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    LucidSound LS30 Evaluation

    What’s the LucidSound LS30?

    The LucidSound LS30 is a wi-fi gaming headset. It’s going to work along with your PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and your PC.

    What units the LucidSound LS30 aside, nonetheless, is that it might additionally work nicely as a regular pair of headphones. Not a wi-fi set, because it makes use of a dongle reasonably than Bluetooth, however the detachable growth mic and avenue headphone-like design definitely means it seems the half.

    At £129, the LucidSound LS30 is respectable mid-range headset for these on the lookout for a tool that serves a objective past merely gaming.

    Associated: Best Gaming Headsets

    LucidSound LS30 – Design

    The LucidSound LS30 is massive. Giant pads and big ear cups put this firmly within the “full-size” class.

    Nonetheless, 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.

    LucidSound LS30 5

    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 giant sufficient to totally enclose most ears. Whereas the headscarf does apply slightly little bit of stress to the highest of your head, it too is generously padded.

    Utilizing the headset open air, I did discover that it doesn’t have nearly as good isolation as a variety of regular full-size headphones, although. It’s going to 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 provide a contact of sophistication. The metallic band that snakes across the ear cups is definitely steel, reasonably than plastic imitating steel, and the two-tone silver/black color scheme is refreshingly impartial for a gaming headset.

    LucidSound LS30 11

    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 giant at 10cm lengthy. Additionally, it doesn’t use Bluetooth both, so you’ll be able to’t join wirelessly to a telephone – though it might be doable to take action with sure units utilizing a USB OTG adapter. However this isn’t a slick resolution.

    LucidSound LS30

    Wi-fi reliability and vary are strong. Inside about 5m the sign is flawless, reducing out at round 8m. In contrast to Bluetooth, the sign doesn’t progressively break down right into a garbled mess. For probably the most half, it both works or doesn’t, and if you come again into vary the LucidSound LS30 hyperlinks again up with the dongle virtually instantly.

    When utilizing wi-fi you employ two rotary dials on the cups to vary the amount 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 telephone), and a detachable growth mic that plugs right into a socket on the underside of 1 cup.

    LucidSound LS30 13

    You’ll obtain higher voice readability utilizing the growth, even in the event you don’t angle it proper by your mouth. You possibly can wiggle it about freely because the LucidSound LS30’s mic has a versatile arm.

    It’s high-quality for gaming, however don’t plan to document a podcast utilizing the LucidSound LS30 because the constancy simply isn’t there. The growth mic can also be much less directional than you would possibly assume. It’s nonetheless comfortable to select up noise from across the room.

    LucidSound LS30 7

    There’s no precise distant housing on the cable used to connect to a telephone 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 complete 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 rise up to 15 hours of use between fees, 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 function that pertains to sound high quality, however – sorry – it isn’t sound. It’s EQ.

    A button on the precise cup enables you to change 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, however it isn’t nice in the event you’re listening to music because the bass is gradual and overblown. It ruins any sense of rhythmic drive.

    LucidSound LS30

    With the default mode, the LucidSound LS30 delivers pretty respectable sound. Bass tightness and basic definition aren’t near what you’d get in the most effective 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 take heed to music. The trade-off is a lack of heat and a few smoothness, however it’s an excellent mode to make use of in the event you like your music to sound pure, or need to ensure you don’t miss a phrase of group 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.

    LucidSound LS30 3

    Must you purchase the LucidSound LS30?

    The LucidSound LS30 is an effective purchase if you would like a gaming headset that serves you away out of your lounge.

    It’s better-made than some headsets across the worth, with steel 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 just additionally miss out on a few of the greatest options in the event you use the LucidSound LS30 with a a telephone.

    Nonetheless, PC and PS4 players 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.

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