As my quest for a snug pair of headphones continues, right now I’m taking a look at considered one of Turtle Beach’s entry-level headsets, the Recon 150. Available for just £40, the Recon 150 is about as easy as gaming headsets come. Unburdened by fancy encompass sound options or energetic noise-cancelling know-how, that is very a lot a plug in and play form of headset that doesn’t require any extra setup, driver downloads or any of that different annoying faff that comes with shopping for additional up the headphone meals chain. Indeed, its common outdated three.5mm jack connection means it’s simply nearly as good a match for PC gaming as it’s for consoles, giving it a welcome little bit of flexibility after Sennheiser’s quite fussy work round on its extra upmarket GSP 350.
There’s nothing incorrect with wanting a bit extra out of your headphones, in fact, however if you happen to’re seeking to preserve prices down or are merely after one thing easy for the children, the Recon 150 is a superb place to start out.
Admittedly, I used to be sceptical about how comfy it could be after I first put it on, as the froth padding around the fake leather-based headband isn’t practically as plush or cushioned as different headsets I’ve used prior to now – the GSP 350 included. There’s just a little little bit of give while you give it a squeeze, however in any other case it’s fairly stable to the contact. To my shock, nevertheless, it was truly so much much less irritating than the GSP 350, and I received on with it so much higher. There was nonetheless a noticeable weight on the highest of my cranium after some time, however not less than this pair didn’t give me a lingering headache within the course of – an admirable feat given its massive, chunky body.
It might not be probably the most elegant or delicate pair of headphones ever made, however these massive 50mm ear cups are value the additional girth. It’s a disgrace Turtle Beach didn’t use the identical leatherette wrapping right here, as its plain black material covers don’t really feel practically as luxurious in your jawline as Sennheiser’s GSP 350. Still, after they present loads of room to your ears and sit snuggly in your face, what does that actually matter? I actually didn’t mourn the selection of fabric as soon as I’d put them on, and I virtually forgot they had been there after I began gaming.
The Recon 150’s closed-back design additionally did an excellent job of blocking out normal background noise – I wrote a part of this assessment on a practice, and the monotonous chug of the carriage barely registered with me, permitting me to concentrate on my music and benefit from the candy ivory tinklings of Final Fantasy XV’s Piano Collection way more than my trusty SoundMagic E80 earbuds.
And that’s the wonderful thing about the Recon 150. Unlike Sennheiser’s GSP 350, this can be a pair of headphones you should use for each video games and normal music listening with out feeling such as you’re making some form of compromise. Whether you’re in the midst of a heated Doom battle or listening to your favorite rock track, the bass has loads of presence with out feeling like one lengthy, echoing increase within the background, and the choral Latin warblings of Final Fantasy XV’s soundtrack correct had been nonetheless completely clear and audible above the remainder of its busy orchestral rating. Deeper piano notes had been maybe a bit plodding and missing in nuance at occasions, like somebody hadn’t fairly let go of the damper pedal, however given the value I’m more than pleased to let that one slide.
What I’m much less prepared to miss, nevertheless, is the quite pants microphone. Not solely does its cumbersome foam cowl look a bit finances, however the ensuing chat was quiet, muffled and typically missed altogether. It’s a world away from the crisp, clear audio from Sennheiser’s GSP 350, and transferring its bendable arm nearer to my mouth did little to make issues higher. Its solely redeeming function, actually, is that it’s absolutely removable, which means you possibly can plonk it straight within the bin and overlook it ever existed.
Of course, I respect this is perhaps a little bit of a deal breaker for some folks, particularly if you happen to’re after one thing to make use of for multiplayer chat. If that’s the case, then the Recon 150 positively isn’t for you. But if having a microphone isn’t necessary to you, then the Recon 150 comes extremely beneficial – particularly when some retailers are promoting it for as little as £40 (down from its usual price of £50). The sound high quality is way greater than I used to be anticipating for the value, and its simple setup and normal versatility simply make it nice to make use of for no matter you’re listening to. With Black Friday across the nook, too, that is positively one headset you’ll need to keep watch over.
