CyberSnipa has actually listened to what gamers want and given us exactly that.

Call me pretentious, but if I’m going to strap something to my head, I’d like whatever it is to be of quality. Facehugger, Headcrab, headset, what have you, if I have to look silly talking into a microphone attached to my face I want people to be able say “why that young man knows of quality in cranial accoutrements. What a handsome beast.”

The Sonar 5.1

Unfortunately several companies, all claiming to be “for gamers,” have attempted to make the “ultimate gaming headset.” I have received for review, or purchased for myself, at least five of these headsets and not one was “ultimate” and none of them had gamers in mind. If you talk to real gamers, the everyday gamers, not “professional” gamers, you will find that what they are asking for and what they’re being given are two different things. Yes, gamers want great sound. It’s the basic function of a headset. Still, there are several other facets that are often overlooked (or totally abandoned) and are nearly equally important. We’ll come to these issues further on in the review.

(For those of you who don’t need reason and are willing to place all of your audio faith on my word, the Sonar 5.1 is ridiculously awesome and I couldn’t find one damn significant thing wrong with it. I sleep with it at night like a teddy bear, caressing its soft velour. It’s so rare that I can attest something to be of superior quality that when I do I feel I need to raise it up like the prodigal son amongst all those who failed before and yell “See! This is what I was talking about!”)

Fully adjustable microphone.

When it comes to hardware we have to compare what’s new to what is currently available if we’re going to get an honest assessment of its quality in the market. I haven’t reviewed every headset on the market, but I have reviewed some expensive ones and for all intents and purposes that should mean they are of quality. We will find that isn’t entirely true, but my point remains valid mostly because I say it does.

For the purposes of this review we will compare the Sonar 5.1 ($64.99) to the Razer Barracuda HP-1 ($129.99), the Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator ($79.99), the Steelseries 3H (49.99), and the Logitech Precision PC Gaming Headset ($29.99) [all prices taken directly from manufacturer].

Great in-line controls.

These have been chosen because they all claim to be “gaming headsets,” they are of varying price, and… well, they’re the ones I own. Regardless, aside from the Sonar 5.1 each of these one or more major flaws that stems from ignoring things gamers actually want. They may seem insignificant minutia, but frustration takes away from the fun, and that is not what gamers want. They do want…