Why You Can Trust CNET Psyko Krypton Gaming Headset review: Psyko Krypton Gaming Headset
Psyko Krypton Gaming Headset
We first saw the Psyko 5.1 PC gaming headset at CES 2009 and were intrigued by the device's unique take on delivering surround sound. Instead of placing speakers in the earcups, the Psyko puts them strategically along the headband.
Psyko Krypton Gaming Headset
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
There's no doubt the Psyko 5.1 headset is innovative, and we were overall impressed with the device's audio performance. There are a few details we're concerned about, but both competitive and hard-core PC gamers definitely have another legitimate option in the quest for the ultimate PC gaming headset.
Design
Before we get started, we have to mention that we've never seen a pair of headphones like the Psyko 5.1. Taking conventional headset design and tossing it out the window, the Psyko approaches surround sound from a completely different, out-of-the-box angle. By placing all five speakers along the headband, the idea is that sound will travel to your ears with natural timing delays, thus creating the most realistic experience possible. Sounds from the front speakers travel down a front tube; rear ones travel down the tube that's positioned at the back of your ear.
We really liked the unique styling of the Psyko 5.1 gaming headset. It's accented with gray and red highlights and is mostly covered in a smooth, rubberized plastic coating. The earcups have clear windows and a series of five cushioned pads falls below the meat and potatoes of the headset: the headband.
Never before has a headband been so vital to a headset. It's here where all five speakers are housed, all geographically placed for 5.1 surround. The sides of the headset are responsible for carrying audio down to the earcups, which terminate with two tubes in each cup. Besides that, there is only a subwoofer speaker on each side. The see-through windows can be opened up for ventilation, but we found them great for being able to hear your surroundings outside of the game world.
Because all of the speakers are in the headset's headband, it does make it a bit heavier than you might be used to. It's a lot heavier than what we felt when using the Razer Megalodon, but about on par with the weight of the Tritton AX Pro. Though we were able to forget about the weight of the headphones during an extended gaming session, we also felt relieved to take off the device.
It does have a certain cumbersome helmet quality to it, but we were overall happy with the amount of padding and cushioning found inside.
The detachable boom mic plugs in right below the right earcup. It can swivel around a complete 360 degrees, though the boom itself does not allow for any adjustments. However, we didn't find this to be a problem, as positioning the mic in front of our mouth was not an issue.
Setup
Aside from getting your PC to correctly output 5.1 sound, there really isn't much to do in terms of setup other than plugging all of the color-coded wires into the included powered amplifier and then to your PC's sound card. Sure, you'll need to find an open AC outlet for the amplifier, and we also recommend finding an accessible spot to rest it. You'll want easy access to the controls found on its front, which allow for bass and volume control. There's also a series of LEDs that blink along with the audio channel that is being used, so it's satisfying to be able see you're getting true surround sound.
Performance
We used the Psyko 5.1 gaming headset with various first-person-shooter games to test the device's surround-sound prowess. We were really impressed with the results in Crysis, as the swaying of jungle vegetation and footsteps of enemies could be heard crisply and clearly from all directions. As advised by Psyko, we turned the bass down to really appreciate the surround-sound performance of the headset, which is by far the best way to make sure the desired effect is working correctly.
Next we moved on to online Team Deathmatch sessions in Modern Warfare 2, which is the game we absolutely loved playing with the Psyko 5.1. It was here where we definitely felt a natural sort of sound delivery that the headset is going for. Bullets whizzed by our head as we heard commands being yelled out from teammates from all sides.
Here we also tested voice chat with the detachable boom mic. Our teammates reported a clear sound, with no static or interference to speak of.
We understand Psyko's claim that the headset takes advantage of the natural delay in hearing surround sound (the company calls it PsykoWave Technology), but we're not sure it proved any definitive advantage over another 5.1 headset. Sure, it's definitely among the top-sounding headphones we've tested, we're just not sure you'll be able to actually hear an enemy quicker with the Psyko. If there is a technical advantage here, the result is only negligible. That said, we're definite fans of the way the Psyko delivers surround sound, and think it's arguably the most authentic way of doing so.
We noticed that when the set is placed on the head of someone next to you, it's pretty easy to hear everything that is going on. If you were looking to get the Psyko 5.1 headset as to not disturb anyone in your immediate area, we don't think the device does a good enough job at sound isolation to be used specifically for that application.
Overall, we were definitely impressed with the performance of the Psyko 5.1. Its design is certainly ambitious, and we were pleased to see its technology working as envisioned. It may look and feel a bit odd on one's head, but the abundance of padding should provide some relief, especially for those multiple-hour gaming sessions.
Priced around $300, the Psyko 5.1 is not a casual gaming headset by any means. That said, the hard-core and competitive PC gamers it's designed for should have no problem justifying a purchase. We'll have to mention the Razer Megalodon here simply because it offers 7.1 surround (via USB) at almost half the price, though it doesn't offer the unique surround-sound delivery system the Psyko does. You may also want to consider the Tritton AX Pro, which offers compatibility with game consoles in addition to PCs, but it does have a bit of a confusing setup and a few more buttons than we think is necessary.