Tesoro are making their name known in the PC peripheral market, of which includes an affordable 7.1 virtual surround gaming headset. Just one question, Devil or Angel?
Product on Review: Kuven 7.1 Virtual Gaming Headset
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Tesoro
Street Price: £50-60 GBP
Mythology and historical stories can be a wealth of inspiration to which Tesoro have established a firm association with. We have recently taken a look at the ‘bow of Arjuna’ and the Wolfslayer from Tesoro and now we take a look at the Helm of Hades, AKA the Kuvén gaming headset.
While unlikely to endow you with invisibility, it does come equipped with 50mm drivers and an edgy and aggressive gamer design that is bold yet stylish. Available in Devil and Angel variants, either will be suitably neutral for the majority of gamers aesthetic preferences.
Tesoro on the Kuven Gaming Headset
THE HELM OF HADES
The Helmet of Hades, also known as the Helm of Darkness, renders its wearer invisible even to the eyes of the gods. It is one of the sources of Hades’s power and was forged for him by the Cyclopes during the war against the Titans, along with Zeus’s thunderbolts and Poseidon’s trident.
The Helmet of Hades, also known as the Helm of Darkness, renders its wearer invisible even to the eyes of the gods. It is one of the sources of Hades’s power and was forged for him by the Cyclopes during the war against the Titans, along with Zeus’s thunderbolts and Poseidon’s trident.
Specifications & Features
Headset Spec
Driver Unit: 50mm
Frequency Response: 20Hz~20KHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 116 +/- 4dB(at 1KHz)
Cable Length: 1.2m+2m=3.2m
3.5 stereo plug
Microphone
Directivity: Noise Cancelling
Impedance: 2.2K ohms
Frequency: 100~10KHz
Sensitivity: -38 +/- 3dB(at 1KHz)
Driver Unit: 50mm
Frequency Response: 20Hz~20KHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 116 +/- 4dB(at 1KHz)
Cable Length: 1.2m+2m=3.2m
3.5 stereo plug
Microphone
Directivity: Noise Cancelling
Impedance: 2.2K ohms
Frequency: 100~10KHz
Sensitivity: -38 +/- 3dB(at 1KHz)
FEATURES
• Extreme gaming grade headsets.
• 50 mm Drivers Units.
• 7.1 virtual surround sound.
• Crystal clear high, middle and low tones.
• Closed Type Headset with Improved Noise Reduction.
• Detachable & Comfortable Ear Cup.
• 1.2m Braided Cable with Gold Plated 3.5mm Audio / Microphone connectors.
• 2m extension cable..
• Y type 2 to 1 convert cable x 1.
• Volume / Microphone mute controller.
• Adjustable leather headband.
• Stylish aluminum plate.
• Color: Angel (White) or Devil (Black)
Packaging & Accessories
Aesthetic keeps in style with other products in their range.
The packaging is adorned with the purple/ grey colouring we have seen on Tesoro’s other products, we get an image of a symbolic helmet as well as a large window displaying the product itself. There is also some information about the key features, including the 50mm drivers, noise cancelling microphone and the 7.1 virtual surround.
Supporting documents
Inside the packaging there is a quickstart quide and some information about Tesoro and their products. There will also be a driver disc included, however there was strangely none included with this sample, though drivers can be downloaded here.
Braided extension cable
Should the attached 1.2m long cable not be long enough, Tesoro include a 2m extension cable that is nicely braided and gold plated.
4 pole jack for use with your phone.
Tesoro also include a stereo/mic to 4pole adaptor should you with to use this headset with your mobile device, some may not imagine themselves using the Kuven as a mobile headset but at least you can.
Inline remote
The inline remote is simple yet effective, without being the overly large and cumbersome type. You get a volume dial and a mute mic switch.
USB adaptor
This is potentially one of the most interesting and important features of this product, a compact lightweight USB soundcard, giving you the choice to use the headset with your own sound card, or with the included USB audio processor.
Closer Look
The Helm of Hades
Aluminium places at the side
For all the branding that matters, Tesoro get it all in here, the product name, the Tesoro name and the Angel and Devil faces on either side. The angled design look almost unorthodox yet add style and character. The internal packaging was covered in fibres that was difficult to dust off, as seen in this image, but they will dissipate with a little time.
Folded flat
Though it doesn’t fold in on itself for compactness, it does have enough movement to fold flat.
Adjustable strap
The adjustable strap is reinforced with metal, adding to the robustness and stylish aesthetic of the product. On the headband there is plenty of thick padding to keep things soft on top.
The earcup
A tighter fit than some others but there is still enough room for a cosy lego man to relax on the thick, soft leatherette padding.
The microphone
The microphone is a semi flexible boom arm, which is slightly disappointing considering the semi modularity of this headset, it would have been nice to see a removable microphone because after a bit of wear, this type that is pushed up and down regularly, tends to end up falling permanently in the down position.
Software
The included software is similar to many C-Media USB based headsets on the market, so isn’t too alien and functions well. Included in the software is the selection of the virtual multi channel (7.1) surround processing, as well as various audio control options (including the fun voice changer. Overall, nothing to scream about but perfectly adequate and easy to use all the same. A welcomed sight with the Kuven was that it actually allowed the bit depth and sample rates of 24/96, which is a refreshing change from the limited 16/24 @ 48,000Hz. Though gaming audio tends to be fairly limited, this is a nice addition regardless.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
The Kuven headset is lighter than expected which makes for comfortable long use and the thick padding makes things easy for your ears and head. After a long session you may find things warming up a fair bit, so keep your room well regulated to avoid a sweaty session. The head grip is comfortable, on the looser side of ideal and was still comfortable to wear with glasses. The braided cables are fairly stiff but look attractive and the inclusion of the extension and the USB soundcard is nice to see. Overall the aesthetic is interesting and attractive which is enhanced by the brushed aluminium plates. It is a shame that the Kuven isn’t fully modular, or by extension, that the microphone isn’t removable. The reason this is a big deal is because the push up/pull down type boom microphones tend to wear over time and end up flopping around all over the place.
Multimedia
Listening to music through a discrete sound card (Creative ZxR) using the 3.5mm jacks felt a little enclosed, though the 50mm drivers did a good job of providing a warm bass. Using the provided USB soundcard and enabling the virtual 7.1 surround really opened things up and improved the sound quality more than what I had expected. The bass, mids and highs were all well accounted for and was more enjoyable. This gives the impression that the drivers are designed to provide a better surround experience for gaming.
In battlefield 4 the virtual surround was great and there was a great separation of tones from the bassy explosions to the sound of footsteps, the Kuven proved to be a formidable ally.
Microphone
The voice quality of the microphone was said to be very good and clear, but did pick up a fair bit of background noise, but considering the price range that isn’t out of the ordinary and the microphone performed well. Usually curbing the sensitivity will reduce how much background noise is picked up.
Conclusion
The Tesoro Kuven comes in quite formidably considering the price, versatility and comfort. You get a great virtual 7.1 surround headset that will give you rich, immersive gaming audio. The various included accessories will mean that you will be able to take advantage of the Kuven regardless of your situation and with the choice between the black and white will be enough to fit in with the majority of styles and aesthetic preferences.
The audio quality is about what you would expect in this price range and it certainly shines in gaming, though being a gaming headset it is unlikely appeal to audio enthusiasts who seek higher precision in their audio output. There are few headsets around this price point that offer a similar selection of features, however in consideration to the 3 fundamental pillars of headset design (That being, comfort, audio quality and microphone quality), the Kuven settles around average for each of these points. Tesoro have done a great job making the Kuven semi-modular, however a fully modular solution including a removable microphone would make this a more attractive proposition.
If gaming is your main concern, the Tesoro Kuven will not disappoint with its solid performance. The virtual 7.1 surround sound rendering on the 50mm stereo drivers is well implemented and the included accessories provide a wealth of support and versatility.
Pros.
+ Good gaming audio
+ Great virtual 7.1 surround
+ Semi modular cables + USB Soundcard
+ Comfortable
+ Price
+ May grant invisibility to supernatural creatures
Cons.
– Microphone not removable
+ Good gaming audio
+ Great virtual 7.1 surround
+ Semi modular cables + USB Soundcard
+ Comfortable
+ Price
+ May grant invisibility to supernatural creatures
Cons.
– Microphone not removable
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to Tesoro for providing today’s review sample.
