Typically, I would consider buying something as expensive as the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro an optional and very luxurious purchase that is in no way required to enjoy gaming on a casual level.

However, this is not your typical console generation, as I stare into the abyss of a graveyard full of Sony’s official DualSense controllers that are as about as reliable as a crocheted condom.

I guess it’s no real surprise that the DualSense performs so poorly. Sony’s patents monopolize the vibration and haptic trigger features on the PS5, forcing third-party developers to forgo support for one of the controller’s biggest selling points, and a feature expected as standard since the DualShock’s release in 1998.

So when the basic DualSense fails you, and it will, but you still want the very latest gaming controller technology, the only remaining option is the $200 DualSense Edge. I’m not even going to link to it, out of principle.

Call me crazy, but my willingness to invest $200 into a product manufactured by the same company that has failed to maintain any level of quality across a $60 product, sit’s at just above the no chance in hell level.

Why have I spent the last few minutes sharing my disdain for the PlayStation 5’s official controller? Because products like the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro are typically just optional, a nice custom touch to add to a collection. An ideal console companion. A high quality product aimed at a niche corner of the market.

However, from my experience at least, a third-party controller is not something I consider optional, it’s a must-have. If you’re going to go down that rabbit hole, backing Nacon is a solid play.

Not only have they been producing high-quality gaming peripherals for years, they published the likes of the fantastic RoboCop: Rogue City.

Beautiful, Right Out Of The Box

The Nacon 5 Pro wastes little time impressing, with its matte black finish standing out right from the box. A compact but sturdy carry case holds a bevy of accessories and knick-knacks, and an impressively lengthy and durable braided USB-C cable, which offers double the length of the basic PS5 alternative.

Reminds me of that first day of disappointment. Booting up my PlayStation 5 for the first time and realizing the cable wouldn’t reach the bloody couch…

It does lack an instruction manual, which is surprising considering the complexities of mechanical setup, but the physical customization options are straight forward and easy to figure out. Online instructions are readily available for the more intricate aspects of customization.

It features adjustable weights that can be quickly and easily socketed under panels on the rear of the controller, and a collection of switches, buttons, and gizmos offer further customization options to the d-pad and thumbsticks.

Despite offering 60 unique customization options, both physical and mechanical, the weight distribution stands out as my favorite aspect of the controller. The added weight sits the controller perfectly in the palm of my hands and just makes the traditional PS5 controller feel cheap and flimsy in comparison.

Both shoulder buttons, L2 & R2, can be adjusted on the fly, allowing for faster and better performance in games like Call of Duty, drastically reducing the time between pressing the button and actually firing a shot.

Each can be adjusted singularly, and I actually found that to be preferable. Using my ADS button as a full press while the trigger rested on the faster function.

One of the more intriguing physical changes utilizes small metallic rings that are placed underneath the left and right analog sticks. These minimize the space between the central area of the thumbstick and the outer rim, allowing for faster run and gun style gameplay, constantly switching directions and perspectives.

I struggled to find any great benefit to using these, but it’s just another weapon in an already impressive arsenal. I felt similarly toward the customizable thumbstick covers and d-pad options because the default worked perfectly fine, but that’s the beauty of this controller: the options.

Likewise, I do have to report that although I absolutely love the base physical customization options of the Nacon 5 Pro, I would not have been able to use it without connecting it to my PC and altering the setup mechanically.

This was due to two rear pedal buttons that sit perfectly aligned with where my ring finger and little finger would rest. I was constantly hitting the pedals by accident, either through minor repositioning of the pad during gameplay or as the weight shifted in my hands between different button presses.

Switching to the lighter weights did alleviate much of this issue, but when the choice was between additional buttons or a more natural feeling controller, I disabled the buttons very quickly. Which was simple and fast, thanks to a gorgeous UI and easily accessible software.

The Magic Is In The Software

The real magic of the Nacon 5 Pro is the customization suite available through the free to download software. While the base controller and its physical customization options represent the ultimate, if somewhat expensive, controller for the more dedicated casual gamer, the software represents the peak of professional and competitive play.

Every single button can be mapped and remapped, sticks can be inverted through the controller itself, the deadzone of each stick can be tweaked and optimized individually, making for the perfect- if somewhat unfair – ultimately straight golf swing.

The left and right trigger travel distance can be customized further in the software, lighting effects can be changed, added, and removed. Mess around to your hearts content and then throw it through its paces in the Test Area.

Each of these settings can then be saved to a profile that you can switch between freely, offering optimized setups across multiple genres of games.

This is largely where the real value of the Nacon 5 Pro comes into play. The fine-tuning options available truly offer the possibility of gaining a competitive edge, but it does come at a steep price.

Is It Worth $200?

That’s the ultimate question here, right? $200 is a lot of money. As you probably guessed from my introduction in this review, I’m slightly jaded with Sony’s PlayStation products of this generation. Not only have I had to replace my controller half a dozen times, I’m not even using the same PlayStation 5 I purchased at launch.

With that in mind, I would recommend anyone that plans to play for more than 5-10 hours a week to invest in a more reliable, higher quality controller, and the Nacon 5 Revolution Pro Wireless is a near flawless choice.

It’s clearly catered towards the more competitive gamer, with its impressive suite of customization options, and you don’t typically associate high-end products with the casual market. However, its durability and lifespan is likely to save most players cash in the long-run.

I have probably spent around $360 on replacing official DualSense controllers by this point. If I’d purchased the Nacon 5 Pro at $200 when I first started, I would have saved $180.

The only real dealbreaker is whether you can live without PlayStation 5’s official features, such as full vibration and haptic triggers, both of which appeal to me about as much as the Xbox Kinect.

If you’re suffering with stick drift and don’t want to throw more money at Sony, the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is the perfect, luxurious addition to your peripheral collection.

The post Nacon Revolution 5 Pro Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

LS10X Wired Gaming Headset Review

With about four weeks of use, I encountered no issues with the LucidSound LS10X. Playtime was done on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work on the Nintendo Switch as well. Note that it does not use a USB setup, so I wouldn’t recommend it for PC for that reason and because the cord is short (more than enough for a controller to a head). I rarely review headsets, so don’t expect the finer points of dynamic range or any other fancy audiophile terminology.

Since I run a video game website and a YouTube channel, I often have a headset on. On average, my sessions with the headset were about four hours, but I did a couple of days at roughly eight to ten hours for coverage. I never ran into any discomfort; no pinching, no headaches, no top-of-the-head indents, or anything like that. I also wear glasses and have had plenty of headsets that hurt my ears due to the pressure between my ears and the ear muffs. However, there were no issues whatsoever when it came to their comfort.

As for sound and mic quality, it was a step up from my last headset – at least according to my PSN party. They could hear more of me and less of the background, which is always a plus. I used to have issues with the balance between game and party chat with my last headset, but not here. It was nice to be able to hear my party’s call out and the enemy’s footsteps and abilities.

For multiplayer games, I used the LucidSound LS10X for Overwatch, Smite, and Apex Legends. Smite didn’t make much of a difference, since it was mostly muscle memory at this point. Although I haven’t played Overwatch in a year, the headset made me realize you are at a considerable disadvantage without decent headphones. Being able to hear abilities through walls and over arches makes a huge difference. Little rat McCree players not getting the drop on me anymore with “it’s high noon” was worth the price of admission alone. The same applies to Apex Legends; I was able to hear footsteps more clearly.

I typically don’t use headsets for single-player games, but I just had to try out The Witcher 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. In the case of the latter and its bangin’ soundtrack, the audio was crystal clear – even with all the chaos going on at any given time. Seriously, play with six people and see for yourself.

My experience with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim wasn’t so much the music, but its ambient background and directional audio. I played the game in first person, so hearing something run up behind you is a lot better than waiting to get hit in the back. The same obviously applies to Apex Legends, but I’m way more alert in a game like that. It also helped me find an NPC I doubt would have heard otherwise.

The mute button is up on the headphone itself, and you push in a button to turn it on. It is also where the branding is, which is attached via a magnet. That part can come off pretty easily (and has the potential to be lost), but the mute button works without it. The mic is also detachable, so be careful if you remove it; I can easily see someone losing that as well.

Currently on sale for $35, the LucidSound LS10X is an insanely good deal for a headset. Would I record my YouTube videos with it? No. That being said, this seems to be a good deal for gaming on consoles for anyone who doesn’t want to go wireless.

Posted Aug 6, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Posted Aug 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates - and who doesn't? - pick this one up.

Posted Aug 3, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Posted Jul 31, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

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Sennheiser GSP 370 Wireless Headset Review

Jumping straight into the meat of it, the audio quality of the Sennheiser GSP 370 is nearly unrivaled in the wireless space. For much of my time reviewing the product, I was running through Obsidian Entertainment’s excellent addition to the RPG space, The Outer Worlds, and it completely changed my experience. Switching from my regular headset, one that’s currently £100 more expensive than the 370s, was a world of difference.

I was hearing parts of the soundtrack I didn’t recognize, and the environmental audio bought the game to life. While The Outer Worlds doesn’t heavily rely on directional audio as it’s not a competitive game, I definitely noticed a better ability to pin point enemy directions and location.

Traditionally I tend to avoid the suction-style ear cups of the 370. Doing what we do here at Gamers Heroes, I’ve often got a headset attached to my head for 15 hours of the day, and that can get uncomfortable – and very sweaty with certain headsets. However, I had zero problems. It was comfortable, lightweight, and it done a great job of limiting ambient noise. Best of all, no ear sweat. That’s not just me, right?

The Sennheiser GSP 370 works on Windows PC, Mac, and the PlayStation 4. The Windows version comes complete with the Sennheiser Gaming Suite, offering complete control of the devices audio and microphone. You’re able to adjust any desired gain or noise gate elements of the microphone, while adjusting the audio to fit any activity or style, including 2.0 and 7.1 channels. The software is not supported on other platforms, but it does not lessen its performance in any way.

One of the more impressive boasts of the Sennheiser GSP 370 is the battery life, boasting up to 100 hours of wireless audio. I tested the device multiple times from a full charge and found it to last around the 85 hour mark, but that was with near constant use at high levels of volume. With a lower volume setting, easily adjusted by a dial on one of the ear cups, the battery can be pushed further. The range of the wireless was equally as impressive, working in every room at home.

If there’s one single aspect of the Sennheiser GSP 370 that was a little underwhelming, it was the quality of the microphone. Headset microphones are traditionally of a lesser quality than their free-standing counterparts and wireless usually further compounds this issue, but that’s not entirely the case with the Sennheiser GSP 370. My current setup is an Audio-Technica AT2020 (a studio quality Cardioid Condenser Microphone), and an ASTRO A40, both rather expensive bits of gear.

A headset setup will always struggle to compete with the AT2020, but when compared with the Astro A40’s, the difference is huge. The Astro’s microphone feels cheaper, flimsy, detached and attached by a single jack. It easily tops the Astro’s, which I bought at nearly double the price of the 370. So while I say it was underwhelming, the quality of the microphone will easily suit the needs of average gaming activities and is better than any of the headset microphones I’ve used in the past.

Sennheiser GSP 370 Features & Specs

• Adjustable, over-the-head headband


• Memory foam ear pads


• USB wireless dongle


• Ambient noise isolation


• Volume wheel on right ear set


• Noise cancelling microphone


• Microphone frequency response – 100-6,300 Hz


• Headset frequency response – 20-20,000 Hz


• Weight 285g

We’ve touched on some Sennheiser products in the past, most notably the PC 373D and the GSX 1000, both of which had a polished quality of the highest level. That same attention to detail, the crisp, clean, and sturdy finish, is present on the Sennheiser GSP 370. It’s an expensive headset, but its quality matches that price and the slick black design looks great.

Overall, the Sennheiser GSP 370 Wireless Gaming Headset is a fantastic addition to the audio library of any gamer. Sennheiser’s reputation for delivering top quality audio continues and with up to 100 hours of battery life, you won’t find a better quality wireless headset at this price.

The post Sennheiser GSP 370 Wireless Headset Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

I should probably mention that I’m a PlayStation guy, and I have been since the original release of the first PlayStation. That being said, I’m not affront to the wonders of Xbox either, having had an amazing time with the recently released absolutely badass Gears 5. However, my choice of console is based entirely on the game selection available, I’ve always felt more comfortable using the asymmetric design usually associated with Xbox.

So you can imagine my delight at receiving a product that worked both for my console of choice, and with my design of choice. Nacon’s Asymmetric PS4 Controller has some odd quirks and design choices, so let’s dive into it.

Nacon Asymmetric PS4 Controller Review

Straight out of the box, Nacon’s latest product features a sleek design and a high quality finish. It’s slightly heavier than Sony’s DualShock 4 controllers, and slightly lighter than the traditional Xbox One controller. A matte finish does cheapen the visual design slightly but that’s more a personal preference than a flaw. Playing around with the pad in my hands felt great; it doesn’t have that hollow, plastic feel that’s present with a lot of its competitors, and the buttons all fit perfectly in my natural resting posture.

Setting up Nacon’s Asymmetric PlayStation 4 controller is simple. You plug in the provided USB device into the PlayStation, sync it up with the controller, and you’re good to go. Wait, a USB stick? Here’s where we get to one of the more bizarre features .

The controller supports both wired and wireless play out of the box, but it requires a USB stick to work with the PlayStation 4. If you’re anything like me, USB real estate is a valuable commodity so this could definitely be a concern when purchasing the product. Initially, I was not a fan. I already have two charging docks plugged in to the front of my PlayStation 4, both docks supporting two controllers at a time, and I wasn’t overly eager on losing the ability to charge two controllers just to play with one.

However the dual functionality of the device quickly became one of its best selling points. As well as using the controller on the PlayStation 4, the process to linking it directly to your PC is much of the same. I had already purchased an Xbox One controller for my PC, but had I not, this would have been fantastic value. Having my preferred pad design, support for my main console, and as an option for the PC, at this retail price it’s a bargain.

Despite being an officially supported product that is licensed by Sony for use with the PlayStation 4, Nacon’s variation does suffer with, well, a lack of support with some standard features of the original DualShock. You are not able to turn off the controller using the PlayStation’s dashboard interface, and the on-screen battery indicator is not able to track the remaining power of the controller. Furthermore, the idle controller disable option of the PlayStation 4 does not appear to turn off the controller automatically, and the Nacon controller is not able to turn on the console remotely. I did reach out to Nacon to ensure this was not a product fault, I was told it was a design choice to help provide stable wireless audio without impacting the connection speeds, which makes sense.

There are a few features that help reduce the impact of its lack of integration with the user-interface. You can check the power of the controller via a button on the rear, and turning it off is as simple as holding the PS button for a few seconds, but it still feels like an odd oversight in the design.

Nacon Asymmetric Controller Specs

• Two Vibration Motors


• Battery Life: 7 hours


• Working Distance: 7 meters


• Battery Level Indicator


• Fully Functioning Touch Pad


• 3.5mm Headset Jack


• USB Bluetooth Receiver


• PC Compatible


• No Light Bar, Motion Sensor or Built-In Speaker

For me, Nacon has easily replaced my original DualShock 4 as my go-to for all things PlayStation 4, but for others, Nacon’s Asymmetric PlayStation 4 Controller could be a mixed bag. It’s a high-quality item with a great feel and durable design. I’ve tested the product vigorously for over 150 hours and no signs of wear or damage. Which is already performing better than my last official PlayStation 4 DualShock purchase. However, a lack of support with PlayStation’s minor quality-of-life features may limit its appeal. If you’re looking for an asymmetric alternative to a DualShock pad while also grabbing a solid PC controller, this is the perfect purchase, but if that niche combination of features doesn’t appeal, it’s probably best to stick with what you know.

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EWin Racing Calling Series Gaming Chair Review

Available in a flurry of colors, including blue, red, white black and orange, the Calling Series is a mid-range office chair targeting the gaming audience with its durability and high comfort levels. Unless you won the lottery or got lucky panning for gold, a nearly $260 investment in a chair may seem a little pricey. Despite this, it is not your ordinary chair.

Straight out of the box, EW Racing’s Calling Series feels very familiar to competitors products in the range. It’s packed in a single, large box, one that houses the base, the seat, and the backrest. All of the tools required are included, and it even comes with a few spare screws to boot. I think. Maybe. There’s a very good chance I missed some screws, but let’s go with the spares idea.

When it comes to putting things together…I don’t. I once tried to clean my PC, used the wrong plug when setting it back up, and blew the power supply. The last set of shelves I put up on the wall are sitting in pieces about five feet lower to the ground than what they were, saddened and lonely at the lack of attention, and the kids playhouse should be condemned. That being said, my experience with the EWin Racing Calling Series was a pleasurable one. Nay, it was an outright win!

I was able to put the chair together in about 15 minutes without any worries or injuries, much to the surprise of everyone else at home. Once assembled, it was perfectly sturdy and able to support the weight of both children spinning on it wildly. A word of advice: I’d set the chair up in the room you intend to put it in. That’s probably something the average person would do without thinking, but not me. It’s heavy. While that’s not a good thing when you’re lifting it up two flights of stairs, it really lends to the overall quality feel of the product.

Typically I tend to avoid direct comparisons when writing product reviews, but the similarities between the EWin Racing Calling Series and the Secret Lab Titan, that I reviewed a short time ago, are too obvious to ignore. Everything from the packaging to the setup, it’s all very similar. Both PC gaming chairs are constructed in a very similar manner, they are equally sturdy and stylish, but one sits at $399 and the other at $259, so which has more bang for your buck?

Comparing the two prices, it wouldn’t be unfair to consider the EWin Racing Calling Series the budget version of the two, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s incredibly comfortable, the adjustable lumbar support is much more flexible than than the Titan as it can be adjusted to any height level on your back, and the supporting cushion is just as useful. I did find the base of the seat to be a little on the thin side in terms of width, but that’s more a personal problem than a design problem. I’m still carrying some holiday weight, okay? So if you’re not having to shop for XXL t-shirts, you won’t have any problems.

The main difference of quality between the Titan and EWin’s Calling Series is the leather. The Titan’s feels better, breathes better and honestly, it looks better. However, if given the choice between the two chairs, EWin’s wins every time.

It’s far better value for money. The cheaper option of having an external lumbar support actually makes for a more versatile and user-friendly product, and it looks great. $259 for a chair is a lot of money but if cared for, the Calling Series gaming chair is sturdy enough to last you a lifetime.

My only serious complaint: None of these gaming chairs seem to come with brakes.

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Straight out of the box, the ViewSonic XG2402 really looks the part. A slick black design with a break of red on the support stand and two chevrons on the back gives it enough character to stand out, but not at the cost of sacrificing your complete slick-black setup. The high level of exterior polish as accompanied by a number of external features catered towards the gaming market. The XG2402 has a very versatile adjustable stand that allows for tilting and turning in practically every direction. It even supports a full portrait mode, which looked entirely alien among my other more mundane monitors, but is a neat feature nonetheless.

Outside of the typical ports you’d expect to find, the rear of the monitor features an optional cable tie attachment that you can add and remove at will. While it serves its purpose of hiding those ugly cables, the plastic does cheapen the overall feel of an otherwise very high quality feeling monitor. It’s hidden away at the back and once used you won’t need to fiddle with it again so it’s not a big problem. It just feels a step down from the rest of the aesthetics of the monitor.

There’s also a retractable headset stand at the rear top of the monitor, although you’d be forgiven if you totally missed it as I only discovered through reading the manual – which is something I seldom do. It’s not a feature I’d traditionally look for in a monitor but after having one, I’m not looking forward to returning to my old setup. It child-proofed the location of my Astro A40’s, which is nothing to scoff at.

If you’re looking for detailed technical specifications, the official website XG2402 page contains everything you need, but for those looking for a more simplistic approach, we’ve got your back. Outside of the slew of technical jargon 90% of people don’t actually understand, the XG2402 comes complete with a full HD 1920×1080 resolution. It also supports 144Hz refresh rate and a response time of 1ms, alongside Black Stablization and AMD FreeSync Technology. I’ve probably lost a few of you already, but stick with me.

As far as I was concerned, 60Hz was all I needed. My rig is easily capable of running games at 60 frames per second, so I never sought to improve in that area. And for the average game, that approach proves true. I initially explored the visual capabilities of the XG2402 in more relaxed and slower paced games, spending many hours diving into the never-ending streak of failures in Slay the Spire and dabbled in a little For the King, but the performance in these games was lackluster.

The contrast of colors felt lacking, with the lighter contrasts feeling a little grainy and the darker contrasts feeling a little foggy. These issues were somewhat alleviated after a short timem experimenting with its customization options and prefix color setup features, but it didn’t feel as sharp as my original setup. Certain colors lacked vibrancy in places and overall, the picture quality just wasn’t fantastic. It’s not bad by any definition of the word, but decent isn’t really what you want in a monitor that will set you back £250.

The on-screen display (OSD) options for the XG2402 is among the most comprehensive that I’ve seen. There’s a huge abundance of options that let you specifically customize everything from contrast to color temperature before saving them in custom load outs. The average user may feel a little overwhelmed with the multitude of options, many of which appear to be duplicated across the different features but for those wanting ultimate tweaking capabilities, it’s got just about everything you need.

However, stunning picture quality is not the primary forte of XG2402. Marketed towards those looking to get into competitive gaming the XG2420 boasts technical specifications aimed at giving you the edge in fast-paced FPS games were reaction speeds and performance are key to trumping the opposition. This is where the XG2420 really shines. If you’re only familiar with the 60Hz gaming of your average TN monitor, it’s a difficult difference to explain.

Running around in Battlefield felt like a very different experience. The movement was much smoother, the visual blur of navigation was all but gone, and the response time felt fluid and instant. If you’ve got the setup to support the 144Hz capabilities of the XG2402, the differences between that and a typical 60Hz will be instantly noticeable. If you’re rocking an AMD card, the AMD FreeSync promises to deliver a stutter- and tear-free experience with automatic syncing between your GPU and monitor.

While I found the strange contrasts of dark colors to be a little disappointing in non-FPS style games, its true intention became much clearer in a competitive setting. The monitors Black Stabilization feature, which I failed to truly explore at first, brings those darkened corners to life. As my age begins to betray my vision and reactions speeds I’m often found asking myself a single question after each death: “Where the f**k did that come from?” While there’s no monitor in the world that can bring my FPS skills to the level of even average players, certain features of the XG2402 definitely tried.

My current setup includes three bog standard monitors, and is nothing special. They support 60Hz at a HD resolution, and that’s about it. I will still resort to one of my original monitors for the average game or to browse the internet, but if I was jumping into an FPS game, the XG2402 would take my primary monitor slot in an instant.

In terms of price, it’s a little on the higher end with some cheaper options, such as the BenQ XL2411Z, boasting a similar level of performance, although the XG2402 doesn’t feel as cheap.

What the XG2402 lacks in picture quality and definition is easily overcome by the incredibly responsive performance in fast-paced gaming scenarios. It goes from an average monitor to a weapon of choice for anyone looking to take their competitive FPS gaming to the next level.

For pricing or to purchase an XG2402 check out Amazon (UK) and Amazon (US)

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Secret Lab TITAN Gaming Chair Review

I’ve been eyeing up a new chair for my office for some time now. Ye old faithful lasted me a good five years, but the permanent imprint of my butt, alongside bits of the leather covering that the kids had chewed on, really took away from the appeal. Being an excitable child trapped inside an adult body, I couldn’t simply pick up a $50 chair like a normal person. So, I decided to make the plunge. Although it was not an easy decision, the top tier products in this ever growing gaming chair niche often cost more than the console I’m playing on. Heck, some of them will buy you a decent enough PC. But after much deliberation, and more importantly approval from the better half, I decided to pick up a Secret Lab TITAN.

The Secret Lab lineup of gaming chairs offers various different products, catered towards the larger and smaller frames of the famously varied gaming audience. I opted to pick up the Secret Lab TITAN as the websites handy weight suggestion tool made it painfully obvious I’m a fat slob and didn’t have much alternative. There was also the small added bonus of the TEMPO/STORM blue and white version being my favorite color scheme and available at 20% off.

So I’d made my choice, paid the £349 (just under $500), and eagerly awaited the delivery. Unfortunately Secret Labs UK work with DPD as their distribution partner. Whether it be through Amazon or a third-party vendor somewhere, I’ve never had a DPD delivery go smoothly, so it was no surprise that the delivery was a little late. I wouldn’t fault Secret Lab for that, but with the TITAN arriving missing the majority of the important parts, that was on them. Missing the entire contents of the “toolkit” it was meant to come with, my epic new Secret Lab TITAN sat in a messy pile in the corner of my office for a few days.

Despite the initial hiccup, the customer service response tea, was fantastic. Quick to remedy the problem the team were apologetic and even sent me a complimentary leather cleaning kit, which will be a great substitute for the wet wipes I’d otherwise use.

Minor delivery and annoying missing parts dilemmas aside, how’s the chair?

For the DIY challenged, you’ll be happy to hear the chair is relatively straightforward to set up. It took me just under an hour, but that was after attaching pieces the wrong way round and using the wrong screws twice. This in full view of clear instructions, with colorful pictures and even a scan code to a video that I watched twice. There’s no level of idiot proofing that works when I’m putting together flat-pack furniture but I would imagine the vast majority of people will have no issues assembling the Secret Lab TITAN within 10-15 minutes.

It was safe to say that, by this point, I was expecting my backside to feel like I was sitting on a cloud after all the kerfuffle. However, I was not overly impressed at first butt contact. The TITAN felt tough, resistant to my shapely curves. And within a couple of hours, my back felt sore and stiff. The built in lumbar support felt exaggerated, the armrests out of place and the upright positioning of the chair just not quite right. That’s where the difference between a $50 chair and a $500 chair comes into play.

The lumbar support, a small pocket of cushion at the lower of your back to help improve posture, is entirely adjustable to the point where you can practically remove it. I’ve found myself increasing it slowly over time, which I cannot argue – has definitely improved my sitting posture. The arm rests are adjustable in 4D, meaning you can move and rotate them in almost any combination of directions you please. One setup works perfectly when I’m sitting to attention on my latest run of the fantastic Slay the Spire, while another works when I’m sitting back watching a movie. The same can be said for the backrest incline. I have no idea why you would need to lower in to practically a sleeping position.

While initially unimpressed, as time goes on I’m becoming more and more attached to the single most expensive piece of furniture in my household. The Secret Lab TITAN gaming chair is undoubtedly a quality experience, matching every claim boast by boast from the official product description. Whether or not it’s for you is down to the $420 price tag (if you purchase it from the US). If you’ve got the money, you won’t be disappointed. But I wouldn’t go selling your first born.

Now, please excuse my while I continue to play around with these stupidly versatile armrests.

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Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Headset Review

It is worth noting that the MMX 300 is not a USB headset. It comes with two different cords, both of which can be attached the headset. The first cord can plug into any PC, phone headphone port, or even the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller. The second cord might not be as useful to some people, as it comes with a much thicker jack that would be used on an amp, musical keyboard, or audio interface. You can buy a converter to turn that into a smaller jack, but it doesn’t come with one.

The sound quality from the headset is fantastic. The headset arrived right around the time I was playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance, so I decided to try that out first. I plugged it into my controller, and it automatically set up and was working instantly. Once I put the headset on my first thought was “there are birds in the background.” On top of that, the rain sounded like it was all around me and I could hear the townsfolk walking around me in various directions. The positional audio for this headset is on point.

You may think it primarily works for single-player games, but what about multiplayer games? That positional audio I was talking about is a huge benefit to any competitive game. Fortnite is the current hotness, but I still mainly play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. When you hear a gunshot zoom by you, almost instantly you have a general idea of where it came from. By the second shot, you know where they are. My favorite experience with these so far was when a team of two was camping above me, and I had no idea. Someone up there took a single step, and I heard the footstep above me. That’s all it took for me to know where they were hiding and for me to get a grenade up there for a double kill.

The other game I’ve been spending a bunch of time on is Warhammer: Vermintide 2, which is a co-op game with hordes of enemies consistently rushing the player. Being able to hear the footsteps or grunts of the enemies behind you is key to surviving the higher difficulties in that game and the MMX 300 works like a charm. There are a couple of particular enemies in the game that spawn in and make a sound to indicate you are being watched. When this happens, the sound surrounds you from all angles, increasing the immersion dramatically. On top of that, it helps you pinpoint where the enemy is lurking, so you can take them out.

Gamers are spending more and more time with headsets on their heads, so comfort is a priority for these things. I’d guess on busy days I’d spend 8-10 hours on the headset for work and play combined. The headset never got uncomfortable or hurt my ears. I wearglasses, so sometimes headsets start to pinch my ears after awhile. Sometimes you can look at a headset and just know it is cheaply made, but that is not the case with the MMX. It is high quality and feels very durable. The ear muffs cover your entire ear; well my whole ear, but I’m a big guy a 6’2. With that, this headset cancels out the outside world. As long as your fire alarm doesn’t go off, you should be fine.

So we know it works great for games but what about music? Bass? Check and then some. High-quality sound? Check. Able to pick up each instrument individually? Check and check. I was using some Sennheiser’s prior to this headset for music, but have since switched over. The bass power is substantial, but not overwhelming, which is a good thing in my opinion. The blast of a grenade or a red zone in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds already blows my ears off, so I do not need the added threat of bass ripping my eardrums to shreds.

Generally, with a headset, something has to suffer. The thing that usually suffers is the microphone. While it does not offer a studio level mic, it isn’t going to sound like fire crackers are going off when you speak either. You will come through clear and loud enough that people can hear you. There is a problem on the console with the headset and microphone though. When you plug it into the controller, you only get sound to your earmuffs, but the microphone does not work. On the second cord with the larger jack, you have a cord for the microphone, but not on the smaller jack side. You can’t plug in the large jack cord into your controllers, so it does hurt the headset for console players.

Some may find an issue with the cord length. The cord with the small jack is, well, small. My PC is about two feet from where I sit, and it is stretched to the limit when I use it there. The other major issue for people is the price. This is not a cheap headset, but the quality is entirely there.

The MMX 300 is a bit on the high-end price wise, but for what you get, it is well worth it.

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Sennheiser GSX 1000 Review

I suppose the first thing I should do is go over what the Sennheiser GSX 1000 Audio Amplifier actually is. It’s a little box that you plug into your PC or Mac that you hook a headset or speakers into. At the center of the box, you have a touchscreen with your options and a wheel that spins to control the volume directly. There are a ton of different things to mess with once you are plugged in, but we will get to that later. When you are plugged in, you get a more crisp, deeper sound then you would get by just plugging in your PC. It’s hard to put into words, but there is a noticeable difference in quality when using the GSX 1000. I spent a little over a month watching shows, movies, and of course playing tons of different games. It’s easy to set up, as you only need to plug it in and download the drivers to set things up. If you have any issues with anything, there is a detailed PDF on the website to help you out.

On the headset front I played some PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Darkest Dungeon, Total War: Warhammer, and The Long Journey Home. I tried it on Friday the 13th, but the GSX didn’t work. I do not put that on the hardware itself though, as Friday the 13th has a myriad of problems and I wasn’t the only one losing audio in game. While a headset is plugged in, you get the most options to mess around with. Much like their surround sound headsets, this has the options for improved music audio, improved eSports audio, improved story audio, or just improved audio in general. Music is pretty obvious; you can hear the instruments and it adds to the bass. eSports is for competitive games, and helps with direction audio such as footsteps and gunfire. Story audio is meant for more story driven games or the content found in movies and TV shows.

The other options give you more direct control of how you are hearing the sound. One of the big things is you can put on virtual surround sound, even without a surround sound headsets. Is it as good as real surround sound? No. Is it good? Yes. Comparing a natural 7.1 surround sound headset and this, you can definitely tell a difference, but it isn’t as massive as you’d think. When this option is on, you actually have additional control over how you hear things. You can select where the sound is coming from in your headset. All around, front, or back are the options available, and if you have a preference, this has you covered. The other option is meant mainly for games and changes how the sound from the environment works. From what I could tell, it helps on picking up lower key sounds in the games environments. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s a nice touch.

The other big option you can use this for is speakers. You don’t get as many options as you do with the headsets as you do with the speakers. I do want to mention that you can have both plugged in and switch between them quickly with just a touch of the touch screen. This can also give you virtual surround sound for your speakers if you want, but it isn’t nearly as impressive as the headset surround sound. Without it though it did add quality to my cheap Logitech speakers and added to my TV and movie watching experience. Here you can only really change the volume and pick from eSports, story, or music. Each one does make a difference, but this is clearly more meant more for headsets than speakers.

Something I didn’t really touch on that I want to is the touch screen itself. There were no problems with it but the ease of switching between configurations was great. You can save and load your configurations for when you turn your PC off as well. The whole thing was super easy to use and easy to get going. The one big downside to it is that you can’t plug in USB headsets, as there is no USB port. I know some people only have USB headsets, so this most likely won’t be a product for you. That is my only real complaint with the product though. I tested it with my normal iPhone headphones and my Astro A40 headset. Sennheiser sent a GSP 350 surround sound headset for us to test the difference in surround sounds also.

Overall I was quite impressed with the product. The price is a bit steep, but if you are looking to add some audio quality to you headset or speakers, the Sennheiser GSX 1000 is a good option.

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Sennheiser PC 373d Gaming Headset Review

I’ll just say that, for the record, I don’t have much experience with surround sound headsets. That being said, the Sennheiser PC 373d Gaming Headset has Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound build into it. When I got it, I was a little worried it would be too complicated to set up, but it wasn’t. You just have to plug it in, download the software, and you are good to go. The headset has a switch that turns the surround sound on and off and without the program, in case the surround sound doesn’t work. The program has four different options for sound: Game, eSport, Music, and Off. Game is obviously for when you are gaming, Music is for when you are listening to music, eSport which I wasn’t really sure about, and Off is just basic settings. It also has noise reduction settings and sidetone options.

As for the headset itself, it is made of heavy-duty flexible plastic. The headphones have padding on them to make them more comfortable, as does the top. You can pull the earphones down a enough to find a good spot for your head. I had a couple of eight hour gaming sessions with it on, and it didn’t get uncomfortable. As for the mic, the quality is pretty good. Everyone could understand me fine and it didn’t pick up my breathing or the birds outside. Only downside is there is no mute button on the headset itself, but that is only a minor complaint. There is, however, a volume knob on the headset so you can turn the sound up and down right from there.

This might be a common thing for a surround sound headset, but the way they do voice communication is smart. You have the option for surround sound, but you also have the option for sound coming through the earphones. This means when playing a game, you can hear the game with the surround sound on and hear your friends over voice normally. You can listen to them in surround sound if you want, but I didn’t really like that. The sound quality of the headset itself was great. Being as I mainly gamed with it, that is what we will mostly cover.

I will first say that in any competitive shooter, this will give you an edge. I recently started playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and the difference between my normal headset and this one was night and day. I could normally hear footsteps okay, or not at all during the rain, but with these I could hear footsteps much more clearly. Not only could I hear them well, but I could also tell which direction they were coming from. This is massively helpful when trying to call out which direction the enemies are for your team. Doors opening, footsteps, and even gunshots come through much more clearly on the surround sound headset. I also played Hollow Knight, The Final Station, and Darkest Dungeon with them. It didn’t give me a massive edge, as these were single player games, but they still sounded great.

Another option you will likely use in the program is Music. This headset does two things well: it helps you hear each instrument clearer (assuming you are interested in that type of thing), and it makes you feel like the sound is coming at you from different angles. While I was playing single player games, it helped with my immersion into the game’s music. While I was just listening to some music on Spotify, I was able to pick up instruments I hadn’t noticed before. Music is what you make of it, but they made a big difference to me. I will say the bass was a bit lackluster when I did a test, but that isn’t something I care much about.

To my surprise the headset did work on my PlayStation 4, but the surround sound did not. You can use it to communicate and hear voice chat if you really wanted to, but there are much cheaper options out there for that. That’s where the big rub comes in. These are currently priced at $209.99 on Amazon. I can honestly say that if you are a competitive gamer who wants to keep the edge, these are probably for you. If you are just a casual gamer or don’t play many multiplayer games, the price may be a bit to steep.

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