Audio Quality and Comfort

So for my testing I have been using the Cloud Revolvers off and on in the office from their launch. I have them hooked up to the Creative Labs X7 DAC that I tested a while back to make sure they are powered and get clean audio.

So to get things started, how do they fit my head?  Well the earcups are great, large and fit completely over my ears. The padding in the earcups is adequate but I do miss the softer felt earcup option from the Cloud IIs. The aluminum headband doesn’t push the earcups up against my head to much, that is an issue more often that I would like with some headsets that seem to only be designed with smaller heads in mind. The headband up top doesn’t have to much tension though with my big head they only really touch the top of my head over about 2-3 inches. This small surface area does put a big more pressure on that one section that I would like when I have the Revolvers on for a long period of time. All said and done I think they fit my larger head better than the original clouds but the older clouds are a bit more comfortable for me over long periods. It’s not by much though and frankly they are still more comfortable than most other headsets with maybe the Siberia v2s and the Cloud II’s being the only two headsets that I would prefer over the Revolvers.

The microphone performs really well, picking me up without me having to push it up close to my face. The noise canceling isn’t perfect but does seem to cut down the outside noise a little bit. When looking for a gaming headset I don’t really need the best microphone in the world but I do need it to be reliable and clear enough for my team to hear me the Revolver does both very well. With all detachable microphones I get a little concerned that they will get knocked off but this one is attached really well.  

Noise performance? Well I tested over weeks of everyday use. This is basically gaming all night and listening to music and movies while I write and work during the day. In both situations the Revolver was spot on. The new drivers required a little tuning to get them where I wanted them early on. The highs and lows were a little muted. Normally I like a flat sound but when I bumped the lows and highs up in my DAC they really came to life, especially with music. In game they were crisp and clear for my league games so I didn’t miss anything and when I got into some Black Ops 3 they help pull you in. Even in Ashes of the Singularity I was able to enjoy the kick ass soundtrack.

So were there any weird issues or things that stood out beyond the normal stuff we look at? Well I wasn’t originally a big fan of the single plug design on the cable. In fact, it wasn’t until I was sitting here writing about the cable that I realized that they had to use that style for the console support. I was just a little disappointed that I couldn’t drop the extra-long extension cable when I don’t need a long cord, but it’s worth it for the extra compatibility. Beyond that though there was only one other issue and it has been driving me a little crazy. The suspension headband design requires a spring loaded band to work. Well any time the band moves I can clearly hear it though the headphones, specifically through the aluminum frame that carries any touch, bump, or ping right into the earcups. It’s like the spring action needs lubricated. When I have music on I never notice it but the second I don’t have constant noise and I move my head around I notice it.