Plantronics GameCom 777 – The Ultimate Gaming Headset?
Every so often one of our favourite hardware manufacturers sends us something really ‘stand-out excellent’ to review. And this week, thanks to Don at Plantronics, the bar for PC gaming headsets has been reset once again.
Having suffered with a cheap headset for games and Skype over the last few months, the difference between the cheaper headset and the Plantronics GameCom 777 was absolutely mind-blowing.
While I must admit the GameCom 777 headset won’t win any awards from Vogue Magazine for styling, it looks right at home when you’re hard at work playing Halo. Aesthetics aside, the headset is extremely comfortable with plenty of adjustment options.
The USB Dolby 7.1 adaptor adds an expansive sound-stage and the “big” feel is great for listening to those upbeat soundtracks or your MP3 collection.
While not the most inspired aesthetics, the GameCom 777 clearly demonstrates that there’s more to technology than good looks. The grey military styling certainly matches the army feel some might be expecting from utilitarian head-gear – but it’s not everyone’s idea of cool. But of course, the styling is where utilitarian stops and performance begins.
Just one look at the well-designed, big and well padded earcups rightly suggests that this headset is going to be comfortable to wear for extended gaming or video conferencing sessions. A few hours in and the soft, comfortable cups and headband didn’t disappoint.
Audio from these open-air design headphones is nothing short of amazing with the Dolby function active. It’s well suited to games, movies, and just about anything else you can throw at it. As you’d expect for a headset with a bias towards games, there’s a mid-range focus and vocals are crisp and up-front. Something the Dolby 7.1 dongle achieves nicely. Skype takes a little getting used to if you’re used to a tinny little set of headphones – but you’ll soon start to enjoy conversations at a whole new level. Actually, each Skype contact complimented the audio without me even mentioning the new headset.
Comparing the absolute Hi-Fi aspects of the headset against my studio ART reference headset, it was clear that the high-end and low-frequency sounds were a little cut-off compared to the reference – So the GameCom 777 certainly isn’t a “reference” – but it isn’t designed to be. It’s the ultimate Gaming headset. If you want a studio Hi-Fi headset, shelling out $1000 on an AudioTechnica ART set will certainly do the trick there – but won’t impress like the GameCom 777 for games.
The low-end bass sounds play well and don’t feel artificial – You may want to crank up the bass on the EQ if you’re looking for a real ‘bang’ though. The headset’s open-air design means an airier feel.
The Plantronics GameCom 777 connects to your PC or Mac using regular 3.5mm jacks or the included USB Dolby dongle. Connecting directly to the PC without the dongle made the headset sound like a regular good quality, and well-constructed headset – solid and effective with a 2m cable, utilitarian volume control on the cable, and with an impressive adjustable boom microphone that tucks into the headband when not needed - plus clear, crisp audio on the headphones and mic.
Adding the Dolby 7.1 dongle into the loop changes the whole experience. The virtual surround sound is really something you need to experience to understand. Despite the somewhat bulky feel of the package, the audio is simply breathtaking. Excellent noise rejection, well-tuned frequency response tailored for games and a really expansive feel.
Congratulations to the team at Plantronics on an excellent headset. While, I’d love to see a version with some slimmer styling and sexier colours (which of course would make it a general-purpose headset rather than a gaming headset), the Plantronics GameCom 777 is certainly the most impressive gaming headset I’ve come across.
Filed Under: Product Reviews • The Retro Stylez, Toyz
