Gaming experiences and da MIC
Gaming
Slipstream wireless is pretty amazing and offers detailed low latency audio for gaming and movies. Bluetooth with mobile devices honestly is not quite as good, but more in a line of expectation. Testing out the headset we use our regyular test suite of games:
Battlefield V
To cut a long story short, the Virtuoso XT provides a good experience in Battlefield V, and I have absolutely zero doubts that it is an upgrade over anything you could probably buy. Yes, there is absolutely still the lack of a decent mid-range, leaving some elements of the game (where I am used to strong instrumentals, for instance) sounding a little empty. However, with a personally altered EQ profile, you'll soon get a smile on your face. That said, the bass of the Virtuoso means that the bits that should 'hit' you hard (e.g. nearby explosions, flying bullets, etc) still do so, and so very effectively.
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Metro: Exodus
Metro Exodus is a game that you get yourself immersed in, good atmosphere, decent graphics still, and (why we choose it) a beautiful sound design. Sound-wise it's all good immersing you in the ambient sound envelope of the game, you feel like you are inside the world. The bass feels spot-on, that thumping sound you get in a movie theatre. The dialog in Metro came through fine as did the environment sounds. But in the rear part of the audio environment, you miss out on real environmental positioned noises.
Project CARS
Rally and racing games have just about everything you could want if you're not into the hardcore simulation. PCars have very realistic sounds, especially the engine and gear noise, which are the heart and soul of a car. The headset is real darn perfect with PCars. Other than missing an apex or an occasional gear shift you will miss nothing. Now we do need to mention 7.1 surround sound again. You can hear simulated sounds behind you but emulating just isn't real 7.1. Once I disabled Dolby surround, the overall sound picture was much nicer. Also when that engine growls at you this way the headset delivers some decent bass albeit we tweaked EQ a little.
Microphone
As part of our protocol we tested the microphone out with a number of applications, Skype and some co-op play, playing back the sound samples with Audacity. The detachable microphone offers omnidirectional sound pickup with an impressive degree of clarity for a headset mic, almost approaching the audio quality of the best microphones for used streaming, really it is that good. Speech comes through clearly regardless of pitch, with very little background fuzz or compression. The headset has a good and clear microphone, plenty of gain, very good clarity and very low noise and hum, as well as very good noise (echo) cancellation. It does, however, do a VERY does a very solid job as I was suitably impressed. Thunder, steps, ambient sound and communication sound crystal clear while playing. Combined with the detachable mic it all sounds sounds amazing.
