Gamdias Hephaestus Headset Review

1. Introduction2. Gamdias Hephaestus3. Testing4. Conclusion5. View All Pages

The Gamdias web site claims that the Hephaestus is the world's number one headset, but it's hard to imagine how that can be true given the serious market penetration that has been achieved over the years by companies like Razer, Roccat, SteelSeries and the like – and that's before you get to the relatively new entries such as Plantronics.

For now, let's put claims about market position to one side and focus on what Gamdias says that this headset will do.

It's key features are very clearly laid out on the packaging, including:-

• Virtual 7.1 channel effect
  Delivering faithful and reverberating simulated 7.1 channel sound effect
• Environment sound effect simulation
  Carefully tuned professional gaming acoustic simulator, letting user choose their favourite acoustic environment through simple settings by EOS
• Microphone sound change
  Exclusive EOS controlled microphone sound changer, allowing easy high/low pitch tuning
• Blast Source Identifier
  Shock waves vary by ear to help pinpoint blast source
• Ergonomic comfort
  Leather headband & ear pads for comfort during prolonged gameplay
• Cooler system
  Built-in aluminium heat sink for optimum temperature
• Noise cancelling mic
  Active noise cancellation microphone filters out unwanted noise signal for clear messages to team
• Flexible mic arm
  Microphone arm can bend in any direction for personalized usage

There's no shortage of packaging to ensure that the headset survives shipping:-
  
Once you open up the packaging, the there isn't much in the box apart from the headset, instructions and a couple of stickers.

The headset itself is all about ergonomics, there's no denying that. Every joint is flexible and the padding is lush. How that will cope with harsh treatment in the long term, we can't be sure, but it certainly makes a good first impression.

  

Inspecting the earpieces themselves, you are straight away aware of the integrated aluminium heatsinks and the work that's been done to try and achieve intelligent air flow. Each ear piece also includes a software-controlled intelligent vibration system which, Gamdias claims, will allow you to understand your gaming environment more fully – as explosions will not only have an audio detonation, but also a physical vibration component.

Imagine yourself in a massive warehouse, in total darkness with a blindfold on and a pistol in your hand. Now imagine you have an armed competitor in the warehouse. Even with no idea of where your opponent is, imagine they make a small noise, create a small vibration.

You turn, instantly, and fire. How close do you think you'd get to hitting them?  Our guess is pretty close. Improved audio is definitely something that will add to the gaming experience in the future – and projects like TrueAudio.

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