Tt eSports step up with their latest gaming headset featuring LED lighting. But does the new Cronos headset look better than it actually sounds?
Product on review: Tt eSports Cronos
Manufacturer: Tt eSports
Street Price: £61.99 inc VAT
If you are a gamer then it is likely that you will recognise the Tt eSports brand because they are known for their vivid and stylish products that illustrate the gaming scene. New to this image is the Cronos gaming headset that is amongst a new creed off headset that gives the choice of LED lighting while using a 3.5mm jack to connect to your discrete sound card. Utilising popular 40mm drivers wrapped in a shell driven by brand recognition, can it deliver the impressive audio quality gamers have come to expect?
Overview by Tt eSports
The CRONOS gaming headset is a highly functional stereo headset optimized for both FPS gaming and mobile use – coming with two removable headphone cables; one for use with PC gaming and another for use with mobile phones.
Specifications & Features
Connector: 3.5mm plug&USB
Platform: PC/Mobile
Driver Unit (mm): 40mm Neodymium Magnet
DTS Certified: No
Channel: Stereo
Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20 KHz
Sensitivity: 117 ± 3dB
Cable Length: 1.8 meters
USB Connector: Yes
3.5 mm Gold Plug: Yes
Plug&Play Microphone: Yes
External In-Line Controller: Yes
Mic Directivity: Omni -Directional
Mic Noise Cancelling: No
Mic Sensitivity: -54 ± 3dB
Mic Frequency: 100Hz ~ 10 KHz
Mic Impedance: 2.2k ohm
Platform: PC/Mobile
Driver Unit (mm): 40mm Neodymium Magnet
DTS Certified: No
Channel: Stereo
Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20 KHz
Sensitivity: 117 ± 3dB
Cable Length: 1.8 meters
USB Connector: Yes
3.5 mm Gold Plug: Yes
Plug&Play Microphone: Yes
External In-Line Controller: Yes
Mic Directivity: Omni -Directional
Mic Noise Cancelling: No
Mic Sensitivity: -54 ± 3dB
Mic Frequency: 100Hz ~ 10 KHz
Mic Impedance: 2.2k ohm
FINE TUNED 40MM DRIVERS.
The CRONOS’s 40mm drivers are specially tuned for a sound that is highly detailed, revealing, and exceptional in spatial positioning. Don’t miss a beat of the game, the CRONOS is the right headset for FPS/RTS/MMORPG.
SPECIALLY DESIGNED LYCRA® HEADBAND.
3 sectioned headband, featuring LYCRA® fabric, reduces pressure on head for long-term comfort
PC & MOBILE READY.
Specially selected drivers and microphone allow perfect impedance matching for both PC use and with mobile handset. USB cable is removable to instantly switch between PC and mobile use.
FOLD FLAT DESIGN
Earcups swivel to allow the CRONOS gaming headset to be stored flat, inside included carry bag.
Packaging & First Look
The Box front
Black and red is all the rage lately it seems and the background art looks eye catching and dramatic. There is information about the product listed beneath the main image of the product.
The reverse side of the packaging
At the back there is a disagram with a breakdown of all the features of the Cronos alongside listed specifications.
Carry case included
Nice to see that a protective carry case is included which can store the folded headset.
Choice of cables
Included in the bundle is a pair of cables, one with a dedicated 3.5mm jack for use with mobile devices, the other having a microphone, headphone and power USB end. The USB is only for the lighting and is required for the actual use of the headset.
Folded flat
The box comes quite thin as the headset is folded flat to use less space. The most notable features are the Tt eSports logo on each earcup and the large boom mic.
Closer Look
There are 3 padded sections
Firmer than some other padding, they are still relatively soft and covered with a lycra material that can stretch.
The ear cups
As with the padding on the headband, the earcups are covered by synthetic material. On the inside we can see the Tt eSports logo.
From below
When not lit up the side of the earcups are white in colour and you can still see the brand logo clearly. On the bottom of the left side earcup we can find the micro USB port.
In line remote
The in-line remote is small, plasticky but adequate, giving volume and microphone mute controls to hand. The design of this in-line remote is slightly confusing as it is neither ergonomically efficient for left or right hand.
The microphone
The boom isn’t removable but is adjustable.
Glowing up
When you have the USB plugged in, the logos light up and the effect is actually quite striking and impressive. It is not too bright to be distracting either.
The tip of the microphone glows up too
The red glow seen on the logo and the microphone to some may be seen as a gimmick, however, it is a nice feature to have especially on gaming headsets as long as it doesn’t interfere with the operation of the product itself.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
Choosing which cable to use is easy because of the modular design, handy because should you be using this headset on the go, the dedicated cable with a single 3.5mm jack will mean you do not have any extra jacks/USB swinging around. The primary cable is braided in a black and red design that feels good quality. The comfort was a bit hit-and-miss at first on the basis that the material used is ‘different’ but not uncomfortable, once you get over the ‘difference’ the Cronos is comfortable and the padding works well, even when using glasses. The boom mic mounting felt a little weak in regards to moving the arm up and down, if it wears down over time you could end up with a boom mic that would continuously flop down when you do no want to use it. The in-line mic is positioned fairly high up on the cable and doesn’t sit in your lap, not a major issue but considering how fiddly it was, it did put me off from using it at all, still the volume dial and mute switch worked well. Using a USB port for the lighting may cause some people an issue, especially if they use a desk mounted interface to plug their headset into. Though, like with the CM Storm Pulse-R, it is good to see that the lighting option is now no longer a ‘USB Headset’ exclusive. The adjustable straps are reinforced with metal which is always a plus.
Multi-Media
Listening to music was good, the Cronos gave capable balanced sound across bass, mids and highs but lacked character and lost a fair bit of definition. Acoustic and instrumental tracks were enjoyable in contrast to dense electronic music such as CRIM3S – Stay Ugly that caused the Cronos to rage quit on any competent audio reproduction.
The Cronos nailed gaming audio in its own right, it gave boomy explosions without being over-the-top, it gave clear highs without sounding metallic and unnatural. Some may expect more definition across the board, though, generally the Cronos gave perfectly good all round sound for all occasions.
Microphone
The microphone quality was rated to be good by those I spoke to, no static or interference and reduced background noise. When the volume of the headset was turned up very loud, there was minor leakage.
Conclusion
The Tt eSport Cronos is certainly distinctive and unique in appearance and the inclusion of the modular cables is certainly welcomed. The red LED logo will appeal to gamers and if you didn’t want a cliche black headset, it is also available in ‘combat white’. The build quality is as good as the competitors in this price range, using quality plastics with metal reinforced adjustable strap.
It is very hard to dislike anything about the Cronos without getting exceptionally petty, maybe the quality of the in-line remote could be improved or change the microphone by making it modular? Getting to the meat of the disadvantages would really be the price and competition. It is priced very close to the ASUS Orion/ Echelon and not far off of the Steelseries Siberia V2, both of which punch very hard. The sound quality is well balanced but slightly lacking at this price point, but then, it is far from the worst too. Keeping this product viable is its styling and charm so if you like the look of it, then you aren’t getting a bad deal and is certainly worth looking at. For these reasons we are happy to award our Vortez Silver.
The Tt eSports Cronos with its aggressive red LED lighting could be the perfect addition to your gaming arsenal, if you like what you see and want a more distinctive headset, this will come recommended!
Pros.
+ Well rounded Audio
+ Aggressive LED Lighting
+ Modular cables
Cons.
– Tough competition
+ Well rounded Audio
+ Aggressive LED Lighting
+ Modular cables
Cons.
– Tough competition
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to Tt eSports for providing today’s review sample.
