Audio

Tt eSPORTS Shock Gaming Headset Review

vortez
May 10, 2011 14 Min Read
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Advertised as having enhanced bass response, can this gaming headset breathe new life into your games?


Product on Review: Tt eSPORTS Shock Gaming Headset
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Tt ESPORTS
MSRP (excl. VAT): USD $79.99





Thermaltake’s current portfolio includes various computer cases, coolers and power supplies. Although many of their products have a gaming theme, the company has decided to consolidate their gaming peripherals under the Tt eSPORTS brand. As of today, the Tt eSPORTS product line-up includes a handful of keyboards, mice, headsets and accessories, all of which are designed with PC gamers in mind.

So far, Vortez has reviewed two Tt eSPORTS products: the Azurues gaming mouse (Vortez: Review link) and the Challenger Pro gaming keyboard (Vortez: Review link).

Today, we will be looking at the Tt eSPORTS Shock, a gaming headset. The company’s current headset line-up includes the Shock, the Shock One, the Shock Spin and the Isurus. The three formers are circumaural headsets and the latter is an in-ear headset.


The TT eSPORTS Shock is available in two different colours: diamond black and shining white.


In comparison to the other headsets, the Tt eSPORTS Shock physically resembles the Shock One. In terms of features, the Tt eSPORTS Shock differs from the Shock One in the fact that it has 3.5mm connectors instead of USB connectivity. In addition to the absence of USB support, the Shock lacks features seen on the Shock One, including 5.1 channel dts surround sound, software for sound customization and optional leather-cushioned earpards.

The Tt eSPORTS Shock has a suggested retail price of USD $79.99, putting this gaming headset at quite a premium price. Nevertheless, the product can be found for a reasonable USD $50.00 at online stores.

This gaming headset is offered in two different colours schemes: white or black. According to the company, features such as enhanced bass response and noise-cancelling microphone give the Shock an edge in gaming over its competitors. Does the Shock deliver? Read on the find out.

TT eSPORTS’ take on the Shock: Press Release Link
Headsets equipped with a microphone can open up a whole new world of multiplayer gaming. The ability to taunt your enemies and strategize with your teammates all becomes possible as Tt eSPORTS unveils its newest product the SHOCK headset. Unlike many headsets out on the market, the Shock headset covers the ear entirely. This attention to detail makes a very big difference when it comes to comfort and noise cancellation giving players the satisfaction of knowing that Tt eSPORTS designs with their consumers in mind.

“It’s all about the voice. Explosions, footsteps, incoming fire, passing vehicles, and team-member commands—you hear it all as if you were there.” – Manfred Pieper, Leader of team Thermaltake.


Features: Link
• Stero surround sound: In-style plug & play stereo gaming headset for taste gaming affect
• Quality speaker driver: 40 mm speaker driver with enhanced bass performance
• MC microphone: Innovative noise cancelling microphone for receiving the best communication in gaming activities
• Control box: In-line control box for instant gaming sound control
• 10 levels of headband adjustment: Perfectly fit all head size
• Foldable design: Foldable design provides for easy transportation
• Gold-plated 3.5mm connectors: Smooth the signal and data transmission


Specifications: Link
Headphone
• Interface: 3.5mm
• Driver unit: 40mm
• Frequency Response: 20Hz~20 KHz
• Impedance: 32 ohm
• Sensitivity: 114+/-4 dB
• Max. input: 100mW
• Available colours: Diamond Black (HT-SHK002ECBL) and Shining White (HT-SHK002ECWH)

Microphone
• Directivity: Uni-directional
• Impedance: 2.2 k ohm
• Frequency: 100~10KHz
• Sensitivity: -54dB+/-3dB (odB=1Vpa@1KHz)
• Test condition: 4.5V
• Cable length:3m
• Connector: 3.5mm plus x2

Packaging and Overall Look


As like any other Tt eSPORTS product, the Shock comes in a large black, white and red packaging. The front of the package states the main features of the product including bass enhancement, foldable design and noise cancelling mic. The back of the cardboard box explains in further details the features. The information given here are the same that can be found on the product’s website. Overall, the packaging is clean and attractive.

The right side of the box is bright red and it is dedicated to listing the technical specifications of the Shock. Furthermore, there is a quick explanation of the Shock’s bass frequency response. Here, Thermaltake explains in a neat diagram how their product gives better bass performance than its competitors. Seeing as the Shock is advertised as a gaming headset, the increased bass response oshould provide better sound quality for explosions and firefights. According to Tt eSPORTS, the Shock accomplishes the following (the poor English is secondary to the point): “the more you can hear and the more enjoy you will have in gaming”.


The packaging: front, right and back sides.


The box is sealed with a small clear plastic sticker at the top. Inside the box, all of the contents are neatly organized in an intricate cardboard box. The headset itself is held on some kind of cardboard stand, as we will see later.

In terms of package contents, there is the Shock gaming headset, a travelling pouch and an envelope containing both the multi-language quick installation guide and the warranty policy manual. The installation guide explains in a single page per language how to use the product and it also lists various features of the product. The Shock comes with a limited 2-year warranty, which is on-par with most gaming headsets.


The package contents: Shock gaming headset, multi-language quick installation guide, warranty policy manual, travelling pouch


The Shock gaming headset is available in two different colours schemes: Diamond Black (HT-SHK002ECBL) and Shining White (HT-SHK002ECWH). The white Shock will be the subject of this review.


The Tt eSPORTS Shock is neatly packaged in cardboard.

Closer Look: Headset and Earcups


The Tt eSPORTS Shock is a circumaural gaming headset. The headset that will be reviewed today has the white colour scheme, but the Shock is also available in a black colour scheme.

The Shock uses a blend of black, white and red for its colours. The Thermaltake logo (Tt) is embossed on each side of the headband. The Shock’s headband holds the headphones on its sides instead of the top, and this makes the overall fit of the Shock much tighter than other headsets such as the Arctic Sound P301 (Vortez: Review link). When wearing the Shock, the pressure by the earcups might be a bit too much for some users. Nevertheless, through wear and tear, the headset does loosen up for a more comfortable fit.

Although it is entirely made of plastic (know that the headband is reinforced by metal), the Shock feels very sturdy in comparison to the Arctic Sound P301. The white plastic parts of the Shock (part of the headphones and headband) have a smooth and glossy finish whereas all the other surfaces have a matte finish. None of these surfaces are, thankfully, fingerprint magnets.

In terms of weight, the Shock feels slightly heavier than the Arctic Sound P301 that weighs 0.52 kg. Still, it is quite light for a large circumaural headset.


The TT eSPORTS Shock gaming headset


Thermaltake advertises the Shock as being comfortable, which is essential for any gamer that plays for an hour or more. The headband has leather cushioning. The padding itself is a bit stiff to my liking, but it is still comfortable enough for long-gaming sessions.


The headband is cushioned to enhance comfort


The top of the headband, as mentioned earlier, has a white and glossy finish. There is also Tt eSPORTS logo printed on it. The headband can be adjusted in 10 different levels to add up-to 3 cm to each side of the headband. The adjustment is smooth and feels strong. The headband itself is also reinforced with metal for added durability.


The headband has a 10 level adjustment to add up-to 3 cm of length to each side. The headband has metal reinforcement for added durability.


The earcups are lined with velvet padding for added comfort. Unfortunately, like the headband’s cushioning, the padding of the earcups is a bit too stiff. The amount of padding is more or less generous, too. This actually decreased the overall comfort of the Shock and the tight fit of the headset does not help either.

The earcups of the Shock can be easily removed by squeezed them on the side and wiggling them free. This makes cleaning the earcups easy. As mentioned in the introduction of the review, the Shock is physically similar to the Shock One, another gaming headset by Thermaltake. Unlike the Shock, the Shock One comes bundled with an optional leather-cushioned earcups. This might explain why the earcups are removable for other reasons than hygiene.


The earcups are removable for easy cleaning. These can be replaced with leather-cushioned earcups included with the TT eSPORTS Shock One but not the Shock.

Closer Look (Continued): Microphone, Foldable, Accessories and Cable


The Tt eSPORTS Shock features a noise cancelling microphone located on the left headphone. The range of swivel of the microphone is about 130 degrees. Although Thermaltake claims that the microphone is flexible, the microphone is more or less cooperative. The microphone seems to be made of some kind plastic that if forcefully flexed in a certain direction, it will keep its shape. Nevertheless, the flexing of the microphone does not feel natural at all. In fact, it feels as if the microphone is being deformed in order to snap it. Thankfully, the microphone will not snap if a reasonable amount of force is applied. As such, it can be said that the microphone is “flexible”, but it is simply not done in an elegant manner. A solution as seen on the Arctic Sound P301 (Vortez: Review link) would have been much nicer.


The TT eSPORTS Shock features a noise cancelling microphone. The microphone can be swiveled up or down. The microphone itself is also flexible and can be deformed.


As always, Tt eSPORTS tries to accommodate gamers by including some features not typically seen in non-gaming headphones. Indeed, the Shock has a foldable design for easy transportation. Although the Shock’s folding design is not as elegant as other headsets such as the old Zalman ZM-RS6F (Zalman: Link), it works well enough for transporting the Shock to a LAN party.


The TT eSPORTS Shock can be folded for easier transportation


Once the folded, the Shock can be placed into its travelling pouch. The bag itself has a nice velvet-like fabric. Although it lacks sufficient padding to protect the Shock from falls, the bag helps transporting the headset with its long 3m cable.


The included bag simplifies transporting the headset. It does not have any padding, however.


The Tt eSPORTS Shock has a 3 meter long cable, which should be sufficient for most computer users. In terms of connectivity, the Shock has two gold-plated 3.5mm connectors: one for the headphones and another for the microphone. A cable splitter is located at 20 cm from the connectors. There is also a Velcro strap included with the cable to help with cable management.

Oddly enough, the connectors are not colour coded, i.e. green for the headphones and pink/red for the microphone. Thankfully, a small diagram of a headphone or a microphone indicates the function of the connectors.


The 3 meter long cable is flexible and strong. It features two gold-plated connectors. Unfortunately, both the headphone and microphone cable are not colour labeled.


The Shock features an in-line control pod located at about 55 cm from the left headphone and this places the control pod at around the level of the waist. It has a volume control and an on/off microphone switch. There is also a clip at the back of the control pod, but the clip itself is small and not very flexible, making it more or less versatile.


The in-line volume control pod has volume control and an on/off microphone switch

Test System and Testing Methodology


Testing Methodology

The TT eSPORTS will be tested for two weeks for several hours. It will be used for various tasks such as listening to music, watching movies, playing games and communicating through Skype.

The music software that will be used is MediaMonkey 3.2.4 and the voice software that will be used is Skype 5.3.

Test Setup: Desktop
– CPU: AMD Athlon X2 5000+ Black Edition @ 2.6 GHz 1.15V
– Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G
– RAM: Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5 PC2-6400 2x2GB
– Case: Antec NSK3480 mATX
– Power supply: Antec EarthWatts 380W
– CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U12P with Noctua NF-P12 @ 5V
– Case fan: Noctua NF-P12 @ 5V
– Hard drive 1: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
– Hard drive 2: Hitachi DeskStar T7K500 HDT725025VLAT80 250GB
– DVD Drive: LG GH22NS30 DVD Writer
– OS: Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)
– Mouse pad: QPAD|UC Large
– Monitor: Dell E207WFP 20” TN

Test Results: Microphone, Music, Movies, Gaming and Comfort


Microphone

Thermaltake claims that the Shock sports a flexible noise cancelling microphone. As it was mentioned earlier in this review, the range of motion of the microphone is limited unless you are willing to deform the plastic construction. Although it does not feel natural to do so, the microphone is indeed flexible and will not snap when put under pressure.

The microphone’s noise cancellation is adequate, but it still picks up ambient noise fairly easily. I am unsure whether or not the Shock would be ideal for a LAN party or any place that has high noise levels.

The Shock’s microphone quality is top notch. Conversations made through Skype were very clear and there was little to no distortion. The on/off switch on the in-line control pod makes muting the microphone quick and easy.

Music

Although the Shock is a gaming headset, it will still be pertinent to examine its performance with music. Seeing as the Shock has enhanced bass response, any music that makes a usage of bass will have an added kick. Unfortunately, the bass has the tendency of drowning out the highs and mids. In other words, the balance of the sound quality is shifted to the lows. Music loses a part of its warmth and, overall, it sounds muffled.

The in-line control pod worked very well to control the sound volume.


Although the bass response on the TT eSPORTS Shock is respectable, it can drown out the highs and mids, giving music a muffled-like sound


Movies

The Shock’s overall sound quality fared much better in movies than in music. Conversations between characters were clear. Any scenes with explosions and gunshots had an added kick thanks to the Shock’s enhanced bass response.

Gaming

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: As expected, the enhanced bass response gave new life to the game. Explosions and gun shots were crisp and lively. Enemy footsteps were easily discernable from any direction. In-game music and voice dialogs were clear, but as mentioned earlier the highs and mids took a step back for the lows.

Comfort

The Tt eSPORTS has a 10 level adjustable headband in order to fit gamers’ head. There is padding on both the headband and the earcups. Although the padding on the headband is adequate, the padding on the earcups is insufficient for comfort. The main issue lies with the fact that the overall fit of the Shock is a bit too tight to my taste. It was tight enough to make the sides of my head and jaw sore after an hour of usage. Depending on how sensitive you are to pressure against the sides of the head, the Shock might not be for you. Thankfully, the headset did loosen up after two weeks of wear and tear. Still, in terms of comfort out-of-the-box, the Arctic Sound P301 is the better headset.

Unlike the earcups of the Arctic Sound P301, the ones of the Shock allowed my ears to breathe. Even after two hours of continuous usage, my ears were warm, but not sweaty. Also, the rectangular shape of the earcups takes some time to get used to.


The circumaural earpads do not have enough padding. The headband’s fit is also quite tight.

Conclusion


The Shock is one of four gaming headsets currently under the Tt eSPORTS brand. Its mains features of the Shock include a foldable design, a noise cancelling microphone and 3.5mm connectors.

It is available in either a white or black colour scheme. The Shock is primarily made of plastic and, aesthetically speaking, it isn’t too shabby. The headset feels very sturdy without being heavy. The headband is reinforced with metal for added durability.

Once folded, the Shock can be easily transported inside its pouch. It also features a long 3m cable with gold-plated 3.5mm connectors for optimal connectivity. An in-line control pod allows for quick volume and microphone control. The cable itself is flexible and sturdy. It is also very well reinforced at its insertion into the headphone.


The Tt eSPORTS performs well in games, is moderately comfortable, and is less than ideal for music.


There is padding across the headband and the earcups, but unfortunately they are not enough for optimal comfort. Even with the adjustable headband, the overall fit of the Shock is too tight for my taste. Some might like this tight fit because it makes knocking off the headset from the head difficult.

The noise cancelling microphone swivels up and down. It can be flexed when put under pressure. The microphone quality is very good. The Shock has enhanced bass response and this makes in-game explosions and gun shots much livelier. Unfortunately, the bass overwhelms the treble and this has a detrimental effect on music. Indeed, music loses a some of its warmth.

At the time of writing, the Tt eSPORTS Shock gaming headset can be found for as little as USD $50.00. This is a much more reasonable price than MSRP of USD $79.99. Even at USD $50.00, I feel that the Shock does not deliver in terms of value.

With all of this in mind, the Tt eSPORTS Shock is a good gaming headset with a quality construction and microphone. Its enhanced bass response makes it a good choice for games. Unfortunately, its unbalanced sound makes it a less attractive headset for non-gaming usage, especially for listening to music. Although the Shock does not place itself #1 in mind, it easily goes onto my shortlist.

Vortez awards the Tt eSPORTS Shock the Vortez Bronze.

Pros
+ Good microphone performance
+ Excellent sound quality for games
+ Foldable design for easy transportation (with the addition of the bag)
+ Long 3 meter cable with gold-plated 3.5mm cables
+ Removable earcups
+ Strong construction

Cons
– Earcups could use more padding
– Expensive
– Tight fit that is detrimental to comfort
– Unbalanced sound performance
– Unnatural flexible microphone

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