During my reviewing days here at KitGuru, I've had plenty of Cougar peripherals come across my desk, and for the most part, my impressions have been positive. This week, Cougar is launching a brand new headset called the ‘Cougar Phontum', and on paper, it sounds like a real contender for its price point.
The Cougar Phontum comes with a dual-chamber system for the audio drivers and a noise isolating, closed-back headphone design to avoid sound leakage. There are two pairs of interchangeable ear pads, one with thicker memory foam cushioning and a second pair of slimmer pads depending on personal preference. You can check out the headset in the gallery below:
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Inside of the ear cups you will find 53mm drivers with graphene diaphragms, which should help limit audio distortion at higher volumes. The headband is a standard, self-adjusting headband design, which I personally prefer to ‘floating' headbands, which automatically adjust to fit the wearer's head. The standard headband design typically gives a better seal on the ears and as long as there is enough cushioning in place, should be just as comfortable to wear for long periods.
Here is the full specification rundown:
Headphone
Driver: 53mm
Sensitivity: 98dB/mW(1kHz)
Impendance: 32Ω
Frequency Response: 20hZ – 20kHz
Cable Length: 1.2+1.8m (Detachable Cable)
Connector Type: Detachable Cable: Audio & Mic 3.5mm plug
Microphone
Type: Uni-directional noise canceling
Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz
Sensitivity: -45dB + 3dB
Impedance: 2.2kΩ
The Cougar Phontum is available now from OverclockersUK for £47.99. On paper, this headset should be able to compete with some of the higher-end offerings available at a lower price, though we won't know for sure until testing has been done.
KitGuru Says: I generally like Cougar's mice and headsets. The Phontum seems like another good addition to the lineup. Are any of you currently shopping around for a new gaming headset?