The single earpiece Sony packed in with my PS4 was in need of a long-overdue update. The LVL50 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset was provided to us by Sony and PDP gaming a few weeks ago. I’ve been testing it out extensively over the holidays.
PS5 theme
The LVL50 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset has been around for quite some time and isn’t solely made for PlayStation. Although this version is specifically made with the Playstation license. The box is marketed towards the PS4 but a sticker tells of the compatibility on the PS5. As long as your device has a 3,5 mm jack to plug it into, you’re good to go. iPads, iPhones, tablets, … should all work too. My intention was to use it for my PS5. Conveniently, the stylish white look of the headset with some black details seems to blend really well with the PS5 design.
Clear sound
The LVL50 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset can be adjusted to fit all sizes. The padding helps with the comfort factor of the headset. The cushioning around the ears is made out of soft and breathable material. The pressure on the ears is minimal to an extent that I didn’t feel the need to lift it off my head even after long periods of gaming with it. The extra soft padding also isolates most sounds so you can really feel immersed in what you’re doing. Playing something creepy felt so much creepier once the sound from the real world was being blocked.
The noise-canceling helps make the sound pop more. The LVL50 drivers deliver sounds very clear with the right amount of bass, mids, and treble. I’ve experienced sounds I never quite noticed through my TV’s speakers which made for a better gaming experience. As a musician who has gone through his fair share of studio headphones, I can honestly say this came pretty close. For this type of budget, I wasn’t expecting the sound to be this good. Now I wouldn’t mix/master any music with it but for my gaming purposes, this is more than ideal.
Nice features
The LVL50 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset features on-ear audio controls and a flip-to-mute mic feature. The on-ear audio controls are essentially just a dial on the side that controls the volume. This isn’t all that flashy but is way more convenient as opposed to going through the PlayStation menus to adjust the volume. The flip-to-mute mic feature came in very handy. You can put your mic in the upright position which acts as a killswitch to mute the mic. This handy feature is ideal to avoid some awkward situations with your online crew.
The microphone itself has some added padding to act as a pop filter. The headset uses noise-canceling technology to avoid feedback from your gaming system. My friends said they experienced my voice much clearer but strangely higher-pitched than usual. I can only go on what my friends on the other side experienced so I don’t know how accurate that assessment was. For what it’s worth I included it in this review but the general consensus was that I was perfectly audible.
Conclusion
LVL50 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset looks great and feels sturdy. The audio quality is top especially for the price range these types of headsets go for. The flip-to-mute function is a very handy addition. The comfort factor really sells this headset. The microphone could probably be a bit better but it does the job just fine. All in all, I’m very pleased with how this headset performs and would recommend it.
8/10
Tested with PlayStation 5
