Tesoro Kuven Pro 5.1 Gaming Headset Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. The Tesoro Kuven Pro Headset4. Comfort & Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Setting up the headset is fairly simple, although it requires us to visit the Tesoro website to download a driver package – this doesn't include any software configuration utility like some competing headsets.  Then it's a simple matter of connecting up the headset to the controller and the controller to a USB port on your PC.

The Kuven Pro is more comfortable than you would initially expect given its size.  The large pad on the inside of the headband helps to evenly distribute the weight of the headset across your head and ensures a comfortable but secure fit.

We are also impressed with the earpads which are nicely cushioned and finished in leatherette material.  This can get a little sweaty after a few hours of use, but we find it preferable to cloth pads.

Removing the earpads lets us see the positioning of the four driver units within each earcup, with similarly sized front, centre and rear drives and a slightly larger subwoofer driver at the bottom.  This positioning is ultimately designed to mimic that of a 5.1 surround sound system.

In terms of sound panning, the system is quite effective.  Our preferred test for judging the sound panning ability of a headset is the opening sequence of The Dark Knight, in which the headset performed very well indeed.  There was a noticeable improvement in panning compared to a 7.1 virtual surround sound headset.  We were also impressed with the resonance of the bass notes during this sequence.

Moving on to music playback, the configurable subwoofer level helps tailor the sound balance of the headset.  We felt that the sound lacked clarity overall, though, especially when compared to a solid set of stereo headphones like the SteelSeries Siberia V2.

Where the headset really shines, though, is in gaming performance.  The configurable sound channels and excellent sound panning make for an excellent experience when gaming, especially in FPS titles.  Again, the sound was not as clear as it could be, but this was less evident when gaming.  The headset also does a good job of isolating outside noise thanks to the closed ear cups and over-ear earpads.

Become a Patron!