NOVEMBER 2019 • TECH ADVISOR 93GAMING SPECIALHow we tested
We test headsets over the course of a few weeks, and
sometimes longer. Much longer, in some cases – I’ve
been using a pair of Astro A50s as daily drivers for
years now, and stand by their quality and durability.
Our rankings are based on the following criteria:Design/comfort: Obviously, you want a headset that
fits well without snapping in half the first time you
put it on. Headsets are tested with our vigorous and
ultra-scientific ‘I bent it a lot and saw if it seemed
durable’ method, as well as against the internationally
recognized ‘I wore this for eight hours and it didn’t
give me a headache or make my ears feel like
sandpaper’ baseline.Sound: There will always be the people who say,
“Why buy a gaming headset when you can buy
a decent pair of headphones and a standalone
microphone?” And those people are right, but they
are sort of missing the point. There’s something to be
said about a product that performs just as well when
watching movies/listening to music as it does while
playing games. After all, I assume most people want
one pair of headphones for their PC, not multiple
pairs for different tasks.
With that in mind, we test headsets in various
games (Battlefield 4, Rainbow Six Siege) but also
listening to music and watching videos, to make sure
you’re getting a decent all-around experience. These
aren’t necessarily studio-quality headphones, but that
doesn’t mean it should sound like all-bass-all-the-time.NOVEMBER 2019 • TECH ADVISOR 93GAMING SPECIALHow we tested
We test headsets over the course of a few weeks, and
sometimes longer. Much longer, in some cases – I’ve
been using a pair of Astro A50s as daily drivers for
yearsnow,andstandbytheirqualityanddurability.
Ourrankings are based on the following criteria:
Design/comfort: Obviously, you want a headset that
fits well without snapping in half the first time you
put it on. Headsets are tested with our vigorous and
ultra-scientific ‘I bent it a lot and saw if it seemed
durable’ method, as well as against the internationally
recognized‘I worethisforeighthoursandit didn’t
giveme a headache or make my ears feel like
sandpaper’ baseline.
Sound:Therewillalwaysbethepeoplewhosay,
“Whybuy a gaming headset when you can buy
a decent pair of headphones and a standalone
microphone?” And those people are right, but they
are sort of missing the point. There’s something to be
said about a product that performs just as well when
watching movies/listening to music as it does while
playing games. After all, I assume most people want
onepairofheadphonesfortheirPC,notmultiple
pairsfor different tasks.
Withthatin mind,wetestheadsetsin various
games(Battlefield 4, Rainbow Six Siege) but also
listening to music and watching videos, to make sure
you’re getting a decent all-around experience. These
aren’t necessarily studio-quality headphones, but that
doesn’t mean it should sound like all-bass-all-the-time.