PC Gamers need to hear in order to play effectively. What good is your genetically-enhanced super-soldier if he doesn’t know to shoot through the wall to take out the hidden zombie horde? If he (or she) walks through that door unprepared, then his (or her) brains are Kibble Chow.
Seriously, PC gamers expect a lot from their audio, and frankly most of the headsets catered to gamers just don’t deliver. Either they are ultra-expensive headphones geared towards the audio enthusiast, or barely mediocre communication headsets with underachieving positional sound. Many gaming headsets also lack in one critical area: the bass. Many PC gamers are playing First Person Shooters, which usually involve more explosions than a Michael Bay flick. Where’s the Bass?
TeknMotion has your bass, with buttloads to spare. Their PulseWave headset is built for PC gamers primarially, as it sports positional 7.1 surround sound, bass vibration, dancing LED lights, and a removeable microphone… and it can be used with your MP3 player or audio system, too.
Tempted to pick one up? Check prices on the TeknMotion Pulsewave here.
The PulseWave brings quality audio, attractive styling and a huge list of features to all PC gamers in one affordable package!
Unlike most gaming headphones on the market, the PulseWave was designed to give all PC gamers an opportunity to customize their audio experience. The PulseWave not only delivers quality sounds, but it awards gamers an important option. The PulseWave supports both 7.1 channel virtual surround sound using a USB 2.0 connector and 2.1 channet stero using a standard 3.5mm audio plug. Gamers can now choose which method of connection works best for them with the quick flick of a switch. No matter what kind of computer or type of sound card you utilize for gaming, the PulseWave delivers both superior audio performance and compatibility.
To keep you in contact with other players, the PulseWave comes equipped with a noise-cancelling microphone that can be detached and re-attached depending on the needs of the user. Also, the PulseWave comes with immersive Sonic Force Feedback vibration capability, which means you just don’t hear the sound, you feel it. Above all else, the PulseWave puts on a mesmerizing and eye catching pulsating light show as you play making you the center of attention wherever you game or listen to music. Both the vibration effects and lights can be adjusted by the user on the Dynamic Master Control unit.
Not only is the PulseWave versatile and stylish, but it is also light and comfortable. An adjustable fit, along with both a soft, padded leather headband and ear-cups allow the user to wear it comfortably for hours.
The PulseWave can also be used with a mobile MP3 player such as an iPod. Not only can the music be taken on the go, but so can the lights and vibration with the use of the included External Battery Pack.
Requirements
Windows XP (32 bit / 64 bit) or Vista (32 bit / 64 bit)
Specifications
Speakers
Microphone
Software
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Ear-Cups
Connections
Other Media Players Works with iPod / MP3 players and any audio output device with a 3.5mm mini-jack input |
The TeknMotion PulseWave headset looks like most other gaming headsets. It uses an over-the-head design, and has a cushioned top for comfort. Both sides of the head strap can be adjusted, and are notched in 12 positions. The nothes are even labeled so you can adjust the phones before placing them on your head (assuming you remember which number fits you). The earcups are the around-the-ear style, which passively blocks out noise, but everything around you is still muffled until you turn on the audio juice. The inside of the earcups are edged with a sturdy foam and covered with a thin material. The outside of each earcup house an array of LEDs that can light up to the audio being played.
The headphones are powered through a single cable to the left earcup, which is then routed through the headstrap to the right earcup. Between the earcup and the end of the line is an in-line remote control, which is rather large. The remote control has several features and indicators. It has a switch which toggles the headphones between USB and standard mode (standard mode uses traditional headphone and mic jacks). The top of the remote has a microphone mute button, and 2 LEDs to indicate the vibration status and USB status. The right side of the remote control has wheels to control the volume and vibration intensity. There is also a 3-way toggle switch which puts the headphones in one of three modes:
- Vibration off
- Vibration on, LEDs on
- Vibration on, LEDs off
The end of the lead terminates into an oblong breakout box. This box has a mini-USB port, headphone port, and microphone port. A standard mini-to-USB cable can be plugged into the port and then attached to any PC, which then powers the headphones. You can also choose to use the standard connections, but then the headphones won’t receive the necessary power to use the vibration mode or flash up the USB lights. TeknMotion does include a battery pack which can then be plugged into the USB port, which provides the power to drive these features if, for example, you want these features on while listening to your iPod.
The microphone is flexible, and can detach from the left earcup. The microphone has a standard 1/8″ mono plug, you you could in theory use any microphone in this socket. The microphone can swivel over 60 degrees, from parallel to the headstrap to well below the average person’s chin.
The gimmicks are a bit flashy, but many PC gamers really want to show off at the LAN party. With all these gimmicks, it can be easy to write these phones off as a toy and not a serious set.
The sound produced by this set is awesome, especially considering its price point. The major part of the audio that is obvious is the amount of bass the unit produces. I have listened to and tested many audiophile-quality headsets, which can produce excellent highs and deep bass, but none of these can compare to the sheer amount of rumble that the TeknMotion produces.
This is primarially due to the vibration effect the set can deliver. If you turn the vibration off, the Pulsewave headphones still have deep bass, but the “wow” effect comes when you turn the rumble on. It may be a gimmick, but it is a very effective one. The vibration doesn’t just shake your ears, but actually moves air, which is the mechanism that large bass units employ to produce deep thumping bass. This method is so effective, in fact, that the bass can be overpowering, and I had to turn it down to 6 or 7 (out of 10) to achieve a good balance in most situations. More than that and it sounds like you’re in a techno club (without all the illegal drugs).
Don’t get me wrong… I’m not saying the sound produced is perfect, but it is amazing at this price point. I’ve tested other gaming headsets that were more expensive, but didn’t produce the sound range that the Pulsewave does (even with the vibration feature off). The highs aren’t as natural as an audiophile set. These highs can actually sound a little too crisp, even without any EQ. The bass can be a bit wobbly, too, especially if you turn the vibration effect up too high.
The headphones are relatively comfortable, but you can start to feel pressure on your head after extended use. The material on the earcups can make you perspire, as well, which can feel a bit uncomfortable.
The multi-functionality of this headset is its Achilles Heel. The breakout box does make this set usable on just about any audio device, but it is too cumbersome to take jogging or working out. Honestly, use this set only as a PC gaming headset and you’ll be quite happy with it. If you want it to pull double duty with your iPod then you’ll be frustrated with it because it’s just not that portable. The cord is an excessive length, which is a boon to PC gamers, but a severe annoyance to anyone else.
When the unit is plugged into any modern Windows PC (XP or Vista), then the system automatically recognizes an audio device, and automatically makes this the primary device. There’s no need to mute your system’s other sound card, because this is done automatically for you. You can configure the headphones using the Audio applet in the control panel, but you’ll get more flexibilty if you install the included software. This allows you to put the headset into stereo, 5.1, or 7.1 mode, and even sports several audio and reverb effects…. it is essentially a USB sound card in its own right. Take my advice and just leave these settings alone. Throw it into 5.1 or 7.1 mode and go ahead and load up your favorite game.
The surround effects are pretty good, but not as obvious as actual positioning using a real 7.1 system. There were never any “deaf” spots in the audio, and overall the experience is quite pleasing. I fired up Grand Theft Auto 4 for PC which has a lot of ambient sound. I could easily tell what was coming from behind, and sound travelled around well when I spun Nikko around. Noise that is meant to be background noise sounded very ambient and didn’t mix in with “primary” sounds. Left4Dead is a game where positional sound is critical to staying alive. Positionally, it is very easy to distinguish enemies from the left, right and center. The rear sounds can be distinguished, but they were not glaringly obvious to me. In this game, the mini-boss sounds are a bit too broad, so it can be difficult to determine where a Boomer, Smoker or Witch is, even with a really good positional sound system.
Overall I was quite pleased with the TeknMotion Pulsewave gaming headset, which will be in my LAN bag for a long time. I own several headsets, and each has their own purpose. These should be reserved for PC gaming only, so just get used to the idea that you’re going to have multiple headsets around the house for different things (ear buds for iPod, good headphones for music, and a good gaming headset for PC gaming).
Since this is esseentially a USB sound card, your Windows system can get freaked out if it gets accidentially disconnected. You can either pull out the USB cable or accidentally hit the “standard mode” switch). Any audio application, be it a game or iTunes, will immediately hang, and usually must be closed and restarted before it will work with any device (including any existing audio devices on your PC). This is a minor annoyance, but as long as you remember this rule then you should be ok.
The bass this unit produces is phenominal, which is perfect for watching Michael Baysplosions or PC gaming (which also feature lots of gunfire). Music sounds more like a club, so if you’re one who likes their bass, then you won’t want to do without this set, even for music listening. There’s not another product like the Pulsewave that I know of, and it is a unique audio experience. And it’s inexpensive enough to be worth a try. Trust me, compared to the $50 generic headsets you might be tempted to pick up at Best Buy, you’ll be much more satisfied with the TeknMotion Pulsewave Gaming Headset.
This headset is priced at $49.99 and can be found right here.
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3 Comment
Could i get it to work for an xbox
You probably could get it to work on a console. It comes with analog adapters, but you have to use AA batteries to get the rumble to work.
I just got this set yesterday and your review is 100 correct I am glad i did not get the fatality 1 set this is much better then them. $50 great for gaming.