Roccat Kave Solid 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset

Thought I would write my first review on Amazon for this set of headphones.

I received them in the post very quickly from Amazon however it wasn't frustration free packaging from Amazon but Roccat's own packaging which had various cable ties and such which made it hard to actually get them out of the box.

After plugging them into my soundcard and plugging the USB into my Computer I was ready to go, no more setup!

The controller is possibly a little on the large size however looks very stylish on my desk and the volume wheel is probably a bit loud when clicking round (but I am being seriously picky).

I've used the headphones regularly for long periods of time (currently up to 6 hours solid of wearing them during) and are extremely comfortable, they haven't yet started to hurt or irritate my head at all. They are reasonable heavy which makes them feel nice and sturdy and not like they are going to break quickly. The foam on the ear pads are nice and squashy and comfortable, also they are large enough to fit over my ears without pressing them.

The microphone is very clear has been regarded as excellent when speaking to various people over VOIP, I also like how it lights up when you are muted which gives you that extra reassurance, the sound quality is fantastic and the bass holds it's weight and I have yet to bottom it out, the cabs are mounted well and there is no vibration noise from them rattling.

I would fully recommend anybody to purchase these headphones without a second thought. I cannot comment on their relevance as 'gaming' headphones as I have yet to play a game in order to comment on this aspect, however for general VOIP and watching 5.1 AAC Movies they are amazing.

The Roccat Kave must be the best headset I've ever seen or better: heard. The big difference between this headset and other so called "surround headsets" is that this one actually has six different speakers opposed to making two speakers act like a surround sound system. Which increases the sound quality and of course results in an actual 5.1 surround system. The Roccat Kave is one of many headsets available on the market but absolutely overpowers all it's competitors. And believe it or not, this is only one of the strong suits this headset has. Allow me to list them:

1. Actual surround and sound quality. 5/5
I have tested dozens of headsets - probably the 30 best headsets available in Europe - and found only one headset worth trying besides the Roccat Kave: the 'Tritton AX Pro'. Even though the AX Pro delivers great surround sound and pretty clear sound it's not quite there yet. After testing both headsets numerous times I found that I could locate the sound source twice as precise with the Kave as with the AX Pro. Further testing indicated a much smoother locating as well. With the Kave there is no doubt where exactly the sound is coming from and where it's moving towards. With the AX Pro, it wasn't always that clear. Don't get me wrong, the AX Pro is a great headset just not as perfect as the Kave.

2. Comfort. 5/5
At least as important as the sound quality is the comfort. Since you'll be using this headset to play games and watch movies with HD surround sound, you probably want a headset that doesn't annoy you after half an hour. The Roccat Kave doesn't have this problem in spite of being the heaviest headset I've ever worn. It has three cushions which spread out the pressure on your head and thus allow you to enjoy the Kave for multiple hours. I've worn it for ten hours straight. However, if you wear it longer than that, you will start feeling it.
The ear cushions are probably the second best ear cushions on the market, they are extremely comfortable (a LOT better than the AX Pro). The best ear cushions, without doubt, are found on the Sony XB series (which are stereo headphones, you really have to try them on).

3. Design. 5/5
I think it's needless to say that Roccat is a company which loves design, all their products are designer pieces. The Kave really is a treat for the ears and the eyes. Just look at it, is there any headset you'd rather buy than this one? The beauty of the design is probably something that varies a lot between different people. All I know is that I'd take this headset over the AX Pro any day of the week! One objective part about the design is the shape of the headset, you can fold it up so it's much easier to transport.

4 Features. 5/5
The Roccat Kave has a variety of useful features that make this headset completely perfect. You can mute the mic by pushing a single button, the same goes for muting the sound. Note that if the mic is muted, a blue LED will light up. The mic can be detached and attached in no matter what position. The mic can also turn 360° and is fully bendable. Meaning if you bend it one way, it'll stay that way. The headset also vibrates according to amount of bass, this sounds more annoying than it actually is. I don't really feel it but it does give some extra dimension when playing a FPS (especially if you're running through explosions etc). For a full list of features, visit their website . Trust me, it's worth a visit!

5. Costumer Service. 5/5
Roccat is a German company but don't worry there is a fully operational English help desk to solve all your problems and questions about their products. I have used it when I found out I had problems with the mic. Roccat insisted to send me a new mic free of charge, it arrived the next day (very surprising) but didn't solve my problem. In the end it was my computer that was faulty and I got to keep the extra mic, so now I have two. I didn't even have to show anything. The costumer service is INCREDIBLE.

6. Price. 5/5
Even though you might not think so, the Kave is a pretty cheap product compared to the quality. I order almost everything through amazon.co.uk so I also ordered the Kave, at least my first one. Later on I bought a second one so we could test is with multiple people at once. The strange thing is, I bought it at amazon.de and it saved me a lot of cash! So if you have free delivery from amazon.de, go buy it there. The manual can be downloaded on the roccat website, other than that there's no difference between the UK product and the German product. Note that this headset is USB powered and not with an AC plug (one of the reasons I bought it in the first place). This means that international models are identical and allows Roccat to lower the price a little bit. It CAN be powered by using a universal USB to AC plug adapter.

7. For use with PC AND PS3!
Not many people know it but you can use this with the PS3, since it's the best headset in the world PS3 owners will have a HUGE advantage if they use this headset. I used to play FPS with the AX Pro and I must say I have become a lot better since I plugged the Kave in my PS3. It's also very enjoyable for watching BDs with HD surround sound. To connect both you need an audio card. An audio card can be expensive so if you're buying this for the PS3 you'll pay more than just this headset. There are cheaper and more expensive audio cards. I actually use the audio card from the AX Pro (ironic, isn't it). For the simple reason that I have two of them. If you don't have one already: the audio cards are being sold seperately. The Sharkoon X-Tatic uses the same audio card as the AX Pro (besides design they are pretty much the same thing). And the Sharkoon 5.1 audio card is being sold on http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B001L31GFI/ref=oss_product.
Note that one: this is the best audio card in my experience, there probable are more audio cards available which are just as good and maybe less pricey. And two: don't buy an optical cable with the audio card as the package includes one.

Conclusion: Roccat convinced me and now I'm a huge fan. Since the Kave I also bought the Kone which is a brilliant gaming mouse. This company stands for quality and you can't put a price on that, I'd rate it ten stars out of five, that's how happy I am with this headset. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get the sound advantage in shooters and/or racers and check out their website, it's really worth it!

Well here it is my first review of anything!

I've been using hand'me'down headsets, and finally decided to buy my own. What a total nightmare trying to find a 'good' headset based on all the reveiws. Theres will always be those 'biggin' a headset and others putting it down! After many weeks of reading, I finally took the plunge and bought these.

Well, what can I say, very nice...Solid build and good sound from them, they're definitely on the heavy side (for me, prob as Im used to the cheapy £20 kiddy headsets). The pads on the head band could have been 'flexible', but they're stiff and dont move to the contour of your head, so after a while I get a dull pain. Readjust them and back to normal!

I was primarily looking for a headset that would be able to deliver good bass, which this does in a weird way, it sounds full and with depth, but it has a slightly annoying 'rumble' which cannot be adjusted/turned off. Dont get me wrong its not a bad thing as it adds to the bass effect, but it takes some getting used to and adjusting to get the right mix.

I primarily listen to music, but watch movies and game just as much. And it seems to do a fairly good job at all of them (when you have fiddled and got all the settings just the way you like them).

The control pad is a god send, nicely thought of, putting some of the much needed and changed settings at arm's length. The only problem I have is that the cable between the headset and control pad is too short, another 25cm would have been nice.

Cant say much about the mic, first thing I done after unboxing the headset was disconnect the mic....I dont need or use it, simples :)

As for durability, my 2year old has already given it the seal of approval. If they can survive being hammered on a desk several times, then I dont know what others are doing with theirs!

I would say, dont expect to be able to use these headphones to their full potential using onboard sound. You will struggle to get depth of field in games and the volume is seriously lacking, I had everything cranked up and still nowhere near as loud as I'd like. So got a Xonar DX and its made the headphones shine!

Overall Im happy with the headset, worth every penny. I may not be an 'expert', but to me they tick the boxes and put a smile on my face when the bass kicks in :)

Deej