Razer Megalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset
The Megalodon Gaming Headset is a fantastic headset that delivers simulated 7.1 surround sound right to your ears with very realistic surround sound quality.
Ease of Use, Performance: 23/25
Look & Feel: 23/25
Features 20/25
How much I enjoy 24/25
Total: 90/100
As I sit here writing this review I am listening to The Eagles Hell Freezes Over and am speechless at the sound quality of both the DVD and the Megalodon headset. I have my Logitech X-530 speakers connected to my Auzentech X-Forte sound card and using my newest Plextor Blu-ray player to enjoy the clear crisp sounds in full surround to compare.
Using the Megalodon and my other computer with the DVD using Dolby Digital the sound is very close to comparable and still has the great quality of surround sound. I know the output is in stereo but the headset does an excellent job at reproducing the clear crisp vocals, the great instruments and deep bass of songs like Desperado.
I just love the Megalodon and plan on keeping this as a headset for gaming when I need to keep things a little quieter around the house. Listening to music using the Razer Megalodon is a great experience with the comfortable and great sounding earphones and gaming is equally as enjoyable.
I have several games I am currently working on including Wolfenstein on the PC that really does great with positional effects and sound in 7.1. The Razer Megalodon has the usual black overall look with large ear phones that cup each ear nicely to start your listening experience off well.
The headset comes with the control pad and headset attached so there is no leaving parts behind when you go out for gaming and there are no drivers as the Megalodon is plug and play compatible for Windows XP and above. This is also a PC only device so console gamers may feel left out but hardcore gamers and audiophiles will enjoy the headset.
While the Megalodon has no adjustments or additional effects available other than those Windows provides this is not really necessary in my opinion, the headset sounds great right from the start. The Megalodon also comes with a nice hard cloth covered plastic case for the headset and control panel that fits well for travel and a headset stand.
The stand has two magnets on the front to hold the control panel in a usable position while on the stand and makes for a nice place to keep the headset when not in use. The control panel is easy to use with a 2.0 to 7.1 switch on the top marked Maelstrom after the Maelstrom Audio Engine.
The Maelstrom Audio Engine is the heart of the 7.1 surround sound effect and works extremely well with deciphering the incoming signal and routing it to various positions for your ears. I’m not sure technically how the headset can deliver 7.1 surround sound using a single driver in each earpiece but you get the effects of both surround sound and bass when gaming, watching movies or listening to music.
The Megalodon is quite impressive and the only headset PC gamers will need with the well done microphone that is also a part of the Megalodon. The microphone swings down for use and up along the headsets left side when not in use to keep it out of the way and works well.
I tried some gaming and listened to myself on my second computer and voice was great for all the voice chat and gaming I could do between my two systems using Counter Strike. The in game voice was clear and crisp from one system to the other through the network and sounded just fine to me on my other headset.
The headset works well for gaming and listening to movies and music and does great with Blu-ray discs as well as regular DVD’s and CD’s. I checked out the difference between 5.1 surround sound using the Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers and the Razer Megalodon and really have a tough choice deciding which is better.
I enjoy not having the headset on but the sound is more in depth and fuller when using the headset as well as not having to hear outside noises like my cats and dogs tussling throughout the house. The headset is comfortable with its padded headband on the inside of the upper band and the ear pieces are padded and fit nicely over my ears.
The Razer Megalodon is nice to use and the cord is a nice braided fabric over the cable for protection so prolonged life of the headset is improved in the build of the Megalodon. The controller also features the chance to change levels of individual sets of speakers as well as bass, microphone sensitivity and the microphone levels along with being able to mute the microphone.
The control is handy but it is the only way to control the unit other than the basic ones that Windows offers which is not much at all. Audiophiles may be a bit disappointed that they do not have much control over the enhancements or other features but this is still a very nice headset.
I really like the plug and play simplicity and not having to mess with drivers or anything as I can easily change from one computer to the next without any worries at all just like I did for testing. The Razer Megalodon easily goes from one system to the next and installs in seconds without any drivers, Windows just needs to detect the USB audio and your ready to enjoy your headset.
The Megalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset sounds fantastic and has all the great features gamers could want with simple plug and play ease. I highly recommend the Razer Megalodon as a great gaming headset as well as those entertainment uses when needing to keep things more to yourself.