Many wouldn’t have heard of the EKSA model; much less nonetheless could be acquainted with their gaming headsets. But when fact be recognized, they’re able to offering a fairly first rate little various to the principle manufacturers that dominate the scene. They’re definitely centered on a market that may be a mile away from that of SteelSeries, they usually received’t be troubling Turtle Seashore for honours anytime quickly. However for these avid gamers who’re simply after a easy headset which may hold them gaming, EKSA are price a consideration.
We’ve been heads-on with a number of of their headsets in recent times, pretty impressed by what they’ve been capable of push to market, with the E900 and E910 presumably two of the very best examples. Now although EKSA are again, with the brilliantly named EKSA Star Engine E5000 Professional Gaming Headset.
A mouthful, however something that may worm ‘Star Engine’ into its title have to be one thing of curiosity. That’s the case right here and as soon as extra from the skin trying in, EKSA have been capable of create a effectively rounded headset. However that low-cost value level all the time rings alarm bells and that’s the case with the E5000. For as good because it appears and as low-cost because it prices, there are issues it is best to take into account earlier than buying it – particularly should you’re an Xbox gamer.
The EKSA E5000 Professional is a giant outdated headset. All black in design with lime inexperienced trim within the stitching, element and exterior cabling, many could just like the look of this one. We’re fairly proud of it and assume that the outsized nature is strictly what a gaming headset ought to effectively be – it’s loud and proud.
It’s effectively padded too. The headscarf (adjustable within the typical push-pull-slide- manner) has some critical squish on the underside, while the highest is emblem’d up with the EKSA branding. It feels good to the contact and as that padding strikes all the way down to the massive rounded earcups too, it’s simple sufficient to put on this headset for a very good few hours with out fear. Consolation is one thing that EKSA correctly excel at with their headsets and that’s the case once more with the EKSA Star Engine E5000 Professional Gaming Headset.
The externals of the cups include a beefy sci-fi Star Engine mesh design, guaranteeing that this feels fairly mechanical in appears and while the proper cup is bare of buttons, there are a ton on the proper. You’ve obtained the same old quantity dial on there, a mic mute button and a depressable multi-function button. From there a removable growth mic pops on and off, while a USB-C port allows use on all method of codecs.
With a number of cables within the field, selecting the cable of your selection and utilising the EKSA E5000 throughout Xbox, PlayStation, Swap, PC or cell is straightforward. For us, this has principally been worn as an Xbox headset and so the USB-C to three.5mm jack cable attaches straight to our Xbox controller. If you wish to run USB-to-USB on PC as an example, you possibly can.
Plug it in by way of USB-C and also you’ll have the ability to mild the E5000 up, because the Star Engine comes alive with pulsing inexperienced earcups. Actioned by a maintain of the multi-function button, it’s a disgrace this doesn’t work when used with Xbox (the three.5mm jack received’t energy it), however the choice is there for these on different codecs. The identical goes for the 7.1 Encompass Sound that EKSA promote this with. A single press of that MFB will toggle Encompass Sound on and off – once more, not when used with Xbox.
We’d say that the E5000 is massively letdown when plugged in by way of 3.5mm and the soundscape that the 50mm drivers inside are able to delivering when connected to our favorite console is most definitely of a lesser high quality. It’s nearly clear sufficient at regular ranges, however not often does the E5000 get loud sufficient for our liking. Even once you do flip it proper as much as the max, it’s not as crystal as a top-end headset is ready to present. However then, the Star Engine is 1,000,000 instances cheaper.
One other difficulty is the growth mic. Absolutely detectable do you have to so want, we’ve discovered that the mic is barely simply capable of present what’s just about commonplace in gaming phrases these days. Regardless of how we’ve amended the console settings, there’s been crackle, there’s echo and it’s not a very nice mic to be used in celebration chat – no less than not for any size of time. Chances are you’ll discover it to be appropriate for a significantly fast chat between mates, however we’ve needed to ditch the E5000 for these longer night gaming periods we like to absorb.
It’s that which is the actual killer right here. Any headset, it doesn’t matter what the worth, ought to have the ability to do the fundamentals proper and while the EKSA Star Engine E5000 Professional Gaming Headset appears good and feels nice, it’s let down in audio phrases – each that moving into and that popping out. Maybe the audio present in a headset that prices a mere £57.78 ought to enable for a point of lesser high quality, however we’d a lot moderately a headset that sounds good than appears good. However hey, no less than EKSA are maintaining with custom and throwing in a moderately beautiful, comfortable carry bag to retailer the headset in. We love EKSA’s carry pouches and an identical one is discovered boxed right here.
Bear in mind although, we’re coming from an Xbox background – energy the Star Engine up by USB-C on PC and issues are a distinct matter – it will get louder, Encompass Sound kicks in and you’ll pulse your ears with inexperienced hues. What’s to not like about that!?
Enormous thanks exit to EKSA for offering us the E5000 Professional Gaming Headset for evaluation. You may seize a unit for your self from EKSA direct.
Unboxing:
