Date:
Tuesday , May 11, 2010
Author:
Earl Keim
Editor:
Kyle Bennett
Google +1

Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset Review

Quite possibly the coolest headset we have ever seen. This corded headset boasts some very unique technology in the 5.1 Surround Sound space and ever comes with its own amplifier. Not only does it look crazy, but the inventor makes some big claims as well as to what these will do for the computer gamer. Are these cans a "quantum leap in headphone technology" that are worth your cash?

Introduction

Psyko Audiolabs is a new contender in the "hardcore gaming" audio world, and the company is telling both PC and MAC gamers that they can finally have true 5.1 positional audio in a gaming headset. The company proudly proclaims on its product box that gamers are about to witness "the dawn of audio as a weapon!" Psyko's product inventor, James Hildebrandt, has created a truly unique and innovative design far beyond the usual "five tiny speakers in each ear cup" models that give "faux" surround. How does Psyko Audio provide this experience and how does it affect the positional accuracy of what we hear in-game? Is this the weapon [H]ard gamers want to choose for their battles on their gaming PCs or should we be content to continue using our ordinary 5.1 speakers and 2 channel headphones?

Article Image Article Image Article Image Article Image

Pricing - Packaging - and Contents

Kyle and I both received retail versions of the Psyko 5.1 headset. The Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset System retails on Amazon.com for $299.00. The picture on the outside of the black box is life-sized and this gives the buyer a very accurate picture of exactly what he will be wearing on his head. Upon opening the box, a user will see the headset packed in molded egg crate material with a layer of foam padding keeping everything secure. Psyko also includes its own brand of headphone amplifier with a five and a half foot cord, a side-swiveling boom microphone, and a foldout instruction manual. The headset has a six foot cord with four inputs to be connected to the included amplifier. The back of the box shows everything you need and how to connect it to your PC sound card quite easily and quickly. On its side panel the box clearly states that a user must have a 5.1 sound card with four 1/8" plugs and that the product does not support digital connectivity. That last statement and the instructions on the product's packaging are clear and simple; I like that.

Article Image Article Image Article Image Article Image

Detailed Product Specifications

There were no detailed specifications about the headset included . No mention of frequency responses, input impedance, total harmonic distortion, or sensitivity. I called and wrote James Hildebrandt several times and requested common specifications such as impedance and frequency response for the headset and I found him either unprepared or unwilling to answer my requests. He is the inventor of the headset and that lack of forthcoming response is annoying. He told me that individual speakers were rated at 32 ohms and that is it. I expected to hear a long list of more information than I could have ever digested.

He did tell me that the amplifier was specifically designed for the headset itself and not just any amp the company could have bundled with the product. There are no specifications supplied with the amplifier either. We expected to see the power rating, frequency response, cross talk, signal to noise ratio, and sound pressure level. We got zero, zilch, nothing.

I have received no other specifications from James since that last call, so I contacted the PR agency promoting the headphones. This is what I received:

Specifications

  • Delivers True 5.1 Surround Sound based on psychoacoustic research

  • Five 30mm directional speakers

  • Two 40mm dedicated sub-woofer speakers

  • Cable length, 6 ft on headphone, 5’ 8" on amp = 11'8" in total.

  • User controlled side panels: open for complete ventilation, closed for passive noise blocking

  • Comfortable fabric pad covers

  • Powered amplifier with 5 LED Visual Direction Indicator

  • Master volume and bass volume controls

  • Wall power converter with North America style wall plug, 110 to 240v, 50 to 60 Hz.

  • Detachable high sensitivity microphone

  • No software drivers needed, works just like a room 5.1 system but automatically puts you in the sweet spot.

  • Requires analog 5.1 sound card (on-board, or 3rd party card)

I believe the above is a general feature list, not a detailed product specification listing. Can my sound card's microphone jack support this headset's mic? I do not know. Will any PC, Mac, or laptop's onboard 5.1 sound chipset work? I do not know. The headset has a 15 day no questions asked, money back guarantee and a limited one year warranty.