Nerdytec CouchMaster Premium Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. The CouchMaster4. Comfort and Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

In days gone by, it was rare to see PC gamers sitting anywhere other than at a desk when enjoying their favourite titles. With the emergence and widespread adoption of big-screen TVs and floor-shaking surround sound systems, PC gamers' desks have a competing entertainment area – the couch.

While couch (or sofa for us Brits) gaming is more commonly associated with consoles which rely upon handheld controllers, that's not to say that the entertainment equipment isn't up to scratch for high quality PC action. One of the main caveats for hardcore PC fans was the awkwardness of using a keyboard and mouse while sat away from the input devices' natural home – the desk.

Nerdytec has aimed to solve that problem with its portable-desk-like CouchMaster. Combining a solid wood cross-section support with a pair of soft, comfort-enhancing cushions, is the CouchMaster the product to make PC gaming a viable option for the ‘big screen'?

Components:

• 2x support cushions (1 with pocket).
• 1x wooden cross board support with integrated cable management.
• 3x palm and wrist rests.
• Hook and loop (Velcro) self-adhesive fastener strips.
• 4 port USB 3.0 mains-powered hub (Premium-edition only).
• 5m USB 3.0 extension cable (Premium-edition only).

Our sample of the CouchMaster was sent in its original packaging, as pictured above, with extra protection from an additional plastic covering and cardboard support.

The sample didn't suffer any issues during transit, but one inadvertent tear of the plastic and the CouchMaster itself could easily be damaged. We would prefer Nerdytec to supply its retail versions in a large box that would be far more secure.

A 5m USB 3.0 extension cable, 4 port USB 3.0 mains-powered hub, strips of Velcro (hook and loop fasteners) backed by adhesive tape and a storage pouch form the CouchMaster Premium-edition's bundle. The Basic-edition omits the USB 3.0 hub and extension cable in favour of a €20 price reduction.

Each item has an individual role in making the CouchMaster a portable desk in its own right.

Measuring in at around 85cm wide, the solid, leather-covered wood cross board is the CouchMaster's key component as a desk-mimicking product.

Its downwards-sloping design allows users to place their input devices on its large surface without having to stretch when typing or handling the mouse.

Four cable management holes on the board's upper surface and a pair of hidden compartments on the underside allow users to keep cable clutter at a controllable level without having to expend too much effort.

A trio of half-soft, half-solid wrist rests can be attached to the CouchMaster's cross board to give users a comfortable support upon which their forearms can be rested.

The supports are functionally identical to those found on many gaming-orientated keyboards.

A pair of large, leather-coated cushion pillars acts as the wooden cross board's support. With a couch-filling length of 60cm, we would advise you to take some measurements before rushing out to buy a product which may not fit.

Both pillars feature a zip-locking mechanism which allows users to gain access to the internal cushioned material.

With intermittent red and black colouring, the pillars' eye-catching style should match many of the market's gaming-grade peripherals, such as the CM Storm QuickFire TK keyboard and Ceres-400 headset.

If you aren't a big fan of this version's appearance, the colours that can be selected in place of red are; black, blue, yellow, green, purple and orange. Each of the available colour options can be viewed here.

Featuring on the outside edge (dependent upon the user's individual positioning) of one pillar, a large storage pouch offers a great area for a variety of items to be stored.

Medium-sized headsets and 2.5″ portable hard drives are just some of the computer-related items that can fit perfectly. Perhaps of greater importance, the pouch is adequately-sized to be able to accept gamer fuel such as drinks and sweets. Who said you can't eat while gaming?!

The CouchMaster's modular scope of delivery allows it to be built in a number of distinct manors, each with its own subtle differences.

Cross board positioning and pillar orientation are the CouchMaster's most user-definable build aspects. For users with shorter arms, the cross board can be moved forward to an area nearer the individual's body; and vice versa for larger users.

A leather pouch clips onto the rear side of the cross board. It can be used to store a mouse when not in use, although larger units, such as Roccat's Kone XTD, will have a hard time fitting inside.

Provided you have the arm strength to shift the heavy wooden cross board, putting together the CouchMaster will be a simple task, thanks to the modular design's freedom of positioning.

Users are able to use the Velcro (hook and loop) strips to stick each component to its neighbour. We could only see the usefulness of sticking components down when we talk about the small wrist rests which would easily move.

The cross board and pillars were simply too large and heavy to require fastening together, and in doing so, the CouchMaster will become increasingly awkward to move. Some people may have opted to stick them together, but we don't see how you can possibly move this portable desk without first detaching the largest segments.

The space allowed by the pillar-to-pillar gap can be customised to a user's individual preference; simply push the pillars closer together or further apart.

With a gap of around 19cm between the pillars' bottom surface and that of the wooden cross piece, users should have plenty of room to fit their legs through the clearance span created by the bridging board.

Nerdytec has integrated a well-designed internal cable management system into the wooden cross board. A pair of sections cut into the board's underside acts as device storage compartments, while a hidden channel allows cables to be routed back and forth between each area.

Further routing enhancements come via 4 holes cut into the board's upper surface (which are concealed by plastic caps when not in use) and a gap that allows cables to exit the compartments' internal areas.

Each cable management area is then masked by a wooden slat which integrates seamlessly with the rest of the board's exterior style.

With the CouchMaster configured and built for use, the black cables can clandestinely exit the wooden cross board's internal management area via specific gaps.

During usage, we didn't experience any discomfort which was caused by the CouchMaster's design. No force is exerted upon the user, thanks to the large pillars which support the heavy cross board. An ample amount of clearance was provided for our legs to fit between both pillars and the cross board.

We did notice that sliding in and out of the user's area was difficult. While the product may not be designed for users who are required to regularly move to and from their desk, there does come a point where even the most dormant of people have to visit the toilet. This drawback, coupled with the CouchMaster's awkward dimensions when constructed, gives further reasoning to avoid sticking the heavy cross board to the support pillars.

We had no problems using the CouchMaster with our gaming-grade Roccat Kone XTD mouse and CM Storm QuickFire TK mechanical keyboard.

The wrist rests positioned nearest to the keyboard were a welcomed addition that offered extra support which prevented our forearms aching during extended periods of gaming. Some users will choose to remove the wrist rest located nearest to the mouse; its positioning causes one's hand and forearm to stretch and bend when reaching for the input device.

Hiding devices' wires is a job made easy by the conveniently-located holes that provide access to the internal cable management areas. Simply pull off the plastic cap and feed the card through the hole. You are then given the option of connecting a device to the 4 port USB 3.0 hub or routing its cable through the specific channels, giving it access to your system's connectors.

During Battlefield 3's frantic run-and-gun occasions, the area in which our mouse was given to operate did seem slightly confined. Piloting a jet, a situation that requires rapid mouse movements spanning a large distance, also gave the same sense of space restriction.

There isn't much that can be done to avoid this feeling, other than simply adapting to it over time. Removing the wrist rest positioned below the mouse can free up some extra space, while increasing our unit's DPI level also helped to reduce the area of cross board that was covered with each wide-radius jet turn or LMG bullet spray.

It would be harsh to criticise Nerdytec for conforming to pre-defined size restrictions. Instead, we are trying to outline some areas of usage that will take a small amount of adaptation when compared to ‘standard', full-sized desk scenarios.

Nerdytec didn't design the CouchMaster just for use as a portable desk on which gaming peripherals can be placed. The versatile piece of equipment has the ability hold 15.4″ laptops, iPads, internet tablets and most other portable technology devices that are right at home when sat on a desk.

For home-based workers that want to watch some important TV programmes, away from the office room, while still being able to work with all of their convenient devices in close proximity, the CouchMaster is suitably designed to make it a realistic option.

For husbands and boyfriends whose other-half hassles them into watching the ‘latest and greatest' talent shows on a Saturday night, the CouchMaster can be used to support a powerful gaming laptop and input peripherals without burning one's legs or forcing reliance upon a touchpad.

The CouchMaster's possible usage scenarios are vast.

PC gaming on a big-screen TV, from the comfort of a couch, is a possibility, thanks to the CouchMaster.

Many more images of the CouchMaster in action during Gamescom 2012 can be viewed here.

The Nerdytec CouchMaster is an innovative product that solves a clear problem which has inconvenienced PC gamers for many years. With such a vague set of requirements, Nerdytec has done an excellent job in designing a product which is suitable for a majority, rather than minority, of users.

As far as usage goes, the CouchMaster is suitable for a wide variety of applications. Users can give the desk-replacement item the task of housing their keyboard, mouse and other game-related peripherals. Non-gamers can use the CouchMaster to hold their laptop, internet tablet and other portable devices. The CouchMaster has the ability to prevent home-based workers from being confined to their office.

As well as tech-based solutions, the CouchMaster can also be used for a number of day-to-day tasks. The wooden cross board's smooth, high quality finish is great for writing purposes – ideal for students who need extra space to complete their work. We could go on. The CouchMaster has a large quantity of viable usage scenarios which can provide a solution to even the most basic of problems.

Nerdytec has excelled in designing the CouchMaster to make it suitable for a large audience. Accurate and reliable anthropometric data has been collected to make the CouchMaster's dimensions and design ergonomically-sound. As proven by Nerdytec's gallery from Gamescom 2012, which we invite you to take a look at here, the CouchMaster is suitable for a wide variety of body shapes and sizes.

The components' modular design is another reason that the CouchMaster is such an adaptable product, when it comes to usage. If one style doesn't suit your individual usage preferences or is causing discomfort, it is easy to make a problem-solving adjustment by simply picking up the cross board and moving the pillars to a desired separation.

A gamer-orientated appearance makes the CouchMaster an even more desirable product. With 7 different colour combinations to choose from, gamers have a good chance of finding the CouchMaster that matches their system and peripherals' styles.

With storage pouches, cable management areas, comfort-enhancing wrist rests and even a USB 3.0 extension cable and 4 port hub (Premium-edition only), Nerdytec hasn't cut any corners when making the CouchMaster a fully-functional desk-replacement item.

Available directly from Nerdytec at €159.00 for the Premium-edition or €139.00 for the Basic-edition, users will have to be prepared to dish out a good amount of money for the CouchMaster's variety of problem-solving applications. If you don't have a clear usage for the CouchMaster, the €139.00+ price tag will be very hard to justify.

Edit: In the US, Steiger Dynamics now stocks the CouchMaster in a variety of colours and a new Nappa leather material. Our US readers can get their hands on the CouchMaster for $228.00 upwards directly from Steiger Dynamics.

We would like to see a slight price reduction to make the CouchMaster a more justifiable option to a greater number of users. This reduction could be achieved by using cheaper, but equally effective, materials for certain components. A CouchMaster Mini would also be a good idea that would help the item appeal to a greater audience with its lower price and smaller dimensions.

Nerdytec's CouchMaster is a well-designed product that is built to a high level of quality. For users with a number of specific applications where the CouchMaster's variety of problem-solving abilities will come in handy, the item is well-worthy of purchasing, provided you can justify the €139.00+ spend.

Pros:

• Unique product that has the potential to solve a variety of problems.
• Excellent build quality.
• Modular design.
• Well-thought additions such as side pouch and extension cables.
• Gamer-orientated style and choice of colour schemes.
• Good amount of internal cable management space.
• Wide variety of usage scenarios and environments.

Cons:

• Wooden cross board is very heavy.
• Awkward to manoeuvre in and out of the user's leg area.
• 60cm length may be too large for some couches (sofas).
• Price tag will be hard to justify for a large amount of users.

KitGuru says: A truly unique product that has the potential to solve so many problems. If the CouchMaster is of clear use to you, the €139.00 should be justifiable.

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