What’s the LucidSound LS30?
The LucidSound LS30 is a wi-fi gaming headset. It can work along with your PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and your PC.
What units the LucidSound LS30 aside, nonetheless, is that it might additionally work properly as an ordinary pair of headphones. Not a wi-fi set, because it makes use of a dongle relatively than Bluetooth, however the detachable growth mic and avenue headphone-like design definitely means it seems to be the half.
At £129, the LucidSound LS30 is respectable mid-range headset for these in search of a tool that serves a goal past merely gaming.
Associated: Finest Gaming Headsets
LucidSound LS30 – Design
The LucidSound LS30 is large. Giant pads and big ear cups put this firmly within the “full-size” class.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally one of many solely gaming headsets I’ve used that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to put on in public. I’ve been doing so too. Throughout testing I’ve used the LucidSound LS30 as my on a regular basis pair of headphones in addition to for gaming.
They’re pretty comfy to put on for hours at a time. There’s loads of foam padding within the leatherette pads, and so they’re massive sufficient to totally enclose most ears. Whereas the headscarf does apply a little bit little bit of stress to the highest of your head, it too is generously padded.
Utilizing the headset outdoor, I did discover that it doesn’t have nearly as good isolation as quite a lot of regular full-size headphones, although. It can block out a lot of the noise of a dialog or TV in one other room, however not somebody subsequent to you.
There’s some creak to the LucidSound LS30’s plastic too, however amongst gaming headsets, they do supply a contact of sophistication. The metallic band that snakes across the ear cups is definitely metallic, relatively than plastic imitating metallic, and the two-tone silver/black color scheme is refreshingly impartial for a gaming headset.
LucidSound LS30 – Wi-fi and Options
The half that permits the LucidSound LS30’s most essential gaming options is the wi-fi dongle. You plug this right into a a PS3/PS4 or a Mac/PC and it’ll take over sound card duties after a two-minute tweak of the system preferences. Xbox homeowners must plug within the included optical cable as a substitute, connecting the console’s optical out to the socket on the dongle’s aspect.
One of many few minor, and customary, disappointments of the LucidSound LS30 is that this dongle is pretty massive at 10cm lengthy. Additionally, it doesn’t use Bluetooth both, so you’ll be able to’t join wirelessly to a cellphone – though it might be doable to take action with sure gadgets utilizing a USB OTG adapter. However this isn’t a slick resolution.
Wi-fi reliability and vary are strong. Inside about 5m the sign is flawless, slicing out at round 8m. In contrast to Bluetooth, the sign doesn’t steadily break down right into a garbled mess. For probably the most half, it both works or doesn’t, and once you come again into vary the LucidSound LS30 hyperlinks again up with the dongle nearly instantly.
When utilizing wi-fi you employ two rotary dials on the cups to alter the quantity and the extent of the feed from the mic, and a faucet on the button on the again of the cup cuts out the sound so you’ll be able to simply hear the mic feed.
The LucidSound LS30 has two mics: one constructed into the headset (which can be used to take calls when plugged right into a cellphone), and a detachable growth mic that plugs right into a socket on the underside of 1 cup.
You’ll obtain higher voice readability utilizing the growth, even in case you don’t angle it proper by your mouth. You’ll be able to wiggle it about freely for the reason that LucidSound LS30’s mic has a versatile arm.
It’s high quality for gaming, however don’t plan to file a podcast utilizing the LucidSound LS30 because the constancy simply isn’t there. The growth mic can also be much less directional than you may assume. It’s nonetheless completely satisfied to select up noise from across the room.
There’s no precise distant housing on the cable used to connect to a cellphone both, so whereas you should utilize the LucidSound LS30 as a pair of headphones and take calls utilizing the built-in mic, you don’t get the total music/name management of set with an in-line distant. The buttons on the aspect solely work when used wi-fi.
The LucidSound LS30 use an built-in lithium ion battery to energy the wi-fi aspect, recharged utilizing a microUSB socket. You’ll stand up to 15 hours of use between prices, which is par for the course for a good £100-ish headset, matched by the Turtle Seaside Stealth 520.
LucidSound LS30 – Sound High quality
There’s additionally an additional characteristic that pertains to sound high quality, however – sorry – it isn’t sound. It’s EQ.
A button on the best cup enables you to swap between regular, further bass and additional treble modes. It’s a good suggestion to have a play with these relying on what you’re doing with the LucidSound LS30.
The additional bass mode will add some further drama to explosions, nevertheless it isn’t nice in case you’re listening to music for the reason that bass is gradual and overblown. It ruins any sense of rhythmic drive.
With the default mode, the LucidSound LS30 delivers pretty respectable sound. Bass tightness and basic definition aren’t near what you’d get in one of the best regular £100 headphones, however you additionally want to contemplate all the opposite tech that’s packed in right here. For a gaming headset, it isn’t unhealthy in any respect.
Dialogue readability is barely undermined by poor bass management, however utilizing the treble booster will considerably clear up the sound. The bass is extra impartial; much less clogged. It’s what I’ve been utilizing to hearken to music. The trade-off is a lack of heat and a few smoothness, nevertheless it’s a superb mode to make use of in case you like your music to sound pure, or wish to be sure to don’t miss a phrase of workforce chat.
Just like the on-cup controls, EQ doesn’t work when the headset is used with a cable, reverting to the default EQ setting.
Must you purchase the LucidSound LS30?
The LucidSound LS30 is an effective purchase if you need a gaming headset that serves you away out of your front room.
It’s better-made than some headsets across the worth, with metallic the place you’d often see plastic, and its EQ modes allow you to flick between sound modes shortly and simply .
What it lacks is surround-sound audio, supplied by the Turtle Seaside Stealth 450 and 520 at an identical worth. Word that you simply additionally miss out on a few of the finest options in case you use the LucidSound LS30 with a a cellphone.
Nevertheless, PC and PS4 avid gamers who aren’t too bothered about sound will actually just like the LucidSound LS30.
Verdict
A strong gaming headset that gained’t look misplaced when used as a traditional pair of headphones.