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To test the Cerberus V2, I used it as my primary headset for playing games, listening to music and watching videos. While doing this, I made sure to take into account the comfort and build quality of the headset and present my thoughts to you here.
First of all, I will mention that as the Cerberus V2 connects via a 3.5mm jack, there is no digital software.
With that out of the way, I'll start with build quality and comfort as that is very important, especially so considering the price of this headset. Things are very good in this department, though, as the Cerberus V2 is very strong and rigid thanks to its steel headband – it exhibits little flex, while the ear cups are also made from some sturdy plastic. It is obviously not the toughest headset you'll ever see but, at this price-point, it is doing very well and will definitely withstand some bashing.
In-terms of comfort, the faux-leather ear cushions fit my ears very well and did not cause me any fatigue, even after hours of use. The headband also distributes the weight of the headset very evenly, so my skull was not left aching after twenty minutes.
There is just one area I would like to see improved, and that is the ear cushions' foam. In my opinion, the foam used in the cushions is a bit stiff and this prevented the ear cups achieving a tighter fit over my ears. It is far from being a deal-breaker, but slightly softer foam would've help create a better seal.
So, we have established that the Cerberus V2 is well-built and also very comfortable to use. What about audio quality?
Right off the bat, I was not disappointed. Straight away I felt the huge bass from the 53mm neodymium drivers – it definitely dominates the mix, but it is also controlled and quite ‘tight'. Listening to some heavy metal – Dream Theatre is probably my favourite band – the low-end comes through so strong and the guitars really chug away. It is quite something.
Bass-heavy headsets have long been a favourite of gamers, and after playing through some PC games, I can definitely understand why. Rounds of Heroes vs Villains in Battlefront is rewarding as Boba Fett's wrist rockets really rock the headset while Han Solo's blaster also sounds very rich and full. Elsewhere, the engines of Rocket League sound very close and you can definitely feel your vehicle as its revs up and smashes into the opposing team.
The obvious downside to a headset this bass-heavy is that subtler tones – be it acoustic music or the soundscapes of Osmos – aren't done justice. The mid-range is overpowered by the bass, so if you are into lighter stuff the Cerberus V2 may not be for you. For just gaming, though, I really enjoyed using it.
Lastly, it is worth talking about the two microphones. The flexible boom mic uses an omnidirectional pattern, while the integrated in-line mic is unidirectional. The former is nothing special, with speech coming out quite nasally, but it is still clear and will do the job for gaming with some mates. The integrated mic is a bit worse, though, and I would probably avoid it if possible – it is just quite muffled and lacks clarity. If you are just planning on just using the Cerberus V2 for gaming – as I would recommend – you will be just fine with the boom mic, though.
