Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsOnly purchase to gift to someone you hate.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023
The headset itself doesn't have many pros, but the pros it does have are really good. The battery does seem to last roughly 40hrs, and the sound quality for a wireless headset is really good when it works. That's the problem is it has so many issues, a lot of which could have been avoided if whoever designed these thought about the user for half a second. They stopped at the speakers and battery and figured that's good enough.
I'll start with the software, why is there a PC app that's one and only job is to update the headsets firmware. Why do I have to use my phone and connect it to the headset to adjust settings the one or two settings you gave us? Why does the app when asking me if I'm having trouble crash when I click the yes I'm having trouble button? Why is there zero option to stop the audio muting whenever a setting is changed, volume is maxed out, or device is connected? Why not give us the ability to control the sleep on the headset? If they cared about the user there'd be a pc/mobile app with basic features you'd want like those. As a pc only user I'd like to see a pc app as an option, especially when the mobile app doesn't keep the saved settings applied half the time. Also how much does an accurate battery indicator cost? They give away phones with better battery reading than this headset. The best they can give you is estimates at 25% intervals.
Onto actual hardware, I hope you like unplugging and repluggung usb devices in because the dongle loves to turn off until I unplug it and plug it back in. Turn your pc off? You'll probably have to replug it in. Headset turn off and the dongle lost signal? 50% of the time you'll have to replug it in. The range is also pretty weak, 10ft would have some audio stutter, one wall is also the limit as it'll start stuttering and cutting out. The headset has two volume wheels, one that's dedicated to the dongle and another that's reprogramable, great in concept but using it for Bluetooth audio control is worthless as it's super fragile and has zero tactile to it so easy to bump and blow your ears out. Would much rather see it used as a mixer for the dongle/Bluetooth volume with tactile bumps. It's primarily plastic so I'm unsure of how durable it is, the inner band is atleast metal and the buttons feel really cheap but make a loud clear tactile click when being pressed. Takes a few hrs to fully charge and lasts 35ish hrs. One other big gripe I have is the volume button has zero effect on windows and windows volume has zero effect on the headset unless windows is set to 0 than it mutes the headset. I don't see why the volumes can't be controlled together. Makes volume wheels on keyboards useless.
I'd only recommend the headset if you can get it on sale, and don't care about user experience past being wireless and having decent audio/battery. I haven't used many wireless headsets, the audeze penrose, corsair void, and corsair virtuoso but out of all of these the penrose and these are a strong tie. The pentose sound a touch better but the battery is horrible and these sound nearly as good but last way longer. The virtuosos as much as I dislike corsairs software has way more user comforts and better support compared to these while still sounding alright after a little EQ.
After even more time with it I'm ready to smash it with a hammer and use absolutely anything else. Nearly every time I turn the headset on I have to unplug the stupid USB dongle and plug it in again for it to connect to my pc. They don't update their broken garbage app you need to use or else your forced with a mic that's always on even in the up position. They will take your money and leave you with a half baked product. Shocking how little turtle beach cares about its customers.