Tt eSPORTS Cronos Gaming Headset Review

Rating: 6.5.

Today we are going to take a look at the latest gaming headset from Tt eSPORTS – the Cronos. The headset is designed for people on the move as it can be can be folded up to fit inside a complementary bag. This makes it ideal for those who frequent LAN events such as Multiplay's i-Series.

We have been generally quite impressed with the headsets we've reviewed from Tt eSPORTS, mostly thanks to the competitive pricing. Most recently, we looked at the Tt eSPORTS Level 10M gaming headset which featured an innovative design and solid build quality.

Specification

• Connector: 3.5mm Plug and USB
• Platform: PC / Mobile
• Colour: Black / White
• Driver Unit: 40mm
• Channel: Stereo
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 117+/-3dB
• Cable Length: 1.8 Metres
• Microphone: Omni-directional, noise cancelling
• Microphone Sensitivity: -54+/-3dB
• Microphone Frequency: 100Hz ~ 10kHz
• Microphone Impedance: 2.2K Ohm

The Tt eSports Cronos is supplied in a compact box which reflects the portable nature of the product within. The box is particularly thin thanks to the folding design of the headset.

It is decorated in a black and red livery which reflects Tt eSPORTs brand colours.  The front of the box features a large image of the headset itself.

The rear of the box reveals some information about the features and specification of the headset itself, alongside further images which help to illustrate key features.  The box itself feels strong and should deal with a moderate amount of abuse during transit.

Inside the box there are a few accessories included.  There are two different cables supplied with the headset, one for connecting it to mobile devices and one to use it with a PC.  Tt eSPORTS also include a flimsy carrying bag and a concise product guide.

The aesthetic design of the Tt eSPORTS Cronos is far more conventional than that of the Tt eSPORTS Level 10M that we looked at recently.  It utilises a similar over-the-head design, although it incorporates folding hinges for improved portability.

The ear-cups themselves are circular in shape and are finished in gloss plastic.  Both ear-cups feature large Tt eSPORTS logos which are illuminated in red. These are connected with a wide matte-plastic headband, featuring a different variant of the Tt eSPORTS logo on the top. The headset is connected via USB.

Despite the extensive use of plastic in the construction of the headset, it does feels fairly sturdy.  This is thanks, in part, to the metal re-enforcement running through the headband.  The ear-cups feel poor quality and creak when handled, though. Consequently, the Cronos doesn't come close to matching the quality feel of the Level 10M.

Tt eSPORTS have chosen to use a rigid boom microphone for the Cronos which is a little large for our tastes.  In fact, it's one of the largest microphones we've ever seen on a gaming headset.  Considering the mobile device compatibility of this particular headset, we're quite surprised that Tt eSPORTS didn't use a more subtle retractable design instead.

When required, the microphone can be folded down from the left ear-cup.  There is some adjustment in the boom which can be bent slightly to position it closer to the mouth.

As we mentioned earlier in the review, the Cronos is designed to compliment PC's and mobile devices.

As a result, there are two separate cables in the box which are designed for different uses. The mobile device cable is bright red in colour and features a single 3.5mm connector on the end for the headphone and microphone functions.

The PC variant, however, offers two 3.5 mm plugs alongside a USB connector to power the lights.  It also boasts an inline control which lets us control the volume of the headset and toggle the microphone mute function.

There isn't anything particularly special about the level of comfort that the Cronos offers.  It is more comfortable than the Level 10M thanks to the lighter weight, but it is still a world away from the SteelSeries Siberia V2.

The most disappointing aspect of the Cronos for us is the cloth-based material used to cover the earpads. We found it to be quite itchy, detracting from the comfort level of the headset.

Those users who have larger or smaller than average heads will appreciate the wide range of adjustment in the headband. This can be adjusted to either side to achieve a perfect fit.

Tt eSPORTS have added a thick pad to the inside of the headband to help spread the weight of the headset evenly across the head.  This makes it more comfortable as it helps to divert the weight from the ears.

When it comes to performance, the Cronos is fairly competent.  We commenced our testing of the headset with some gaming.  In Battlefield 4, we were impressed by the presence and clarity of explosions.  We also noted the fairly balanced soundscape, which doesn't place such a great emphasis on the lower frequencies as some gaming headsets.

We weren't quite as happy with the headset when watching movies.

Firstly we watched the opening sequence of The Dark Knight which highlighted the limited sound-panning ability of this stereo configuration.  Next, we decided to watch the original Die Hard, staring Bruce Willis.  After around 30 minutes the itchy earpads proved too uncomfortable and we found ourselves reaching for the trusty reference SteelSeries Siberia V2 headset.  This issue was present when gaming, however the more involved nature seemed to distract from it more than when watching a movie.

We found the sound balance of the headset pretty neutral when listening to music.  We tested the Cronos with various genres spanning from classical piano to drum and bass and the headset performed consistently. That said, The Cronos doesn't deliver powerful bass, meaning it is not ideal for specific genres which can place a focus on lower frequency response.

It is clear that Tt eSPORTS are putting a lot of effort into new product development, leading to various recent releases including the Cronos and, more broadly, the Level 10M range of gaming peripherals. While their products have exhibited an improving trend over time, they haven't convinced us that they are quite at the top level yet, specifically in terms of build quality and performance.

While the overall build quality of the Cronos is not a major concern, the plastics used in the ear-cups feel a little cheap and creak excessively when handled.  This may be acceptable for a £30 headset, but when the price exceeds £50 it certainly raises a red flag.

On a more positive note, we are impressed with the different connectivity options, which make it perfect for those who want to a headset to use with both their PC and mobile devices.

Despite exhibiting decent performance throughout our gaming and multimedia tests from a sound quality point of view, we found the headset uncomfortable to use for long periods of time due to the unusual material which cover the earpads.  We found it to be very itchy and ended up speeding through our tests as quickly as possible so we could return to a more comfortable headset.

At a price of around £55 from Amazon, we feel that the Tt eSPORTS Cronos is too expensive considering overall experience and quality.  While it may not necessarily offer better build quality, the SteelSeries Siberia V2 only costs £5 more and offers superior sound quality and a significantly more comfortable fit. We really could not live with the Tt eSPORTS Cronos Gaming Headset.

Pros:

• Decent sound quality.
• Compatible with mobile devices.
• Folding design.

Cons:

• Annoying ear-pad material.
• Too expensive.
• Dubious build quality.

KitGuru says: A decent headset which lacks bass response, is slightly uncomfortable and suffers from questionable build quality issues.