Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming Headset Review

At some point, every computer user longs for a good pair of headphones, whether it’s to watch a movie in silence during a long flight, or to play some PC games late at night when everyone is asleep. The catch is that some computers lack the outputs needed for the fancier surround sound type headphones or the headphone jack for a standard set. Today we are going to check out the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming Headset. No sound card is required for these headphones, but how well do they perform, read on to find out.

Gallery

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Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
The Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset does require drivers to operate, but only requires one single USB connection. The USB connection both powers the headphones and allows them to play back sounds without needing a sound card. The drivers allow the use of Dolby virtual headphone function, which is supposed to provide a 3D sound experience.

The ear cups on the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset uses an open design that keeps them from getting hot with extended wear. Inline volume control lets you turn the sound up or down as well as mute the mic, but no provision for adjusting treble or bass is given. The volume controls are backlit so you can see what you are doing in a dark room. A noise canceling mic is included on the left side that is adjustable.

Gaming & Use
Once the drivers are installed, you are ready to use the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset after plugging it into a USB port. The sound quality is good with nice highs but it is a bit weak in the mid range and the bass is lacking for my tastes. Deep bass sounds like explosions are flat and don’t have the muscle that some of the other headsets I have used in the past. The mic works well and is easy to adjust; voice quality is good as well.

Gaming with the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset was nice, with the exception of the not so great bass, which made the explosions and such flat. I didn’t really notice any sort of positional audio quality, not that I expected to from a set pf headphones that isn’t surround sound.

Movie watching with the headphones is good too, the voices are easy to discern from the background sounds. Again, the less than stellar bass rears its head in the form of explosions and crashes not being as deep as I like to hear. Overall, the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset performed well for a lower cost pair of headphones requiring only one USB connection.

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• One USB plug required for power and operation
• Open design keeps you cool during use

Cons

• Bass is a bit weak for my tastes

Verdict
If you want a pair of headphones that sound decent and don’t require a sound card or external power adapter to operate, the Genius HS-04U USB Dolby Gaming headset may be ideal. They sound good, if a bit bass weak and are comfortable to wear. There are better sounding options out there, but you will need a sound card to use them.

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