The EasySMX COOL 2000 is a versatile gaming headset that is highly affordable and can be used on a multitude of gaming platforms including PC, console and Nintendo Switch.
Product on Review: EasySMX COOL 2000
Manufacturer: EasySMX
Street Price: £20.30 / $28.59 / €23.16
The EasySMX COOL 2000 is a highly affordable gaming headset that is very versatile. The headset can be used on most platforms that include mobile as well as console, PC and the Nintendo Switch. This versatility has been achieved by using an adapter that comes included with the headset, this is a very simple solution, but it’s one that works and means you don’t require multiple headsets if you game on different platforms.
The feature set is decent too – especially given the low cost of the headset. These attributes include 50mm drivers, LED illumination, on-headset controls, a non-removable omnidirectional microphone and a flexible headband system.
EasySMX on the COOL 2000:
Adopts a 50mm driver unit with wide range. Specialized audio tuning allows for multi-layered sound with fine details and minimal sound distortion.
Technical Specifications
Headset
Drivers – 50mm
Self-adjustable headband
On-headset controls
Flexible microphone arm
Dimensions – 229mm / 9” (L) x 103mm / 4” (W) x 201mm / 7.9” (H)
Weight – 328g / 0.72lbs
Connectivity – 3.5mm audio cable + USB
Compatibility
Works with – PC, PS4, Xbox One, mobile, Nintendo Switch
Requires a spare 3.5mm audio jack, microphone and USB port for PC
Requires a 3.5mm jack for console and mobile with the use of the included adapter
Drivers – 50mm
Self-adjustable headband
On-headset controls
Flexible microphone arm
Dimensions – 229mm / 9” (L) x 103mm / 4” (W) x 201mm / 7.9” (H)
Weight – 328g / 0.72lbs
Connectivity – 3.5mm audio cable + USB
Compatibility
Works with – PC, PS4, Xbox One, mobile, Nintendo Switch
Requires a spare 3.5mm audio jack, microphone and USB port for PC
Requires a 3.5mm jack for console and mobile with the use of the included adapter
Packaging & First Look
The EasySMX COOL 2000 come in a black box with the EasySMX logo and model name on the front.
At the back, there is some branding and a slogan.
In the box with the headset, there is an adapter to convert the mic and audio into a four-pole 3.5mm connector designed for console and mobile use. There is also the user manual and a leaflet.
Taking a first look at the headset and you can clearly see who the headset is designed for thanks to its bold features and overall aesthetic.
Closer Look
The left side features a star-shaped EasySMX logo in the centre that has a faux metal finish. Surrounding that is a design that is akin to a cars alloy wheel, this creates five segments that include a grille design that doubles as an illumination point. The built-in microphone can also be found on this side.
The top features a double beam design support system that connects the two earcups together. Underneath the support system is a flexible headband that features some EasySMX branding on the top. On the inside of the headband, there is a small amount of padding that has some perforated holes to help dissipate any unwanted heat.
The right side looks identical to the left minus the microphone. Above the main shell, there is a support section that is made from plastic and features the model name.
At the back of the headset on the left side, there is a control for the LED illumination as well as a volume dial, a microphone mute switch and the built-in cable.
Closer Look (Continued)
The earcups are coated in a smooth material and contain padding that is quite generous and soft. The opening isn’t the most spacious which could pose a problem for those with larger ears.
The microphone is non-removable and features a flexible arm as well as a LED indicator that lets you know that the mic is being powered.
The cable is fabric coated, non-removable and features a USB connector, a 3.5mm audio jack and 3.5mm microphone jack.
Performance Testing
Setup & Observations
The setup process for the EasySMX COOL 2000 is easy. As these work with a variety of platforms, there are a few different ways to set them up. For PC you’ll require a spare mic port and audio port as well as a USB port if you plan on using the LED illumination. For console, mobile or Nintendo Switch you’ll need to make use of the included adapter. It’s also worth noting that without USB power the illumination won’t work. There are no drivers or software for the headset, so there is nothing to download.
Using the headset daily has been a good experience. The headset is on the larger side, but because they are mostly plastic, they are really light. The adjustable headband also helps as it moves freely and forms to the shape of your head very well. The padding on the headband isn’t the most generous, but the band is very soft without it. The earcups are also very soft and well padded, they do, however, get a touch warm after a few hours, so breaks every now and then are advised. The opening for your ears is not the most generous, and if you have larger ears, they may not fit fully inside.
The on headset controls all work well. The volume wheel – although plastic, does feel good and is smooth when used, this makes adjusting the volume on-the-fly a good experience. The mic mute and LED button aren’t the most tactile feeling, but they get the job done just fine. The noise isolation when in use is good enough to block out the noise emitted by a PC, but louder noises can still be heard.
Multimedia
We all use headsets for more than just gaming, and that is why we test them for music listening and watching movies. When listening to music the COOL 2000 wasn’t overly impressive. The headset struggles to produce really deep bass which caused some distortion at the lower end. The bass is also lacking some midbass punch that results in the sound being a little thin and without body; this is not helped by the treble as it is a touch brash and brittle – especially when you turn the volume up. The treble is also not the most detailed and sounds a bit vacant. On top of that, there is some noticeable sibilance in the vocals when the volume is pushed which can be quite off-putting. Vocal production is just about passable with the clarity, but the tone is not very natural. The headset also suffers at higher volumes which does cause some slight distortion. So it’s safe to say that for music, these are the greatest. Maybe they can redeem themselves when watching movies and for gaming?
When watching movies it was a bit difficult to become immersed. The bass was off again, and the lack of impact was really noticeable. This resulted in crashes, explosions and gunfire sounding a bit weak. The treble was again not overly impressive as like with music, it lacked detail which made it difficult to hear the little sound design touches. The spacial awareness was adequate at best with them sounding a touch closed in for headphones. Vocals were probably the best part as they remained clear which meant dialogue was decent.
For gaming they fair a bit better – though not excellent, the experience is better than for gaming and watching movies. The lack of bass in this instance is a plus as it helps clear the treble – to some degree. The treble, however, is still not very detailed which does mean that the headset isn’t the strongest for FPS and eSports titles. This is because it’s hard to pinpoint sounds and enemy locations. The sound scope is again a bit narrow and not overly wide which means hearing things in the distance is a bit hit or miss. For solo adventure titles, this isn’t as big an issue but is still not great. The biggest drawback for solo titles though is the lack of immersion; the headset just fails to create a convincing atmosphere which does lead to a bit of a lacklustre performance. If you just play casually for fun, then the sound is passable, but if you really want to get enveloped in a solo adventure or play multi-player games that are competitive, then these just don’t deliver.
Microphone
The microphone on the COOL 2000 is non-removable and features a flexible arm to help position the mic in the optimal position. For the test the microphone volume was to 100% with a gain of +20dB, this is because the microphone was on the quiet side and required the extra boost. The quality of the microphone is passable at best. Vocals are quite clear meaning that the mic would be okay for talking to your teammates over Discord or via game chat, but the quality is not there for anything else. The bass pickup isn’t very strong which does make the mic sound thin; there is also some noticeable distortion as well as some pops and sibilance. Background noise is also present as the microphone doesn’t feature any noise isolation features. It is worth noting that this headset is very affordable and a great microphone is not be expected, so in that regard, it is okay for the price point.
Conclusion
The EasySMX COOL 2000 has some strong suits but is marred by more than one Achilles’ heel. On the plus side, the headset is comfortable, and although on the large side, the headset is lightweight, the padding in the earcups is good, plus the adjustable flexible headband works like a treat. The COOL 2000 is also highly versatile and works with most platforms available which is great as you don’t need multiple headsets to work with all the different platforms. Other plus points include the on headset controls and the build quality. The controls are designed to adjust various aspects of the headset, these work very well and make it very easy to use them on-the-fly. The build quality is pretty good too; they are mostly plastic but they feel quite solid, plus the headset manages to use a fabric coated cable which is not too common at the price point. Speaking of, the price is another big factor when determining if a headset is worth it and as the COOL 2000 can be picked up for as little as £20 in the UK and under $30 in the US, it’s safe to say, that these are highly affordable.
The COOL 2000 does have some flaws too, and the main one is the sound, the quality of the sound is not very strong as the bass is lacking power and depth, the treble also has a few issues with clarity and has some distortion at higher volumes. We feel that if EasySMX focused less on the aesthetics they could have diverted more of that effort into creating a headset that wouldn’t have been as flashy but would have sounded superior. This would have been a bigger selling point as the foundation is there, it just needs strengthening. The microphone is a bit of a hit or miss thing too. It’s hard to expect an amazing performance, and the mic does work okay for in-game chat, but again, it’s the same story as with the sound – it’s okay, but could have been improved.
So, if you only play non-competitive titles and are looking for an affordable headset that is comfortable and works with multiple platforms, then the COOL 2000 would be a decent choice. If you play competitive online based games, then we would advise looking for a headset that possesses stronger audio quality as these simply don’t offer the best of performances in that department.
The EasySMX COOL 2000 is a well-built headset that is comfortable and has great support for multiple platforms, however, when it comes to sound, they don’t deliver the strongest of performances.
Pros
+ Comfortable
+ Very affordable
+ Compatible with a multitude of platforms
+ On-headset controls work well
Neutral
+- A touch on the large side
+- Design may not suit everyone’s taste
+- Microphone is adequate
Cons
– Sound quality is not very strong
+ Comfortable
+ Very affordable
+ Compatible with a multitude of platforms
+ On-headset controls work well
Neutral
+- A touch on the large side
+- Design may not suit everyone’s taste
+- Microphone is adequate
Cons
– Sound quality is not very strong
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