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Launched at Computex 2018 in June, the ASUS TUF Gaming range of affordable gaming accessories and peripherals has been expanded with the TUF Gaming H7 gaming headset. We already got acquainted with the peripherals from this line: the TUF Gaming H5 Lite headphones, the TUF Gaming K5 keyboard and the budget TUF Gaming M5 RGB gaming mouse. Fans of ASUS products will recognize the budget model Cerberus V2 in the novelty. The headphones received the TUF Gaming logo and acquired a removable sound card with 7.1 surround sound. Details in the review below.
Characteristics
| Model | ASUS TUF Gaming H7 |
|---|---|
| Product page | asus.com |
| Audio channel | 2.0 |
| Speakers, mm | 53, with neodymium magnets |
| Principle of operation | Closed |
| Impedance, Ohm | 32 |
| Frequency range, Hz | 20–20 000 |
| Headset connection interface | 3.5mm/ USB |
| Battery life | – |
| Weight, g | – |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, PS4, NS, Android, iOS |
| Microphone | |
| Sensor type | Unidirectional detachable, omnidirectional built-in |
| Frequency range, Hz | 50 – 10 000, 50 – 10 000 |
| Sensitivity, dB | 40±3 |
| Price |
Contents of delivery
We had a factory sample of ASUS TUF Gaming H7, which means that the new gaming headset arrived without its own box, but with a complete package. It includes the headphones themselves with a soldered 1.2-meter wire in a nylon braid and a universal TRRRS connector, a sound card with a USB port on one side and a 3.5 mm audio input on the other. There is also a compact splitter and a detachable unidirectional microphone with a soft oval earcup for extra rejection of extraneous sounds.
Appearance
The Cerberus V2 model had three colors: black-green, black-red and black-blue, and judging by the official website, TUF Gaming H7 will have only two colors: black-red, as we have in the review, and black-orange – signature color combination of the TUF Gaming series.
ASUS TUF Gaming H7 are massive headphones with an unusual articulated design with a double headband and rounded cups with a sealed chamber. This shape makes the model springy, flexible and easy to use. The cups received a stylized red stripe and soft-touch coating.
The basis of the TUF Gaming H7 is the upper metal headband, which is connected on the cups with an internal soft headband made of flexible plastic, covered with a leatherette insert.
The TUF Gaming logo is engraved on the outside of the inner headband.
At the bottom, there are foam inserts stylized as small squares. The wire connecting the cups is hidden under the leather insert of the headband and covered with a nylon braid.
Fresh gaming headset ASUS TUF Gaming H7 is equipped with two microphones at once. The first, built-in, is located on the control panel. It is used when talking on a smartphone, and there is no way to connect the main microphone. On the same remote there is a volume wheel and an on / off button for the main removable microphone.
The latter received a long flexible leg and connects to the left cup using a classic 3.5mm audio jack.
Apart from the microphone input, the TUF Gaming H7 phones have not received any additional functions, buttons, switches and other things. The volume wheel is missing here, but it is on the remote, which was prudently placed higher than usual and is conveniently reached by hand.
ASUS TUF Gaming H7 gaming headphones received a plug-in sound card with a special activation button for 7.1-channel surround sound. True, with it the versatility of the headset is lost, because the headphones must be connected via a USB input, and not through their standard 3.5 mm audio jack. But you can still take advantage of the available surround sound on PCs, laptops and PS4.
Gaming H7 ear pads are round and made of a special “cooling” fabric with leatherette side inserts.
Inside are 53mm ASUS Essence branded speakers with neodymium magnets.
Ergonomics and ease of use
Because of the aforementioned articulated design and double headband, ASUS TUF Gaming H7 sits comfortably on the head, does not press, does not pinch or slip, and the head and ears do not get tired in them during long gaming sessions or a working day.
Round massive ear cups are comfortable for all ears, and their sealed design almost perfectly cuts off external noise.
At the same time, large phones rest uncomfortably on the chin and cheekbones, if you lower the headset around your neck. In this position, it is almost impossible to turn your head or at least somehow move it, which means that during short breaks, the headphones have to be removed completely.
The special cooling fabric declared by the manufacturer does not float, rub or cause discomfort, but due to its synthetic component, it is unlikely to be better than the classic fabric version in the heat.
The soft-touch coating on the outside of the ear cups looks good when the headphones are new and fresh out of the box. During everyday use, such a coating quickly gets dirty, and if you do not wipe it literally every day, then fingerprints and other elements of use are immediately noticeable on the headset cups. In the same Cerberus V2, this part is made of matte plastic, which is much more practical than the stylish soft-touch material. And then I do not understand why it was replaced.
The microphone on a long flexible stem sticks out strongly forward or sideways, so when it is not necessary, it is better to remove it or lift it up. If this is not done, the hand constantly clings to the microphone, and bringing a cup or bottle to your mouth becomes a problem.
sound impressions
ASUS TUF Gaming H7 headset is not for music. At the same time, this does not mean that you cannot listen to it in these headphones. Just because of the specifics of the model, you should not expect anything special from the quality of musical compositions of any style.
As with most gaming headphones, the TUF Gaming H7 has a bit of a bass boost, but before 7.1 surround sound is activated, the mids and highs are artificially cut. That is, in normal mode, ASUS TUF Gaming H7 produce an unremarkable sound, with an almost inconspicuous mids and highs, as well as booming bass. Others call it a balanced and clean sound, but I see a faded and inexpressive presentation with cut frequencies.
When the 7.1 mode is turned on, the middle and highs go into oblivion, and in the foreground there is a powerful bass and the very volume that clogs the artificially freed frequencies.
It is worth noting that in this model, the 7.1 mode does not make the music worse and does not add an echo to the voice. I would even advise listening to it with him in order to feel at least some of the three main frequencies. Because in normal mode, this is almost impossible to do. In movies or TV shows, it’s also better to leave the 7.1 mode – voices, explosions, gunfights and other action effects sound powerful and realistic.
In ASUS TUF Gaming H7 games, they behave more than adequately: the positioning of the enemy is quickly and clearly determined, shots are heard brightly and with volume, the roar of the engine, explosions and enemy fire, as well as the soundtrack in the background. In this case, a slight echo still falls on the voices, but this only improves their perception.
Results
The ASUS TUF Gaming H7 gaming headset more than justifies its involvement in the budget TUF Gaming line. This is a stylish model with an unusual and easy-to-use headband design, impractical soft-touch cups and the highest possible noise reduction. Headphones will suit gamers who are not picky about the quality of music and want an inexpensive stylish model from a famous brand with a pleasant and powerful 7.1 surround sound.
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