A headset made of mesh rather than leatherette has other benefits besides comfort. It can save you money when you buy a gaming headset for a friend or family member during the Black Friday sales. Plus, after switching to a cheaper headset, I have had to rethink all the other aspects of a headset that I absolutely need: sound quality, comfort, and connectivity for the price.
Why spend $300 on a headset with features you don’t need when you can get a better product for less? Here’s what I found out after using a cheap headset.
First, it’s a big misconception that you won’t find materials that are considered more premium in cheaper models (and by “cheaper” I mean anything in the $150 range, not $200-$300 premium range). Headsets like the Corsair HS80 Max, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, and Logitech G Pro X all cost between $150 and $200 and have metal headbands that are very break-resistant.
The fact that they use plastic ear cups instead of full metal ones (another feature of cheaper products) is also a good thing, because they are lighter. You can wear them for much longer periods of time without feeling any uncomfortable pressure on your head compared to metal ear cups.
The Corsair HS80 Max, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, and Logitech G Pro X all offer relatively affordable prices without compromising on comfort. Deep memory foam cushions provide a comfortable fit, and the sliding headband and rotating cups fit snugly over your ears and move like the Pro models to relieve pressure on your head.
As for connectivity, most headsets support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth or wired connections, just like premium headsets, and some support both. Cross-platform connectivity, which used to be a big expense, is now standard. In fact, on PCWorld’s list of the best gaming headsets, there were at least three models in my price range that could connect to up to five different platforms.
It’s hard to find a headset that perfectly embodies all the gamer-specific features I want, but there are a few that come close. The $99 Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 packs in a lot of the features you’d expect to see on a headset costing $200 or more, like a flip-up mute mic, a remappable chat/mixer wheel, and a mode button.
The most important thing about headsets is the sound quality. All premium headsets claim to perform better than their cheaper counterparts, but in my experience, this isn’t always the case. Many high-end headsets include too many smart technologies that can compromise audio fidelity. Features like noise-cancelling algorithms and adaptive sound can sometimes be distracting. However, budget headsets are warm, clear, and well-tuned for gaming. I can vouch for the audio fidelity of the aforementioned products, having used them all.
Next time you buy a headset, why not consider something mid-range or higher rather than premium? You’ll be more than happy with your choice.
editor@itworld.co.kr
Source: www.itworld.co.kr
