Sony Wireless Stereo Headset Review

Entering the wonderful world of video game journalism means I have to play even more video games than I originally did, which is quite a bit. However, I’m also engaged and, while my fiancee is great, she gets sick of video game noise after awhile. While muting the TV is one option, it does hurt the over all experience of the game when I can’t hear the music and voice acting. So in the pursuit of a way to save both my job and my upcoming marriage, I looked into a pair of heavy duty headphones so I could listen to the game through them. Unfortunately, those are pretty expensive, ranging from 150 to 250 dollars, which is a little out of my price range. I thought I was SOL — that is, until I heard that Sony released a new pair of wireless headphones for the PS3.

Let’s get basic info out of the way first: The headset retails for $99.99, maybe even less if you shop around. While this is not a Bluetooth headset, it still works wirelessly. Just plug the USB adapter into the PS3, power on the headset, and you’ll be good to go. Though this headset was built with the PS3 in mind, it can function on other devices as well (such as laptops).

After setting everything up, I started up a movie. For a second I thought that the sound was still coming from the TV; imagine my surprise when the sound vanished when I took off the headphones. The headset has a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature, and the resulting sound is immaculate. There is no loss of quality, and it sounds just as good as when I listen to my TV normally. In fact, it might even be better since the sound is right there on my ear. On top of that, it blocks out sound very nicely, as people around me couldn’t hear anything.

The headset has a retractable mic on its front, which does its job nicely. It has a sliding volume control to adjust the sound coming in. Also, if you’re using the chat feature, there’s a sliding dial for adjusting the voice to sound ratio.  Battery life is excellent on these, lasting several sessions with no problem. It also displays information on the PS3 as you use it, such as the amount of battery left in it, if the surround sound is on, and if the mic is off. The headset is also very comfortable. The speakers are nicely cushioned, as is the headband that connects them. The headset can be adjusted to any size head, resulting in a good fit. After a few minutes, I couldn’t tell the headphones were there anymore.

The headset does have some drawbacks. The headband is thin, and could be easily broken with some pressure. The same could be said be said of the speakers, which are connected via swivel connectors. If it’s late at night and you step on it while walking to the bathroom, there’s a good chance it’s broken. Also, if you’re expecting a premium  pair of headphones with a lot of features, that’s not the case here. The product can only increase and decrease the sound. If you’re expecting to be able to mess with the bass, treble, or anything like that; its best to look towards another wireless headset.

I really like this headset. Its does everything it says, and has made my life as a gamer a lot simpler. In terms of a premium headset, there are sets with more features out there. However, if all you’re looking for is is a nice headset to be able to play your games without disturbing those around you, this is a great headset at a great price.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Readers Comments (1)

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