REVIEW – I have not been a gamer since I owned an Xbox 360 many years ago. However, recently, at the age of 52, I got the gamer itch again. So, a few months ago, I purchased an Xbox One X gaming system. Gaming has changed a lot since then, there are all kinds of gaming accessories now designed to improve the overall gaming experience. One such item is the gaming headset. I recently had the chance to try out a pair from EKSA, the E900 Pro. The E900 is designed to give a great immersive gaming experience on multiple platforms, and all for under $40.
What is it?
The EKSA E900 Pro is a gaming headset that offers immersive gaming sound. And it is compatible with multiple platforms including, PC, PS4, Xbox One S/X, Nintendo Switch, smartphones, and tablets.
What’s in the box?
- EKSA E900 Pro gaming headset
- Pluggable microphone
- 3.5mm audio cable
- 3.5mm cable splitter
- USB cable
- User manual
- Carrying pouch
Hardware specs
Headset:
- Interface type: 3.5mm/7.1 USB cable
- Driver diameter: 50mm
- Sensitivity: 118 dB +/- 3 dB
- Speaker impedance: 32 Ω
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
Microphone:
- Sensitivity: -42 +/- 3dB
- Microphone impedance: 2.2KΩ
- Supply voltage: 3V
- Current consumption: Max 0.5 mA
Design and features
The headset features an aluminum metal frame that makes it both durable and lightweight. The ear cups and headband are both thickly padded. The ear cushions are made of protein memory foam and are wrapped in premium leather.
The right and left ear cups are clearly marked inside with large letters. The ear cups are also fully removable and can be replaced if they become damaged or wear out. You can purchase a new pair from EKSA’s website for $11.
On the left ear cup, you will find the volume control and the microphone mute button, along with ports for the detachable microphone, USB, and 3.5 mm cables.
Aesthetically, the solid black color and red accents give the headset a cool look. I also like the look of the grills on the outside of the ear cups. And, if the headset is attached using the USB cable, the EKSA logo, will glow red.
One odd thing about the design is the red wires on the top of each ear cup. I’m assuming that they were placed there to add to the design, but my concern is that they will get snagged onto something and pulled loose.
The E900 Pro’s detachable microphone is very flexible, making it easy to adjust. It also comes with a removable pop-filter.
The headset is designed to be widely compatible with most gaming devices or consoles using either the 3.5mm or USB cables.
One feature on the E900 Pro that I was unable to test was the EKSA 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound. Unfortunately, I own a MacBook Pro, and this feature is only available for use with Windows PCs.
Setup
For this review, I used an Xbox One X. To get started, I plugged the 3.5mm cable into the headset and the other end into the Xbox controller. The 3.5 mm cable also locks into the headset, keeping it from accidentally being pulled loose. If you choose to use the microphone, it plugs into the headset using a 3.5 mm jack.
Comfort and performance
The extra padding on the headband and the memory foam ear cups make the headset extremely comfortable. The fit was secure, but not to tight. I wear my glasses while gaming, and that did not negatively affect the comfort level. I wore them for over two hours straight, they never got heavy or needed adjusting, a definite improvement over the non-gaming headphones. Another improvement was the ability to control the volume on the headset itself.
Sound-wise the E900 Pro’s sounded far better than my non-gaming headphones. They made gameplay more immersive. Playing Gears of War 5, the surrounding explosions and gunfire were more vivid, and the sound was more directional. The cut scenes in the game sounded more cinematic. Everything sounded clearer, including the character’s voices and the game’s music soundtrack.
I also used the headset for FaceTime and Skype video chats. The headset performed well, voices were crisp and clear on both ends. The noise-canceling microphone does a good job of filtering out background noise.
What I like
- Comfortable
- Good immersive sound
- Can be used with 3.5mm or USB cable
- Widely compatible with most gaming devices or consoles
- Controls for the microphone and volume on the headset
- Detachable flexible noise-canceling microphone
- Budget friendly price
What I’d change
- You need to download a sound driver to get 7.1 virtual sound, and it’s only compatible with Windows PCs.
Final thoughts
The EKSA E900 Pro gaming headset is great, especially for the price. Overall the headset took my gaming to another level of enjoyment. The overall sound experience was good, and more importantly, they were very comfortable. The headset would be an excellent choice for any gamer, no matter the skill level.
Price: $39.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by EKSA.
