The ROCCAT Renga is a low weight headset equipped with 50mm drivers that promises to provide gamers with ‘studio grade sound for the utmost gaming experience’.
Product on Review: ROCCAT Renga
Manufacturer & Sponsor: ROCCAT
Street Price: US: $49.99, UK: £39.99
The Renga is ROCCAT’s entry level headset at a wallet friendly £40, a fiercely competitive price point. The lightweight frame is just 210g, and is fitted with powerful 50mm neodymium drivers. Aside from the ROCCAT styling, this headset seems to be based on the Superlux HD 681, but comes with redesigned earcup and driver specification. Of course, being a headset there is the added boom microphone vital for in game communication. As with many contemporary headsets, the Renga will be supported on most major gaming platforms as it is supplied with a 4 pole adaptor, ensuring the versatility required by many gamers.
Overview by ROCCAT
Renga is ROCCAT’s vision for a studio grade over-ear stereo gaming headset that creates the utmost audio experience for gamers. With multi-platform support, its over-ear design with optimally aligned 50mm driver units ensures comfort and deep, powerful bass for completely undivided in-game focus. Its reinforced structural housing provides the framework for a super comfortable build, with ergonomic headband and ear cushions. Perfect for gaming, music playback, movies and more, Renga is developed for gamers who demand more from their headset.
Technical Specifications
DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20∼20000Hz
Impedance: 32Ohm
Max. SPL at 1kHz: 110dB
Drive diameter: 50mm
Driver unit material: Neodymium magnet
MICROPHONE
Sensitivity at 1kHz: -52dB
Impedance: 2.2kOhm
Directivity: omni-directional
GENERAL
Weight (Headset only): 210g
Jack plug: 3.5mm
Cable length: 2.5m
Dimensions / Weight
Width 21.0 cm , Height 20.0 cm , Length 10.0 cm , Weight 210 g
System requirements
3.5mm jack socket required
Frequency response: 20∼20000Hz
Impedance: 32Ohm
Max. SPL at 1kHz: 110dB
Drive diameter: 50mm
Driver unit material: Neodymium magnet
MICROPHONE
Sensitivity at 1kHz: -52dB
Impedance: 2.2kOhm
Directivity: omni-directional
GENERAL
Weight (Headset only): 210g
Jack plug: 3.5mm
Cable length: 2.5m
Dimensions / Weight
Width 21.0 cm , Height 20.0 cm , Length 10.0 cm , Weight 210 g
System requirements
3.5mm jack socket required
Packaging & First Look
The packaging is synonymous with ROCCAT styling using the blue on black colours. There is a large image of the product with a list of primary features clearly visible.
At the back there is a detailed diagram pointing out the key features that are then listed in various languages.
Inside the box we find the compulsory user guide.
ROCCAT include a 4 pole adaptor that matches the colouring and style of the headset cable.
The ROCCAT Renga features a lightweight frame and large earcups, the boom microphone is attached to the left side as standard.
Closer Look
The headband is made from a rubbery stamped plastic, and features the ROCCAT name.
The ROCCAT logo can be seen on the side as well as the details of the suspension adjustment headband. There is a small elastic cord that is attactched to the earcup and the headband on both sides.
Inside view of the adjustment system, there are two plastic circular grommets in use.
The circular earup is average sized and should be big enough to cover most peoples ears. As this is an opened backed headset, you can also see the ventilation gaps through the inside of the earcup.
The boom microphone has a distinctive ROCCAT angular design about it and can rotate up and down.
The Renga has an attached 2.5m blue cable that features an inline remote that has controls for volume and microphone mute.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
The ROCCAT Renga is a stereo, analogue headset that connects via a 3.5mm jack for each the stereo output and microphone input, but if needed you can use the supplied 4 pole jack adaptor.
The build quality feels rather cheap, though everything seems robust enough to give confidence. This is designed in such a way to keep the weight down. Once wearing the Renga, I found that the earcups could be a little larger as they only just surrounded my ears, so those with large ears may wish to be extra vigilant. The foam padding on the earcups are soft, but not as squishy as memory foam or other types of padding found on more expensive headsets. The clamp strength is spot on, though considering the headset feels practically weightless when being worn, you do notice pressure around your ears more than you do on your head. Overall, long sessions were no problem, and the Renga remained very comfortable.
The inline remote is streamlined and solid in construction yet not so heavy you can feel a tug to one side. The volume and microphone mute functions worked perfect and there was no delay or interference introduced when being used.
Multimedia
To test out the ‘powerful bass’ I listened through a selection audio tracks that I am familiar with, allowing me to pick up changes in audio characteristics, and while at the price, the ‘studio grade audio’ label is certainly misleading, the Renga did provide clear, well balanced, open sounding audio that sounded good, and highly enjoyable. Though if you are looking for powerful bass, the Renga does seem to be, again, misleading. The bass is smooth, and present, but as with most open backed earphones, the bass lacked impact and depth which is important for many gamers. At maximum volume, the bass became a little loose and flappy, loosing its smoothness and precision, fortunately it wasn’t muddy and didn’t interfere with the clear mids and trebles.
This is where we now need to talk about volume, because as a 32 Ohm headset, the Renga sounded surprisingly quiet through the headset amp on the Creative ZxR soundcard. To put it into perspective, I would normally have the volume set to around 50% of my maxiumum output, and again 50% in Windows Media Player for a good range of volume to which I would describe as ‘light to enjoyable’. To get this same volume out of the Renga, I needed to move to 100% volume on everything. Though without a discrete soundcard, headphone amp or gain option, may struggle to get the kind of volume they would find reasonable from this headset. That would make it a poor choice for use with the PS4/Xbox ONE.
In games, the open backed design of the headset lended itself to sounding very open with decent stereo surround performance, though this also worked against it in some aspects as gunshots and explosions sounded too open, lacking presence and impact.
Microphone
The microphone did a good job at noise reduction without any additional filtering, but this was tainted by the fact that the microphone made my voice sound a little deep tonally. The microphone is not flexible and I wasn’t able to position it closer to my mouth for better voice pickup and as a result, unless you speak loud and clear, any team mates, or friends you are talking to may receive you as sounding ‘distant’ quiet or muffled.
Conclusion
The ROCCAT Renga hits all the crucial points for a good gaming headset in its price, performance and comfort. It is light and airy making it suitable for long gaming sessions. It has a balanced audio signature that is clear and well defined, enabling it to give a highly enjoyable experience across various media types.
There are various considerations that hold the Renga back in regards to its outright performance however. The low volume issue will harder hit those that will wish to use it with the PS4 and Xbox ONE as there are few, if any, options available to improve their experience. Then, when used on a PC, specifically if you have the means to drive the headset to a higher volume, there is a noticeable deterioration in the quality of the bass. It becomes slightly flappy and distorted. Finally, if we take a more detailed view of the pricing and competition, there some good alternatives to consider at a similar price point, but you will find the Renga on the shortlist too.
The Renga is a fine headset that will suit gamers that prefer a smoother, natural and more balanced audio signature.
Pros.
+ Light and comfortable
+ Clear, balanced audio performance
+ Wide soundstage
Cons.
– Could be louder
– Bass gets a little flappy at higher volume
– Feels cheap
+ Light and comfortable
+ Clear, balanced audio performance
+ Wide soundstage
Cons.
– Could be louder
– Bass gets a little flappy at higher volume
– Feels cheap
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