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Asus tends to be very well known for its PC hardware but the company also makes a wide range of very good gaming peripherals as well. Today we are going to take a look at the latest headset from the Echelon line of camo themed peripherals, featuring multi-platform compatibility, 50mm drivers and a retractable microphone at a fairly affordable price.
The Echelon Forest variant of this headset comes in traditional military colors with a green camo theme- past variants and other products in the Echelon lineup come in a dark blue and grey camo theme instead.
Specifications:
- 50mm neodymium drivers.
- 30dB noise isolation.
- 100mm over the ear cushions.
- Retractable microphone.
- Cross platform compatibility.
- 2.5m braided cable.
The front box boasts several features, including “thunderous” 50mm neodymium drivers for immersive audio and effective 30dB noise isolation.
The back of the box gives a closer look at the product itself and shows how the headset connects to different devices, such as tablets, the PlayStation 4 as well as the PC.
In the box you will find a bundle of accessories, including a braided splitter cable to separate the audio and microphone, an adapter for older smartphones and a carry bag for the headset- which will be good for those who frequent LAN events. As you can see, Asus has packed in plenty of value here.
The headset itself looks and feels quite premium, although the military theme won't be for everyone. The retractable microphone extends far enough to position well and is sturdy enough to stay in place without sagging.
The in-line controls feature a microphone mute switch and a volume wheel on the top. Personally, I prefer volume buttons to a wheel but it isn't a big deal.
The emblems on the side of the ear cups have a brushed metal finish, creating an appealing and premium look.
First impressions upon putting the headset on are positive. The padding found inside of the ear cups and headband is quite firm but still comfortable to wear. This headset is primarily made of plastic but it doesn't feel cheap, everything feels sturdy and well built.
Now let's find out how the headset performs…
The Asus Echelon Forest Gaming Headset does not come with its own software driver to adjust EQ settings or set up virtual surround sound- what you see is what you get.
I have been using the Asus Echelon Forest as my main headset for over a week now and overall, my impressions are very positive. This headset uses a closed back design, which does have a knock on effect on the overall sound and natural noise isolation.
Noise isolation performs well, I live near a very busy motorway so it is fairly normal for me to hear cars driving at all times of the day and night. Positively, this headset did a very good job of blocking that out and immersing me in the game.
Asus has adjusted the frequency response curve to make footsteps more prevalent, which really helps in shooters- particularly if you are playing competitive Counter Strike. However, some virtual surround sound would certainly have helped with positioning.
While Asus doesn't provide its own software for this, there are third party solutions available from companies such as Razer. We didn't test any third party solutions but if you really want virtual surround sound then it is useful to know that the option is out there.
The Asus Echelon Forest does a good job of reproducing a range of frequencies. The audio signature is particularly well balanced, throughout my testing I didn't find one frequency range dominating the balance. High and mid frequencies were clear while the bass was nice and punchy.
We have established that the sound quality is good but a headset can be severely let down if the microphone doesn't perform up to scratch. To account for this, we have gone ahead and evaluated microphone performance in Skype and Team Speak.
The microphone performs fairly well on both Team Speak and Skype, my voice came through clearly without distortion but I did notice a little bit of feedback coming through at times, which can be a little distracting during quiet moments.
That said, the microphone does a decent job of dampening outside noises, such as keyboard presses and mouse clicks. While these sounds aren't entirely in-audible, they are softened significantly and won't drown out any conversations.
As far as comfort goes, the Asus Echelon Forest was nice enough to wear. I didn't experience any fatigue after long gaming sessions and the clamping pressure has been fine tuned to provide a tight fit without causing any headaches. That said, the padding is a little on the firm side – I tend to prefer something a little softer, such as the memory foam found in the Corsair H1500, although this is purely based on personal preference.
Overall, I am impressed with the Asus Echelon Forest gaming headset. It features a dynamic sound stage for gaming and I found a wide range of frequencies to be clear and well balanced. It doesn't ship with its own dedicated software like some other headsets in this price range but it doesn't really need to as everything is calibrated well out of the box.
It is clear throughout our testing that Asus has put a lot of time in to fine tuning almost every aspect of this headset, from the clamping pressure on the head right down to the frequency response curve. I found the padding on the headset to be a bit too firm but it was by no means uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
The microphone gets the job done, external noises aren't completely eliminated and I did experience a little bit of feedback at times, but overall it was pleasant to use.
Not everyone will be in to the green camo military theme but if that is what you are looking for then you should definitely check out this headset. It isolates noise well, providing an immersive experience and it feels built to last.
The Asus Echelon Forest is available from Lime UK for £59.99, a very good price for a headset of this calibre.
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Pros:
- Isolates noise well.
- Well balanced audio.
- Comfortable.
- Sturdy.
Cons:
- Microphone may feedback at times.
KitGuru Says: ASUS has managed to deliver a well balanced headset at an affordable price. If you are in to military themed gear then the Echelon Forest should be at the top of your shortlist.
