The Roccat ELO 7.1 Air seems to hit a crowd-pleasing candy spot on this planet of gaming headsets. Not solely are you able to expertise freedom from cumbersome wires, however now you can achieve this with the audio high quality you get with wired {hardware}, and at an inexpensive worth besides. All the pieces in regards to the Roccat ELO Air feel properly balanced. The removable microphone is nice compared to mics on rival headsets that merely bend out of the best way or stiffly retract into the headset, and the battery life is healthier than anticipated for the price.
The Bluetooth compatibility is PC-only attributable to a USB 2.zero connection, and the {hardware} wants both Home windows 7, eight, or 10 to run, so you possibly can’t use it with consoles. At $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.99, that is on the price range finish for a wi-fi gaming headset, placing it in competitors with the Corsair HS70 Professional ($99.99 / £89.99 / AU$180). It’s not going to carry out like high-range headsets because of the Astro A50 ($300 / £300 / AU$480). However, provided that it’s round a 3rd of the value, the distinction in high quality is negligible, particularly if top-end sound high quality isn’t a significant consideration.
Design
The Roccat ELO Air sports activities typical gaming aesthetic, albeit muted sufficient that it received’t appear to be you’re about to open Counter-Strike once you’re presupposed to be on a piece name. The Roccat emblem is emblazoned on one aspect and offers the compulsory RGB lighting results. However, these could be switched off within the settings must you desire an extra skilled or inconspicuous look.
You possibly can management the RGB lighting by way of the Roccat Swarm software program. However, you received’t be capable of syncing with non-Roccat {hardware}. The headset additionally options Roccat AIMO (AI movement) lighting, which lets you sync your peripherals to answer no matter visuals are enjoying in your display – which is nifty, though you received’t be capable of getting pleasure from it your self, as you’ll be the one carrying the headset.
The scarf is the more and more common elasticated ‘self-adjusting’ suspension strap seen on merchandise just like the Razer Nari Final headset so that you received’t must fiddle with sizing – stick it in your head, and also you’re good to go. The body can also be steel, which provides some assurance by constructing high quality, though we skilled some points with ‘creaking’ noises with speedy head motion and enthusiastic strolling. This may occasionally hassle some people. Nevertheless, it didn’t show to be an actual situation in our expertise, as you possibly can solely hear this when the headset isn’t enjoying any audio.
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The earcups are a leatherette-lined reminiscence foam, and so they’re satisfyingly squishy, so customers who put on glasses or listening to aids shouldn’t expertise any discomfort. We reviewed the Roccat ELO Air on medium head measurement, so anybody with a bigger head could discover the match just a little tight; however, a stable eight hours of damage didn’t trigger any discomfort.
Efficiency
The controls on the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air are just a little awkwardly organized, with the in-game and voice-chat quantity controls positioned properly after one another. The buttons for mute and energy are additionally awkwardly positioned. However, we discovered that after several accidents, it is easy to develop some muscle reminiscence for the management area so that you’re not by accident muting your self within the staff chat (lest your pals suppose you’re AFK).
The software program for the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air has some enjoyable settings, just like the Turtle Seaside ‘superhuman listening to’ characteristic, which, assisted by the 7.1 digital encompass sound and 50mm audio drivers, boosts in-game audio resembling footsteps to permit for enhanced safety in opposition to fragging and sneak photographs. It’s also possible to fiddle with varied settings to distort your voice into monster, cartoon, male, or feminine. The outcomes are super-fun, and whereas the gendered settings aren’t completely correct, they may also help you to cover your id and supply some anonymity in on-line video games must you require it.
We did discover that the audio isolation isn’t nearly as good as on another gaming headsets that promise noise cancellation, and also you’re nonetheless capable of hearing some muffled background sounds if you happen to’re in loud surroundings; however, as you’re solely going to be utilizing the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air within the consolation of your personal dwelling, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker (until you reside someplace notably noisy).
The microphone’s high quality can also be surprisingly good for a headset on this worth vary and options one thing referred to as TrueVoice expertise. This allows you to hear yourself in playback and truly relays a correct pattern of your personal voice, fairly than sounding like a weird echo. Having the choice to take away the mic additionally totally signifies that if you happen to select to improve to a USB mic sooner or later, you possibly can nonetheless rock the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air headset as a set of wi-fi gaming headphones.
Roccat guarantees as much as 24 hours of battery life, and a declare we discovered to be correct when testing the machine. Even after an evening flashing RGB lighting to itself once we forgot to plug it in to cost, nonetheless managed a stable few hours of gameplay. The headset fees by way of an ordinary USB-C cable, which is way sooner than older micro-USB connections, so that you’re prone to have one mendacity round if you happen to misplace the offered cable.
The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air offers plenty of small comforts, from the Roccat Swarm software program for audio and lighting changes to the earcup mechanism swiveling to softly relaxation in your collarbones when not in use. The Bluetooth vary fabulous, permitting us to stroll around a home while sustaining audio, even when downstairs making espresso. Save for a small few points with creaking steel and oddly positioned controls, and this can be an improbable purchase for anybody trying to rid themselves of pesky wires throughout gameplay.
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The Roccat ELO Air gaming headset is a good budget-friendly choice for anybody trying to ditch wired audio. The Roccat Swarm software program isn’t complete. Nevertheless, it does supply easy changes for fine-tuning your recreation and mic audio. The voice settings are a riot too. Who doesn’t like saving some money? Positive, you possibly can spend more cash on different headsets. However, the bounce in high quality will probably be negligible for many customers. Without the mic or RGB lighting, this headset can go as a chunky pair of headphones; clip on the mic and fireplace up some rainbow lighting, and you’ve got a completely new look.
The audio high quality, and the customization choices, are improbable for the value; however, if you happen to’re delicate to sound high quality and have the money to spend, look elsewhere. The RGB lighting is nice; however, until you have got a complete Roccat setup, you will not be getting an incredible synchronization from results because the Roccat software program does not sync with different manufacturers. Whereas we discovered the headset was nonetheless comfy after a stable day of use, these with bigger heads, or who’ve glasses, could discover the cups pinch after a time.
