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To test the TUF Gaming H3, I used it for just under a week while gaming and listening to music. We break our testing down into three sections – build quality and comfort, sound, and mic. We usually include a look at the accompanying software, but as this is an analog headset there is no extra software.
Build quality and comfort
Starting with overall build quality of the H3, it is certainly a pretty solid headset. The first thing you'll notice in terms of build quality are those stainless steel yokes/headband slider which make a good first impression – compared to the all-plastic Razer Kraken X, this is an immediate point in ASUS' favour, though the Corsair HS50 does also have metal yokes.
Balanced against that I would say the earcups themselves do look and feel quite plasticky, but it's still very solid plastic which doesn't flex or creak which is re-assuring. This is still a budget headset so I wouldn't go throwing it around, but the overall feel and rigidity of the H3 is definitely better than that of the Kraken X, and probably on par with the HS50.
There's more stainless steel in the headband, too, which is covered by protein leather. This does the job well as it's pretty flexible and adjustable, but also doesn't clamp too hard on the top of your head. This was one of the first things I noticed when I put the H3 on for the first time – the lack of a sore/overly strong clamping force – and ASUS even says it has ‘20% less clamping force than the previous stainless steel headbands we've used'.
In a similar vein, the headset itself is quite lightweight, coming in at 294g. This is slightly heavier than the Kraken X and Corsair HS35 which both weigh 250g, but it is 25g lighter than the HS50. In practice, I didn't notice any unwanted fatigue or pressure, even after playing PUBG for multiple hours at a time, so it's a definite plus for the H3.
The last thing to mention are those memory foam ear cushions. These proved very soft and comfortable on my ears and the sides of my head, while there is also enough padding (about 1.5-2cm) that my ears never came into contact with the driver housing. I am also very glad to see that the ear cushions themselves are removable so you can swap them out if you want. I do find protein leather cushions like this make my ears quite warm after prolonged usage, but the option to swap them out for fabric covered cushions is there.
Sound
Moving onto the sound quality of the H3, I would describe it as a relatively laid back ‘v-shaped' sound signature, with some emphasis on bass and treble but nothing overbearing.
When gaming, I first noticed that prominent bass adding a fair amount of weight to the overall sound. The ‘red zone' in PUBG, for instance, sounded threatening while I also found the roar of my car's engine in Rocket League was pleasingly satisfying. The bass isn't over done, though, and I've certainly heard bassier headsets. It obviously depends on your preference, but for me this works really well for games or music.
The one thing I would say about the bass is that it can occasionally sound a touch distorted, which I noticed most when listening to music – it's less obvious when gaming. In all honesty, though, this is pretty much par for the course for a headset at this price, so it's not really much of a criticism, but is worth noting.
The mid-range is arguably the most important aspect of the mix for a gamer, and the H3 does equally well here. The mids aren't recessed at all, instead they're just slightly forward so vocals carry very well and I was never unable to hear a team-mate over VOIP, for instance. Footsteps also come through loud and clear which is crucial for FPS, though on that topic I did find the H3 to have a particularly narrow soundstage – gaming headsets typically don't sound that expansive, but the H3 is definitely on the smaller side.
As for the treble, there is a slight boost to these frequencies, but it's subtle. I noticed this most when listening to music, with hit-hats and cymbals sounding fairly crisp but not at all sharp or fatiguing. It's enough to add a better sense of detail than what I heard from the Kraken X, but I'd say even if you are particularly treble-sensitive this won't cause you issues.
Overall, for a £50 headset the TUF Gaming H3 sounds surprisingly good. It's an overall well-balanced sound – for my tastes, at least – with a punchy but not overbearing bass, clear mid-range and slightly boosted treble. The one thing holding it back for me is the narrower soundstage, which is where the HS50 does particularly well, but I am still very impressed with what I have heard.
The last thing to mention before moving on is ASUS' claim that the H3 supports virtual surround-sound. This is technically true as ASUS is simply claiming the headset can be used with Windows Sonic, Windows' own virtual 7.1 tool – but the same can be said of any other 3.5mm headset on the market, so just be aware you're not getting anything specially designed for the H3 in terms of 7.1 software.
Mic
TUF Gaming H3 Mic test, compared with Corsair HS35 and Corsair HS50
Coming now to the microphone, above you can hear a three-way comparison with the HS35 and HS50 also brought in to the recording. In my opinion, the H3 has a much better mic than the HS35, though it is also the more expensive headset, but up against the HS50 it is a narrow win for that Corsair headset. As I hear it, the H3 just sounds a touch more tinny and nasally than the HS50, which has a slightly fuller and more natural sound.
That said, it is still a very capable mic for the money and you can clearly hear what is being said. Compared with the HS50 side by side, however, I do think the Corsair headset just has the better mic.
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