Innovation has been at the forefront of computer peripherals and most importantly, video game hardware. Many companies have brought to the market different options and options to improve the sound experience in PC games, consoles and other devices, all of them high-end and in different regions. Today we will be reviewing the ZEN line, where they have released a series of helmets and headphones for all budgets.
When enjoying the audio component of video games and having verbal interactions, the most sought-after technology is noise cancellation, active noise cancellation. Basically, it is a system that is included in some headphones and is responsible for silencing the surrounding noise from entering the ear canal. To achieve this, the headphones are equipped with a series of microphones that collect these sounds from the outside and prevent the user from hearing them.
This is very useful in games like Fortnite, Apex, Call of Duty, Hawkeye and others where you have to listen to your enemies using the knowledge of the environment and the position of the enemies. Playing these games with the sound of the TV speakers is like shooting yourself in the foot first as your opponents can surprise you without hearing them coming. Therefore, it is important to choose a good sound system to deal with the problem. Not only in these types of games, but the advantage is obvious, in open world or wild games, the ambient sound makes you immerse yourself in everything it has to offer.
Mentioning other titles like Assassin Creed saga or GTA, F1, LOL, and a huge catalog for all preferences, choosing between helmets and headsets is a debate. Headphones don’t give you a microphone to talk, but noise canceling headphones are usually top notch. So for gamers who don’t need a microphone to communicate online, headphones are a quality option to enhance their gaming audio experience. Even for games like Battle Royale, there are few players in games that work without a microphone.
The ZEN Hybrid from Creative are the standout headphones and earphones in their range, ideal for gamers and fans of good audio for all kinds of activities. Although some are more prominent than others, the models are designed to cover a wide range of economic opportunities. All models and prices can be seen on the official website.
We tested the Creative ZEN Hybrid 2 model.
We tested the experience on PS4 console, PS3 and PC. What stands out about the ZEN Hybrid 2 model is its noise cancellation, as it has five integrated microphones that capture ambient noise and filter out interference. The buttons are barely visible, the pads are comfortable and not large. The fold allows the helmet to be stored safely in the travel bag that comes in the box.
The power and sync button is accessible with headphones, this is the advantage, it also has two volume buttons and a button that allows us to choose between 3 modes. These modes are for ambient noise suppression, ie active, ambient and off. This allows us to set the most convenient mode according to the situation. For games, “Active” mode is the best, because without increasing the volume, you can even hear the movement of the leaves in some games.
As for sound, we are looking at headphones with a good balance in terms of treble and bass, but without the possibility of changing these parameters, at least in headphones. It doesn’t matter when you listen to music, because there are applications that have modules. As for games, it depends on the game, for example, the priority for sounds is missing. In this case, headphones are better than headphones without a microphone.
These are the features of the mid-range creative ZEN hybrid helmet (prices from € 70).
Design – Foldable headband, closed advanced synthetic leather ear cups Sound – Stereo with hybrid active noise canceling diaphragm – 40 mm neodymium drivers Frequency response – 20 Hz – 20 kHz Microphone – 5 omnidirectional microphones Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.0 (AAC / 3BC.) mm USB-C (charging) Autonomy – up to 27-37 hours of autonomy (ANC on / off) Charging time – 2-3 hours Weight – 270 grams
In short, choosing headphones or earphones to enjoy video games on PC, console or other devices is not an easy task. It depends a lot on your taste and what you want, but the fact is that this innovative range offers many options that are adjustable in price and quality, so they are recommended for all types of viewers.