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We normally start the testing section of our headset reviews with an in-depth look at the software suite but given that this is a budget headset, which appears to mainly be geared towards the console market- there is no dedicated software driver for setting up different sound options.
For PC use, the headset connects via USB, although you will have a bit of a mess of wires as there is also a set of RCA connectors pre-attached. These wires are non removable so the only way to change connections is to add even more wires to the mix with the extra RCA and 3.5mm jack adapters.
I imagine the sheer amount of cables will make a mess for both PC and console users, where gamers either have controllers or a keyboard and mouse also hooked up. However, these adapters do ensure compatibility across all devices, so it will be a fair trade off to some.
The sound quality is akin to what you would expect from the pair of in-built speakers found in most basic monitors or even some laptops. A lot of sound frequencies are lost- particularly in the mid range. It is clear that these 40mm drivers are biased towards the low end as the bass is over-powered and makes things like explosions disproportionately loud.
It is very easy to tell the difference if you are coming from a higher quality pair of headphones or speakers. These headphones may sound better if there were some EQ options to adjust the settings yourself.
The clamping pressure of the headset isn't bad although I'm definitely not a fan of the head band. The flimsy metal strips become uncomfortable very quickly. The ear cups contain pretty hard foam as well, which I found did help with noise cancellation but didn't do wonders for comfort. Personally, I wouldn't want to wear this headset for very long at all.
The sound quality is poor but if you are used to playing games with in-built speakers then you won't really notice the difference. You won't be blown away but you won't be disappointed either. However as always, microphone quality is also an important factor.
Going in, I wasn't expecting much from the microphone as it is very flimsy and feels a bit cheap. However, over Skype calls and during multiplayer games like Counter-Strike, my voice came across clearly and accurately with almost no feedback noise. The microphone was capable of picking up my voice loudly enough so I had no need to boost it through software.
That said, the microphone doesn't do a very good job of isolating background noise, even something as little as having a fan switched on in the room will pick up through the microphone.
Overall, the Gioteck EX-05s headset is okay for the money, it is very much a ‘get what you pay for' scenario. It isn't particularly comfortable but it will work across most of your devices. If you are used to gaming on a small monitor with in-built speakers and you need something cheap to keep the noise down then this will do.
However, if you can afford to spend a bit more, then you could get a much more capable Turtle Beach or Thermaltake headset in the £30-£40 range.
