TT eSPORTS Shock Spin HD Gaming Headset Review

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

The gaming market is very competitive this year with key players such as Steelseries and Razer unleashing a wide selection of superb products.  Thermaltake may be relatively new to the scene, but under the TT eSports name they have managed to come up with a number of impressive products such as the MEKA keyboard and TT eSPORTS Shock One gaming headset.

Today we are going to look at the latest gaming headset from Thermaltake's eSPORTS division, the Shock Spin HD gaming headset.  It boasts an impressive specification which includes virtual 7.1 surround sound and a external USB sound card.  It also features a separate microphone in a similar fashion to the original Siberia headset from SteelSeries.

Features

• 50mm Neodynium transducers for clear, uncoloured sound
• Impressive powerful bass and crystal-clear treble
• Individual mic box for gaming communication
• Self-adjustable headband for outstanding comfort
• Virtual 7.1 surround sound for outstanding performance

Specification

Headphone

• Type: 50mm Neodymium Magnet Speaker
• Sensitivity: 95 +/- 3 dB
• Frequency Response: 15 – 20 000 Hz
• Impedance: 30 Ohm
• Connector: 3.5 mm plug
• Cable length: 90 cm
• Headphone extension box with cable 120 cm / Velcro strap for cable management

Microphone

• Sensitivity: -34 +/- 3 dB
• Frequency: 100 – 10 000 Hz
• Impedance: 2.2 KOhm
• Direction: Omni-directional
• Connector: 3.5 mm plug
• Cable length: 270 cm / Velcro strap for cable management

Thermaltake supply the Shock Spin HD in an attractively designed box which features TT eSPORTS' trademark red and black colour scheme.  On the front of the box there is a large image of the headset alongside some basic specifications.

The front of the box acts as a door which opens to reveal a window in the front of the box so you can see the headset.  On the inside of the door we find details alongside a diagram of all the items which are included in the box.

Turning the box around reveals the feature list in no fewer than fifteen different languages.  There are also pictures of the three different colour options of the headset that are available; Shinning White, Diamond Black and Royal Red.

Inside the box we find quite a number of complimentary items supplied alongside the headset.  These include a user manual, warranty leaflet, software CD and a braided USB cable for the included USB sound card.

The only gripe we have with the packaging is the inner plastic tray which seems to shed black dust all over the headset as you can see in the picture above.

There are three different colours of the Shock Spin HD available and we have the ‘Shinning White' version for review today.  We assume that this is supposed to say ‘Shining White', as ‘shinning' means to ‘climb quickly up or down by gripping with one's arms and legs'.

The aesthetics of the headset are a little unusual. Thermaltake have chosen to use a strange swirling design for the earcups which gives it a rather gaudy appearance.

The headset is constructed entirely from glossy plastic.  The majority of the headset is coloured white with black being reserved for the small pieces that hold the earcups in place.  The design of the headset is remarkably similar to that of the SteelSeries Siberia V2, from the design of the headband to the colours that are available.

Build quality really isn't top notch though and leaves a lot to be desired when we compare it to the SteelSeries model.  The headband feels especially flimsy and the plastic used in construction really doesn't inspire us with confidence in the quality department.

One aspect of the build quality that is good, though, is the white cloth braided cable that feels very durable.  Thermaltake have also chosen to use gold plated connectors.

Hooking up the headset to your computer isn't exactly a simple process, though.  The cable from the headset terminates in a 3.5mm connector which must be plugged into the external sound card which then attaches to the PC via a separate USB cable.  For those who want to use the headset without the USB sound card, there is also a 3.5mm extension cable with a volume control.

The included microphone is completely separate from the headphone part of the headset, this can be plugged into the USB sound card or directly into a system if desired.  It features a small clip on the back which lets you attach it to your shirt.  It is much less convenient to use than a microphone attached to the headset itself, though, and it creates quite a mess of cables.

The Shock Spin HD is a very comfortable headset to wear as a result of two important factors.  Firstly, the headset is very lightweight, meaning you can barely feel it on your head.  Secondly, it features a very similar kind of headband to the SteelSeries Siberia V2 which is self adjusting and spreads the weight of the headset very evenly across the head.

Thermaltake have chosen to use cloth earpads which make the headset comfortable to wear for long periods of time.  We do feel however that the leatherette earpads of the SteelSeries Siberia V2 are more comfortable to use for general usage.

The inclusion of a separate USB sound card rather than a built in one makes the Shock Spin HD very flexible as you can use it with all devices that use a 3.5 mm connection but you can still benefit from 7.1 virtual surround sound when using the headset with your PC for gaming or movie playback.

We found that the headset was well suited to music playback both when using a PC and MP3 player.  We achieved the best results using the external USB sound card as the volume was much more impressive and the included sound panel let us configure the sound levels for different types of music.

While virtual surround sound doesn't create the same experience as a dedicated surround sound, it does enhance the sound panning ability of the headset.  We noticed a slight improvement in the overall experience when gaming and when watching movies.  The sound balance is also well suited to gaming, with explosions and gunshots being prominent, but not overexposed.

Overall we have mixed feelings about the TT eSPORTS Shock Spin HD gaming headset.  We are quite impressed by the sound quality of the headset which is excellent when gaming, watching movies and playing most varieties of music.  When using the USB sound card, the sound panning ability of the headset is improved and there is a significant boost in volume over the standard PC output.  The headset is also very lightweight and comfortable which makes for a pleasurable gaming experience.

But there are a number of drawbacks with this product.  We are somewhat underwhelmed by the build quality and the plastics feel very cheap.  The appearance of the headset is also going to divide opinion, as it isn't exactly the most elegant design we have seen, we are also disappointed by the inclusion of a separate microphone rather than one that is built into the headset itself.  This is much less convenient as you have to attach it to your shirt and creates a mess of cabling.

Thermaltake advise us that the Shock Spin HD headset will be hitting the market at around $99 which is very close to the price of the USB version of the SteelSeries Siberia V2 which can be purchased for around $105.  So will therefore assume that the UK pricing of these headsets will be very similar … at around £70-£80.

This makes it very difficult for us to recommend the Shock Spin HD over the Siberia V2 because of inferior overall build quality.  The Siberia V2 also includes a pull out microphone which is much more convenient than the clip on one included with the Shock Spin HD.

Pros

• Virtual surround sound.
• Good compatibility.
• Impressive sound quality.

Cons

• Questionable build quality.
• Aesthetics will split opinion.
• Quite expensive.

KitGuru says: The Shock Spin HD would be much more attractive at a lower price point.

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