Virtually each gaming headset I’ve had the pleasure of carrying has had a reasonably poor high quality microphone. They’re largely nice for sport chats and yelling at your pals, however the second you need your voice to sound good they’ll get within the bin. Your common gamer in all probability would not thoughts an excessive amount of, and would undoubtedly slightly their headset delivers nice sound and possibly forgoes the mic high quality for a less expensive worth. However there is a motive most streamers, podcasters, and content material creators of many stripes could have a devoted desk mic for these greater high quality recordings.
Even our absolute favorite gaming headsets fail to go toe-to-toe with an okay high quality desktop microphone. It is really type of bizarre given how good lapel mics are, and contemplating casting headsets exist. Nonetheless, this gaming headset reality leaves most creators of content material having to fork out for 2 units. Audio Technica’s new ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet headset says hell no to that, spend all that cash on me as a substitute.
The ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet is not precisely a funds headset coming at $229/$AUD399/£169 however by no means is that the purpose. It is completely a high-end closed again headset.
That worth reveals in its construct high quality. It sports activities a robust but versatile construct with absolutely rotating and folding earpieces with swappable pads for consolation. Although largely plastic, the construct is sturdy and the silver steel thrives look nice on the general mat black design. It is the type of look that when different individuals are carrying it, I assume the music they’re listening to is best than mine.
ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet specs
Connection: Wired
Fashion: Closed-back
Drivers: 45mm
Frequency: 15 to twenty-eight,000Hz
Connector: USB Kind-A with Kind-C adapter or analog XLR
Weight: 330g
Mic kind: Again electret condenser
Polar sample: Unidirectional
Mic frequency vary: 50 to twenty,000 Hz (at 3 cm)
Worth: $229/$AUD399/£169
Listening to music is a beautiful expertise within the ATH-M50xSTS, which I type of count on for an Audio Technica headset. These are primarily a rebuild of the ATH-M50x in order that they’re brimming with that good sound DNA. The audio high quality is de facto arduous to fault particularly on this worth vary. It is properly balanced with little particulars shining by in songs. A bit of bass heavy in the way in which that each one headsets are typically, but it surely’s pretty gentle and the brilliant treble and heat tones are beautiful to be immersed in.
In-game sounds profit from the standard too. I discovered there’s little muddiness even when there’s loads of motion. I loaded up for a day of Overwatch 2 and spent my time sneaking round as Sombra, searching enemies by their footsteps to nice impact. In Sons of the Forest, I foolishly went wandering, permitting my headset to take me on an audio journey proper into the blades of a propeller swinging cannibal. These cans undoubtedly have the audio chops to face as much as the calls for of a gaming session. The selection of cuffs and light-weight design with comparatively little stress on the highest of the top additionally make for a snug experience.
The outer housing for the StreamSet is fairly minimal as the entire thing solely provides one button, a pressable scroll wheel. All it does is turns off the monitor mode and adjusts particularly the amount so you possibly can monitor your individual voice to your headset. Monitor mode may be fairly offputting, however I observed myself utilizing it much more with this headset than regular, permitting me to get a superb really feel for what my voice was like. It felt simpler to do that with the devoted monitor controls, and likewise doubtlessly due to the sidetone circuit that is supposed to provide your individual voice a extra pure tone within the headset.
With such a dedication to observe mode, there is no buttons for anything on the headset. It is sensible, particularly for a headset that wishes to be sure to sound good. All different audio is supposed to be managed by your PC. Remembering to succeed in to your PC quantity controls versus the headset itself takes somewhat little bit of getting used to, however I believe the commerce off in simplicity is value it.
I do know the entire level of the ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet is to have a superb mic, however wow does it even have a superb mic. Audio Technica has packed a cardioid condenser into this connected growth mic. It is primarily based on the model’s 20 Collection microphones and gosh it does sound prefer it.
The StreamSet mic is similar to utilizing a desktop mic solely an entire lot simpler. I used it throughout a number of streaming periods and am satisfied it is much less trouble and possibly even a greater answer than my desktop mic setup. I’m nearly solely rocking wi-fi headsets as a result of I hate cables, however that is convincing me it must be in my streaming equipment.
The headset mic sits on a versatile arm, permitting you to place it proper the place you want, and it has a flip to mute operate. You do not have to fret about transferring too removed from the mic mid stream or organising a secondary gadget. I did not even have to allow any software program like Nvidia’s Noise Elimination to scrub up background noise, like I might in any other case should do. The benefit of monitoring your voice with the press of a button additionally inspired me to test on it extra, however tended to solely let me know I used to be sounding improbable.
This gaming headset is old fashioned cool. There are not any actual drivers to fret about, and definitely no blaring gamer software program to should not solely set up but additionally navigate. These are plug and play within the truest of sense simply instantly working with no matter I plug them into flawlessly. Attributable to working with PCs and what not, I am reviewing the USB mannequin which has a set USB Kind-A cable and comes with a USB Kind-C adapter within the field and has completely no points. For folks a lot cooler than me there’s even an extremely unusual analog XLR possibility, which feels prefer it goes additional to point out off audio reverence in these units.
Audio Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS Streamset held lofty objectives of changing your desktop mic streaming setup with one headset able to delivering prime quality audio from each ends. Not solely does it present a superb listening expertise, however the mic is nearly as good because the boast. It seems it is a set of cans that does precisely what it says on the tin. It makes that top worth much more palatable when you think about you are getting a terrific high quality set of cans and a very good microphone all within the one bundle.
This headset/mic mixture would not disappoint on both spec, delivering superb sound high quality and recording that’ll see your desktop mic gathering mud.
