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Plugable HS53 Gaming Headset review

REVIEW – I have a confession to make:  Although I have a nice gaming rig and a set of quality peripherals, I’m still using a Logitech H570e for my headset.  While this $35 device might be fine in the office for making the occasional Slack call, it’s not exactly a high-quality gaming headset.  It’s time for an upgrade, so I’m checking out Plugable’s HS53 gaming headset to see how it compares.

What is it?

The HS53 is a budget, wired, gaming headset from Plugable.

What’s in the box?

  • The headset with microphone
  • In-line remote
  • TRRS-to-TRS Y cable
  • Quick start guide with 1 page of English instructions

Hardware specs

  • Compatible with PC (Windows, Linux, and macOS), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
  • 53 mm drivers
  • 3.5mm TRRS connection for the microphone and headphones channels

Design and features

When I pulled the HS53 from the box, the first thing I noticed was the earcups.  On gaming headsets, most earcups are oval, roughly in the shape of an ear.  Those on the HS53, by contrast, are round.  They still fit over my ears, which they can do as they are rather large.  This size is what allows Plugable to include speakers with 53mm drivers, which are larger than most headsets.

The second thing that I noticed is that the TRRS-to-TRS Y cable is really, really long; in fact, it’s almost 15 feet long.  This cable is obviously intended to be used with a PlayStation or an Xbox, and thus makes perfect sense.  The cables that come with just the headset and the remote together are only 4 feet 4 inches long; personally, I wish they were 2 feet longer to give me a bit more flexibility.  If your PC is really close to where you sit, you’ll be fine, but if it’s further away, or if you like to move around, you’ll either need to use the very long cable (and deal with cable management) or buy a different cable.  The cable on the headset is not detachable.

Installation and setup

Installation was simple.  I plugged the audio cable from the headset into the remote and then plugged the cable on the remote—although Plugable calls this a remote, it’s really just an inline volume control—into the green audio jack on my soundcard.  On the remote, one side has a switch that mutes the mic, and I had to look closely to see which way was muted and which way was not.  The other side has a volume wheel, which was equally difficult to see which way was loud and which was soft; I set it to the middle to start.  If Plugable would make the symbols on here white instead of grey, they would be a lot easier to see.

The mic is connected to the left earcup and extends out about 4 inches.  If you choose not to use the mic, it can retract into the earcup.

Performance

The earcups are certainly soft and comfortable to wear.  They tend to be a bit loose on the head and not fit very well, at least at first.  After wearing them for a couple of hours, however, they seem to tighten up a bit.  I’m not sure if this the memory foam, which is in the earcups and on the headband, kicking into gear or what, but they definitely feel better over time.

The headset has good sound.  The music, the game sounds, and the voices of other players are all very clear, and they are certainly richer than my old Logitech.  There isn’t a notably deep bass sound, but that was fine with me, as too much bass tends to create a mushy sound.

Although the HS53 does not have any noise canceling capabilities, the earcups completely cover my ears and do a decent job blocking external sounds.  Plugable’s website says that the earcup pads create a seal that will keep my ears cool and comfortable.  While I agree with the comfortable part, I found that the lack of airflow left my ears on the warm side.

Features

Most gaming peripherals, including headsets, come with some sort of ambient lighting.  The HS53 does not.  This doesn’t detract from the actual game play, but it does lower the “cool factor” of this gadget.  I suppose the lack of lighting is a way to keep costs down, but even a simple lighting scheme would be welcome.

The cables are braided and feel like they are of a decent quality.  The remote, on the other hand, feels cheap and plastic.

What I like

  • Good sound
  • Soft and comfortable

What needs to be improved

  • Longer cable attached to remote

Final thoughts

This is a solid headset from Plugable.  It’s not a fancy headset, but it’s comfortable and has good sound, which are the two most important features.  If you’re looking for an entry-level headset, the HS53 is worthy of your consideration.  It’s certainly a huge step up from my Logitech headset.

Price: $44.95
Where to buy:  Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Plugable.

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Plugable HS53 Gaming Headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 6, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Jabra Engage 75 stereo headset review

REVIEW – I’ve had office headsets before, but that was over 20 years ago. Today we’ve got desk phones, smartphones, desktop computers… the list goes on. The Jabra Engage 75 is a professional wireless headset system designed to work with all of these devices in a unified package.

What is it?

The Jabra Engage 75 is a wireless headset that provides simultaneous connections to up to five devices. It can connect to desk phone, softphone, analog phone, and two Bluetooth devices.

Hardware specs

Battery Timer: 13 hours
Wireless Range: 150 meters / 490 feet
Connect up to: 5 devices

What’s in the box?

The kit comes with the headset, base, phone cord, USB cable, power supply and quick start guide.

Design and features

This particular model has two ear cups. It will produce stereo audio if you’re connected to such a source such as playing music back from your phone.


The cups do fold back as part of the swiveling design.

On the bottom of one of the cups is the dock connector.

The silver disk in the center is the pick up/hang up button. Two tiny bumps control volume.

The tip of the microphone hides a tiny “busy” LED to let others know you’re in on a call. There’s a hidden mute button as well. This mutes your outgoing audio.

Setup

The back of the base is pretty well labeled. I was able to connect my desktop phone, my Mac Mini, and my iPhone (bluetooth).

This particular model has a touch-sensitive screen with a display which made setup a snap.

A setup wizard walks you through the setup. You can always re-do the setup if you want.

Install the Jabra Firmware Updater (Mac version shown here) to check for firmware updates. In this screenshot, the firmware is being updated.

Performance

I made a few test recordings to see what the headset sounded like in my office (not a recording booth) compared to the Apple AirPods (wireless ear buds) and the basic wired headphones you get with every iPhone.


To me, the wired earbud that comes with the phone sounds the clearest, but this is a wired device. The Apple AirPods are wireless but sound less clear. The Jabra sounds perfectly serviceable and is wireless, in addition to being quite comfortable.

What I like

I was able to connect my desktop computer (USB), iPhone (Bluetooth) and desk phone. Super comfortable to wear!

What needs to be improved

Expensive, but this is really for a professional office environment where cordless security is paramount. Don’t forget, you still need to lift the handset off the desk phone unless you have a dedicated handset jack, or an electronic lifter.

Final thoughts

The Jabra Engage 75 has really solved my headset clutter. I now have just one device to take calls as well as listening to my desktop or iPhone audio.

Price: $420
Where to buy: Jabra and Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Jabra.

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Jabra Engage 75 stereo headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Headset review

REVIEW – I’ve been an avid gamer since I could pick up an Atari joystick. During the last decade, online gaming has exploded, and with it, the need for gaming headsets built for clear communication and long play sessions. That’s why I was stoked to try out the Stealth 300 Headset from Turtle Beach.

What is it?

The Turtle Beach Stealth 300 is a wired, amplified stereo gaming headset that provides clear, powerful audio as well as a sensitive, flip-down mic. In addition, the headset pipes in the mic audio, allowing you to hear and adjust the volume of your own voice inside the headset, avoiding talking louder than necessary.

Hardware specs

  • 3.5mm Audio Connection compatible with PS4, PS4 Pro, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch as well as mobile devices
  • 20Hz – 20kHz Speaker Frequency Response
  • 50mm speakers with Neodymium magnets
  • Rechargeable 900mAh Lithium Polymer for up to 40 hours of gaming per charge
  • Flip-up Omni-Directional mic
  • Mesh Fabric Headband Material with Foam Cushioning
  • Over-Ear (Closed), Fabric (Black) Ear Cushion with Memory Foam Cushioning

What’s in the box?

  • Stealth 300 Gaming Headset
  • Micro USB Charging Cable
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Turtle Beach Sticker

Design and Features

The Stealth 300 is the first over the ear headset that I can recall being able to stand wearing for longer than an hour or so. I’ve owned several pairs of standard headphones and have always regretted those purchases, simply because they would end up hurting the top of my head, or press my glasses into my temples. But this headset is a different story.

The earphones fold to the side so it packs a bit flatter in a backpack.

It’s worth noting that this is a wired headset and that the wire is not very long, but that’s really a design feature since most of the situations you’d find yourself using it would be with a wireless PS4 or Xbox controller in your hand. The wire only has to reach down to your lap. It’s also compatible with the Nintendo Switch… I tested out the one game I had that used voice chat – Fortnite – and it worked very well.

Fit

The engineers who designed the fit of these headphones must have had the same issues with over the ear headsets as I had. Too much force on top of the head, causing discomfort rubbing against my hair, too much force against the frames of my glasses, and sweaty ears from ear cushions that seal in heat.

With the Stealth 300, I experienced none of those. I tried them in several-hour gaming sessions and they remained cool, comfortable and nearly weightless. The headband and ear cushions are breathable and wrapped in soft fabric. The ear cushions, in particular, feel like they have a double layer of foam, a softer foam that allows the frames of your glasses to interact with the material, and a layer of firmer memory foam to conform to the contours of your head.

This double layer of foam does allow for some sound leakage, though it’s not as bad as open-ear style headphones. Other people in a quiet room would be able to hear the sounds.

Sound Quality

I thought the sound quality was fairly impressive for the price range of these cans. They’re plenty loud, due to the amplified sound, powered by a rechargeable 900mAh battery. The headphones come with 4 built-in (but not customizable) EQ presets: bass boost, signature sound, bass and treble boost and vocal boost.

The volume control, mic volume, power and EQ settings button.

I personally didn’t hear much of a difference between the 4 settings, some slight changes in the amount of bass and treble, but I may need to test them some more under different non-gaming conditions, like listening to music or a movie.

I did watch one movie wearing the headphones and they sounded great. I think most movies and games are pretty heavy with the bass, anyway, so those big 50mm speakers pushed out some decent sound.

Microphone

A lot of thought was put into the way the microphone works. The flip-down mic is situated on the left ear and is activated once deployed in the down position. The mic turns off once it’s flipped up, in case you need to speak without broadcasting to your teammates.

The mic flips down with a snap. Flipping it back up disables it in case you need to have a quick chat with another human in the room.

One of my favorite features is something they coined as Variable Mic Monitoring. Anyone who has used a gaming headset with a mic attached knows all too well the muffled sound of their own voice shouting over gunfire, music, and explosions. Before you know it, you’re practically screaming at your own team trying to hear yourself over the chaos.

But with the Stealth 300, there is an additional control that adjusts the volume of the mic input being fed into the headphones. So when you talk, you hear your own voice inside the headset, sort of like a musician’s monitor. The omnidirectional mic is strong enough to pick up a nearby conversation and ambient noise, so if someone in the room is trying to get your attention, you’d be able to pick that up in your headphones as well.

What I like

  • very comfortable for extended use, even over glasses
  • audio feedback in the headset from the microphone is awesome
  • sound quality is great

What needs to be improved

  • some light sound leakage through the headphone cushions

Final thoughts

The Stealth 300 is an excellent headset, and without a doubt, the most comfortable I’ve ever come across. This headset can be purchased for Xbox One or PS4 in a color scheme that matches your hardware (Green for Xbox and blue for PS4), however, I believe either color will work with all of the compatible hardware. If you need a good wired headset with an excellent mic and comfort to spare, look no further.

Price: $79.95
Where to buy: Turtle Beach and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Turtle Beach.

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Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 21, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset review

Although not the most prominent of the sensory functions, hearing plays an important role in our lives. Those of us who enjoy music also enjoy it more with a high-quality audio delivery. Those old tunes from your teenage years can take you back to those days like nothing else can. Even more for us that enjoy ’80’s rock and roll. That made reviewing the HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset even more enjoyable.

What is it?

The HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset is a premium-grade headset that aims to meet the demands of both the PC or Console gamer. Utilizing 50mm directional drivers and a removable microphone, the Revolver series headsets deliver precise, crisp audio in a durable, high-quality package.

What’s in the box?

  • HyperX Cloud Revolver headset with fixed 3.5 ft cord.
  • Audio control box with 3.5mm plugs with 6.75 ft cord.
  • Detachable Microphone.



Design and features

The Cloud Revolver headset makes great use of design when it comes to the structure of the headset. The steel frame is a one-piece design that encompasses the speakers, making it difficult to break. One of the things that really caught my attention was how flexible the braided cord was, unlike some of the braided phone charging cords that I’ve had.

The headset features a self-adjusting headband, which I felt was a little too giving in its springiness, making the earpieces sit a little low on my head. That might not be an issue if you have a fair amount of hair on your head.

The earpieces are memory foam and remained comfortable for quite a few hours at a time. They also did not interfere with my glasses. The fairly closed-back design kept almost all sound from escaping, which comes in handy if you don’t want to annoy other people in the room.

The audio control box has a convenient sliding mute switch, volume wheel, and a clip to keep it in place. The cord connected to the control box plus the headset cord gives you over 10 ft of freedom of movement.



The headset is truly multi-platform compatible, operating on Windows, Mac, or gaming system, as well as being compatible with Teamspeak, Discord, Skype, Ventrilo, mumble, and Raidcall.

The removable microphone is a nice touch. It features a 3.5mm plug and bendable boom. I did a video conference call and the other person said I sounded great.

Nothing beats great headphones when it comes to gaming. The extra edge you get from being able to hear the little audio queues like someone walking up on you really is exciting. The immersive experience is so much better than just speakers. The noise-canceling microphone really helps, and other players said the audio sounded great.

What I like

  • Flexible cords
  • Full metal frame that encircles the earpieces
  • Detachable, flexible, noise-canceling microphone
  • Closed-back ear cups don’t allow much sound to escape and annoy other people
  • Ear pads work fine with glasses

What needs to be improved

  • The self-adjusting headband is a little to loose for my liking
  • The frame is hard mounted to the ear cups, which means any touching of the frame transmits quite a bit of sound through to your ears

Final thoughts

This headset not only sounds great but feels like it is rugged enough to last for many years. Whether gaming or just listening to audio, this headset provides a comfortable and precise audio experience.
Price: $119.99
Where to buy: HyperX or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by HyperX

The post HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 22, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Turtle Beach XO THREE gaming headset review

If you are a serious console gamer you have probably heard of Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach has been one of best-known gaming headset makers around. If you’re not a gamer you may not understand the importance of having a good headset, especially when playing PVP (Player VS Player) type games. I will admit that I have always been a little envious of Turtle Beach users, but I could never justify buying some of their earlier offerings because of prices. Not that they were the most expensive, but more for my lack of PVP gaming, so I just used some get by headsets. Now Turtle Beach has launched the XO THREE headset for the XBOX One and RECON 150 for the PlayStation 4 a good functional gaming headset at a good price.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

If I were to say what price category the XO THREE headset fell into for Turtle Beach I would say they were a mid price range offering, but that’s not saying that the features are midrange.

The XO THREE headset has the following specifications as listed on the Turtle Beach website:

  • Audio Connection: 3.5mm 90-Degree Angle Connector
  • Speaker Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Speaker Size: 50mm Neodymium Magnets
  • Microphone: Removable Omni-Directional Microphone
  • Headband/Earpad material: Leather-Wrapped Headband / Black Fabric Ear Pads with Foam Cushioning
  • Ear Cushion: Over-Ear (Open)

The top of the XO THREE headset is padded and leather wrapped and has “TURTLE BEACH” stamped into it. The padding is above and below the headset frame. The green stitching is a nice touch.

On the bottom of the headset, you can see the leather band on the headband and the microphone and cord on the left side ear cup.

The outside of both of the ear cups for the XO THREE headset are basically the same with the Turtle Beach logo and the green material.

The inside of the XO THREE ear cups have nice padding for a comfortable fit. The inner speaker is covered by a mesh material. Speaking of ear cups now would be a good time to talk about the speakers. The XO THREE headset has a 50mm speaker and is designed for surround sound. The 50mm speaker is the same size Turtle Beach uses in its higher end offerings.

As I mentioned before, the bottom of the left ear cup has a cord (this plugs into your game controller or directly into a 3.5 mm headphone jack) and a removable boom microphone.

The removable microphone has a solid base with a flexible boom and a foam covered mic. The flexibility of the microphone allows you to place it exactly where you want it for the best sound being transmitted to your gaming friends.

The headphone cord has an inline volume controller for the headset volume and a mute slider to mute your microphone.

So, what is my bottom line here? I have been fortunate enough to review another gaming headset, the Polk Striker Pro Zx so I do have a reference to compare the Turtle Beach XO THREE headset too. First, let me say that the XO THREE headset, to me anyway is a good bang for the buck buy. The sound is great (may be as good or slightly better than my Striker Pro Zx) the build quality is good and the features are nice. From a comfort standpoint, I think my Pro Zx is a little bit more comfortable, I believe that is more to do with the ear cup shape than anything else. That being said, the only real negative I could find about the XO THREE headset is a lack of a removable cord. If you ask gamers what their biggest issue with gaming headsets is they will probably say the cord. Cords wear, crack, get eaten by pets/kids and when that happens it makes the headset unusable. It is a shame that Turtle Beach did not make the cord removable and changeable. The Turtle Beach XO THREE gaming headset can be purchased on the Turtle Beach website for $69.95. If you’re looking for a good gaming headset for a good price the XO THREE headset is worth a look.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Turtle Beach. Visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $69.95
Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • XBOX One or compatible PC
Pros:
  • Decent price
  • Great sound
Cons:
  • No removable cord

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Turtle Beach XO THREE gaming headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 19, 2017 at 8:32 am.

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