Roccat Kave ROC-14-500 Real 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset W/ Tip "N" Control Desktop Remote

Comment:
I've only need using these for a couple of days. If any opinions change, I'll edit this review.I researched many TRUE 5.1 headsets. It came down to the Tritton PC510s, and these. Obviously, I chose these. Reviews are a little hard to come by, but the German Amazon.com had scads - so I read those - (well, translated).The most often complain ti rad was that the centre headband pad dug into your skull after a couple hours. I just finished a 5-hour session on BF3 and a movie, and i have no sore spots whatsoever - just a bit of clamminess where the earpads contacted my bare skin. They're a little heavy, but not too bad. They certainly sit snuggle and securely. I have a big fat head, too, and have the size markers se tat '8'.I asked my clan members on Teamspeak and they said my voice was clear and clean, and loud enough (mic input is at 80%, as I'm a mumbler) The mic mute indicator LED is a very nice touch. Mic Boom is removable and very flexible, and stays where you put it.I've never used other 5.1 headsets, so I cannot compare the positional audio. But it's good, as it's easy enough to tell when a guy is behind me. I also use 5.1 speakers which obviously give slightly better position, but this headeset still does a great job. I keep the rears a little louder.The control pod thing is excellent. heavy enough to stay put with the little rubber strips at the bottom. Not too large, and not too small. Volume wheel gives tactile and audible "click", and turn continuously. Huge, easy to slap mute button is great. Separate volume for Centre/Front/Rear/Sub is nice, and the sliders don't feel cheap, and are not to loose, or too stiff. They have the same grippy rubber that is on the volume ring.Bass is a bit lacking, but fiddling with my audio card fixed that right quick. The vibration works really well and it does seem like actual audio. And the earcups are spacious, and resemble drums. If you tap the outside, they make a nice deep sound, like a bass drum. This also allows for lots of earspace.No drivers required whatsoever. Just plug it in and go. Plug ends are long enough from splitter than i can plug the audio jacks in at the very bottom of my large case, and still plug the USB into the furthest port.No real complaints. Love 'em. Though with the good external noise cancelation, I'm not sure how loud i am talking..The Movie/Game switch barely makes a difference.. the Movie settigns makes dialogue a little clearer, though not louder.Oh. Not the fault of the headset, but since i also use a 5.1 headset that uses the same audio jacks, I will have to gets 3 male-to-female 3.5mm extensions so I don't have to go to the rear of my PC to change it over. But after using them for a while, I'm not sure how much I'll use my speakers.

Comment:
Bought these to replace my Tritton AX Pro's that I've had for a couple yrs. great headphones but these Roccat's blow them away in just about every way, better definition, more bass, crystal clear, using a Creative Labs xi-fi sound card all I can say is WoW! worth every cent!

Comment:
Bought these to replace an old, cheap headset. Works very well and quite happy with the purchase. Bass is a little on the weaker side and the front channel was a bit over bearing but after some tweaks on my sound card equilizer and the built in eq on the remote, all is well. Haven't had much experience with the mic yet, but it does work from the little bit that I've used it. I would definitely recommend this for someone on a budget that doesn't want to dish out $200 for a pair of sennheisers, etc.

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I ordered these from the UK before they were available through Canadian retailers. Would've bought them here if I could. Very high quality. If you're a gamer, you won't be disappointed.

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Bass tones slightly too quiet but clearly there beyond the range of both a corsair HS1 and Logitech G35. Full range 40mm drivers produce more then ample sound even when just listening to stereo input. For a gaming headset the sound quality for music and movies is good. For games this headset is amazing, producing a clearly defined sound field and amazing sound quality. This is by far the best true surround headset that I have ever used leaving both turtle beach(good sound field but lacks sound quality) and tritton(worst headset ever) in the dust.

Comment:
after a day of listening. music and HD video.gives very good feeling listening.Roccat Kave ROC-14-500 Real 5.1

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I bought these thinking I would get the best true surround sound, I was wrong. Turns out only stereo headsets give you better positional audio, using virtualization effects in most games and movies. 5.1 speakers are too close, that's why you can't really tell where the sound is coming from.Also, the bass and realistic vibration effect only works with high end Sound Blaster cards because you need the Bass Management option ticked, while other soundcards don't have such feature.

Comment:
I bought these with never using a Roccat product before and I am not disappointed. They are constructed well and work as advertised