Filed under: Reviews | Peripheral
Saitek Cyborg 5.1 USB Headset Review
Jan 31 2008, 12:00am CST | by Shane McGlaun
Today we are looking at a set of headphones from Saitek called the Cyborg 5.1 Headset. This headset promises 5.1 surround sound from a single USB connection. Read on to find out how well it performs.
Benchmarks
Features & Specifications
The Cyborg 5.1 Headset has an inline USB soundcard with volume and mute controls. The ear cups are low profile and rotate for comfort and portability. When rotated flat the Cyborg 5.1 Headset fits into an included case for taking the headphone son the go. Gamers looking for VOIP action while playing, the headset has a removable mic boom as well. The sound comes from six sonic drivers that provide positional audio. In addition to the USB connection the Cyborg 5.1 Headset also has a single 3.5mm jack for connecting to MP3 players. The headphones are Windows compatible only and retail for $79.95.
Setup & Use
Connecting the Cyborg 5.1 Headset to my PC was as easy as plugging in the single USB connection and then installing the software. The software is required for the 5.1 sound. Oddly the Cyborg 5.1 Headset wouldn’t operate with my powered USB hub, but worked fine when connected directly to the USB ports on the computer mainboard.
The volume put out by the Cyborg 5.1 Headset is impressive. I ran the headphones at about half the available volume level and the sound we just right. Bass is very important to me in my video games and the Cyborg 5.1 Headset has some of the best bass reproduction I have heard. Explosions are nice and deep with high range sounds like breaking glass clearly audible. Positional audio quality was decent; pulling off good positional audio via a single USB connection is hard to do. You could tell what was behind you and to the left or right though with the Cyborg 5.1 Headset, but I have heard better positional audio.
The mic works well and the noise-cancelling design means it doesn’t pick up room sounds. Sound quality was as good as any other headphones I have used for the mic. Other gamers could hear me clearly and without issue.
Listening to music with the headphones via the USB port is great. The deep bass adds depth to the music without overwhelming the vocals. The Cyborg 5.1 Headset also sounds good when connected to my MP3 player.
The ear cups are covered in a velour fabric that is soft and breathable. The ear cups have enough depth that they don’t put pressure on your ears making the Cyborg 5.1 Headset very comfortable for extended gaming sessions.
Verdict
Conclusion
Pros
- Comfortable
- Great bass
- Single USB port does it all
Cons
- Positional audio could be better
Verdict
If you are tired of having to connect multiple cables to get surround sound, the Cyborg 5.1 Headset may be just what you need. The headset offers good bass and passable positional audio all in a comfortable and compact package.
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Shane McGlaun
Leading our review center, Shane knows technology inside out. His
extensive experience in testing computer hardware and consumer
electronics enable him to effectively qualify new products and trends. If you want us review your product, please contact Shane.
Shane can be contacted directly at shane@i4u.com.
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