When it comes to gaming headsets, it can be tough to find the right one that not only produces quality sound and fits well, but also meets your budget. These days headsets are typically priced in the hundreds and often quality doesn’t justify the cost.
In comes Easy SMX, a Chinese gaming peripherals brand that produces everything from keyboards to controllers, for a much more affordable price. However, does the cheaper price point mean a loss of quality?
I managed to get my hands on Easy SMX’s Cool 2000 Gaming Headset and gave it a try. The packaging was rather classy, with the brand’s logo being a cool ‘esports-esque’ theme. However, inside the box was another story. Though the packaging was classy, the headset inside was evidently ‘cheap’. Not that I’m against a cheap looking product, but upon my first look at the headset, I did wonder just how a headset that looked like it was made of cheap plastic would fare compared to, say, my $80 Plantronics RIG 500HX.
After removing the headset from it’s packaging, I noticed that the headset came with an LED button that allowed the ear cups to light up in blue. This was an interesting addition, though to me personally, felt very unnecessary because who would really care about having their ear cups light up? I personally don’t. Secondly, upon lifting the headset up, I could immediately feel the flimsy build, which worried me about the comfort of the headset. However, the headband being made of a steel beam meant that it was possible to twist and bend the headset without breaking it, which meant that despite it’s flimsy look, the headset wouldn’t easily get damaged, which is a rather big benefit considering the cheap price point.
Surprisingly the headset felt strangely comfortable. That is, for an hour or so. Using it to play games, I was very much aware that I had something foreign sitting on my head and my ears began to sweat due to the soft ‘memory earmuff’. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing that is limited to just Easy SMX’s brand of product, as I’ve had other headsets affect me in the same way. Nevertheless, I found myself needing to take the headset off every so often for my ears to have a break.
Quality wise, the Cool 2000 was decent. I could hear everything in game just fine, as well as my party chat. It worked well on my Xbox, however, I haven’t been able to give it a try on other platforms. According to the information I received on the headset, it’s meant to work well with PCs, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Ones as well as tablets.
Though the audio was fine, it’s nothing compared to the higher end headsets of today. Easy SMX certainly offers a headset that’s affordable but the build and quality matches the price point. From my short time with the Cool 2000, I’d say that the $30 price tag puts the headset as more of an entry level one more suited for children and teenagers who’ll likely not take very good care of their peripherals. It’s definitely worth the price if you’re not looking for something too substantial and are more of a casual gamer.
You can check out the headset here.