Venom Vibration Headset XT+ Review

[section_title title=”Performance”] Performance

Starting with the ‘vibration’ effect that’s the XT+ main feature, the effect is certainly noticeable once you rack the volume and vibration amount to a certain level. If you have the volume low and the vibration high you don’t get any kinetic function, if you have the volume high and vibration aspect low you, naturally, don’t get any kinetic feedback either so you’re forced into having the headphones on about 75% volume up to get any feedback. Whether this feedback is good or bad, it’s hard to say. The effect sounds more like a 3D EQ effect but with a slight vibration around your ears like a slight circumaural tingle – like having some headphones on really loud where you can hear the driver almost breaking, but without the driver breaking and without your ears bleeding – it’s certainly fun to turn on in Battlefield and during bassy tracks.

The audio quality outside of the vibrating features isn’t bad at all, which is a relief given how much the XT+ shares in common with many headsets we’ve reviewed recently, some bad (Ceres 300) and some good (Ceres 500), the Venom XT+ is also somewhat comfier than the poor, yet similar priced, Ceres 300. Sticking with comfort, the XT+ isn’t an uncomfy headset by any means but the shallow ear cups are a slight annoyance. The feeling of there not being a complete/firm seal had me reaching to adjust every so often to no overall avail.

There’s a nice bass performance without having to sacrifice the source material by turning to the vibrating functionality. The mid tones aren’t too bad either, listening to acoustic sets from Radio 1’s Live Lounge sound warm and lively. If there is any obvious limitation to the sound capability it’s in the highs where listening to some Queen tracks heavy on synth, it isn’t easy to pick out the different layers although admittedly, the review is meant to highlight  flaws.

Gaming and VOIP is the real star of the XT+ show though and coming back to the opening of this section, Battlefield 4 delivered the goods again in full force. I ramped up the vibration feature and volume to a decent level and also used the ‘War Tapes’ EQ in game and the XT+ doesn’t stop rattling. Stationary weapons that have ‘machines’ aura to them sound right in your ear canal and when they start firing it’s blisteringly entertaining. Likewise, firing off a anti-air launcher gives off a nice ‘whoosh’ that’s amplified by the feeling of the vibration mimicking as if the rocket has just whooshed past your ear. None of this provides an advantage of course, but it is undeniably fun. VOIP quality was perfectly fine across Skype and through raw recording in Audacity so there shouldn’t be any issues here. Using the 2.5mm jack with an Xbox 360 controller worked as expected too, and there’s no reason why the headset won’t work with an Xbox One controller should you have access to the chat adapter. The inclusion of the sponge around the mic is a nice touch too, as this should block out any obnoxious wind or draft the mic may be prone to pick-up and is a nice change from the bare plastic mics that seem to be the standard now.