Based on the ground up design of the Kave XTD, we take a look at the analog successor to one of the most popular real 5.1 surround headsets on the market.
Product on Review: ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog
Manufacturer & Sponsor: ROCCAT
Street Price: £89.99 inc VAT
As a successor to the original Kave headset, the Kave XTD Analog is based on the same ground up redesign that we saw in the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital. However, instead of being attached to a large control pod-come-external soundcard we get an inline remote with a deskstand to help control each individual channel of surround goodness, meaning, by doing away with the fancy audio processing the analogue version falls into a lower price range.
Packing in three drivers in each earcup, 2x 40mm 1x 30mm we are happy to hear that the Kave 5.1 Analog shares the same 25% weight reduction with its digital sibling over the original version, coming in at 335g.
Overview by ROCCAT
You demand the latest generation of analog surround sound headset technology for the latest generation of games and multimedia and there can be only one answer. Enter the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog – the successor to the most successful real 5.1 surround sound gaming headset ever. With a ton of sound, comfort and durability enriching improvements that cement its position as king of the hill, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog thrills gamers and audiophiles alike – specifically those who know there is no substitute for real 5.1 sound. With a focus on pure, unadulterated sound quality above all else, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog provides an audio solution so immersive it leaves its competitors trailing in its wake.
Technical Specifications
CENTER/FRONT/REAR DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20~20.000Hz
Max. SPL at 1kHz: 115±3dB
Max. input power: 50 mW
Drive diameter: 2x 40mm each side
Driver unit material: Neodymium magnet
Impedance: 32Ω
VIBRATION DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20~100Hz
Max. input power: 300 mW
Drive diameter: 30mm
MICROPHONE
Frequency response: 10~10.000Hz
Drive diameter: 4×1.5mm
Max. SPL at 1kHz: -32±-2dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 50dB
Impedance: 2.2kΩ + 15%
Directivity: omni-directional
GENERAL
Weight (Headset only): 335g
Cable length: 3m
System requirements
– 5.1 (or higher) sound card
– USB 2.0 Port
Frequency response: 20~20.000Hz
Max. SPL at 1kHz: 115±3dB
Max. input power: 50 mW
Drive diameter: 2x 40mm each side
Driver unit material: Neodymium magnet
Impedance: 32Ω
VIBRATION DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20~100Hz
Max. input power: 300 mW
Drive diameter: 30mm
MICROPHONE
Frequency response: 10~10.000Hz
Drive diameter: 4×1.5mm
Max. SPL at 1kHz: -32±-2dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 50dB
Impedance: 2.2kΩ + 15%
Directivity: omni-directional
GENERAL
Weight (Headset only): 335g
Cable length: 3m
System requirements
– 5.1 (or higher) sound card
– USB 2.0 Port
Packaging & First Look
The packaging is distinctively ROCCAT with all the primary features clearly indicated around the large cut out where the headset itself can be seen.
At the back we get a diagram of the headset breaking down all the features as well as listing the technical specifications.
Other than the manual, inside we find a rigid plastic frame that serves as a desktop mount for the inline remote. Considering this type of product it is a sensible move to give a stable position for the hefty inline remote rather than having it swing free.
The ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog headset. Mostly black all over with a change of texture on the large earcups, the overall impression is quite industrial without being over the top.
Closer Look
The headband has soft cushioning coated with a soft fabric to keep things cosy on your head
The deep ear ‘Kave’ design should fit most peoples ears while the thick padding acts as noise insulation, comfort provider and spacer to position the drivers to your ears.
Due to requiring various controls for each audio channel it is understandable that the inline remote is fairly hefty. Though it is provided with a back clip which means you can attach it to the provided stand or elsewhere of your choosing. Other than the controls for the individual surround channels there is also a large master volume dial on the end. In the centre of the remote there are two switches, one for microphone mute and the other for dual ‘gaming and movie modes’.
On the (ROCCAT-)tail end of the 3m cord there is an assortment of sharpened tips to fill even the most hardened sailors with fear. By this we mean 4x 3.5mm jacks for the 5.1 surround and microphone as well as the additional USB adaptor for extra power, vibration and lighting.
The removable microphone with its LED mute indicator at the tip.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & ObservationsSetting up the Kave 5.1 Analog, should initially ring some alarm bells for prospective buyers, being a REAL 5.1 surround headset, you need to make sure that your device has the output channels required I.E. front/rear and centre/sub. Once making sure each jack is in its rightful place, you also need a spare USB 2.0 port. Setting this up can be a pain if your PC is hard to reach or if you are short on free USB ports. It would be at this point you may or may not be filled with a sense of dread/relief depending on whether you are having to manually toggle between your headset and speaker system. When that is done and ready and you have fired up your system, you will then need to configure your headset settings in windows or audio drivers to be set to 5.1 audio output.
The headset itself is a reasonable weight, not too heavy though some may find it so after extended periods. I would argue that this is due to the weight of the cable adding to that 335g. The headband padding is soft and squishy while the earpads are firmer, relying on your ears to fit into the kavernous ear hole. The downside to this design is, that anyone with larger ears may find this rather uncomfortable, which will ring true too if you wear glasses with large frames. For me the comfort was good as I didn’t experience any of these comfort issues.
Moving to the inline remote, it is fairly heavy and the deskstand is a neat inclusion. Though, the positioning of the remote felt kinda awkward as the distance between the headset and remote was a little too short to push towards the back of the desk and a little too long for the edge only catering for the perfect ‘upright office desk’ seating position. This may pose an annoyance for those seated in a more dynamic manner and you may find the remote stand topples as a result, serving more as a distraction than what it is worth. The volume dials appear to do the trick without being frilly, while the master dial seems well made with a nice smooth adjustment. On the remote there are two switches, one for microphone mute, which will cause the microphone LED indicator to come on while muted and the other toggles between ‘gaming’ and ‘movie’ modes. The movie mode seemed to cause the audio to seem more open and spacious.
Multimedia
Listening to music can be a bit of a pain using the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog because often, by default, it will only use the ‘front’ channels thus nerfing your experience. This can be easily remedied by using features such as ‘Stereo direct’, or some form of speaker fill to render stereo audio via multichannels. You then need to carefully balance each of the channel volumes to get that ‘right’ sound. Once correctly setup, music playback was enjoyable though the vibration can accentuate the bass, after a long period it can be distracting and tickly and is clearly not a feature with music in mind. Turning up the volume there was little to no distortion or hiss noticed and the max volume is fairly loud, though this may depend on what soundcard you are using the Kave XTD Analog with.
Moving back into games, you need to make sure you have the headset setup for 5.1 rendering in your audio drivers. Games like DOTA 2 do not really give the best surround experience, but first person/third person games change the rhetoric by placing you in the thick of the action with Kave XTD 5.1 Analog providing a sensation of being surrounded by clear directional audio with Killing Floor 2 becoming insanely enjoyable while the vibration can add to the drama.
Switching into movie mode, it seems the soundscape has widened while there is little real need to inhibit the vibration so much as lively or dramatic scenes can really benefit from it. As with games, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog excels with providing a rich and entertaining experience with your favourite movies.
Microphone
The microphone was considered to be ‘ok’ but seemed a little quiet and required the use of the microphone boost, in our setup we have a soundcard capable of very good noise reduction, but without this there was a fair amount of background noise picked up without any increase change in how your voice is picked up.
Conclusion
ROCCAT once again deliver a great surround headset that allows you to dive deep in to other worlds. Sharing the refined body of the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital, surround enthusiasts with their own discrete soundcard will be pleased to hear that the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog is now available.
There are various oversights to consider, as with its digital sibling, it is a shame that we didn’t see some form of modularity in the cable though considering the size and weight of the cable itself due to being an analogue headset that needs to carry 6+ channels of audio, it becomes understandable. Through in the scope of control is actually the inline remote, adding extra weight to that cable. The desktop stand included is a useful addition to remedy this problem but effective use of the stand may only be achieved by those seated in the ‘right orientation’. It would have been nice to see some of the controls from the inline remote integrated in to the headset itself, like the mute switch or the game/movie modes but this would just work against the weight loss ROCCAT strived to achieve.
In our testing we use the Creative ZxR soundcard which by default may potentially elimiate various issues others could potentially observe, like any hiss, background interference, distortion or a noisy microphone. Understanding this raises the primary issue with a headset such as this. That is, people may find that their experience is entirely unique to their situation and setup. Setting up an analogue 5.1 headset can be a pain, especially if you will be juggling speaker systems or simply jumping between stereo and multi-channel formats for music playback or games/movies. Once you have these settings in place, you then may need to adjust the volume of each channel to preference as well as balancing the sound signature using your drivers equaliser.
Ultimately it comes down to which camp you sit in with your audio preference, whether you are happy with stereo channels and believe that ‘real’ surround headsets are a gimmick, or if you genuinely prefer the more open sound of a surround headset. If you are a gamer that also uses your system for watching a lot of movies, the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog will surprise you at how good its surround sound can be. Considering the pricing between the analogue and digital versions of the Kave XTD 5.1, if you do not have a discrete soundcard, the digital version is a no brainer as it has integrated DSP (Digital Signal Processing) while being easy to setup. If you don’t mind putting a little extra effort into getting the headset setup to your preference and want to save some money doing so, the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog is just as capable as its digital stablemate and you will be rewarded with an excellent surround experience.
The ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog lets you take full control of your surround experience, creating an extra dimension to your movies and games.
Pros.
+ Real 5.1 surround
+ Good Spatial awareness/ surround Sound
+ Great for gaming and movies
Cons.
– Long winded setup/adjustment
+ Real 5.1 surround
+ Good Spatial awareness/ surround Sound
+ Great for gaming and movies
Cons.
– Long winded setup/adjustment
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