We recently took a look at a gaming mechanical keyboard from an unlikely source, Func. In that review we also made allusions to Func bringing their design focus of innovative functionality without gimmicks to a whole range of gaming peripherals. Today we are here with the final piece of hardware in this new Func collection, the HS-260 Gaming Headset. Will Func continue to impress us with their new line of "Functionality. Perfected." peripherals or will audio prove to be their downfall. Let’s find out as we take an in depth look at the HS-260 Gaming headset.

Product Name: HS-260 Gaming Headset

Review Sample provided by: Func

Review by: Debo

Pictures by: Debo

Specifications

Model Number

FUNC-HS-260-1ST

Headphone Style

Over-ear Headband

Headphone Type

Stereo

Cord Length

3m w/ 2x 3.5mm jack

Frequency Response

20Hz-20,000Hz

Impedance

32 Ω

Sensitivity

116dB+/-4dB

Driver Unit Size

50mm


Packaging and Overview

The HS-260’s packaging is indicative of the new Func styling. The front of the box offers us only a very simple logo and a sneak peek at the headset. It gets the point across and leaves you wanting more.

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And more is exactly what you get as you flip open the front face to revel the 260 and its removable microphone locked away in the plastic cover. Included on the opposite side is Func’s mission statement, the technical specifications and a list of everything included inside.

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Flipping over the box we get the complete picture of the HS-260 along with those ever popular feature bullets.

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Cracking open the box we find everything included. On top of the headset we find the standard product manual, the HS-260’s detachable connector cable and a set of leather ear pads. The 260 comes with two sets of ear padding, leather and velour, for your own personal comfort.

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The microphone is also a separate item as detachable microphones seem to be making a comeback in gaming headsets once again.

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Finally we get to the headset and I must say the simplicity of the design is actually refreshing. Out of the box, the HS-260 comes with soft velour ear pads but as previously mentioned there is also an included set of leather ear pads to fit your personal comfort level. The ear padding is easily change in less than a minute and required no tools and no hassle.

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The padding for the earphones is interchangeable between the velour and the included set of leather padding. Changing out these pads requires minimal time and effort so you can feel free to try both and decide which is right for you.

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The top of the headband is a breathable leather pad to ease comfort on the top of your head during long play sessions. This padding, while less firm than some recent headsets I have reviewed is also a little bit more substantial then what you typically find in most headsets. The headbands adjustable parts slide along a lock track within the headband. This design allows the securing screws to be placed higher near the top of the headband rather than at the ears.

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You might have noticed the lack of an inline controller on the connector cable. This is because the volume control is integrated on the actual headset unit. When in use the volume slide can be found just behind and below your left ear for on the fly adjustments. The microphone mute is similarly found on the detachable microphone unit.

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Audio Quality and Comfort

Between the headband adjustability and your choice of velour or leather ear padding the HS-260 proves to be almost perfectly adaptable to your own personal comfort level. The headset feels substantial but sits comfortably on your head. The design conformed almost perfectly to mine and it was still comfortable even after a few hours of gaming.

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This comfort is expanded on further by a very subtle yet unique feature. The removable connector cable and the removable microphone can be plugged into either side of the headset and function normally. In this way you’ll never again have to bother with cords stretching across your gaming area or lap regardless of your set up.

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Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony – The Crossroads: We start off with a strong bass track and the larger 50mm drivers in the HS-260 don’t disappoint in delivering a thumping base. More satisfying though was the 260’s ability to handle the subtleties with equal competency.

Nat King Cole – Unforgettable: This mellow piano track puts the HS-260 to the test in a different manner. Each individual instrument is distinctly noticeable throughout the song, the vocals are clear and crisp and the larger drivers enhance the subtle bass line quite well.

Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven: This emotional rock track is enhanced by the HS-260’s clarity and ability to pick up the individual instruments opposed to just the sound they make. Despite being virtually no bass to speak of, the 260 injects a bit of physical feeling into the song to make it that much more enjoyable.

Ludwig van Beethoven – Fur Elise: The name of the game here is complexity and transitions with this classical masterpiece and again the HS-260 doesn’t disappoint. The 260’s picks upon many of the low range sounds and maintain the songs overall complexity admirably.

Game – Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: It should be documented that my love for a good MMO runs deep and regardless of your personal preference all gamers can appreciate a well composed and orchestrated soundtrack. Masayoshi Soken’s work is precisely one of those with an enriching mix of ambient tunes mixed in with iconic boss battle tracks that are a staple of the overall series. The HS-260 preformed great whether immersing you in the world’s ambient noise or getting your heart beating through the thumping bass found in many of the boss battle tracks. With “gaming” on the box, these are the kind of experiences where I expect the HS-260 to be at its best and it didn’t disappoint.

TV/Movie – The Blacklist: While TV shows generally lack an epic soundtrack or dramatic musical score like many games and blockbuster movies; this is probably the best place to test day to day general usage of a headset. The HS-260 continues to perform well, delivering clarity to the dialogue as well as picking up on most of the ambient noises meant to enrich the experience.


Overall and Final Verdict

The HS-260 is a comfortable, well-built product that produces clear sound and a thumping bass and that alone sums up everything a gamer really desires in a headset. The choice to go with a larger 50mm driver as opposed to the industry mainstay of 40mm is proof that Func decided to not play it safe and march just another average product to market. The removable microphone might seem like a gimmick following other recent releases but Func to even do something above the norm here with the ability to plug the microphone and connection cord into either side of the headphones. Couple this with the choice of two different ear padding materials out of the box and you have the most customizable headset perhaps ever found at this price point.

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The HS-260 isn’t precisely perfect though. I worry about the durability of the adjustable hinges with prolonged use at full extension because of its locking design. The microphone could also be improved as it takes a bit of coaxing to get it in a comfortable position at first. These are both flaws that I feel could be fixed with minimal effort and stronger materials and neither affect the performance of the device.

Again, much like with the KB-460 I feel that I am almost nitpicking at the few flaws I find with the HS-260 as a whole. The performance of the headset puts it on the higher end of the scale already but it is the sheer customizability that the 260 has is what puts it over the top. Looking forward I hope Func can keep this momentum and continue to bring us more quality peripherals in the future.

fv3tophonors

Author Bio
William
Author: William
Review and Event Staff
William is the newest addition to both the Review and Event staff. Being in charge of power, hopefully you have to see very little of him during our lans. Outside of lans he can be found engaging in his unhealthy obsession with all things gaming in between writing the odd review and bothering Wes at all hours of the day. An avid gamer nearly all his life, it is common for the latest MMO release to cause him to drop off the face of the Earth for a week or two.

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Deb0's Avatar
Deb0 replied the topic: #33798 27 Jan 2014 22:17
Looking for that final piece in your Func peripheral collection? We have the HS-260 right here.

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