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| Altec Lansing AHS615 Review by Jonathan Trevisani  Gamers that are tired of getting fragged from sneaky enemies crawling up from behind have a solution. Gamers that don't have the space or money for a surround sound speaker system have a solution. Gamers that get yelled at by family/friends/roommates/landlords for having their sound too loud have a solution. Altec Lansing's AHS615 Gaming Headset looks to be that solution with its SRS 3-D Audio Technology. Combining the benefits of a headset and surround sound will make many people happy and the result is a good quality product with only a few flaws.The headset is a bit on the large side with its complete ear covering and over-the-head straps. The speakers feature an open-ear design that allows for some air flow while playing so it doesn't get too warm or sweaty underneath the cups. There are two head straps; a high one that connects the speakers and a lower one that rests on the top of the head. There are no manual adjustments for the headset itself as it conforms to the head with a stretching component. The speakers themselves can pivot to different angles and aid in the overall comfort. The AHS615 fits nicely, but does take some getting used to as the cushions for the speakers are smaller than average. It feels like the speakers are lying on the ears for a bit, but that feeling goes away with continued use. Although it is fairly large, the weight of the headset is very low and doesn't feel too heavy at all. The moving parts on the headset make for added customization and comfort but might catch some stray hairs that fall into the mechanical joints. The microphone boom is very adjustable with complete movement up and down as well as some fine-point adjusting to get the microphone closer or farther away. With complete control of the microphone placement, users can move the microphone straight up, out of the way of the face. It can also be placed right on top of the lips just in case you don't want to talk too loud. Voice quality is crisp and loud for fellow players or other listeners. There are three microphone settings for sensitivity; High, Low and Off. By turning the sensitivity to low, Teamspeak sessions will no longer include random dog barking or demands that the trash get taken out while you play. The true quality of the headset lies in the surround sound amplifier. This can be switched on or off with the control toggle and really changes game play. Sounds become a little more crisp and sound starts having a direction. As long as the game supports surround sound, players will start to hear that tank rumbling up behind them or the snap of a sniper rifle to their left. The sound quality is definitely boosted when the SRS-3D is activated and highly recommended for any FPS or MMO game. A negative aspect of the SRS-3D amplifier is that the control toggle requires a AAA battery in order to work. Without the battery, the surround sound function can't be activated, but the headset speakers will work fine with standard sound. The battery life has lasted several gaming sessions, but could quickly drain if the surround sound switch is accidentally left on. There is no automatic power-off to protect forgetful users from unnecessary battery replacement. The AHS615 control stick includes several toggles and dials. There is a large switch for the SRS-3D amplifier that should be activated whenever a game or movie begins and shut off for everything else. The microphone sensitivity toggle for the three settings is on the side of the control stick. There are two dials on the control stick; one for the master volume and one for the surround sound volume. The master volume will be adjusted a lot more than the surround volume, but it is still nice to have the option. There is a poor design aspect in the fact that the control stick is big and heavy. This wouldn't be so noticeable if there was plenty of slack on the cord connecting the headset to the stick. Unfortunately, the cord needs another foot of length for the stick to stay out of the way. The stick constantly falls off the desk and adds noticeable weight to the headset if it hangs in the air. There is a clip on the stick for clothing but it doesn't feel comfortable and still falls short. This adds a bit of annoyance to an otherwise great headset. The Altec Lansing AHS615 is a great headset for the midpoint price range. For $80, gamers will receive an excellent surround sound gaming headset with a lot of adjustment control. The few minor annoyances such as the need for a AAA battery for the surround sound amplifier and the cumbersome control stick detract from the overall design of the headset. Gamers will have the upper hand with the spatial sound experience and still have the personal benefits of a headset. The great sound quality and comfortable design make the AHS615 a great component in any gaming setup. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Computing News :: home page |