Traditionally known for their top-of-the-line headsets and in-ear headphones, 1More is an award-winning globally sized business with a focus on music listeners. Sporting customizable RGB, 7.1 stereo surround sound, and a price point of $130, the Spearhead VR is 1More’s first foray into gaming headsets.
When it comes to headsets, I’ve been spoiled by high-end audio equipment from Razer and HyperX – both of which provide the utmost comfort and sound quality. The Spearhead is a mid-tier headset, though I’m surprised at how well it competes with its much more expensive competitors.
Sound
There are two versions of audio output with the Spearhead. For PC and Mac, you can plug in via the included 3.5 mm cable or a short (1.3m) USB. However, this is where I struggle with praising the audio quality.
Like most headsets of its caliber, the Spearhead comes with an in-depth control panel featuring more options than you’ll know what to do with. The default settings were less than stellar, offering up a tinny, filtered sound with both games and music. But, once I played with the options for a bit, I came close to the quality audio output by the top-tier headsets mentioned earlier. The fact that I can manage this level of quality with a headset over one-hundred dollars cheaper than its superior is a feat worthy of praise.
That said, this control panel only exists on Windows platforms. With any other operating system, there isn’t any form of customization. I am forced to stick with the inferior output featuring no surround sound, EQ, or even bass adjustment options. This limitation is quite frustrating, as the box mentions compatibility with all consoles, mobile phones, and anything else with a 3.5 mm port.
While the claim is technically valid, console gamers are at a severe disadvantage should they use the Spearhead. On my Xbox One, I struggled to make out the different layers of audio. Sounds mesh together like they are all being forced through an unnecessary noise reduction filter. Playing Warframe on my Xbox was extra disappointing, as I had to lower the game volume to nearly zero if I wanted to hear my party. Also, if I choose to party, Spotify in the background isn’t an option as there are just too many sounds for the headset to handle sufficiently. I tried whatever I could to remedy these issues, but they simply come down to a lack of control options with the 3.5 mm output.
While I’m genuinely impressed with the audio output achieved on Windows 10, it’s a massive shame that it can’t be replicated on any other platform. The 50mm graphene drivers are capable of so much, but they go to waste on nearly any other platform. With a USB plug-in on the PlayStation 4 or Mac, you’ll still get some bass, fuller audio, and even surround sound, but nothing near the level achieved on PC.
Build Quality/Comfort
The Spearhead VR is light on your head. You won’t forget it’s there or anything, but the insubstantial weight is nice for extended gaming and media sessions.
An industry standard suspension headband features more than enough padding for extended wear. The band is made of stainless steel which adds to durability, but the rest of it is built with varying levels of plastic. This lower quality material isn’t a big negative, but the product feels and looks cheaper because of it.
“Sport-cloth” memory foam ear pads surround the cups, compressing to achieve a sound canceling effect. The foam is built to keep your head and ears cool during playtime, though I can’t say the comfort lasts as long. After a couple of hours, my ears can’t take the pressure and begin to hurt. If I try to push through, I end up with a headache.
To be fair, this is more of a personal problem than a headset issue. I have big ears that really stick out from my head, so fellow large-eared humans should keep that in mind.
However, moving your head results in all sorts of noises and creaks that really interfere with listening. You may get used to it over time, but it’s something you can feel as much as hear, which is doubly as irritating. Otherwise, it stays on my head with minimal need for adjustment during play.
Each ear cup has exterior RGB lighting with over 16 million different color choices. However, the lights only work with USB connection and are customized via the Windows control panel. The lighting extends to a sort of “saber” that slides out of the left ear cup. It looks like a microphone, but I believe this extension is just for show, as the mic is actually built into the frame.
Finally, all of the ports and adjustment settings are on the left ear cup. We come back to the 3.5 mm issue, however, in that these only work when plugged in via USB. You can’t adjust volume, bass, or microphone settings via the headset when plugging in via 3.5 mm.
Microphone
Fortunately, the Spearhead’s microphone is great on all accounts. Featuring dual microphone technology for excellent noise canceling, all of my friends heard me loud and clear no matter the situation.
Like with most headsets, you can get away with using it for a podcast or two, but don’t expect the Spearhead to replace your more traditional recording microphones. With no filtering or effects, a voice recording in Adobe Audition is passable but nothing worth writing home about.
Control Panel
Easily my favorite part of the package, the 1More control panel offers a ton of variety for both gamers and music lovers.
Here, you can control RBG colors, EQ settings, voice filters, surround sound simulations, and more. You can scare your friends with a voice changer or replicate your favorite song in a church setting, all with savable presets to jump between at your heart’s content.
You’ll definitely want to adjust the base settings, as the default outputs some hollow audio. It’s not unlistenable by any stretch, but you’d be remiss to not play around with these settings and see what you can accomplish.
Conclusion
PC gamers looking for a reasonably priced headset will find the Spearhead VR is a splendid choice. At $130 (or $99 as of this writing) you’re guaranteed a comfortable, customizable headset that outputs some quality audio. As long as you can ignore some minor annoyances, that is.
However, if you’re a console gamer, you’ll definitely want a different pair of cans. Nearly every feature is stripped when it comes to console settings, and the fantastic customization is non-existent without a Windows machine.
You can purchase the Spearhead VR Gaming Headset on 1More’s website.
