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Speed-Link Medusa ProGamer Edition SL-8793 Surround Sound Headset

Last summer we took a look at two 5.1 surround sound headsets from Speed-Link. Today we take a look at one of their newest products, the ProGamer Edition surround sound headset. I have to admit with many options to choose from I still use both the previous models when listening to music, movies, or gaming on one of my PCs. The quality design and quality performance has made these headsets a pleasure to keep using. So I'm anxious to see how this new model performs. Let's take a look.

Company:

Medusa-USA, www.medusa-usa.com

Price:

$103.61 US at Medusa-USA.

Ratings

Price:
Install/Setup:
Usability:
Support:
Average Rating:

Pros:

• Once dialed in, sound is amazing.
• Headsets are soft and very comfortable to wear for extended periods
• Cables are long providing you with plenty of length to move around

Cons:

• Took a bit of time to dial in the sound

Getting Started

I have to admit, I was worried this new model wouldn't live up to the past models in comfort and performance. But right from the start of working with the ProGamer it became very apparent that Medusa did a good job of keeping what was good and improving on it some more. Once again, the headset comes very professionally packaged. As I said before, this tells me they take great pride in the product they are selling to us. A padded carrying case is provided for transporting the headset to a LAN party or protecting it on journeys. The headphone cups simply fold in, which allows the Medusa 5.1 Headset to be stored safely whilst also saving space. The case is very durable and will definitely help protect the headset as you move from LAN to LAN. But I doubt this pair spends much time in the case as I will be using them quite often.

Hooking up the ProGamer is a simple as matching up the front, rear, center/sub, and microphone cables to your sound card. But make sure you are correctly connecting each plug to the right channel or you sound will be wrong when listening. With this new model you can choose between USB power via the included USB cable or by using a USB converter use a normal wall outlet to provide the power. Matt with Medusa-USA mentioned to me that with both options you are getting the required 5V to power the speakers so either option can be used. My preference is to use the USB connection, but for those that might need it, you have the wall socket option. Another great thing Medusa has done with this headset is make sure you have plenty of cable length. A single cable about six feet long gives you plenty of length on the headset so you won't feel tethered to your PC. Yet another example of knowing the users of this product, Medusa also includes a velcro cable wrap to bundle up the cable for storage and transportation, thus helping you avoid tangles in this long cord.

Actual physical design hasn't really changed with the ProGamer from past models. There are three speakers and a subwoofer built into each padded, swiveling ear pad, thus enabling reproduction of the full sound spectrum. The earpads feel smaller on this model than the past models, but after closer examination they are almost identical. The snug fit has more to do with the older models having more wear on them.

Also new to this model is a redesigned inline remote control and a removable microphone. The new design is a better need improvement over the last model. Instead of dealing with an amplifier box, the ProGamer has the amplifier build into the remote and the volume dials are much easier to adjust. The inline remote control makes it nice to adjust specific sounds on the fly. If you are in the middle of a game this makes it fast and easy to adjust sounds. Then when you are done gaming you can make more specific tweaks from your sound device control panel. The microphone looks to be the same design as past models. You now have the option to remove it from the headset if you are not using it. The construction is still very sturdy and we did not notice any degradation in mic performance.

Click on picture to enlarge image

Usability

Getting the sound dialed in on the ProGamer headset took me a little longer than I hoped it would. I found I had to spend some time adjusting system volumes and soundcard settings to get a sound I was happy with. As I have said in many past reviews, sound from headsets or speakers is in the eyes of the beholder. Every person has a different idea of what sounds good. Fortunately with the ability to adjust system settings as well as individual channel sound setting on the inline remote, you can get the sound you are looking for from the ProGamer headset. It might just take some time to perfect it.

Make sure you take the time to test different system settings when setting these up the first time. Double check your wiring and if you are using drivers and a console for a specific sound card, make sure the settings in the interface match the plugs and connectors you used or you could get different sounds. At first I had the center/sub plug in the wrong connector on my soundcard. After verifying all my connections and adjusting the settings, these things sounded fantastic. I played a little COD 2, watched some Matrix Revolutions, and then listen to a few hours of music while I worked. As with past models, the headset is very comfortable in design so you can listen for hours at a time without fatiguing your head, ears, or neck. While using them for different audio and video experiences, I was able to make fine adjustments to volumes using the inline remote.

Specifications and Features

Adding It All Up

The more you use ProGamer headset, the more you will come to appreciate their design and quality sound. This new ProGamer Edition is a little more finicky to set up, but as it is often in life, good things come to those who are patient. Spending time tweaking your audio settings will help you appreciate the sounds this headset can produce and you can adjust it to your own liking. Everyone has their own preferences and Medusa gives you a product with the ProGamer Edition that will help you dial in to your own.

Because of the excellent quality and good improvements over past models, we are awarding Speed-Link Medusa ProGamer Edition SL-8793 Surround Sound Headset the UpgradAdvisor.com Recommended Upgrade seal of approval!!!

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