GamingAudio
Latest
Skullcandy takes another shot at gaming headsets, quietly reveals SLYR, PLYR 2 and PLYR 1
Giving you the option to Edit your own Aviator headphones isn't the only news the fashionable folks at Skullcandy had up their sleeve for the end of 2012; with a bit of help from Astro Gaming (a recently acquired asset), it's also taking another stab at gaming headsets. The company's touting three new models: SLYR, PLYR 1 and PLYR 2, all of which were quietly detailed on its site within the last week. While Astro caters its full-on gaming audio systems (A30, A40 and A50) above the $200 mark, these Skullcandy-branded headsets essentially bring the ethos of those models to more wallet-friendly prices point of $80 to $180 -- not to mention in closer competition with the likes of Turtle Beach and Tritton. Most notably, Astro was quick to highlight to us that Skullcandy's new batch of gaming-focused earblasters have been created from the ground-up, unlike its past models which were just tweaks to its existing -- and less than well-received -- headsets. Curious for the initial details on these latest gaming audio aids? Lucky for you, we've got it all listed just past the break.
Corsair SP2500 review
Corsair is sending out another raiding party into gaming audio waters today with the introduction of its very first set of speakers, the SP2500. Priced at $249 and boasting 232 watts of floor-shaking power, this jumbo 2.1 package is an unabashed play for PC gamers' hearts. We've spent some quality time with the SP2500s hooked up to our own desktop and can tell you that the company's boasts about these speakers' full volume range being usable is no lie. They're basically designed to be loud ... really, really loud. Check out the gallery to see just how massive they are and hop, skip, jump, or leap past the break for our fuller impressions. Spoiler: we'll be discussing loudness a lot. Additionally, lest your wallet's not padded enough or your aural needs not quite so extreme, today sees the debut of Corsair's more modest SP2200 2.1 set for $99 alongside the introduction of an HS1A gaming headset, the latter being an almost carbon copy of the well received HS1 from last year, save for the replacement of the USB connector with a more conventional analog one. %Gallery-112261%
Corsair's ear-straddling HS1 headset earns high marks in early reviews
You had to know that Corsair wouldn't stride into a new product category with just so-so hardware. Its new HS1 gaming headset has been sent out to a couple of UK reviewers and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Both Hexus and Bit-tech praised the circumaural (made to fit around, rather than on top of, your ears) design for its weight distribution and memory foam-assisted comfort, while also giving the thumbs up to sound quality. Bass reproduction is said to be somewhat weaker than desirable, but the bundled software gives you plenty of adjustment options. It's a shame that you'll have to install the drivers in order to avoid the in-line remote control blinking madly at you, and it's also not too awesome that you won't be able to use the mic on a Mac, but so long as these vices don't bother you unduly, you should find the $99 investment in an HS1 set more than worth it. Hit the links below for more detailed impressions.
Corsair sails into gaming headset waters with noise-isolating HS1 cans
For some people, the association of Corsair and quality PC components is so strong that they'd buy anything that bears the triple sail logo. It makes perfect sense, therefore, for the company that made its name by producing memory sticks to diversify its portfolio even further, this time into gaming headsets, with the introduction of the HS1. It's a USB headset offering multichannel audio via 50mm drivers, a noise-isolating closed design, noise-cancelling and articulating mic, and inline volume and microphone mute controls. Aside from the larger than usual drivers, we're not seeing anything particularly unique here, but that ethereal element of quality is rarely apparent on black and white fact sheets. Availability is said to be immediate, though our quick pricing investigation threw up only a UK pre-order for £84 ($129). So yeah, Corsair's certainly pricing the HS1 as a premium product. [Thanks, Mark S.]
