Gamecon 777 just arrived at my doorstep and here’s probably the first review and one of the first reviews from Singapore!

Just look at how snugly it wraps around your head.

On the First Look..

It looks pretty bulky, but is surprisingly, not that heavy at all! While it looks really big, as seen from the above photo, it actually fits snugly on your head and it looks aesthetically pleasing and professional(as a gamer of course). It’s not your everyday headphone that you would carry around plugged into your Ipod, but it’s a headphone designed to provide you with an overwhelming 5.1 Dolby Surround experience, when you are in front of your computer or laptop, shooting down enemies. But of course, playing mp3s works exceptionally well too and might actually provides more bass than your own speakers.

The Design of Plantronics Gamecon 777

PROS: Probably inspired by the circular shape of a human head, it’s also fitted with comfortable sponge(photo below) with a smooth texture to minimise discomfort at all points of contact with your head.

The microphone provided is also well hidden(photo above) on the circular contour of the headset and when you need to use to, just push it out to your mouth level.(Just like the first picture, above) It comes with noise cancellation technology, so if you are playing in a gaming competition(with lotsa crazy fans around), you won’t need to worry that your teammates won’t hear you over the internal chat. If you are playing online matches over the internet using Teamspeak and stuffs, it will also serve a good purpose if your house is currently having some party.

The headset was also constructed with sturdy materials for durability in mind.
The usb port also has it’s own enclosure(photo below) which can be easily kept and transported without it sustaining any damage. As the usb port is the only connection to your PC, you don’t want it to get damaged whenever you transport the headset to other locations for your competitions.

The wire are also made up of of military grade, extra strength cables. So do not worry if it would snap easily. It won’t, unless you purposely cut it with a pair of sharp scissors.

CONS: While the headphone fits snugly onto your head, i found that the contact point below your ears is rather tight, even after i extended the circumference of the headset. It can cause discomfort if you are using it for a prolong period. But you will probably take it off for some breaks first before you feel it. Prolong exposure to the screen ain’t good anyway.
The smooth materials seems to trap dust readily too and would be abit of a problem to clean up after using the headset for awhile.

The Quality of Sound

As touted by Plantronics that it provides a 5.1 Dolby surround sound, it really do, and with lots of bass. When i first put on my headset, i was like WHOA! Probably because i’ve always gotten my audio fix from speakers, and this headset just bring the experience nearer to you.

First i tested the experience in the game QuakeLive..
Plantronics claimed that, “you will be able to hear your enemy before you see them”. Well, let’s see if it’s true.

Quakelive was chosen as it’s a game that has a really fast pace, require really sharp reflexes and good audio ability to preempt enemies.

Well i got into a server and yes the experience is indeed different from my previous headset that i bought from Plantronics too.

Footsteps, movements or any sounds made from enemies in FPS game like quakelive are of course able to be amplified through increasing your volume to ear piercing levels.

However, it’s only with 5.1 surround sound that you can easily pin point the position of your enemies footsteps when they are behind walls that are near you. That’s a plus and an invaluable asset to any self proclaimed hardcore gamer. I am going to reiterate here that, a headset will always be better than a speaker, because sound gets dissipated over a distance and the nearer the audio is, the better it is.

And beside games, everyone listens to MP3s nowadays. 5.1 dolby surround provides the required quality to match your music file quality(if you are using lossless formats, you would want a good audio device to match). Gamecon 777 is extremely bassy and thus, works well for most music files.
The headset has it’s own built in sound card. So, don’t fret if you are having a crappy sound card, this sound card from Plantronics is rather sharp in it’s pitches and smooth in it’s bass.

But if you are hankering after a more full bodied experience, get a 8.1 speakers set or something!

Usability

SOUND CARD GOODNESS
As this headphone is designed for the competitive Gamers who will essentially need a good set of headphones that deliver consistent sound quality no matter where he is, the external PnP USB Sound Card that comes along with the headphone will deliver the goods!

And of course, if one feels that there’s a better in-built sound card in his PC, the external Sound Card is easily detached from Gamecon 777, which can be plugged into any PC/Sound Cards with audio slots!

SCROLLABLE VOLUME WHEEL
This iPod innovation is so freaking popular, that it is popping up on any other audio devices. While that might cause some minus points on lack of creativity of the volume wheel, it will score high marks on it’s usability, no doubt about that. My only complain is the lack of some form of mild lighting(like the light on the sound card when your dolby surround is switched on) on the wheel. I sometimes play games in the dark, and most LAN shops or gaming venues are dark. That will cause a problem if one needs to adjust the volume in the middle of an intense fight, or at a critical juncture where enemies are nearing and you need to hear them well. Well, you might be frustrated as the volume wheel itself is black and it’s really hard to adjust it in dark condition. You don’t really know if turning the wheel left or right will increase or decrease the volume as you can’t see anything in the dark.

OPEN EAR DESIGN
This is, well a subjective region to step upon. For myself, i actually prefer the open ear design. It wasn’t to the extent that, you hear everything that’s happening around you. In fact, it’s a hard someone is calling you from 5 metres away. Until he/she shouts anyway.
The open ear design(actually it’s not literally “open”) It only allows external sounds through the small airholes on the side. There are filters there to prevent dust and probably too much external noise going to your ears. It also allows sufficient airflow/heat loss to keep your headphone dry from sweat! Thumbs up for this particular part.

Price

RRP: S$160~ (Singapore Dollar)
Is it worth the money? Every penny of it, if you have that amount to spare. I won’t rave more about this headphone, but the price is worth it not only for the exciting audio experience, it’s also built to last. Meaning your S$160 will last you a long time to come!
This headset is currently out of stock on Plantronics side.(feedback from Plantronics)
But you can still get it at Comics Connection, e2max, The Software Boutique, Gamehaven, IAH Games and Techdrome.

Overview..

If you are a gamer or one who loves listening to 5.1 surround sound wherever you are, this is the one for you. However, due to it’s bulky nature, it may be quite cumbersome to bring it along outdoor and moving around while plugging it into your ipod or mp3 player.

Other than that, if you are seated in front of your screen and want a good audio experience along with your games or musics, look no further. You can switch it on to any degree of loudness and not disturb anyone around you too. Perfect if you are living in HDB estates or condominiums in Singapore.

Please do not spoil your ears though with volumes that are too loud.