| AZiO Levetron GH808 USB Gaming Headset |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Audio | |
| Written by Akim Green | |
| Tuesday, 05 March 2013 | |
AZiO Levetron GH808 USB Gaming HeadsetManufacturer: AZiO Corporation, IncProduct Name: Levetron GH808 USB Gaming Headset Model Number: GH808 UPC: 676151010641 Price As Tested: $41.99 (NewEgg / Amazon) Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by AZiO Corporation, Inc. It is widely believed that gaming headsets provide a much more immersive, captivating gaming experience than a speaker set up. They are also great in environments where the people around you don't fancy hearing deafening gunfire and explosions. Gaming headsets generally come in 3 different forms: wired 3.5mm headsets ,wired USB headsets and wireless headsets. One tends to usually decide which of these types to buy before considering things like 7.1 surround, Dolby audio, noise cancellation, etc. 3.5 mm and wireless headsets immediately present compelling features: the former can be used in tandem with a quality soundcard to produce sublime audio output, the latter frees the user from the burden of cables. We are left to investigate the advantages of buying a USB headset, and observe how they compare to the rest. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will test the AZiO Levetron GH808 Gaming Headset and see if it is a viable option for an enhanced audio experience.USB gaming headsets are ideal for gamers who don't have good on-board sound or a dedicated sound card but still desire decent sound output; USB headsets use on-board sound processing usually in combination with configuration software to deliver great sounds. They are also great for those with multiple machines or gaming laptops.
In testing the GH808, I will use it to play a few games, watch a couple of TV shows, listen to some tracks, and talk to some friends and family over Skype. I will comment on how well the device performs in the multiple scenarios and make comparisons to another high-end gaming headset, the Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless headset. Features & SpecificationsFeatures:
Specifications:
Speakers:
Bass Driver:
Microphone:
Closer Look: Levetron GH808 HeadsetThe GH808 is quite well-built, it features a mostly plastic body with the exception of metal extension bars. The metal bars are reinforced with rubber strips for added flexibility and durability. Fully extended, the GH808 offers around 1.5 inches more length and still fits snugly.
The headset doesn't include any interchangeable ear cushions. The ones included are made of synthetic leather; they are quite comfortable and don't attract too much dust and lint.
The padding below the top of the headset is made from a soft, dense, spongy material.
Outside the left ear cup lies the indicator light, volume knob, and the super-bass toggle button.
The left ear cup also houses the microphone boom that will be inactive until it is pulled out of its slot. GH808 SoftwareOddly enough, the GH808 doesn't come with any added software. Furthermore, none of the included documentation directs you to where you download any. I was unable to find the product page of the headset through the AZiO website; a simple google search proved to be the trick. I found it baffling for AZiO not to include the drivers since it is necessary to enable the virtual 7.1 feature. 
The software allows you to choose the number of channels of the media being played. The app suggests using 2CH for music files, 6CH for DVDs, and 8CH for games and high definition videos.
It also allows you to simulate different environments such as a carpeted hallway or forest as well as choose different sound profiles such as Jazz or Rock.
Magic voice is an voice overlay tool included with the program. It's actually really cool: it allows you to disguise your voice as a dragon or cartoon character. Best of all, it works in online games and VOIP apps. Testing & ResultsTesting MethodologyI used the GH808 for many hours playing games, listening to music, watching movies, and chatting with friends via skype. While I am by no means an audiophile, I have used many top-notch headsets such as the Corsair Vengeance 2000, Studio Beats by Dre, the Logitech G930, etc. I am therefore confident that I am able to accurately evaluate the GH808, at least from a gamer's perspective. Test System
Test Software
ResultsComfortThe GH808 does fit well, but a few things prevent it from being as comfortable as the Vengeance 2000 and other top-tier gaming headsets. First of all, the ear cups don't swivel left or right to provide a close fit to your ears. This is an important feature especially if you wear prescription glasses like I do. As a result, there will be some space between your head and the ear pads and hence some sound will leak out. Secondly, the ear cups aren't very deep. If you have ears that stick out a little, you may find this headset somewhat uncomfortable. On the other hand, the headset is not too heavy; on multiple occasions, I found myself getting up from my desk forgetting that I had them on. MusicI first tested the GH808 with some music from my Zune account. With its default setting, most of my music sounded muddled and unclear. This became worse when I enabled the super bass; even treble-rich songs had a constant hum in the background. Messing around with the software a little bit made a world of difference. After experimenting for a while, I found that the jazz preset along with the room or carpeted hallway most suitable for any type of music: the sound is more clear and not overpowered by the bass. Enabling virtual 7.1 doesn't make a big difference to music and this is expected, as most music isn't made for playback on 7.1 sound systems. It doesn't make it sound any worse but not noticeably better. GamesThe GH808 performs exceptionally well in gaming situations. I found Battlefield 3 most enjoyable with the super bass on, 7.1 surround enabled, and the 8CH option selected. I also used the Hi-Fi setting in the BF3 audio menu. The sound produced by the headphones was truly amazing; in my opinion, it gave a more realistic feel to the game than any graphic solution could possibly deliver. The guns sounds in particular were very good: each round fired produced a loud thunderous bang with louder echos in closed/underground areas. I actually found myself being very cautious in an attempt to avoid getting shot point-blank. The headset creates the illusion that you are on the battlefield and bullets flying by really do instill fear in the player. I used the same settings in Skyrim except for the super bass; as opposed to BF3 the vibration is constant and gets more intense in action packed situations. Turn it off though and the result is wonderful: character voices sound clear and the nature sounds are more crisp. MoviesPerformance in movies and videos is also good. I watched a few episodes of 24 on Netflix as well as Skyline on Blu-ray. Watching 24 with the super-bass on was very entertaining: the explosions and gunfire sounded realistic and it gave the show a more intense atmosphere. While watching Skyline, I enabled the virtual 7.1 surround, and the headset produced a better audio experience than it did with default settings, but nothing too impressive. Overall, I found that the Vengeance 2000 gave a similar experience to the GH808 in streaming Netflix videos, but performed better in Blu-ray movies. Voice CallsI made a couple of calls with Skype and my contacts found the microphone to be exceptionally good with the clarity of the audio. There didn't seem to be any breaking and missed words that you would usually hear when making phone calls. Rogers One Number is an application offered by my phone service provider that allows one to make calls from a computer with their cell phone number. I tried calling 10 people and to my surprise, 30% of the people I called were able to notice an improvement over my phone's mic without me mentioning anything. The other 70 admitted it was better after I asked them. The GH808 was very good for voice calls and the voice manipulation tool was amusing to play around with. Gaming Headset Final ThoughtsI must say the GH808 greatly exceeded my expectations. It definitely excels in PC games, as it was designed to do. I was doubtful of its performance in video content, but I was amazed at how much it enhanced my movie-watching experience.
Most of the good features of the GH808 are only accessible through the software application, which for some unknown reason wasn't included with the device. It would've been nice if the headset ear cups were on a swivel to provide a better fit. Levetron GH808 ConclusionThe Levetron headset performed extremely well, especially in games. It gave a more immersive atmosphere to movies and TV shows and, with a little tweaking, music playback is satisfactory. The GH808 is themed red and black like the other Levetron products, and looks quite nice. The only complaint I have is that the glossy finish on the outside of the ear cups attracts a lot of fingerprints. While it may appear to be a little flimsy, the GH808 is actually quite sturdy and well-built. I feel that the extension bars are vulnerable to permanent deformation, and should have been made with thicker/stronger material. Being a USB headset, the GH808 allows a decent gaming experience on multiple devices. It appears to be the optimal solution for users with gaming notebooks that don't have the option of installing a sound card. I also like that the microphone has a slot and is turned off when hidden. At its current price of $41.99 (NewEgg / Amazon), the GH808 is a steal. Similar headsets such as the Vengeance cost twice as much without providing a vastly better listening experience. The Levetron GH808 headset is definitely one of the better headsets I have used. If you're seeking a headset good for gaming you should definitely consider this one. Pros:+ Excellent for gaming; produces a truly immersive experience |
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