Get Your Gaming Headphones Here
Written: Oct 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: just about everything
Cons: slight discomfort after long periods of usage
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| clburdette's Full Review: Aiwa HP-X222 Consumer Headphones |
When I bought my first 3d positional audio sound card for games, I was finding that my tiny computer speakers were inadequate. They distorted easily with the volumes I liked, and those volumes tended to disturb others in the household. So, I set out to buy a pair of headphones with the express purpose of using for games.
I don't like to get too carried away with home electronics, so I shop at major big-box stores like Best Buy and Circuit City. I looked through the entire headphone section before I decided. Many of the best headphones in these major stores are $100 and up, and that was just out of the question. The cheapest are merely earbuds that wouldn't be able to deliver the kind of power I was after in a speaker. So I was to settle for the $20-$50 range, and go from there.
A big requirement of mine was that the cord had to be long enough to go from the back of the computer to my head, which would be several feet from my monitor, and still have a comfortable amount of slack. The HP-X222's definitely fit that bill. They feature a generous amount of cord between the jack and the speakers, more probably than most people could ever find a use for.
Another requirement was that the headphones fit completely over the ear. I wanted this for a few different reasons: first, it would leave room for a larger speaker which could handle the low end better. Secondly, it would keep my sound in so other people wouldn't be bothered by it. And lastly, it would keep other people's sound out, namely loud free-air speaker sound from my LAN Unreal Tournament competition. Once again, the HP-X222 fits this bill.
I wasnt real concerned about sound quality, because most headphones I've experienced that cost over $20 have been pretty good. This set is no exception. It features crisp response throughout a very wide curve. Highs shimmer without being piercing, there is a nice fat mid-range that makes distortion guitar gritty and basslines snappy. The lows were surely the biggest surprise, very strong for such a small speaker. With enough volume, the bass is so powerful, you can literally feel your eardrum being pushed and pulled.
Speaking of powerful, these speakers are LOUD. This was an important requirement for me, because I want effects in my games to be realistic, and realistically, they would be very loud. I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that I wouldn't dare try to distort these with them on my head. I like what little amount of hearing I have left. They're capable of any volume needed.
Another nice thing about these headphones is that they're so great and cost only $35. It's nice to have good quality sound and not have to pay out through the nose for it. While I'm sure a pair of headphones 5 times more expensive sounds noticably better, I also know that these headphones sound better than any $100 free-air speaker, and that seems like a pretty good deal to me.
It should also be mentioned that these speakers are thoughtfully packaged with a full-size plug adapter so that plug incompatibility isn't a problem.
My one gripe about these headphones is that they're a little tight on the ears. While they feature a generous amount of padding, it just doesnt sit right on my head, and becomes uncomfortable if worn more than an hour or so.
Overall, I'm very pleased with these headphones. I'm definitely happy with the value and quality. If I had to do it all over again, I'd pick the Aiwa HP-X222 every time.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
clburdette
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Member: Curtis Burdette
Location: california
Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
question everything
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