Alienware - Pro Wireless Gaming Headset for PS5, PS4 and Switch - Lunar Light

Dell’s Alienware line of products has been a staple in the gaming industry for a while. Their popular logo is easily recognizable and is considered a mainstream quality brand. With more brands out with competitive products, there are lots of headsets to choose from. The Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Headset is a nice option with features that are convenient for gaming. There are several things that I personally like about this headset and although they don't differentiate much from the competition in terms of aesthetics, they make it up with some nice hardware. With that being said, there are several “nice to have” features that I personally think all headphones should have and this headset hits the nail on the head. One of them is that both the ear muffs and head adjustment band are lined with soft and comfortable leatherette. The headband also does not have the annoying click while adjusting and as it slides and makes it harder for hair to be caught while adjusting them. After wearing them for a week for several gaming sessions, I did not get tired and want to throw them off! A second must have feature, in my opinion, are convenient and useful buttons. Along the sides of the headset are an On/Off button, volume control slider, mic mute slider, mode slider (for switching between bluetooth and wireless) and an On/Off Audio Noise Cancellation button. Now for the audio. The audio quality is just amazing with the 50mm drivers. Like other gaming headsets, you should be able to hear the small details like footsteps, far away shots in shooting games, conversations from NPCs as you walk by them in games like Assassin's Creed, and this headset is no different. Compared to other headphones I’ve used, these do have a good bass response and it helps bring an immersiveness with in-game explosions or just music in general. Another feature I noticed, compared to other headsets, is that the ANC works well. My only gripe though is that with it on and no audio playing, I am still able to hear my keyboard keys as I’m typing and other small noises like mouse clicks. It works well while gaming to completely block out noise but not completely in silence. There are three ANC modes that can be switched with the ANC button on the left ear: Off,On, and Transparency mode to adjust the intensity of ANC. After playing with each, I still felt disappointed in this area. To further adjust the ANC Transparency mode, Alienware’s Command Center will need to be installed through Dell’s website and can also be used to apply firmware upgrades. As for the mic quality, I did like how two microphones were added onto this headset. The second mic helps in noisier environments and using AI Noise Cancellation, can help tune out a friend’s annoying speaker in the background (as long as they have the same headset :) ) to only their voice. I didn’t receive any complaints as I used the mic and while there is slight difference in how your voice sounds, others I gamed with liked it better than my previous headset mic. Lastly, I simply enjoyed having a headset that was reliable and worked well with each of my consoles. I didn’t have any issues setting it up on my Switch through bluetooth nor through using the USB C dongle for my PS5 and PC. It lasted through each of my gaming sessions for over a week (with ANC On) and when it did die, I found that the fast charging the headset advertises really does work. Fast charging it (charging it with my 20W charger) for 15 minutes gave me another hour of use before I ended my session and decided to fully charge them. Overall, the Pro headset is simple and straightforward, a headset geared towards Alienware and gaming fans without any nonchalant gimmicks. The audio truly is fantastic and brings another level of immersion into games. ANC works great as your gaming and your teammates being able to hear you better through the AI Noise Cancellation is also a nice plus. The Pro headset is a great choice for a regular or gaming headset and has strong features against the competition.

The Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming headset is a really impressive headset that is almost perfect. There are a few notable shortcomings that will make-or-break the purchase for some people, but for me the pros of the Alienware headset are enough for it to become my primary gaming headset for now. #Unboxing and first impressions# The Alienware Pro Wireless gaming headset comes in a standard cardboard box without much wow factor. The headset is almost entirely cardboard/recyclable which is a plus. The included accessories are the USB-A to USB-C cable, the USB-C dongle, and an adapter to use the dongle in a USB-A port. It doesn't come with a bag or anything else. The primary "boom" microphone is detachable and has molding around the tip to make it only plug into the headset in a particular orientation (and can also be done easily by feel). Unfortunately, the mic is not a "flip to mute" style, but there is a mute button that is easy to find by feel. When muted, there is a ring near the tip of the mic that glows red, which is a nice visual cue for yourself or others who might want to talk but aren't sure if you're in a live voice chat. The Alienware Pro has a physical switch for power as well as changing from dongle to Bluetooth mode. This is a closed back headset which provides some noise isolation even without using the built-in active noise cancelling. One plus for me is the noise canceling remembers what setting you used last when you power on the headset, so you don't always have to turn it on or off per your preference. Like the mic mute button, the ANC button is easy to find by feel. The headset's leatherette ear pads are very plush and as a result the Alienware Pro is extremely comfortable to wear for long periods - perhaps the most comfortable headset or headphone I've worn recently. #Using the headset# The Alienware Pro is pre-paired with the dongle in the box so using it immediately was a simple affair. I'm glad that Alienware chose to provide a USB-C dongle plus the adapter for USB-A, as this offers a lot of flexibility for where you can use the headset without needing to find a separate adapter if you're out of USB-C ports. While no software is needed to make use of the headset, you do need to find and download Alienware Command Center 6.4 or newer to use the headset. I had an older version already for a previous reviewed product, and it was actually pretty tough to find the newer version. The quick start guide brought me to a dell website for downloading drivers and even when using the service tag (serial number) for my headset I was only able to find verion 6.2 of AWCC. Eventually I did a little googling and was able to find the latest version - not a great experience for a premium product. Once you have the AWCC software, you unlock the free license for Dolby Atmos via the Dolby Access app. Strangely, the AWCC app itself offers zero sound adjustment for the Alienware Pro headset - you must use the Dolby Access app to configure EQ or other sound modes. This is my primary complaint that keeps the Alienware Pro from getting a perfect score for me - there just isn't a lot of adjustment possible for the headset, and what is possible requires using two different apps. The sound quality of the headset is very good, but again held back by some flaws that I think can be fixed by firmware. In fact, one issue I had (a low level hiss even at low volumes) before installing AWCC was fixed by a firmware update that applied once I'd installed the software. The main issue I have with the sound of the Alienware Pro is that it is EXTREMELY over-driven. With the sound at about 30% volume, it's already staying pretty constant at around 80 db and peaking over 90db on some loud sounds. Above 50 or 60%, the headset is constantly clipping and sounds terrible. Below about 40% it sounds fantastic and well-balanced for a wireless headset. I think Alienware need to re-think their firmware and adjust the amplitude so the current ~60% is the new max, which will give us a lot more flexibility to adjust the volume to suit our tastes without being too loud and overdriven. Also, kind of strange but the amount of bass changes based on whether ANC is on or in transparency/off. With ANC on, the bass is extremely clean and powerful sounding, and actually among the best closed headphones I've used, wireless or not. But when you switch to transparency mode or ANC off, the bass drops off significantly and doesn't sound terribly good. It's not very noticeable unless you're listening to something with a lot of bass in the sub 40hz range, though. Again, something that can be fixed in firmware or maybe even with EQ settings, but having to switch back and forth between AWCC and Dolby Access for this isn't a great user experience. Mic quality is above average and I discovered a little bonus when testing the microphone - the Alienware headset has mics built onto the headphone itself that work even with the boom mic removed. So if you use this as a mobile headset paired to your phone, without the boom mic, you can still make phone calls or do voice chat. Sound quality is a bit worse and you don't get the same level of "AI" noise removal, but it's still a pretty cool feature that enhances the versatility of this headset. Coupled with the subtle nature of the styling of the Alienware Pro, you could definitely use this as a "lifestyle" headphone to wear on the go, if you choose. I'm planning to start using it at work, actually, since the noise cancelling works so well. #Final thoughts# Alienware have really surprised me with the products I've been able to review. They seem to have really made an effort to make quality, grown-up products for gamers that don't scream "GAMER!!!" With a few firmware tweaks, the Alienware Pro Wireless could be a perfect headset for me, but even without those tweaks, I plan to use this headset for most of my gaming sessions and even for virtual meetings at work on occasion. Hopefully they get the kinks worked out, too.

There was a time when Alienware was known for its over-the-top, flashy products with excessive amounts of RGB and bulky designs. With its new Pro gaming headset, its clear the company went back to the drawing board to come up with an accessory that would appeal to almost every gamer or PC user. This Pro headset is lightweight, incredibly comfortable, and delivers very good audio quality and battery life. === DESIGN AND COMFORT === - I'm a big fan of the minimalist design of the Alienware Pro headset, especially since I tend to wear a headset most of the day for both work and gaming. The sleek and slim look of the Pro headset means I can confidently wear it while on video calls and not worry about getting strange looks. - The first thing I noticed was how plush the earcups and headband are. The padding has just the right amount of give without being too soft or firm. The material of the earcups and headband is very soft and smooth. - Compared to other gaming headsets I've used, the Alienware Pro is very lightweight. I've worn it for hours on end and can barely tell it's there. - The clamping force is also nicely balanced and I have not experienced any fatigue or pressure when wearing the headset. - The headband is very easy to adjust for different head sizes. The earcups smoothly glide up and down with minimal resistance. - The microphone attaches to the left earcup. While I'm glad it can be easily removed when not needed, I miss the retractable microphone I had on my previous headset. When the microphone is attached to this headset, it's hard to push or angle it out of your line of sight when not needed. So I usually end up detaching it and leaving it on my desk until needed for gaming or a video call. - The physical controls on the earcups are intuitive and easy to access. The left earcup is where you'll find most of the controls, including the volume dial, microphone mute button, a button to control noise cancellation, the USB-C port, and slot for the microphone attachment. The right earcup has only the power switch and a toggle to move between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections. === AUDIO QUALITY, CONNECTIVITY, AND SOFTWARE === - The Alienware Pro headset can connect to your devices via 2.4 GHz (using the included USB dongle) or Bluetooth. My biggest complaint about this headset is that you can't use both connections simultaneously -- a huge limitation if you want to hear audio (or take calls) from your computer and phone at the same time. My previous headset had this feature and I loved not having to manually swap connections when I received a call on my iPhone while listening to audio on my computer. - You can also use the headset over a wired USB-C connection, which allows for high-res audio. - I'm no audiophile, but this headset sounds excellent to me. It can get incredibly loud without any noticeable distortion. Highs seem very detailed and bass is very deep. However, at higher volumes, the bass tends to fade away and higher frequencies take over. So the sweet spot for volume seems to be right around 40 to 60 percent for a balanced mix of lows and highs. - Games sound incredible with this headset. Playing Alan Wake 2, I can hear footsteps and voices as if they are right behind me. The music and dialog in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sounds clear, rich, and full. - Microphone quality is mediocre at best. I recorded myself to test, and my voice sounds very flat and robotic, like a cheap call center headset. It's fine for casual use and gaming, but I wouldn't count on this to record your podcasts. - The Alienware Command Center software can be used to change certain settings on the headset such as the noise cancelling transparency level and microphone volume, but it doesn't offer much else besides that. I was hoping there would be some options for audio customizations. === NOISE CANCELLING AND BATTERY LIFE === - The active noise cancelling feature of the Alienware Pro headset gets the job done, but it certainly does not come close to matching the best ANC headphones offered by other mainstream brands. Importantly, it successfully cancels out the fan noise from my PC as well as other low-frequency sounds around my house (such as my air conditioner and tower fan). But it doesn't do as well with higher frequencies such as voices or clicks from my mechanical keyboard. This wouldn't be the headset I would grab to bring on an airplane, but the ANC works well enough for home use. - Battery life on this headset is remarkable. Alienware claims that the headset will last up to 70 hours when connected over the 2.4 GHz connection, and 75 hours when on Bluetooth. This seems accurate to me -- after a full 8 hour day with the headset on and connected to my PC via 2.4 GHz, the battery level reported in the Alienware Command Center was at 87 percent. === OVERALL == I'm very impressed by the Alienware Pro headset. It has a sleek, comfortable design that will appeal to almost anyone. Notable drawbacks include the lack of a simultaneous 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth connection, poor microphone quality, and mediocre noise cancellation. But these things do not detract from the excellent design, audio quality, and battery life of the headset. Hopefully, Alienware will continue this trend with its other gaming accessories: a focus on the basics without the flashy and gimmicky features.