel. While the Elite’s steel arc frames could look rather flimsy at first glance, it’s actually very durable. Its flat non-tangle rubber cords come in a variety of cable systems for PC, Mac, tablets and smartphones.

On the ear cups are glowing rings of LED lights. They are pre-set to orange, but can be changed to illuminate any colour you want. The right glowing ring is also an integrated volume dial for quick and convenient adjustment.

The Elite’s suspension headbands are ergonomically designed to ensure a flawless fit without the need for manual adjustment. Its full-sized cans are generously large to enclose your ears in what feels like clouds, with foam cups that are soft, plush and snug. They are also light and leather-lined, so contact areas do not feel clammy or sore — perfect for endless hours of gaming this season.

The headset isn’t just a pair of good-looking earmuffs too. The Elite’s 7.1 surround is impeccable, and makes all the difference in multiplayer warfare and horror escapades. The strong bass and crisp treble allows music to sound just as it should.

The microphone can be extended or retracted for a suitable length, and can be bent easily. The no-frills mic delivered sounds decently. In addition to its provided audio plugs, the Elite also comes with a USB-powered Sound Card. It is equipped with audio and mic inputs, and gives you access to SteelSeries Engine 3, a software that allows several tweaks, such as equaliser adjustments, sound manipulation, mic noise reduction and customising your LED glowrings.

At S$339, the SteelSeries Siberia Elite are almost faultless. Like pillows on your ears, this pair of flashy headphones looks and sound great, and is the perfect companion for gaming marathons.

VERDICT

Looks: 5/5

Comfort: 5/5

Sound: 4.5/5

Build quality: 4.5/5

Ease of use: 4/5

Microphone: 3/5

Extra functions: 4/5

Total score: 85.7/100

COMFORTABLE WIRE-FREE DESIGN

You might still be disentangling your Christmas lights, and if that leaves you hating wires, the Astro A50 is the seamless solution geared towards a tangle-free audiophile-worthy experience.

Not that you can do entirely without wires: The A50 Wireless setup is not completely wire-free. While the headset itself does not need to be plugged in, the receiver — a simple black box — needs to always be connected to your rig via USB. Charging your headphones also requires it to be plugged into the receiver.

The A50 is compatible to various systems as well, with the same caveats: The Xbox Chat cable provided also involves a wire.

With matte-black plastic cups accented with bold-red coiled cables and generously foam-padded headbands, the A50’s design is simple, clean and comfortable.

Two buttons for game and voice volume are integrated conveniently on the right ear cup. Reach further behind and you will find a power button, a master volume dial and a three-way equaliser button. On the left cup lies the mini-USB port for charging, and the nondetachable mic arm can be swung up for a quick mute.

The A50 has once again proven itself worthy of its price tag, with its gold-standard audio of theatrical-like bass and pristine treble. Its 7.1 surround sound feels atmospheric, and submerges users into the game so deeply that it is easy to forget that the A50’s ear cups are not noise-cancelling. From raucous shouts to dripping water from an old pipe, the A50 picks up the smallest of sounds in piercing clarity and detail.

While the Astro A50 Wireless can be considered rather expensive at S$450, its lack of pesky wires, fantastic audio quality, absorbing 7.1 surround sound and cushy comfort is worth every dollar.

VERDICT

Looks: 3.5/5

Comfort: 4/5

Sound: 5/5

Build quality: 3.5/5

Ease of use: 4/5

Microphone: 4/5

Extra functions: 3.5/5

Total score: 78.5/100

THE PERFECT BALANCE

Sennheiser is extending its famous audio expertise to gamers with the release of the G4ME Zero and its sister product, the noise-blocking G4ME One.

These are good looking headsets, which are coated in a dramatic white, with black and bold-red accents. The G4MEs also feel as good as they look, with large foam-cushioned ear pads that the Zero lined with leatherette to seal out distracting real-world sounds, while the One has plush velvet as a softer alternative that lets the skin breathe.

Game developer Io-Interactive used these headsets to craft audio for several games, notably Hitman Absolution, and it shows: They are able to reproduce even the most delicate of in-game environmental sounds, and the audio is clear and accurate. With superb stereo performance that helps differentiate directional sounds, the G4MEs ensure you have the upper hand in stealth games.

The thick and solid noise-cancelling microphone extends from the left ear cup, and can be muted simply by pushing the boom upwards. The mic is responsive and delivers sound loudly and accurately — background noise, like a television running in the background, is easily ignored.

The Zero is portable, allowing you to collapse it into a provided shell case. Its ear cups seal out audio interference for greater gaming engagement. The One is durable and sturdy, with an open design that promotes better airflow, letting your ears and skin stay cool for long usage.

The G4ME Zero and the G4ME One strikes a balance between great audio quality and supreme comfort at S$369 and S$339 respectively. Casual and professional gamers looking to up the notch on their gaming experience will surely be pleased with these high-fidelity headphones.

VERDICT

Looks: 4/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Sound: 4/5

Build quality: 4/5

Ease of use: 5/5

Microphone: 4/5

Extra functions: 2/5

Total score: 75.7/100

MAXIMUM UTILITY, UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY

Astro Gaming might not be among the big names out there, but the Astro A40 shows that they definitely can compete with the big names, just like the previously featured A50.

The A40 looks modern, but its white or black plastic frames does make it feel cheap. However, the plastic option cuts weight off the ears, and coupled with fabric-lined foam padding, users can game for hours in plush comfort.

The sound quality is distinctively amazing across games and multimedia. The 7.1 surround is immersive, leaving gamers trapped in a delightful audio nirvana of clear, crisp snares, a deep, full treble and a serious bass.

The microphone boom is detachable, with a flexible boom arm leading to a metal-covered mouthpiece. The mic picks up even whispering with crystal clarity and no echo or feedback.

Perhaps the real star here is the Mixamp Pro. Lined with eight different ports, the USB-powered accessory is your one-stop cable hub for virtually any system. Be it PC, Xbox 360, PS3, an MP3 player or even your smartphone, there are provided cables for all your geeky gadgets this season. It has a large volume knob, an equaliser button and a button to activate or deactivate the surround sound on the A40. Several Mixamps can also connect to each other to create a private chatting network between friends, without having to rely on chatrooms.

However, with all its wires and plugs, the Mixamp Pro can be complicated to set up, but if you can get it to work, the Mixamp Pro is maximum utility packed in a solid piece of technology. At S$380, the Astro A40 + Mixamp Pro makes a great pair to add to any professional gamer’s arsenal.

VERDICT

Looks: 3.5/5

Comfort: 4/5

Sound: 5/5

Build quality: 2.5/5

Ease of use: 2.5/5

Microphone: 4/5

Extra functions: 5/5

Total score: 75.7/100

GAMING & ON-THE-GO HYBRID

If you aren’t a hardcore gamer who needs purely-dedicated gaming headphones, you might want to consider the Plantronics RIG.

The RIG strives towards flexibility and functionality. It cuts off much bulk and weight common in most gaming headphones in the market, and the result is a simple and lightweight structure.

The RIG’s mostly black body is only interrupted by bright-orange fabric covering the inside of the foldable ear cups, which could do with more padding. Still, the lightness ensures minimal pressure on the ears, and is comfortable to wear.

The RIG lacks controls on the headphones, but provides two interchangeable microphones that can be connected to the left ear cup. For gamers, the RIG can be plugged up to a rubberised boom mic that is flexible yet sturdy. The other mic features a mute and call function that is ideal for those who are on the move.

The RIG’s appeal doesn’t end there: It is accompanied by a small, circular-shaped device dubbed the Mixer. Solid and futuristic-looking with orange and blue lights, the Mixer bridges the connection between the RIG headset, your gaming system and your smartphone via USB and audio plugs.

While users might not be too fond of the wires, the Mixer is relatively easy to use once plugged in. It has separate sliders for in-game and mobile volume, and a large toggle button to alternate between both, allowing easy switching from gaming to answering a phone call.

The Mixer performs its functions well, but as for any headset, it all boils down to audio quality. The RIG headphone is loud and clear with satisfactory bass, but loses out to the 7.1 surround sound competition. Even so, its audio is forceful enough to handle in-game explosions and rock music.

AAt S$199, its sound quality might leave audiophiles and professional gamers wanting more, but no other pair of headphones pairs gaming and mobility the way the Plantronics RIG does. Its design is sleek enough so you will never be out of place, whether you are in the LAN shop or plugged into your smartphone on the morning commute.

VERDICT

Looks: 4/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Sound: 3/5

Build quality: 3.5/5

Ease of use: 3/5

Microphone: 4/5

Extra functions: 5/5

Total score: 74.3/100

PREMIUM FORM AND FINISH

The Razer Kraken Forged Edition is a sexy piece of engineering.

Clad in matte aluminium and black grills, the monochromic Forged is a work of art. Its ear cups are thick and lined with leatherette, wide and big enough for a comfortable fit.

The Forged touts itself as a “music and gaming headphones”, but it is best suited for the latter, as it doesn’t do justice to songs with intricate instrumentals. Dubstep and classical music came out muddy.

Faring better in gameplay, the Forged seals out most of unwanted sounds with its closed ear cup design for a more immersive gaming experience. Its heavy bass shines in the explosions, gunfire and rumbling in a typical round of Battlefield 4, which is delivered forcefully.

The headphones itself are missing some integrated features, but comes with a port on the bottom left of the ear cup. You can choose between two interchangeable cables, one with an inline microphone, and one without. A boom mic would have been a preferred option for a pair of gaming headphones, but it seems that the Forged is targeting music enthusiasts just as much as its gamer fanbase.

The Forged did not come with a splitter cable, which could be a limiting factor for other gaming users. However, the microphone sound was clean and decent, with friends sometimes complaining of shuffling sounds when the microphone rubbed against my shirt.

The Forged is a great headset on the go. Its foldable ear cups and a provided black shell case means maximum portability. The lack of a boom mic means that you would not have to look like a pilot even in the morning commute.

At S$479.90, you get a polished and refined-looking piece of hardware that is solid, sturdy and comfortable. However, the Razer Kraken Forged Edition seems to miss the audio mark with the focus mostly on strong bass. Music strong on the vocals, like Adele’s, will find the bass too overwhelming. But if rock music and explosions are your thing, you might have plenty to love in the Razer Kraken Forged Edition.

VERDICT

Looks: 5/5

Comfort: 3/5

Sound: 3/5

Build quality: 4/5

Ease of use: 4/5

Microphone: 3/5

Extra functions: 3/5

Total score: 71.4/100

SIMPLICITY & STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE

If you’re all about the looks, the Razer Kraken 7.1 will help you to stand out from the crowd. Clad in black with the ambient green glow of its trademark, the Kraken 7.1 is solid and sexy.

The Kraken 7.1 is relatively lightweight and comfortable, with its foam-padded cushions lined with leatherette around the ears, but the headband could do with a thicker pad. The microphone can be pulled out or retracted, and together with its foldable design, the Kraken 7.1 is portable yet rigid.

The mic is responsive, and facilitates communication clearly and loudly. A button can be pressed near the mouthpiece to mute it, but that is the only feature integrated into the Kraken 7.1. Instead of using the rig’s audio port, the headset connects and powers up via only USB. While this may be a limitation to some, the Kraken 7.1 is incredibly easy to setup. The plug-and-play affair comes with a long anti-tangle braided cord with enough slack to stretch from behind your CPU.

Entering the gaming world, the Kraken 7.1 performed well. The bass is powerful and its virtual 7.1 surround sound is full and rich, but directional sounds were rather muddled, with positional audio hard to differentiate. However, users can tweak their engines and calibrate the audio according to their preference. The configuration software, Synapse 2.0, allows users to specifically position sound elements to get the best possible audio experience.

While the Razer Kraken 7.1 sorely lacks inline controls, fancy features and an audio jack, it is a no-frills headache-free set of headphones backed up with superior software capabilities and a powerful overall sound. It might be falling short of the high-end market, but at S$169.90 it definitely is budget friendly.

VERDICT

Looks: 4.5/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Sound: 3/5

Build quality: 3/5

Ease of use: 5/5

Microphone: 3.5/5

Extra functions: 2/5

Total score: 70/100