Tt eSPORTS Level 10M Gaming Headset Review

[PAGETITLE=Introduction & Closer Look][Top Ad] In 2009, Thermaltake announced a design partnership with BMW DesignWorksUSA, and made some serious waves with the release of the ultra high-end Level 10 modular case shortly after. This unique full-tower, priced at around $800 US, was as awe-inspiring as it was wallet shattering. Since then, this partnership has resulted in the more affordable Level 10 GT and GTS cases, the Level 10M wired and wireless gaming mice, and now the Level 10M gaming headset. Continuing with the same unique design concepts as the aforementioned cases and mice, the styling of the Level 10M headset might be too over-the-top for some, but there's no denying that it's eye-catching. With looks being only part of the equation, let's dive in and see if it can also satisfy those who want some function with their fashion. Before we start, let's cover the basics. The Level 10M is a stereo, over-the-ear headset aimed at computer users, who also want to take it on the go. Available in "iron" white, or "blazing" red, the exterior of both cups of our "diamond" black review sample are coated with a soft touch material, similar to what is used on many popular mice. The first feature to jump out is the robust system used to connect the cups to the headband. Instead of the usual plastic bits and pieces, the Level 10M uses a two-part aluminum bracket on each side that connects to a plastic swivel to allow a degree of horizontal motion, and the swivel connects to the sides of the shiny Tt eSPORTs logo to allow for some vertical movement. The red accent, small silver nub, and holes along the bottom provide some additional style. Along the front edge of the left cup is the fold-down, noise-cancelling microphone, which can also be adjusted towards or away from the mouth to a degree. The upper arm of the mic, which is silver in color and looks like the aluminum, is in fact plastic, as are the accents in each corner of the cups. The mic cannot be detached, so it was designed to blend in as much as possible when folded up and not in use. On each cup, the underside of the Tt eSPORTs logo hides the mini USB connection for the cable. This allows the user to have the cable on whichever side works best for them. The interior of each cup has super-soft foam, wrapped in faux leather, which wraps around the ear. Beneath the inner foam padding lies a 40mm neodymium driver. Also worth noting is the fact that the wire that runs through the headband and down into the cup has been given the braided treatment. This makes it more durable, while matching the audio cables. Moving back up to the headband, adjustments can be made by pulling down on the cups. There is a small amount of notched resistance that should hold everything in place, but for those who have found the sweet sizing spot, there's also a small red tab on each side that locks the sizing mechanism in place. The top of the headband features more super-soft foam wrapped in a soft, red cloth, while the outside of the headband has more of the soft touch coating, and the Tt eSPORTs branding. Sandwiched in between these is a thin aluminum band used by the sizing mechanism, which gives the headset more strength and stability. Included with the Level 10M is a carrying bag to help protect the headset when on the go, a 3 meter long cable with in-line controls for use with a computer, a 1 meter long cable for use with mobile devices, and a small booklet that covers the warranty information. The longer cable designed for use with a computer starts with the mini USB connection, then has the in-line controls about a foot down. These controls are simply made up of a volume wheel and a mute switch to cut off the mic. The top side of this small control box has more of the soft touch coating, while the back is chrome-like plastic. Towards the other end, the cable splits into separate 3.5mm headphone and microphone connections. The shorter cable for use with mobile devices does away with the controls, and microphone connection. Since the Level 10M is a stereo headset, there's no pesky software to worry about, which means we can get down to the nitty gritty and see how it performs in a variety of situations. [PAGEBREAK][PAGETITLE=Testing & Final Thoughts][Top Ad] Whether playing a game, listening to music, or watching movies, the results were the same. The Level 10M headset does a good, all around job by producing crisp high and solid mid-range sounds that are easy to pick out. If you're looking for a lot of low end punch however, you're not going to find it here. There are always tweaks that can be made using software, but the sound distorted before reaching the fair level of bass that I was hoping for. Moving on to the microphone, the noise cancelling ability of the Level 10M was average, and required some changes in the soundcard's software that weren't necessary with my daily driver headset. This could be due to an increased sensitivity to counteract the shorter microphone arm that sits at the cheek rather than in front of the mouth, but we can't say for sure. What we can say is that there was a very noticeable hiss before additional noise cancellation was selected within the soundcard options. Finally, the voice quality was metallic and robotic, but still good enough to get the job done. While my voice was clear, it was evident from the recordings that sound reproduction was a little off. Where the Level 10M really shines is in the build quality and overall design. Thanks to the aluminum that runs through the headband it feels incredibly solid, and doesn't exhibit any of the plastic creaking found in some headsets. Kudos to Thermaltake and BMW for managing to keep the weight down as much as possible, while still using quality materials. During a two hour gaming session, the Level 10M was much more comfortable than my daily driver headset. The padding on the top of the headband does well to absorb the weight, and the soft, over the ear cups negated any clamping force. Final Thoughts. Having used a surround sound headset exclusively for about 3 years, I frequently caught myself making comparisons between them. This isn't fair since the two are aimed at different markets, but it's hard not to notice the immediate limitation of a single audio driver. While the Level 10M struggles to handle average levels of bass, it does well in every other field. Some folks might be wondering about positional audio for first person shooters, but I purposely left this out in the testing section because stereo headsets, like the Level 10M tend to be less than stellar in this department. While it isn't the fault of the hardware, performance in this area was weak and is something that prospective buyers might want to keep in mind. The microphone was a bit of a let down, but I tend not to talk much in game anyway. This isn't a headset that you're likely to pick up if you're looking to doing some recording or voiceover work, but it would have been nice to see some extra care taken with the microphone setup so that it didn't sound as if some sort of processing was being done to change my voice. Even though the Level 10M gaming headset does have some audio limitations, the styling is a welcome change in my opinion. The overall look garnered a mixed reaction when I showed it to some friends, and their opinions were split down the middle about whether or not they would wear it out in public, which is what Thermaltake intends. Perhaps a detachable mic would have swayed the votes somewhat. I can't mention the build quality enough though. This headset is built like a tank, but still light enough to stave off fatigue during long gaming sessions. Even though it may not be comfortable for some, the headset felt light as a feather and rested exactly where it needed to when wrapped around my gigantic noggin. The purpose of a review is to help readers and prospective buyers to determine if they should drop some cash on a particular product, but I feel like this one is only going to make people sit more firmly on the fence, rather than push them one way or the other. While the Level 10M headset doesn't have the total package required to bag an Editor's Choice award, it is a good, all around headset that's built to last, but just don't expect any aural wizardry. At a penny shy of $100 US, it's certainly not cheap, but if you can find it on sale for 25% off, which has been the case lately, it's a worthwhile investment.

Tt eSPORTS Level 10M Gaming Headset Review

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