What's In the Box

Gaming Headset (1.8m Cable)
Removable Microphone
Documentation

Specifications

Headphones

Headphone Drivers: 40mm
Frequency Response: 5Hz - 30kHz
Impedance: 32-ohms

Microphone

Polar Pattern: Cardioid (Uni-directional)

Performance / Features

The construction of this headset is mainly plastic, while maintaining a sturdy feel. The headphones rotate a minimal amount to ensure that the headphones fit whatever head shape you have. The padding on the ear cups is very soft, but it is not breathable which leads to your ears getting hot after a little while of use, the padding on the headband is not soft, and is uncomfortable, and overall the headphones are just a bit too tight which also counts against this headset's comfortability.

The braided cable is 1.8m long and in the middle of the cord you will find a limited control panel which allows you to mute your microphone as well as turn up or down the headphones volume. The cable terminates into a USB and 3.5mm plug. It needs to be noted that you CAN NOT use both at the same time; you either get a USB headset or a 3.5mm headset.

Out of the box, the headphones are a bit too bass heavy and lack a lot of the presence and shine in the high end. If you are on a Windows machine, this is easily fixable with the Lenovo Y software which allows you to enter a custom EQ, or select a preset EQ.

The microphone did decent at background noise rejections, but that's about the only thing good it did. The audio quality is unnatural sounding and shrill, and it was even difficult to listen to while editing the review. The USB connection also introduces a slight digital clicking noise that is not extremely loud, but it still hinders the microphones quality. Lastly, this thing doesn't come with a pop filter or windscreen so it picks up every breath and every plosive which degrades the audio even further.

Pros

Surround Sound
Braided Cable
Customizable EQ
Decent build quality

Cons

Microphone sounds like a typical gaming headset
High line noise on the microphone
No pop filter / windscreen on the headset
Headset uncomfortable

Conclusion

My recommendation for this headset comes with a few caveats. First, if you are interested in buying this headset, wait for the price to drop. $85 is a bit much for a wired gaming headset when the gaming headset market is chock full of cheaper alternatives. Secondly, you have to be okay with crappy microphone quality; you cannot want to record podcasts or voice overs with this thing. Third, you need windows to run the lenovo software, and without the software, the headphones are nothing I would recommend.

If you find these on sale, and you are okay with the second two caveats, then I think this headset will work well for you if you are only planning on using them for short gaming sessions.

If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP.

Buy it on Amazon
US: http://amzn.to/2ilGhZ0
UK: NA

Performance / Features

The build quality of this headset is outstanding. It is a nice strong aluminum build which ensures that the headphones are not too heavy, and at the same time allows for flexibility. I do also have to say that they are some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. The microphone is a study build, so I'm not worried about it breaking, and the braided cable will ease your mind that the cable won't tear easily. The control panel has a microphone mute switch, headphone volume control, microphone volume control, and a 7.1 surround sound activator. Basically everything on this headset is built really well.

he headphones have 53mm drivers and they sound superb. They have a frequency response of 15Hz to 25kHz. When I tested them, in the low end, I started to hear sound around 15-20Hz and in the high end, I didn't hear frequencies until 17kHz, but that could be due to one too many shows without hearing protection. This is the best sounding gaming headset I have tested to date.

The microphone has a cardioid polar pattern and a frequency response of 50Hz - 18kHz. It does well at eliminating background noise, but it sounds very hollow and like it's missing a lot of frequencies.

Conclusion

The headphones are great, but once you get to the microphone you lose some audio fidelity. I would recommend these headphones, but only to a gamer. That is who they were designed for, and that is really where they will excel. The mic eliminates background noise (i.e. Keyboard & Mouse) and just picks up your voice, and the headphones sound excellent. I am also assuming that the virtual 7.1 surround sound will provide some sort of situation awareness benefit in gaming.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP.