Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Headset
josh, 13-Jun-09 » Review of Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Headset, by Josh
Let me just start off by saying that I am not a professional audiophile, so as you could guess this review is purely my own opinion. Now that that’s out of the way I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed trying out this new headset and I think I’ll continue using it as my primary from now on.
I suppose I should start off with first impressions. The headset arrives via post in the typical corrugated cardboard shipping box, so nothing special there. It’s branded with Cyber Snipa, so there’s no confusion over what you’re picking up from the post office (which made the trip home with the box in the seat next to me almost unbearable... I wanted to un-box the thing right there I was so excited). Once you get the box opened, the headset packaging is gorgeous and sturdy, with the obligatory plastic front so you can see the headset from the front. A quick look over the box gives you all the specifications and selling points for the Sonar 5.1.
The Headset resting on the packaging.
Here are the selling points as mentioned on the box:
So all those seem like really good points, and I’ll talk more about each in turn when I start talking about the headset itself. Once you get the headset out of the packaging, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s actually a bit heavy. Prior to this I was using a Creative Fatality headset, and comparatively the Cyber Snipa one is massive, but when you consider the amount of stuff they have apparently crammed into the headphones, I suppose that is to be expected. Anyone who is a little cramped for space will appreciate the fact that the earphones fold up into the headband... sortof. They fold up to about half the size, which to be honest is still pretty large, but like I said, if you’re short on space then perhaps this would be a good feature for you.
As was mentioned earlier, the 3m USB cable has an “inline multi-media control” which basically means that it has a volume control dongle about half a metre down the cord. There’s an on off switch which controls the mic, there’s a vol+, a vol-, and a mute button, as well as a power light and a mic light, all pretty basic stuff. It’s not really a multi-media control in the same way as a keyboard might have multimedia buttons, which is something that you should be aware of so you don’t think it’s something it isn’t. The 3m cord should be enough for any gamer, I’ve actually ended up putting a twist tie on about 2 metres at the end of the cord just because it makes it a bit cleaner.
The Inline Media control dongle itself. The two lights are for power and to tell you if your mic is live or not.
Alright, onto the install of the headset. First thing you’ll notice is that the headset is USB, so you’ll have to go scrambling in the rats nest of wires coming out of the back of your tower for an empty port. Installing the drivers comes next with the provided Software/Driver CD, and is a must if you want to appreciate all the headset has to offer. The software allows you to change the analogue output as to how many speakers you hear operating, which is a very useful tool considering if you want to get the most out of the headset you’ll probably want to fiddle with the positioning of the virtual speakers. You’re also given a mixer, an environment/equaliser, a karaoke/magic voice tab, as well as an information tab. Basically the only two of those tabs you’ll need for most gaming stuff is the mixer and the speaker positioning tabs, the others are fairly useless to an average gamer.
Since it is a USB headset, it shows up as a sound card for your computer, which to me is one of the biggest gripes I have about the headset. Since it is a separate soundcard, if you have regular external speakers you’re going to have to go into the options of your operating system and change the speaker to the default soundcard every time you want to use the main speakers. Having never actually had to do this, only ever having analogue headsets myself, this came as a bit of a shock and annoyed me. Now, having said that, I’m perfectly fine wearing the headset instead of just listening to the external speakers, which brings me to the topic of the headset’s design.
The right ear features the Cyber Snipa logo...
For the most part, the design of the headset is very effective, with the the selling points mentioned on the packaging being well realised. The “Robust headband with mesh padding for improved airflow” meets expectations as far as a headband goes. The mesh padding does in fact allow for airflow, so the top of your head isn’t going to be all nasty after a long gaming session... although if it is perhaps you should seek medical advice... that’s not normal. The band itself is actually a bit looser around your head than other headsets, so if you’ve got a large head like me then you won’t feel like the headphones are compressing on your noggin, but rather are just resting on it with enough flexibility that you don’t feel like it’s going to fall off in the heat of battle. The “Circumaural velour cushions” is essentially a fancy way of saying over the ear, and when Cyber Snipa says over the ear, they really mean it too, with the headphones circling your ears rather than sitting on top of them, in my opinion a much more comfortable form. The earpads themselves are velour so they feel nice against your skin and again add to the long term usability because you won’t be sticking to some fake leather padding.
... while the left ear holds your mic.
The second big gripe I have about the headset is unfortunately one of the major components that makes it a headset. I’m talking about the “Extra long flexible boom with noise cancelling mic” that really just doesn’t meet expectations. As I said earlier, prior to the Sonar 5.1 I was using a Creative headset which had a very nice microphone that, oddly enough, was removable (I assume so you could use them as a normal set of headphones for every day use? I honestly don’t know). The Sonar mic is fixed to the headset on the left ear and pivots 180 degrees up to the headband and down to your neck. The big issue with the mic is the actual sound quality. I found that my old headset sounded rich and clear, and while the Sonar does sound clear, it sounds a bit hollow, almost like it isn’t picking up a lot of the bass in my voice. It works perfectly fine for in game chat on most games, and people will definitely be able to understand you, however being a shoutcaster you want to sound your best, and I think that the mic on the Sonar just doesn’t live up to the rest of the headset. Basically you’re not going to get this headset for the amazing mic quality (but the average gamer isn’t going to buy a headset based on the mic quality alone), but instead the headphones and speakers themselves are the real draw, so without further ado lets get stuck into the actual sound of the headphones themselves.
The 5.1 speakers that the Sonar boasts are definitely there, you can tell from the audio control panel as well as the two little games that are included with the software. The little games or programs are basically there to show you the power of the 5.1 surround sound, and do so very effectively. The minigame where you have to trace the sound of oncoming meteors in order to figure out where they’re coming from is actually really good because you get to hear the directionality of the speakers in two dimensions, whereas the little simulator where you are sitting in the middle and a plane is flying around your head gives you the sense of depth that surround sound should convey.
I’m going to go on a bit of a side note for a moment just to make sure everyone gets why 5.1 is important. The headset does in fact have 3 speakers and 1 subwoofer in each ear, so you will get directional sounds coming, however you won’t always appreciate it right off the bat. In movies, the only time you’ll ever really pay attention to the fact that noise is happening all around you is when you are getting the demonstration that that is going to happen. When that digital surround sound thing plays, you hear the bells at each of the speakers, so you know it is working, however for the rest of the movie you don’t really pay attention to it. It’s working, and that might be a testament to how advanced the technology is, but you’re only ever going to be passively appreciating it. The headset works in the same way. It’s meant to immerse you in the gameplay, not reach out and grab you to demand you appreciate its audio genius. In the heat of battle, you’ll lose track of things, but when you start to listen more closely, you’ll find you can follow the sound of the heavies minigun even as you turn around to run away. It is in that moment that you’ll really appreciate having surround sound headphones.
So, to finish off this monstrous review, a quick run-down of the pros and cons of the headset.
Pros:
The full headset with the "inline multi-media control" dongle.
So is it worth it? Well, in my opinion the answer is a resounding yes. The quality of the sound and the enveloping nature of the 5.1 surround sound makes up for the sub-average mic quality and small issues that it faces as a USB headset. The comfort of the headband and earphones adds to this value and makes the $100 AU price tag bearable, if not a bargain compared to its competitor the Logitech G35 (also reviewed here at netGameRadio) priced at $158 AU. I heartily recommend the Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Pro Surround Sound Headset, and as such I will continue to use it for my gaming needs.
~Josh
You can purchase the Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Headset from Cyber Snipa for $100 here: http://au-webstore.cybersnipa.com/p/650750/cyber-snipa-sonar-51-headset.html (they’re out of stock at the time of this writing, but have faith... they will get more!)
For a limited time, netGameRadio subscribers are entitled to a 10% discount on the Sonar headset! Not a subscriber? It's cheap, easy and full of great benefits so be sure to check out this page for more information on how to sign up!
Let me just start off by saying that I am not a professional audiophile, so as you could guess this review is purely my own opinion. Now that that’s out of the way I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed trying out this new headset and I think I’ll continue using it as my primary from now on.
I suppose I should start off with first impressions. The headset arrives via post in the typical corrugated cardboard shipping box, so nothing special there. It’s branded with Cyber Snipa, so there’s no confusion over what you’re picking up from the post office (which made the trip home with the box in the seat next to me almost unbearable... I wanted to un-box the thing right there I was so excited). Once you get the box opened, the headset packaging is gorgeous and sturdy, with the obligatory plastic front so you can see the headset from the front. A quick look over the box gives you all the specifications and selling points for the Sonar 5.1.
The Headset resting on the packaging.
Here are the selling points as mentioned on the box:
- Eight individual drivers for true multi-directional audio response
Robust headband with mesh padding for improved airflow
Circumaural velour cushions for extended gaming comfort
Extra long flexible boom with noise cancelling mic
3m USB cable with inline multi-media control
3D positional audio software
So all those seem like really good points, and I’ll talk more about each in turn when I start talking about the headset itself. Once you get the headset out of the packaging, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s actually a bit heavy. Prior to this I was using a Creative Fatality headset, and comparatively the Cyber Snipa one is massive, but when you consider the amount of stuff they have apparently crammed into the headphones, I suppose that is to be expected. Anyone who is a little cramped for space will appreciate the fact that the earphones fold up into the headband... sortof. They fold up to about half the size, which to be honest is still pretty large, but like I said, if you’re short on space then perhaps this would be a good feature for you.
As was mentioned earlier, the 3m USB cable has an “inline multi-media control” which basically means that it has a volume control dongle about half a metre down the cord. There’s an on off switch which controls the mic, there’s a vol+, a vol-, and a mute button, as well as a power light and a mic light, all pretty basic stuff. It’s not really a multi-media control in the same way as a keyboard might have multimedia buttons, which is something that you should be aware of so you don’t think it’s something it isn’t. The 3m cord should be enough for any gamer, I’ve actually ended up putting a twist tie on about 2 metres at the end of the cord just because it makes it a bit cleaner.
The Inline Media control dongle itself. The two lights are for power and to tell you if your mic is live or not.
Alright, onto the install of the headset. First thing you’ll notice is that the headset is USB, so you’ll have to go scrambling in the rats nest of wires coming out of the back of your tower for an empty port. Installing the drivers comes next with the provided Software/Driver CD, and is a must if you want to appreciate all the headset has to offer. The software allows you to change the analogue output as to how many speakers you hear operating, which is a very useful tool considering if you want to get the most out of the headset you’ll probably want to fiddle with the positioning of the virtual speakers. You’re also given a mixer, an environment/equaliser, a karaoke/magic voice tab, as well as an information tab. Basically the only two of those tabs you’ll need for most gaming stuff is the mixer and the speaker positioning tabs, the others are fairly useless to an average gamer.
Since it is a USB headset, it shows up as a sound card for your computer, which to me is one of the biggest gripes I have about the headset. Since it is a separate soundcard, if you have regular external speakers you’re going to have to go into the options of your operating system and change the speaker to the default soundcard every time you want to use the main speakers. Having never actually had to do this, only ever having analogue headsets myself, this came as a bit of a shock and annoyed me. Now, having said that, I’m perfectly fine wearing the headset instead of just listening to the external speakers, which brings me to the topic of the headset’s design.
The right ear features the Cyber Snipa logo...
For the most part, the design of the headset is very effective, with the the selling points mentioned on the packaging being well realised. The “Robust headband with mesh padding for improved airflow” meets expectations as far as a headband goes. The mesh padding does in fact allow for airflow, so the top of your head isn’t going to be all nasty after a long gaming session... although if it is perhaps you should seek medical advice... that’s not normal. The band itself is actually a bit looser around your head than other headsets, so if you’ve got a large head like me then you won’t feel like the headphones are compressing on your noggin, but rather are just resting on it with enough flexibility that you don’t feel like it’s going to fall off in the heat of battle. The “Circumaural velour cushions” is essentially a fancy way of saying over the ear, and when Cyber Snipa says over the ear, they really mean it too, with the headphones circling your ears rather than sitting on top of them, in my opinion a much more comfortable form. The earpads themselves are velour so they feel nice against your skin and again add to the long term usability because you won’t be sticking to some fake leather padding.
... while the left ear holds your mic.
The second big gripe I have about the headset is unfortunately one of the major components that makes it a headset. I’m talking about the “Extra long flexible boom with noise cancelling mic” that really just doesn’t meet expectations. As I said earlier, prior to the Sonar 5.1 I was using a Creative headset which had a very nice microphone that, oddly enough, was removable (I assume so you could use them as a normal set of headphones for every day use? I honestly don’t know). The Sonar mic is fixed to the headset on the left ear and pivots 180 degrees up to the headband and down to your neck. The big issue with the mic is the actual sound quality. I found that my old headset sounded rich and clear, and while the Sonar does sound clear, it sounds a bit hollow, almost like it isn’t picking up a lot of the bass in my voice. It works perfectly fine for in game chat on most games, and people will definitely be able to understand you, however being a shoutcaster you want to sound your best, and I think that the mic on the Sonar just doesn’t live up to the rest of the headset. Basically you’re not going to get this headset for the amazing mic quality (but the average gamer isn’t going to buy a headset based on the mic quality alone), but instead the headphones and speakers themselves are the real draw, so without further ado lets get stuck into the actual sound of the headphones themselves.
The 5.1 speakers that the Sonar boasts are definitely there, you can tell from the audio control panel as well as the two little games that are included with the software. The little games or programs are basically there to show you the power of the 5.1 surround sound, and do so very effectively. The minigame where you have to trace the sound of oncoming meteors in order to figure out where they’re coming from is actually really good because you get to hear the directionality of the speakers in two dimensions, whereas the little simulator where you are sitting in the middle and a plane is flying around your head gives you the sense of depth that surround sound should convey.
I’m going to go on a bit of a side note for a moment just to make sure everyone gets why 5.1 is important. The headset does in fact have 3 speakers and 1 subwoofer in each ear, so you will get directional sounds coming, however you won’t always appreciate it right off the bat. In movies, the only time you’ll ever really pay attention to the fact that noise is happening all around you is when you are getting the demonstration that that is going to happen. When that digital surround sound thing plays, you hear the bells at each of the speakers, so you know it is working, however for the rest of the movie you don’t really pay attention to it. It’s working, and that might be a testament to how advanced the technology is, but you’re only ever going to be passively appreciating it. The headset works in the same way. It’s meant to immerse you in the gameplay, not reach out and grab you to demand you appreciate its audio genius. In the heat of battle, you’ll lose track of things, but when you start to listen more closely, you’ll find you can follow the sound of the heavies minigun even as you turn around to run away. It is in that moment that you’ll really appreciate having surround sound headphones.
So, to finish off this monstrous review, a quick run-down of the pros and cons of the headset.
Pros:
- 5.1 surround sound is amazing once you learn to appreciate it
Sound Quality for headset is really nice.
The whole design is really sturdy and comfortable
They’re red... and cool looking, which has to be a plus right?
- Requires a bit of manipulation to get the virtual speakers set up to your liking
USB means no external speakers for you, unless you’re willing to go back in and change the sound output every time
In Team Fortress 2, with the 5.1 surround option selected I got a strange buzzing noise that only seemed to happen with TF2.
I got some sort of magnetic interference with the media dongle (tee hee... I said dongle lol) which was a bit of an annoyance, but that’s probably just something with my desk, as it only happens in a specific spot on the desk.
The full headset with the "inline multi-media control" dongle.
So is it worth it? Well, in my opinion the answer is a resounding yes. The quality of the sound and the enveloping nature of the 5.1 surround sound makes up for the sub-average mic quality and small issues that it faces as a USB headset. The comfort of the headband and earphones adds to this value and makes the $100 AU price tag bearable, if not a bargain compared to its competitor the Logitech G35 (also reviewed here at netGameRadio) priced at $158 AU. I heartily recommend the Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Pro Surround Sound Headset, and as such I will continue to use it for my gaming needs.
~Josh
You can purchase the Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Headset from Cyber Snipa for $100 here: http://au-webstore.cybersnipa.com/p/650750/cyber-snipa-sonar-51-headset.html (they’re out of stock at the time of this writing, but have faith... they will get more!)
For a limited time, netGameRadio subscribers are entitled to a 10% discount on the Sonar headset! Not a subscriber? It's cheap, easy and full of great benefits so be sure to check out this page for more information on how to sign up!
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| Category: | Hardware Reviews |
| Posted: | 13-Jun-09 9:31:40 pm |
| Author: | josh |