ROCCAT Elo Headsets Review
ROCCAT Elo Headsets
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Recently, ROCCAT released their new line of headsets – the ‘Elo’ lineup. Featuring a wired 3.5mm Stereo model, a wired USB 7.1 model and a wireless Bluetooth 7.1 model, the Elo lineup is extremely versatile. As ROCCAT is a brand owned by Turtle Beach (which focuses on PC peripherals), there are a number of Turtle Beach technologies to be found within. We got a chance to try all three headsets and are ready to let you know which one you should consider snagging!
First, let me start off by saying something very unusual: I was more impressed by the commonalities of the Elo lineup than their differences. What I mean by this is that it is quite common for a line of peripherals to feel really good at the high end of the spectrum and conversely have a highly reduced experience on the other end of the spectrum. This gap is not nearly as great in the Elo lineup, with the 7.1 Air, the 7.1 USB and the X Stereo all enjoying many of the same features.
These include the same earcups, with ProSpecs™ Glasses Relief to reduce pressure that comes from wearing headsets and glasses simultaneously, a self-adjusting metal headband and rotating earcup hinges to increase flexibility and create a virtually weightless fit – perfect for long gaming sessions or workdays alike. Additionally, the microphone for all headsets is identical and is detachable on all models and features Turtle Beach’s TruSpeak Microphone technology.
This level of consistency is truly remarkable and, in my opinion, gives the consumer a much more pleasant and straightforward experience when looking for the right headset for their needs. Choosing the right Elo headset comes down to two things: Compatibility and Connectivity. Let’s break these factors down, shall we?
Compatibility. ROCCAT is heavily focused on PC peripherals, so it should come as no great surprise that the 7.1 Air and 7.1 USB are solely compatible with PCs. Simply enough that means that if you are looking for a new headset for your console gaming – the X Stereo is the one for you. Again, you are still benefiting from the exact same comfort and features of the other headsets, just with stereo audio. With our testing, we did notice a slightly lower sound quality on the X Stereo than the 7.1 models, namely the dynamic range and overall volume were somewhat lessened on the X Stereo.
Connectivity. With the X Stereo being centered more around the flexible compatibility, the 7.1 Air & USB are intended towards sole or primary PC gamers. As far as audio fidelity, both the 7.1 models score very high from our review testing. Both deliver crisp and comfortable sound that has no noticeable distortion even at high listening volumes. The 7.1 Air’s Bluetooth does not miss a beat and in our 30+ hours of testing needed only one quick charge, thanks to the 24-hour battery life and USB-C fast charging. This means that if you prefer wireless headsets, there is no reason to go with the 7.1 Air as the audio performance is identical between that and the 7.1 USB.
As far as extra features go, both of the 7.1 models feature RGB lighting (can never have too much RGB, change my mind in the comments below!), and they both have separate wheels for the master volume and microphone monitoring as well as a mic mute button. Other than that and the removable mic, there are no wild bells and whistles on these headsets – just solid, good quality gaming headsets.
It should be noted that the Elo lineup do not feel like the most durable headsets. I fully believe that the light weight of the headsets is an intentional design to reduce pressure and irritation, however it would not be outside of the realm of reason to question if these were made with a cheaper plastic. The metal headband does offer good flexibility but it too feels very thin and I do not know how well it would stand up to someone who was less than careful with their peripherals. That being said, if you treat your accessories properly I have no reason to believe that these headsets will break easily. Fair warning to those who treat their headsets roughly, however.
Overall, the Elo headset lineup is very impressive. Considering also how reasonably priced they are, the comfort and audio quality are superb. My recommendations for this are opposite of what they usually would be, which is to start at the bottom and stop once you’ve reached all of your desired features. Instead, I would begin by looking at the Elo 7.1 Air and work your way down if you either do not enjoy wireless headsets or need console compatibility.
Learn more about the Elo lineup here: https://en.roccat.org/Headsets