ROCCAT Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The ROCCAT Kave Headset4. Comfort and Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

KitGuru has had the opportunity to test a number of ROCCAT products in the past and have been impressed with their quality and performance. Today we are going to look at the ROCCAT Kave gaming headset that has an impressive specification and feature set.

This headset was actually released a while back but we haven't had a chance to look at it until now.  The most exciting feature in our opinion is the 360° surround sound system which ROCCAT have implemented in this headset, comprising of three separate drive units in each earpiece.

Features

• Read 5.1 surround sound with speakers aligned at a 12° angle
• Microphone with mute LED, fully rotatable and completely removable
• Tip'n'control desktop remote for central management of all volume functions
• Dual Sound Profile with movie and game settings
• Solid Aluminium Hinges enabling heavy duty use
• Especially comfortable earcups featuring external noise cancelling, hand-sewn
• Adjustable vibration units for a realistic gaming experience
• Headband with three pads for equal weight distribution
• Easy to carry folding and compact design

Specification

Centre/Front/Rear Driver Units

• Frequency Response: 20 – 20 000Hz
• Max. SPL @ 1KHz: 114 ±3dB
• Max. input power: 100mW (30mW)
• Driver diameter front: 40mm
• Driver diameter rear: 40mm

Vibration Driver Units

• Frequency Response: 20 – 100Hz
• Max. input power: 1000mW
• Driver diameter: 30mm

Microphone

• Frequency Response: 20 – 18 000Hz
• Sensitivity @ 1KHz: -36dB
• Impedance: 2.2 KOhm + 15%
• Directivity: Omni-directional
• Diameter: 4 x 1.5mm

System

• Connectivity: 4x 3.5mm jack plug
• Input impedance: 10KOhm
• Cable Length: 3.4m total (2.0m Remote > PC)
• Between ear cups and remote: 140cm
• Between remote and splitter: 180cm
• Between Splitter and PC: 20cm

The Kave is supplied in very similar packaging to the rest of the ROCCAT range, consisting of a medium-sized box with a tapered edge along the right hand side.  A large plastic windows wraps around the front of the box, letting you see some of the headset before opening it.  The front of the box also details a few of the main features of the headset.

Turning the box over reveals a much vaster array of information about the headset. Aside from the headset itself, there is very little supplied in the box.  As usual with ROCCAT products, there is a square-shaped quick start guide alongside a demo CD.  But the inline controller is permanently attached to the cables which will be more than lengthy enough for all users, so no extension cables or other accessories are required.

Like many manufacturers these days, ROCCAT has opted for a rubberised paint finish for the Kave headset which looks and feels great and should stand the test of time well.  There isn't much about the design which screams ‘gaming headset' to us – the design is much more understated.  In fact the only visual clue to the gaming nature of this headset is the small ROCCAT logos that can be found on both earcups.

The boom microphone attaches to a small connector on the left earcup which lets you rotate it completely and remove it when not in use.  The performance of this microphone is just what we would expect for a gaming headset.  The sound recorded is more than adequate for chatting over Ventrilo or Teamspeak in game.  The microphone can be muted using the in line control and, when active, a small ring around the end of the microphone is illuminated blue.

ROCCAT have implemented one of the best inline controls we've seen on a gaming headset, letting you adjust the levels of all four sound channels independently.  Below these sliders there is a switch that lets you choose between game mode and movie mode.  All of these controls are covered by a plastic flap that will stop you from knocking them accidentally in game.  On the top of the inline control there is a circular volume slider which adjusts the overall volume of the headset.  The centre of this circle acts as the mute button and the microphone mute button is located on the side.

For those who frequent LAN parties, ROCCAT have implemented a sophisticated hinge design which lets you fold the headset up into a smaller form.  This makes the portable size much smaller and will reduce the likelihood of the headset breaking when in a bag.  Despite being finished in plastic, the Kave has durable metal hinges that are sure to enhance the longevity of the headset. ROCCAT have chosen to use leather ear pads for the Kave which enhance comfort.  The headband also has three leather pads that should improve comfort too.

We have never reviewed a headset that requires quite so many connections as the ROCCAT Kave.  To enable it's full functionality, we are required to connect four 3.5mm connectors and a USB connector into the PC, meaning that the ROCCAT Kave isn't ideally suited to those who game on a laptop.  Considering the price of this headset, we are a little surprised that the 3.5mm connectors aren't gold plated.

We can't say that the ROCCAT Kave is the most comfortable gaming headset we've had the pleasure of testing here at KitGuru but it is far from the worst.  The main issue regarding comfort is the headsets' weight which is quite significant as a result of having three separate driver units in each earcup.  The leather ear pads and headband pads are well designed, though, so that the weight of the headset is evenly distributed around your head.

Another desirable quality of the leather earpads is their noise isolating properties.  As the earpads fit over your ears, they form a sealed environment that blocks out external noise when the volume is set to a reasonable level.  This is an ideal attribute for LAN gaming as the headset will block out the sounds from other people around you.  It also means that other people are less likely to be disturbed by your gameplay as the noise isolation works both ways.

Gaming performance will be the most important aspect of this headset for most users and, we have to say, the ROCCAT Kave delivers on every level.  The in line control allows you to set up the headset for different types of games to achieve the best possible gaming experience.  The dedicated surround sound built into the headset further enhances the gaming experience, delivering very effective sound panning which can help you in game by providing an accurate representation of where you are being shot from.

While the Kave isn't designed specifically to be used for music playback, it is reasonably well equipped for listening to music.  This is, in part, a result of being able to configure each volume channel independently, allowing you to set up the headset for listening to music.  We managed to achieve a well balanced sound overall, despite the headset lacking slightly in the lower registers before adjusting the different channels.

For our movie playback test we opted for ‘The Dark Knight' on blu-ray and set the headset to the movie playback.  We found the experience to be quite good on the whole, helped in part by the effective sound panning of the headset.  To achieve the best possible experience, we were forced to fiddle around with the level controls a little, especially the bass which was a little feeble for our tastes using the standard settings.

In conclusion, the ROCCAT Kave is an impressive gaming headset even now, a few years after it's initial release.  It boasts an impressive feature set to rival the best headsets out there.  The dedicated surround sound is perhaps the most exciting feature of all and is what differentiates the Kave from most other gaming headsets on the market.

When it comes to performance, the Kave is very impressive, creating an realistic and immersive gaming experience that reflects the high price of the headset.  Our only slight issue with the sound produced is the lack of substance in the lower registers.  This can be rectified by adjusting the channel levels accordingly but will reduce the overall maximum volume level of the headset.

As we have found in the past with ROCCAT products, the construction of the Kave is very solid and we're sure that it will last a good few years, even for those who plan to use it daily.  The rubberised paint finish should also prove durable and provides a good compromise between aesthetics and practicality.

For most people, the final decision will depend on the price of the headset.  The ROCCAT Kave can be yours for a shade over £65 at Amazon.co.uk which makes it quite good value for money all things considered.  It is a little more pricey than our old favourite, the SteelSeries Siberia V2 which is much more flexible as it can be used with a vast array of devices.  But for what the Kave offers, we feel this price is justified and we're sure that if you do decide to buy it, you won't be disappointed.

KitGuru says: An impressive headset that delivers on every level.

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