31.3.2016

Pros: Sound quality for a headset, build quality, comfort, looks and designCons: Recording quality, sound qualityBuild quality: 10/10Comfort: 10/10Overall sound quality for a headset: 9/10Isolation: 8/10Microphone quality: 6/10Software: 6/10Review price: £100Value: 7.5/10 (at £100 price tag)Overall rating: 8/10First of all I would like to thank Creative for sending me their headset for review. After having reviewed a variety of headsets, I was curious to see how the H5 would compare to its competitors.The headset can be found directly on Creative's website for £100 (where you'll also find its full specs) and can also be bought on AmazonUK for around £100 and on AmazonUSA for around $100.As I'm a UK based reviewer, my review will be based on UK prices.Packaging and contentsWithin the ridiculously large and circular box, you'll find the headset, a detachable mic, a cable with a mute slider, an extension lead with mic/line in and finally a set of manuals/warranty cards. The package contents are good, but it would have been better with a soft carrying pouch.Build quality & DesignThe build quality of the H5 is fantastic. Starting from the braided cable, which is detachable and is multi-purpose through its extension-lead design. Both cables are gold-plated, use 3.5mm jacks and are braided - a nice touch by Creative. The primary cable which connects to the headset is needed no matter which setup you decide to use.This cable has a small control pod, which has a one-button remote for play/pause music, which also doubles up as answer/reject calls. There is also a mute switch, which is used to mute the microphone and finally there's a small volume wheel for the overall volume of the headset.When this cable is connected to a mobile phone, the one-button functionality comes in extremely handy, as you can also use the headset as a headphone on your smartphone or other source. I should note that the cable is 1.2m in length - which is the perfect length for a portable headphone.The secondary extension cable, is a further 1.2m long and has a female jack, used for connecting the primary cable into it. Its termination is two male 3.5mm jacks, one used for a mic input and the other line in.Due to its design, it needs a decent sound card on a PC to be able to reproduce a good quality sound. For example, I used a small USB sound card for the mic (to isolate any HDD noise) and a separate sound card for the headphone's sound input.Moving on from the cable to the headset itself, there is a left/right indicator within the headset itself, whilst on the left-sided driver there are grooves for the mic and primary cable input - the cables fit in securely and due to the headset's design stay firmly in place.On the drivers' housing there is a BlasterX logo and a brushed aluminium look, giving the headset a nice look and design. The X within the logo is also red which looks great!The headband is solidly made and has a metal frame, giving it great flexibility and strength. At the top of the headband there's ample amounts of padding, meaning you can wear the headset for long periods of time.Finally the pads are well stitched and are extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The overall build quality is therefore fantastic, from top to bottom the headset is well thought out and the fact that you can use it solely as a headphone too is a great addition to a desktop headset.On that note, the headset is compatible on all major platforms, including consoles (I wasn't able to test on consoles), but on phones and desktops it works flawlessly.Comfort & IsolationThe headset is really comfortable, mainly due to its really soft pads and very spacious headband. Despite having a metal headband assembly, the headset is remarkably light, meaning you can wear it for hours on end, without having to worry about the weight on your head. The pads are well designed with a rectangular/oval shape and large 50mm drivers, allowing you to comfortably place them over-the-ear no matter your ear size - my ears are quite big and they fit me well!In terms of isolation, it's not the best, but due to it being over-the-ear, it passively isolates well - the pads also help to isolate sound leaking. Speaking of which, there is minimal sound leakage, and this comes from the drivers' ports located on the headset's driver housing.SoftwareThe software that comes bundled, needs to be downloaded from Creative's website and requires activation - a bit of a fuss for nothing really special. The software doens't really offer all that much, apart from some pre-set EQs which supposedly give you an edge in the games listed (or general category such as FPS games).I wasn't really impressed with the software and would have liked to see a little more included or for it to not even exist considering the process of getting it was a little painful.Sound quality & Microphone QualityAll sound quality tests were done through my phone and Denon X500 receiver.The sound quality was interesting to hear - whereby I found it decent for normal music listening, albeit not amazing and yet in games found it mediocre at best - this came down to the soundstage, which is a little close sounding, where it lacks width and depth.Moving on to the individual sound frequencies: I found the lows to have a slight sub-bass extension, but it was unfortunately cut-off in the lower regions. Th mid-bass has a nice slam, whilst also being controlled. I would have preferred it to have a little more bass impact as a headset (as gamers will want to hear big explosions), but as a headphone it's perfect. As this is a headset and more so something that's aimed at gamers, I think Creative should have put a little more emphasis in the lows.The mids are good, despite being slightly pushed back - they produce a nice tonality and a reasonably flat/neutral sounding mid-range frequency reproduction. The mids aren't too forward nor are they too pushed back -in my opinion they're one of the biggest strengths the headset has.The highs are slightly rolled off at the top end, but do provide a good sparkle and the overall highs presence isn't sibilant - which is always a plus.Finally, coming back to its soundstage, I found it to be slightly lacking in width and depth. This would especially concern gamers who are looking to hear sounds coming from various directions. So, despite the instrument separation being decent, due to having a reasonably closed soundstage, the headset isn't able to really glue together its drivers' capabilities to full effect.I therefore feel the overall sound quality is negatively effected by the soundstage - apart from this, I was happy with the sound reproduction, which is fantastic for a headphone, let alone a headset.The recording quality of the headset is what really lets the H5 down in a major way. The whole point of buying a headset is that you have both the convenience of having a headphone that has a microphone. Take away the mic and it becomes a headphone, where there's a far greater amount of competition in the market. I performed my tests through my USB sound card, which I use daily with my ModMic 4.0.The recording quality was below average, with the sound being very recessed, pushed back and muffled. Without the small foam tip on the headset's mic, the sound becomes slightly more open and less muffled, but is still pretty poor for a £100 headset. If it was only £30, then I would have understood, but at this price point there's simply no excuse. To add to my frustrations, the overall recording volume of the mic was significantly lower in comparison to my ModMic 4.0, which I found surprising, given they were plugged into the same sound card, using the same recording levels.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the headset produces a good sound, but for its price, I would have expected a lot better recording quality. Some might not think it's that important, but as this is a headset and not a headphone, there's no excuse. As a standalone headphone for music, it's decent for its price, and I can see myself recommending it at a £80 or so price tag. But for that extra £20, you want a decent mic and unfortunately that's not what Creative have developed.Due to it having a detachable mic, you could always buy a separate mic to plug it in, but it would have to fit, will cost you more and therefore no longer make it a £100 headset.Hope you enjoyed my review!-TotallydubbedHD

20.2.2016

The 'Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Analogue Pro Gaming Headset - Black' are solidly constructed, mostly of metal, but still moderately lightweight. To be labelled 'Gaming' indicates that they may not be quite as 'musical' in their capabilities as the typical audio headphones. They come packed within a hard plastic shell which can be used for storage when not in use and to keep them dust-free.Intended for gaming, they give a perceived impression of a boost to both the bass and treble ranges of the sounds they produce - the bass for the rumbles and other low-frequency sounds within a game and the treble for most of what remains. However, it is difficult to quantify without the necessary laboratory equipment.Were they for hi-fi use, a frequency response chart and range quotation would have been offered on the packaging; there is neither. Consequently, they are probably least suited to audiophile use although they will probably suit some modern styles of music with heavy bass lines but may be less well-suited where the voice predominates.As well as their use to monitor the audio within a game, there is a detachable noise-reducing microphone such that voice commands and inter-player communication may be possible during game-play where specifically supported. This will also allow for the 'phones to be used with Skype and similar services, possibly also with voice recognition software although that was not specifically tested (no relevant software was available).Compared with another similarly-specced and priced gaming headset used previously and which are all plastic, folding and very lightweight, these feel far more robust, more comfortable when worn and easier to use as the earpieces feature 50mm driver units - 25% larger than the 40mm units more commonly employed - and which better exclude extraneous sounds. It uses memory foam ear cushions within a rubber-feel (PU?) outer covering, also improving comfort and a major improvement on the basic foam pads fitted to the older phones and which will ultimately age and crumble. The 50mm units are also better able to deliver lower frequencies more accurately than smaller units used by other phones while not adversely affecting the middle and upper ranges of the audio spectrum. The headband is usefully wide and very well padded, adding to the level of comfort. A fitted 1.2m (4-foot) cable is provided with a further 1.2m extension cable which should suit most users. In the event that greater extension be needed, there are suitable longer third-party cables available fairly inexpensively. The phones are usable with almost any device and PC, Mac, Android and iOS devices, PS4 and XBox One are specifically listed. Any future device types can also be used.Creative Sound is a long-established brand, mostly associated with the production of Sound Cards but also with considerable experience in the manufacture of speakers and headphones especially for PC use. This headset should therefore provide good service over a long period, are not grossly expensive and sufficiently robust to absorb the abuse and rough handling that gaming hardware often receives during enthusiastic gameplay. As they may also serve non-gaming uses, their purchase will be easy to justify.

7.3.2016

Tried these as a replacement for main earphones on a computer and to share with my son who uses headphones on his PS4 game console.For general work with the PC they had to replace a HP USB headphone which had finally gone the HP way (my experience only I am sure). The headphones in listening to music produce a rich sound experience across all notes, from bass to treble. In listening to movies on Amazon Prime, they seem to be good at rendering speech as well as the musical elements and I would go as far as to say they are the best across the board but only by smidge. However when it came to my son and his PS4 he was ecstatic at the result he achieved. Nothing, apparently, comes close.

29.2.2016

Wearing these now as I type - they are wonderful. Very comfortable, and good to have an alternative to USB type games headphones.The packaging is a pain to get into - not "frustration free", more like intended for display in the high street and to prevent interference with. There's a cellophane wrapper (easy to rip off) followed by lots of near-invisible tabs around the edge (used a knife to cut through) of a very high-quality plastic clam-shell (several millimetres thick).Once it's out, it's plain sailing. The headphones are immediately impressive, clearly extremely well made and tough. The fittings for the microphone is strong, not flimsy at all, and can be adjusted smoothly, gently and just feels great.

20.2.2016

My son has been using a set of Sennheiser U320 headphones for some time for his PC and console gaming but the mic had stopped working so we were very pleased to get hold of these new Soundblaster H5's and try them as a replacement.The headset comes in an impressive solid plastic display case. It looks impressive but it does feel like packaging overkill and I would much prefer to see simple recyclable packaging.The headset itself comes with a detachable microphone and also a 3.5MM cable for connection to console controllers, tablets, phones etc and a two way connector for connection to PC.The headphones feel very sturdy and well built and they are very comfortably designed.

1.3.2016

My son is a student and uses headphones when using his Xbox One, so he does not annoy his neighbours living in his student accommodation. His last headphones were quite old and so he was delighted to test these. They are quite light when you take them out of the packaging and the earpieces really envelop your ears and are very soft and comfortable. They also cancel out noise, so are quite immersive. Although they are light, though, they feel solid and well made. The wire is also covered and unlikely to get tangled.There is a detachable microphone, so you can use these as music headphones when not playing games, plus a cable and a connector.

3.3.2016

What do you want from a set of gaming headphones?1. Decent Looks - these are serious looking headphones. Nice use of the big red X on the side, textured dots as well.2. Comfortable - these are actually the most comfortable headphones I have. You can put them on and play for hours. They fit over your head well and fit snugly over your ears with no gaping at the side.3. Sound quality - my hearing isn't great, but to my ears the sound quality is perfectly fine. If you download the optional SoundBlaster X software then you can have virtual surround sound. The mic boom also pushes out the way easily if you aren't using it, or you can detach it if not needed. It perfectly good for gaming and music,

17.3.2016

I'm not an online gamer so have no use for the microphone element of these headphones so unfortunately can't comment on that but headphone-wise, these are great! In case you don't know, you can plug a pair of headphones into the PS4 controller via a mini-jack socket n the bottom edge. The first time you do this, nothing will happen but via a bit of tweaking in the settings (hold the PS button) you can set the sound to automatically switch over when the headphones are plugged in (I can't comment how this may work on any other console, sorry!)My main use for these is to save my family from being disturbed as I mostly play in the PS4 after they have all gone to bed.

19.2.2016

The Creative Sound Blaster x H5 Analogue Pro Gaming Headset looks good and is expensive.The big question is it any good.For testing I passed this over to my son who has Xbox 360.This is what he told me.It really looks good on first impressions.When you pick it up you are surprised at how light it is BUT it really suggests that it is tough.It has that really good ‘feel’ of a quality set.From the off the headset is really well presented in a good looking box fabulous for a gift.On the sound is excellent- I see the makers boast that it is pre tuned.From what the makers say‘What this means is that we tuned this headset to not overemphasise on any particular frequency domain.

2.3.2016

These headphones are really comfortable. They look incredible too. They are very well engineered. There is a great attention to detail. The two slots for the headphone jack and the microphone jack have a unique shape that just slots right in.I tested the microphone on it's own to see if it would be of any use as a recording mic, which was one of the many uses I had lined up for these. I found the recording very clear and free of external noise.I had been given initially a faulty pair. I contacted Creative and they produced outstanding customer service. I have now changed this review from the original.The music I tend to listen to has a lot of bass. A pair of cans like these one would expect some serious bass capability.

2.3.2016

Ok, I play games for long stretches and use headphones a lot and have many pairs. First off, the packaging is a pain, how many security stickers do you need? Once you get past that you have a few useful adapters, on cable volume control and a nicely designed mic. The design of the headphones isn't as hot as they make out, its ok. Compared to most gaming accessories the colour scheme is subdued, the red x you can see on the pic is it, basically. I expect more red or orange on black when I buy gaming accessories. The claims for metallic build are no big deal either. Ok, its sound and comfort that really count so: Its alright at best; fair sound quality and fair comfort, is exactly what they are.

1.3.2016

Let me open with, these headphones are the most comfortable I've ever worn.I'm comparing these to some older Astros and Sennheisers. They are mainly used on my Surface Pro 3 and I use them for streaming in OBS as well as basic gaming, and telephony.The box is a bit OP for the headset, but after scraping my nails against the plastic for about 5 minutes, I was in.I don't need the splitter, but I tested it and it works fine... over to the main mono headphones.The quality of sound is excellent for a mid-range headset. I don't get a lot of noise pickup in the mic, which is great especially when casting in a noisy room. There is no crackling or feedback on phone calls, either.Music has reasonable bass,

28.2.2016

I do think Creative do incredibly well defined and designed products. Whilst not cheap they certainly are well priced for what you get. These headphones are up there with the best of them.Beautifully engineered packaging. You can even manage to get the headphones back in the box afterwards.A set of attachments that mean they work with older game consoles and computers as well as the most modern ones.They are beautifully made. Robust metal frame and all the wires are fabric covered and tangle free. I always think that is a sign of quality and a product that will last.Whilst they are comfortable on the head. They can feel a little sweaty after an hour or so.The sound is good overall although personally I found it a little unbalanced.

6.3.2016

I have been trying loads of over ear headphones in shops recently, trying to find a comfortable set. Many of them are so narrow they hurt, and some have too little padding in the headband.Although these are marketed as gaming headphones, I've used them for simple audio and have to say they really are surprisingly good.Build quality is great, with the metal arms cleanly finished and looking stylish. The headband is well padded, and the earphones themselves are super comfy. They block out external noise so much my son told me to stop shouting when I put them on without any music!I've knocked off one star because of the weight. My daughter has a Bose set which are so much lighter, but a bit pricier.

19.3.2016

Although this is also perfectly suited to PC I got this specifically to use with my Xbox 1 and on the whole I am very impressed with it. They are comfortable, well-made headphones that produce good audio - which are evidently specifically designed to produce optimal videogame audio – as opposed to general-listening/music headphones (and in my opinion they perform poorly compared to much cheaper ‘general’ headphones in this regard).Considering their apparent size and bulk they are surprisingly light and can be worn for several hours straight without fatigue or irritation. The inline volume control/mute works well and the boom mike is unobtrusive (or can be easily removed completely if not in

Creative Sound BlasterX H5 - Reviews

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