Direct from the heart of eSports, QPAD take their experience into the realm of Hi-Fi audio and deliver the QH-90 headset. Will it be the saviour of audio depraved gamers?
Product on Review: QPAD QH-90
Manufacturer: QPAD
Street Price: £71.99 (At time of Review)
In such a vast market it is difficult to find room to breathe, with over 16,000 hits on Google shopping results for ‘PC Gaming Headset’, one would think that someone would have got it right by now? Regardless of the difficulty in finding paragon, QPAD offer up the QH-90 PC gaming headset and on first impressions it is definitely a breath of fresh air! We are taking a look at the white version and the outlook is positive with no over the top gamer jargon seen anywhere, the box a solid, quality packaging construct that is similar to other high end products that reek of awesome. At this point restraint tends to be wise when judging books and covers.
QPAD’s Overview of the QH-90
Many gamers focus so much on the visual part of gaming, they forget all about the sound. It is not uncommon to see people spending thousands of dollars on top-notch computers with all the latest graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, mice and what not, then plugging in a no-name headset, thinking no more of it. In doing so, they are depriving themselves from a huge part of the magic created by game studios and producers. The audial dimension of gaming matters, and we at QPAD truly believe that a good portion of all audio-depraved gamers out there will be blown away by the gaming experience when using a good pair of headphones, such as the QPAD QH-90.
Specification & Features
QH-90 Technical Specifications
Transducer type: Dynamic Ø53mm
Operating principle: Closed
Frequency response: 15Hz-25KHz
Nominal impedance: 60 ohm per system
Nominal SPL: 98±3dB
T.H.D: < 2%
Power handling capacity: 150mW
Sound coupling to the ear: Circumaural
Ambient noise attenuation: approx.20 dBA
Headband pressure: 5 N
Weight with microphone and cable: 350g
Cable length and type: 1m + 2m extension + 10cm iphone
Connection: Mini stereo jack plug(3.5MM)
Microphone
Transducer type: Condenser(back electret)
Operating principle: Pressure gradient
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Power supply: AB powering
Supply voltage: 2V
Current consumption: Max 0.5 mA
Nominal impedance: ≤2.2 kΩ ± 30%
Open circuit voltage at f = 1 kHz 20 mV / Pa
Frequency response: 100 – 12,000 Hz
T.H.D: 2% at f = 1 kHz
Max. SPL: 105dB SPL (THD ≤ 1.0% at 1KHz)
Microphone output: -39±3dB
Dimensions: Ø6*5mm
Length mic boom: 150MM(include gooseneck)
Capsule diameter: Ø6mm
Transducer type: Dynamic Ø53mm
Operating principle: Closed
Frequency response: 15Hz-25KHz
Nominal impedance: 60 ohm per system
Nominal SPL: 98±3dB
T.H.D: < 2%
Power handling capacity: 150mW
Sound coupling to the ear: Circumaural
Ambient noise attenuation: approx.20 dBA
Headband pressure: 5 N
Weight with microphone and cable: 350g
Cable length and type: 1m + 2m extension + 10cm iphone
Connection: Mini stereo jack plug(3.5MM)
Microphone
Transducer type: Condenser(back electret)
Operating principle: Pressure gradient
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Power supply: AB powering
Supply voltage: 2V
Current consumption: Max 0.5 mA
Nominal impedance: ≤2.2 kΩ ± 30%
Open circuit voltage at f = 1 kHz 20 mV / Pa
Frequency response: 100 – 12,000 Hz
T.H.D: 2% at f = 1 kHz
Max. SPL: 105dB SPL (THD ≤ 1.0% at 1KHz)
Microphone output: -39±3dB
Dimensions: Ø6*5mm
Length mic boom: 150MM(include gooseneck)
Capsule diameter: Ø6mm
Features
– Hi-fi capable 53mm drivers for supreme audio quality
– 15-25.000 Hz frequency response
– Detachable microphone (quick and easy to plug/unplug for music-only purposes)
– Solid aluminum construction for durability and stability
– Super-soft padded leather headband and velour padding on cups for maximum comfort
– Closed cup design on QH-90 for enhanced bass-reproduction and sound leakage
Packaging & Accessories
Sleek Quality packaging
On the box front we find a pleasing minimalistic aesthetic with a photo of the product and a column of thumbnails listing the features of the headset. Listed in the information we can see that this product has a 2 year warranty, a great bonus. The left side has the product name written across the entire expanse sub headed with ‘Pro Gaming Premium Headset’, bold but informative, at least you know you aren’t picking up a low grade gaming sheep.
Box Rear, keeping it simple
The rear face of the packaging simply lists the features and specifications in various languages with an overview about the product. Along the right side we can see a number of product images alongside listed features.
Box in a box?
Inside the outer box is an inner box… great quality and design but leaves one to wonder whether or not you are being trolled. Regardless of opinion over cost of packaging, a new product purchase is often about experience and lasting impression and QPAD have succeeded here.
Congratulations, you opened the box inside the box!
It’s not every day you get congratulated for making a purchase but at least the overt confidence that you will be pleased by this product is held in faith by the founder of QPAD, This sort-of-Certificate is protected by a layer of paper under which is a layer of protective foam covering the headset which is neatly displayed. Opening this box is very much like a child’s fantasy where golden glow would be leaking out as you slowly remove the packaging, wide eyed, choir singing, as the shiny item inside is revealed. Delusional fantasies aside, it is hard not to be impressed.
Quality nylon carry bag and instruction manual
Inside a pull out cardboard drawer at the bottom of the box we can find a nylon drawcord carry bag which is higher than expected quality.
Modular control box
Finding a modular cable system is an interesting design concept, the QH-90 has a modular control box cable, 2m extension cable and a short iPhone/ MP3 multi purpose adaptor which is a great inclusion. The control box has a soft feel coating to it with volume adjust, mic on/off and a large button that is to start/stop playback on your iPhone. Though mic on/off switch seemed a little stiff, overall the control box does not feel flimsy or fragile seems good quality.
2m cable extension
Not sure why anyone would need 3m+ total cable length but if you do then this will cater for that need! Like all the cabling, it is the soft feel, supple jelly like cables that are easily pliable and bendy to your will.
10cm iPhone adaptor
The inclusion of this adaptor allows versatility should you wish to use the QH-90 with your smartphone or MP3 player of choice.
Modular, adjustable microphone
Removable flexi-microphones are becoming ever more popular and this is no exception. Promised to be of premium grade it will be interesting to see how it performs.
Closer Look
Overview of the QPAD QH-90
The white leather is slightly off white compared to the white soft-feel plastic which is used throughout but the white aesthetic is definitely impressive and works well with the cool aluminium frame.
Leather is used on the headband
Soft white leather is used on both the headband and earcups with memory foam padding.
QPAD logo embroidered on the top of the headset
A little indulgent embroidery work, looks pretty cool.
Aluminium adjustable strap
We can see the adjustment levels in the aluminium as well as the strong plastic joints that hold the ear cups and headband together.
Large padded ear cups
The ear cups are large and will accommodate most people no problem. The soft white leather covered memory foam is soft and squishy which promises luxury comfort.
Bottom view of ear cups
At the bottom of the left side ear cup, we can see a rubber stop protecting the microphone jack. Curiously, QPAD did not opt for a full modular cable system and have tethered a cable to the ear cup in a more traditional manner.
Protective braiding on cables
Often, the cables are hidden somewhere in the design of the ear cups, however, using an aluminium frame would present difficulty routing them, so they have been left exposed on the headset. The braiding is good quality and acts as protection, unless your friends like to play practical jokes where they sneak up behind you with scissors.
Performance Testing
Comfort
On the first time putting these on it is instantly obvious that this headset is very comfortable. The soft leather with the memory foam padding combined with light weight aluminium frame provides a firm non slip grasp that is a cut above many other headsets and is even comfortable while wearing glasses. The ear cups are large (2.75″ x 2″ ) easily accommodating my average ears and are tightly sealed with minimal sound leakage. It is easy to forget you are wearing the QH-90 and requires silent people moving their lips at you to serve as a reminder. Over time my ears did warm up a fair bit but not uncomfortably so and never got sweaty so the material must be breathable.
Durability
The soft feel plastic used throughout feels very good quality and strong while the aluminium frame speaks for itself, you’re not likely going to damage it through regular use and would take some excessive force to do so. The adjustable straps do not tend to slip or slide like some other headsets may, which is a sign good design. The use of leather is a time tested treat and is a welcome luxury, unless you are against the use of animal products. Generally speaking, modular cabling is an excellent idea but it seems strange as to why QPAD did not decide to go completely modular and have a 3.5mm jack on the headset itself similar to the ASUS ROG Vulcan ANC, rather than a hardline tethered to it. Some may argue that the extra connections may dirty the audio signal, some might point out that accidentally pulling the jack out of the headset could be annoying, still it would have been a nice addition. It was discovered that the cable coming out of the left ear cup can be pushed in/pulled out of the headset by around 10mm which is designed to help cushion the forces exerted by snagging as it is not unknown for people to get cables caught under their arm, keyboard, leg, (with 3m of cable you can wrap it around yourself a fair few times should you wish) which can give a sharp sudden tug on the cables involved, this again is another well thought out design inclusion.
Music
The 53mm drivers do well to immerse you in powerful sound though doesn’t seem perfectly balanced across all tones. Cranking up the volume there is minimal distortion and no hiss, just be careful as the QH-90 is very loud! Listening through Passion Pit’s ‘Take a Walk’ was pleasant but it is clear that the bass lacks a little heart comparatively though by no means poor. Mid tones seem a little weaker and the strongest point being the crisp clear high tones. The quality of the output will also depend on the sound card being used and quality of the audio source and the QH-90 makes low quality audio compressions sound, well low quality and very tinny, while .wav and .flac files reproduce every nuance to the point that it can be uncomfortably accurate in the form I can only describe as excessive mouth juice (think of vocalists). Overall the Qh-90 is great for multi-media purposes but spending some time fiddling with the audio equalizer to balance the tones better may be needed. Ironically, QPAD were open about the audio performance of this headset in their overview, stating, ‘They produce a somewhat more pronounced bass, and crispy, clear highs, but with slightly softer mids.’ which suggests that this headset is more geared that way by design presumably for the benefit of gaming.
Listening to AFI’s Prelude 12/21 in a lossless codec, was a wall of awesome, however, on listening to various Punk and Metal tracks I began to suffer from Hi-Hat abuse, acoustic music is definitely a strong point for this headset.
Games
Jumping on for a bout of Battlefield 3 shows how strong audio quality can really be using a headset of this quality. Enclosed areas felt tight and open areas sounded vast, gunfire shots were balanced between a bassy kick and the high ‘cack’ and in the heat of action was very intense. Each gunshot is followed up with a perfect tinkle of spend rounds hitting the floor behind you and it is very easy to hear a grenade landing close by too. From the quietest sounds to the loudest each was very clear.
Taking a stroll through Skyrim you could hear errant conversation walking through the towns clearly with the crackle of fire well defined in the background. Walking through the wilderness you can hear wildlife rustling in the grass and the chilling wind howling overhead. Games when combined with great audio really does have a stronger immersive feel and this headset delivered that great audio in every game played.
Microphone/Conversation
Microphone quality is very good and clear and does well to not pick up much background noise. In a Skype conversation, it was asked if I was alone in the room because he couldn’t hear anything in the background because he normally could. On questioning him on what could be heard, he was shocked to find that there were two young children running around playing with COD:BLOPS2 running on the TV, I turned the TV up to what would be considered very loud at which point my friend then started to comment on background noise. This could be due to the microphone sensitivity/gain settings I was using, but it is more believable that it is the quality of this microphone as I never changed my microphone settings from what they are usually set to.
Conclusion
QPAD have done an excellent job on the QH-90, top class build quality, comfort and audio wrapped up in a sleek minimalistic aesthetic that is aimed at gamers looking for a stylish and elegant alternative to the usual ‘gamer gear’ appeal and there is little to fault this product on. From the soft feel plastic and the leather to the use of brushed aluminium, this product stands tall especially for the price point. The modular cable system is a neat idea though would have been nice to see a 3.5mm jack on the headset itself for a completely modular cable system. The inclusion of the iPhone/MP3 adaptor gives versatility out the box and will appeal to many.
To be really picky we can mention that the audio reproduction may not fully satisfy an audiophile, though it would be unlikely you will be looking at a ‘gaming headset’ if you consider yourself to be as such. The audio can be slightly weak in the mid tones while the bass, though not weak, could be a bit punchier. This can make the audio sound slightly on the tinny side but that is intentional to the design that becomes a strength that lends itself more to gaming than music and media uses.
Overall the QPAD QH-90 offers powerful performance that should not be overlooked as it is amongst the best in this price range. The packaging gave clue to the quality of this headset which arguably has superior comfort and design compared to its competitors. A model example of Gold rated product.
Pros.
+ Sleek minimalist aesthetic
+ Modular cables, iPhone adaptor and carry bag
+ Robust Aluminium frame
+ Amongst the best around for comfort
+ 53mm Drivers
+ High Quality, removable noise reducing microphone
+ Good quality packaging
Cons.
– Slightly weak in the mid range
+ Sleek minimalist aesthetic
+ Modular cables, iPhone adaptor and carry bag
+ Robust Aluminium frame
+ Amongst the best around for comfort
+ 53mm Drivers
+ High Quality, removable noise reducing microphone
+ Good quality packaging
Cons.
– Slightly weak in the mid range
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to QPAD for providing today’s review sample.
