Sony describes it's new-ish Wireless Stereo Headset as "The Ultimate Audio Advantage". Does the product live up to this bold claim or does it belong in a neglected corner to gather dust with those terribly uncomfortable iPhone ear-buds?
Upon opening the box and removing the headset you will immediately notice that the headset seems a bit flimsy. Time will tell how well they hold up, however, after a month of solid usage it appears that they might be more sturdy than they seem. The ear cushions (which are not replaceable) and housings seem to be assembled well. It's the extendable microphone boom that seems to be the weakest part of the apparatus. When contracted it feels fine enough, but when it's fully extended it is at its weakest. This is understandable but still undesirable.
For a modest $99.99 you will get: the headset, a manual, and a usb transmitter that will allow your headset to communicate with your PS3. This unit does not use Blutooth. It is interesting to note that there is not a usb charging cable included in the box. This shouldn't be a problem, though, since you need one to charge your controllers with so you should have at least one lying around somewhere.
Traditionally it can be a pain to set up a microphone with the PS3. but this has changed with the introduction of this headset. Simply plug-in the transmitter, power-on, and away you go. The power button (which also serves as the mute microphone button) is the shield over the left-side earpiece. Simply hold the button down to power-on and a quick press of said button will mute or enable your microphone. The volume slider is located on the same side but on the back. Although you cannot see it while you adjust it, the on-screen display will alert you accordingly and it is fairly easy to use. There is also a slider which will control your game volume to voice ratio. All-in-all the controls are quite easy to manipulate and it's plug-and-play nature will certainly appeal to those looking to get playing quickly and painlessly.
Your brand new gaming headset won't be going camping with you, so comfort is probably more important than durability. Living in a tiny apartment in South Korea, I wear these bad boys every time I start up my PS3. That being said, this is the most comfortable headset I've ever worn. The headset will adjust to fit most every head and the controls are in easy to reach locations. The comfortable cushions provide plenty of, well... cushion for your ears while allowing them to breathe.
One of the certainly more nifty features of this headset would have to be the onscreen display. With one click of the power button it mutes (or enables) the microphone while also summoning a display box that will tell you the volume, whether or not your microphone is muted, whether or not you are using the virtual surround, and your remaining battery. This feature is really nice but brings me to my biggest complaint about this product: the battery life has not been very impressive. If they are fully charged when I start playing, on the lowest volume setting, the microphone off, and the virtual surround enabled, the battery will need to be re-charged after about five hours of usage. Perhaps this is my set alone, but it just seems like the battery should last a bit longer. While the headset is charging you are able to continue using it with only the added discomfort of your usb charge cable sticking out of the back left side. Depending upon how far your system is from where you sit, this could be a problem. Just remember that if you are playing on a system with only two usb slots that you will still be required to keep the usb transmitter plugged-in.
Are they "The Ultimate Audio Advantage"? Maybe ultimate isn't the best word but they certainly sound better than what you may currently be playing with. If you have a dedicated home theater will you be amazed? In short: no. They will, however, blow away any earbuds or headphones that you may be gaming with now. Before these, I was using an older but decent pair of Sony earbuds. Now, I'm hearing things that I didn't before. As for TurtleBeach, some will argue that these pale in comparison. What can be said on the matter is that for the same features (lacking the on screen display) you will be paying at least fifty more dollars easily.
Overall, this headset is a success. It might have a flimsy microphone boom and it might not be "The Ultimate Audio Advantage", but what they do provide is an easy, affordable, and good-sounding alternative to a more professional gaming headset. If you are in the market for a headset in the near future, don't pass these without giving them at least a little consideration.
(Photo of packaging from Lelong, photo of headset from Slash Gear, and usb transmitter photo from Playstation.)
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