Gigabyte, Polk, Kingston

Gigabyte Force H3X

Price: $fourscore

The Gigabyte Force H3X is a big headset, much like the Logitech G430. The over-ear cups fit me well and yet I didn't like how they felt. Gigabyte came and so close to getting this product blindside on but we think that its frame falls short.

Although the headset sits nicely on your head and ears, the problem starts the 2d you move. Small, slow movements cause the Forcefulness H3X headset to wobble all over the place and this is where they go from beingness comfy to abrasive.

Part of the wobbling is acquired past a blueprint feature that is meant to brand the headset fit meliorate. Each loving cup can tilt a few degrees in whatever management, which is corking for improving the fit on a range of different caput shapes, just without proper back up it creates the wobble outcome. To solve this issue the frame needs to apply more than pressure.

The cups themselves are made out of a leatherette type material which are padded with soft cream. They don't feature any kind of passive noise-cancelling then yous tin can still easily hear your environment. Each cup has been fitted with a 50mm commuter and are sufficiently deep so your ears don't rub against the commuter's protective cloth material. The drivers offer a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz. There'southward 32 Ohms of impedance and the sensitivity rings in at 118dB while Gigabyte rates them for a maximum of 50mW.

Moving on, we observe a nice 2m long flat black cable that ends with 2 gold-plated audio connections, one for the headphones and one for the mic.

Embedded in the left side of the headset is a retractable microphone. I prefer a retractable mic to the design used by Logitech for the G430, which just folds the mic away. The retractable blueprint should make the Force H3X headset more comfortable to article of clothing when watching movies or listening to music.

Unfortunately the mic isn't perfect. It doesn't get anywhere near your rima oris and instead will but reach the cheek of nigh players. This is a existent shame because we love everything else about it, particularly the quality of the flexible steel cord -- simply not the length.

Another issue nosotros establish with the Forcefulness H3X headset was the inline controller. Ordinarily this is a characteristic that would score big points for a gaming headset, but the quality of this controller is questionable at best. Despite looking and feeling better than the controller found on the Logitech G430 headset, Gigabyte's doesn't work that well.

For starters, we had issues with crackling. As you lot move the slider up or down to set the preferred volume level the drivers in the headset crackle quite loudly. At that place is also besides much play in the slider push button and information technology'south easy to move accidentally.

The biggest issue we found was when sliding it all the way up to maximum volume equally the left driver would driblet out completely. If we slide the book just short of maximum the headset worked fine. It isn't articulate if this is merely an issue with our review sample or if this affects almost Forcefulness H3X headsets.

The inline controller issues spoiled the Force H3X for united states.

Audio Quality: The Gigabyte Force H3X does a decent job of making you forget all its shortcomings once you're distracted by a game. Its bass is respectable for being and so far southward of $100 and while it'south enough well-baked, information technology does lack punch. We were expecting more out of the 50mm drivers -- the Logitech G430'southward smaller 40mm drivers .

The college frequencies are nice and articulate and more importantly so are the mid tones. In-game grapheme voices audio great and accept real affect. This volition make the Force H3X appealing to some gamers as you can clearly hear your enemy sneaking up on you in the midst of heavy gunfire and explosions.

The simply downside to the Force H3X's performance was its mic. Audio just doesn't come up through clearly on the other cease and this could exist due to its position which is a centimeter or so from reaching the side of your oral fissure. We suspect this will annoy many gamers.

Pros: The Force H3X has a lightweight blueprint that looks sleek (though we tend to have a soft spot for all-black styling). It offers a retractable mic, lengthy flat cables and an affordable price tag.

Cons: The headset feels inexpensive and its wobbly ear cups are uncomfortable. Its control slider is either broken on our model or is simply of poor quality while its mic sounds bad next to the competition and it doesn't extend far plenty in our opinion.

Polk Striker P1 Multiplatform

Price: $90

Polk likely needs no introduction for those of you interested in home audio equally the company has been making quality speakers since the early 70s. However, nosotros take no experience with Polk products when it comes to dedicated calculator speakers and headsets.

On manus is the Polk Striker P1 Multiplatform gaming headset which retails for $ninety. As its proper noun suggests, the ready targets both PC and console gamers but Polk says that the Striker P1s will likewise hold upward to playing your favorite music, movies and Television set shows.

The Striker P1s are available in black, blue/cream and orange/cream. We have the latter for this roundup.

Compared to the Logitech G430 and Gigabyte Force H3X we just looked at, the Polk Striker P1 looks rather small and inadequate -- such was our initial impression anyway. Fortunately, that notion went correct out the door when we put the headset on. It's amazingly comfy.

The cups don't engulf our ears similar the Logitech G430 merely it doesn't seem as if they need to either. Whereas Gigabyte got the headband tension all wrong, Polk has nailed it and gamers volition surely take comfort in that.

The ear cups tilt and hinge a few degree to assistance them conform a range of head shapes, yet despite their range of move they experience firm once clamped on your head.

Polk attributes the Striker P1'south condolement to the company's ProFit Condolement engineering science. This is a combination of a lightweight molded headband with a thick absorber and 2-manner pivoting ear cups with protein leather padding. Call information technology what you will, we just know information technology works actually well.

Embedded in the headset are a pair of 40mm drivers using Polk'southward patented Dynamic Residuum driver design process. Polk says this helps eliminate resonance and creates the Striker'southward game-changing sound. They are rated with the same 20Hz-20KHz frequency response as the Gigabyte and Logitech headsets while they besides feature 32ohms of impedance.

Like the Gigabyte Force H3X, the Striker P1 features an embedded microphone in the left ear. The retractable omni-directional boom microphone comes with a 7cm extension that is similar to the design implemented by Gigabyte. Logitech's blast is 12cm long and reaches out in front of the player'southward mouth really well. It will be interesting to see how the shorter mic of the Striker P1 performs having already seen poor results with Gigabyte'south solution.

Polk includes an inline volume control and mic mute switch. The design is simple, elegant and above all works uncommonly well. Polk was clever in how it connected the controller equally well. Unlike the fixed inline controllers on Gigabyte and Logitech'south headsets, Polk's controller can be removed.

It connects to the end of the primary cord which is 90cm long. This may sound far away but with the cord hanging down out of the fashion the controller tin can sit right next to your keyboard for like shooting fish in a barrel admission rather than dangling in the air in front end of you lot. There is an additional 1.2m cable that runs from the controller to the sound card and it splits the mic from the headphones.

Audio Quality: The Striker P1 might be Polk's budget headset but you wouldn't know it. Stereo audio came in clean, articulate and loud when we played Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Alien: Isolation and The Crew. Information technology's worth noting that the Striker P1 uses the same 40mm driver as the pricier iv Shot model.

Quality-wise, Polk'southward Striker P1 smokes Gigabyte's Force H3X. The former fix is cleaner and crisper beyond the range and its bass is on another level likewise -- even better than Logitech'due south G430.

All the headsets were tested listening to music from Spotify using the 'farthermost' quality setting and we enjoyed listening to a range of tunes with the Striker P1. This may exist the best choice for folks who listen to a ton of music.

Unfortunately, equally we feared, the short mic boom did cause problems. It frequently produced deadened voice or simply wasn't loud enough. The quality was still better than what nosotros experienced with the Gigabyte Force H3X, merely not every bit skilful as the Logitech G430.

Pros: Amazing sound quality from a sub-$100 headset, thumping bass, extremely comfy, squeamish and light, well designed inline control and flexible cable options.

Cons: Brusk mic causes vocalization to be muffled and quiet. Build quality is questionable with an all-plastic design and the orangish/cream model we have looks a bit tacky.

Kingston HyperX Cloud Ii

Price: $100

Those willing to spend a fiddling more than on a gaming headset may exist tempted past the Kingston HyperX Cloud Two'south brushed aluminum frame, emphasis stitching and overall impressive build quality.

The over-ear cups are similar to those institute on the Polk Striker P1 and they are just as comfortable, though we do prefer the look and design of the HyperX Cloud Ii. It'south probably the well-nigh professional looking headset in this roundup. Fortunately, it also has the sound quality to back it upwardly.

Kingston has included a spare pair of ear cups which differ from the leatherette cups that come pre-installed. The alternate gear up has a soft microfiber-like textile (possibly velour) and are padded with a firmer cream.

Included are a pair of 53mm drivers and when using the USB control box they support virtual 7.1 surround audio. These drivers offer a frequency response of 15Hz-25KHz. There's 60ohms of impedance and the sensitivity rings in at 98dB SPL/mW. On paper, this is the almost capable headset in our roundup.

The ear cups have been synthetic from plastic, though they have been given a nice rubberized cease along with a brushed aluminum insert that looks great.

Connecting the ear cups to the headband are brushed aluminum arms which are durable and stylish. The headband itself is padded with retentiveness foam and wrapped in leatherette with attractive accent stitching.

At this point you won't have noticed the microphone and that is for a good reason... information technology isn't there yet. Kingston has gone with a detachable mic and we call up this is a vivid thought. As on the Logitech G430, the HyperX Deject II'southward microphone can be folded or in this instance bent away from the user when it's not needed.

However it can also be removed entirely and this is something we wished we could have washed with the G430. Another reward of the detachable mic is that Kingston has been able to make it rather long, certainly longer than the retractable versions that we accept seen. Additionally, the company included a lot of foam over the mic which helps to reduce/eliminate animate noises.

Under where the mic attaches to the headset you lot will find a overnice thick sleeved cablevision that is nearly 100cm long. If y'all aren't going to use the USB audio controller so this cablevision isn't actually long plenty to reach your PC without an extension, unless yous can plug it into your keyboard or something similar that.

The USB cable with control box does add about 200cm more than length which is ample to reach the figurer or a USB hub. The control box allows gamers to mute the mic or suit its book every bit well as adjust the headphone book and enable vii.1 audio. It also features a little prune on the back and so you can attach it to your wearing apparel.

Audio Quality: Getting the Kingston HyperX Cloud Two set upwards is very easy as it is simply a matter of plugging in the USB to an available port and and then connecting the headset via the jack to the USB controller. In one case the propriety drivers are installed you are skillful to go. The control box looks pretty absurd once powered on equally the HyperX logo and 7.1 push light up cherry-red.

When pressed, the 7.1 push enables the virtual 7.1-channel surround audio. It'due south only beingness produced past two drivers but uses audio processing to mix the left and right channels in a surround sound-like fashion. The outcome is absurd only it certainly isn't anything like real seven.1-channel surround sound and it didn't add together much more to the games we tried information technology with.

The control box itself is excellent, we just wish in that location was a way to go this level of functionality and yet utilise our sound menu rather than the USB sound, which keeps up with bass of the Polk Striker P1 but isn't as crisp or articulate at the higher frequencies. Still, Kingston has managed to provide good sound quality overall.

The microphone also works well. It'due south very sensitive merely that can be dialled downwardly hands plenty. Near importantly, voices come up through clearly.

Pros: The HyperX Cloud Two offers fantabulous sound quality and a elevation-notch mic that is both flexible and detachable while notwithstanding managing to be comfortable and look professional.

Cons: Kingston's headset isn't equally strong every bit Polk'due south when listening to music because it can't handle higher frequencies quite as well.