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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your price for this item is $74.97

Customer reviews

Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars with 289 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Sound Quality

    Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars

  • Comfort

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

  • Value

    Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars

88%
would recommend
to a friend
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 289 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    sound quality

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    Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    good sound quality and they fit very well in the ears

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Surprisingly light!!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    THE BREAKDOWN: The packaging was very well done and protected. It came with the headphones themselves, USB cable with inline volume controls, 3.5mm splitter and 2 Velcro straps that I use for cord management. The design and feel of the headphones felt great to me. My only complaint is that the cups feel as if they put extra pressure on the bottom of the ear cup. The size is large that is typical for gaming headphones. They are a little deceiving as they look like they are bulky and heavy but once you put them on the feel surprisingly light. You can adjust the cups independently on the left and right to fit your head type. The lunar white color is nicer than I thought it would be. The microphone is hidden in the left earcup and pully out easily. It is also very adjustable. The inline controls worked well. The headset did get hot after a few hours of gameplay. The sound quality was very good. I would put the sound quality of these headphones in the top 3 of the headphones that I own. While gaming I felt the sound was crisp and you could hear the sounds of the game in the appropriate earphone. If you are looking for bass these may not be the headphones for you but then again these are gaming headphones and they do a great job at that intended purpose. PRO’s: -Great gaming sound quality -Braided cables -Adjustable ear cups -Hidden microphone CON’s: - Not true 7.1 surround sound -Earcups get hot over time. SUMMARY: Overall, I feel that this product worked very well and I would recommend this to a friend if they are in the market for device like this.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic Gaming Headset

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I am going to go ahead and say that this gaming headset is out of this world! Alienware have designed and produced a great gaming headset. I absolutely love the design. The Lunar Light is a pretty awesome color. It's an off white, kinda grayish, like the moon! The alien logo on the ear cups is a nice touch. There is no RGB lighting on this headset but that is totally fine with me. The unboxing experience is nice, The headset comes with a 3.5mm to USB cable, and a 3.5 to 3.5mm cable. It also comes with a splitter if you need to plug the headset into a headphone/microphone ports on your computer. I chose to use the USB cable to plug it into my gaming laptop. Windows automatically detects and installs a driver for the headset, but you may need to download Alienwares software for the 7.1 virtual surround sound. Set up is a breeze and you'll be up and running in no time.The software will scan for your installed games and you can launch games from within the alienware software. The headset itself feels strong and sturdy. The headband has enough flex and the padding on it is comfortable. The ear cups slide up and down to adjust to your head size. The foam pads on the ear cups are very comfortable as well and isolate sound quite well. They do a decent job at blocking sounds and keeping you immersed in your video game. I really like the retractable microphone. It tucks away nice and neat when you are not using it. It is a great design, I do not like fiddling with microphones that fold up, The ear cups swivel and lay flat for easy storage. Both included cables have volume buttons and a sliding switch that will mute the microphone. These headphones get pretty loud. I played Resident Evil 2 remake with this headset and I could hear every blood curdling snarl from the zombies. Playing the game with this headset on honestly made the game much scarier lol, You can hear every little detail in the sounds. The virtual surround works pretty good, I could tell where the sounds were coming from in the games I tested it with. I knew the zombies were in the room behind me or to the left in front of me while walking down halls. Sound quality from the 50mm drivers is excellent, Bass is pretty full and you can feel thuds from explosions and gun shots. Mids and highs are well balanced as well. The microphone is discord certified, apparently that's kind of a big deal. The friends I spoke to all told me my voice came through nice and clear, no echos, and they couldn't hear my squeaky chair in the background. Bonus points! You will obviously need to download the software to take advantage of the 7.1 virtual surround sound, but these headphones sound pretty great in plain ole stereo surround as well. For those of you that are curious, Yes this headset also works with a PS4 Pro through USB port. I thought that was pretty awesome.It won't have the 7.1 surround when using it with the playstation but honestly these headphones are a great option for your console too. You can adjust the volume with the in line cable, which is something you can't do with other usb headsets on the PS4. It did not work with my Xbox One through USB, you'll have to use the 3.5mm cable and plug it into your xbox controller. I highly recommend this gaming headset, especially if you own a gaming PC and Gaming Consoles. Alienware got alot of things right with these and they are an amazing value. Pros - Comfortable, 7.1 Surround is immersive, Great sound quality, Retractable Mic. Discord Certified. Compatibility. Great for gamers who only want to use 1 headset for their PC and consoles. Cons - None. Unless you prefer wireless headphones.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Bulky Design, But Great for Spatial Awareness

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Alienware AWH10H is absurdly bulky, but it is lightweight, generally comfortable, has decent sound, an appropriately low price, and truly does help with spatial awareness while gaming. The removable earcups are a thick memory foam that blocks a good amount of ambient noise, but they are NOT made with the cooling gel that many higher end gaming headsets now feature. I find that the foam is not especially breathable and my ears get hot fairly quickly. I also find them uncomfortable to wear with glasses. After several months of wearing them in, the cushion may soften up, but I would not suggest this headset for those who wear glasses all of the time. Be aware that this is NOT a noise cancelling headset. It is the retractable microphone that cancels ambient noise (to a reasonable degree). The Mic is not removable, but it is easy enough to retract into the bulky left earcup with just one hand. The mic arm does bend, but is not as flexible as I would like. But, with a bit of findgiting, I have always been able to find an appropriate location that allows for effective communication. I personally do not like that in order to mute the mic, you have to slide the entire flat face of the on-cord control box up/down. I would much prefer a button or switch (as the slider is stiff), but it does get the job done. Surprisingly, the bulk does not equal thunderous sound. When used as a headset for music, the sound is rather disappointing. Until the volume is cranked up to max, the audio levels are surprisingly quiet and rather muted. If you are trying to save some bucks by purchasing a single headset that will be great for music and also gaming, this headset is not what you are looking for. I find that the 7.1 surround sound is much more noticeable when plugged into a computer using the USB cable. The computer is also where you will be able to use gaming presets to adjust the audio to your liking. If you are using this headset for Xbox or Playstation, you will not be able to change audio presets. But, because Alienware doesn’t go out of their way to advertise this headset for the Xbox or Playstation, I don’t really hold this against them. The price is pretty fair for a headset that can truly be used with any device. Interestingly, the earcups slide up and down on a track inside of the headband. At first I found this design decision to be rather odd, but I like being able to adjust each earcup individually with just one hand. I am able to reach up and hold the headband and push the earcup up with my thumb, or downwards with my pointer finger. This feature adds to the bulk (as the headband sits completely outside of each earcup), but I think it’s an innovative feature that is worthwhile. Because the price is low and because they provide great spatial awareness for PC, Xbox, & PlayStation gaming - I would generally recommend this headset.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Greatest headset I’ve ever purchased

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is my third set of headsets and out of the three this the best set great quality overall this a great product love the mic it’s hidden and work great

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Unique, Cool Looking Headphones with Great Sound

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Pros: Love the way they look, very comfortable on your head, 7.1 audio does a great job on simulated surround sound for PC gaming Cons: They are big as hello! My first impression of the headphones is its cool, unique design. The headband is one continuous motion from ear cup to ear cup, encompassing the cups from the outside. The main parts (headband, driver housing) are made of some durable plastic. The cushion on the cups themselves are both leather-ish and neoprene; the neoprene part is what makes contact with your skin around your ears and the leather is the outer portion of the cup. I think that’s great because the leather will start to flake over time. The headphones can swivel in, I’m guessing for storage. Finally, underneath the headband you’ll find a rubber material that will make contact with your head. Again, a great thing they didn’t use that leather stuff here. PSA: You will need to use a USB port to support 7.1. No exceptions. I’ve been able to play a handful of games to get a feel of the 7.1. Remember, 7.1 on most headphones are simulated and these are no exception. I’ve played some newer games (Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza 7, CoD MW) and some older but remade ones (Halo MCC and Borderlands Pre/2). For some of the newer games, 7.1 is an option in the audio menu and these games were able to showcase the surround sound a whole lot better than those without. So I think it’s important to note that the games you play should have a 7.1 option. Aside from the 7.1, they do sound great and you won’t have a problem feeling immersed in your game. The cups isolate sound from outside pretty well. Calibration of the headphones can be done in the Alienware Command Center application. Audio calibration comes in the form of predefined themes such as “Shooter”, “Role Play” or “Racing”, and there appears to be no customization. For many that can be a big bummer. Lastly, physical controls such as volume up/down and mic mute run along the headphone wire and is within reach. Also, the microphone can be retracted into the body in case you never need to use it. My only, only complaint is just the sheer size of these things. I know most gaming headphones are large to begin with, but these just take it to another level. So I think for the purposes of gaming, they are at home. But if you decide to take them on an outing to listen to music (it does come with a cable to support a headphone jack), be prepared for awkward stares. HUGE! For gaming, I recommend them and I will use them moving forward.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good deal.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Good price. Built well. And the mic doesn’t have to be out to work. So more compact. My son loves it and says the sound is awesome.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Almost perfect!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    In the box you get 3 ways to connect these upto your devices - there is a 3.5 to 3.5mm jack (so you can use it with phone or more importantly with a PS4 controller), a USB DAC cable (only way to get the advertised 7.1 surround sound on PC) and a Y cable splitter (for those devices that have separate ports for audio and microphone). On both the main cables (USB and 3.5mm) you have the controls for volume and muting your mic. The overall build quality oozes class - the finish of the headphones is clean and the cables are sturdy and have the perfect length for PC and gaming use. The audio itself is good, and my friends confirm that my speech over game sessions is crystal clear as well. The audio over the DAC is noticeably different than if you are using the 3.5mm jack connection, as mentioned that is the only way to get the 7.1 surround sound. But for all of that, you need to download Alienware Command Center. When the headphone is connected via the USB DAC, the AWCC recognizes it enables its features. There are all the options you would expect for playback - bass boost, treble enhancer, voice clarity, smart loudness, reverb, 7.1 surround sound, equalizer. For the microphone - you get Voice Leveler, Voice Shaper (that plays arround with bass and treble), Noice Suppression, Sidetone(which as far as I can tell is ambient noise volume). None of this is in effect, if you are connecting via the 3.5mm jack though. You can setup different profiles as well, again all standard features of any sound management tool. The headphones themselves are very comfortable on the head, and I have worn them during some pretty long gaming sessions. But, because the seal over your ears is so good, it does sometimes cause your ears to heat up(first world problems). My only other gripe is that even though its light and comfortable, I still feel that it's just a tad too big on my head.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Open-Boxed

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    First I have to say it’s a solid gaming headset, amazing sound and works great with Alienware Sound Center. It would be a great pick if you are fps player. So why I only give 3 stars? I paid the price for a new one and got one open-boxed. Very nice job Best Buy.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    2 Qs: Perfect? No. Worth every penny ? YES !!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Akin to the Apple ecosystem fanboys (guilty), or similar loyal brand faithful; if you are already invested in the Alienware universe you have no reason not to purchase this quality headset for your gaming rig. Ask yourself the priority of the following questions: Are they perfect? No, but they are incredibly solid, and well-versed at anything I threw at them. Are they wireless? No, but include a variety of 3.5mm cables, Y-splitters, and USB with vol control. Are they “true” 7.1 surround? No, they are stereo, but employ “virtualized” 7.1 through the Alienware Command Center. What about ANC Active Noise Cancellation? Nope, while there is a microphone (conveniently housed inside the body of the left cup) it does not sample the environment, invert the wave, and feed it back through the headset to cancel out your environment. Do they sound good? Yes, they sound fantastic. Do they add realism to games? Absolutely. Do they sound great with music, streaming services and YouTube too? You betcha !! Are they worth $100? Heck yes, they most certainly are. PROS + stylish design + sturdy build quality + balanced weight distribution prevent them feeling heavy on the head + affordable “virtual” 7.1 surround headphones (or 5.0 imho) + microphone is uni-directional for clear isolated voice commands + snug comfortable fit, cushioned headband, sports fabric cups + contrary to specs, the headband is in fact adjustable, ear cups have a notched slide adjustment CONS -not true 7.1, but simulated “virtual” surround -requires Command Center software to install -noise cancellation is passive, via thick padded ear cups -snug fit might lead to “warm ear syndrome” on extended gaming sessions over an hour or so CONCLUSION While not perfect, they do just about everything right where it matters. They serve the exact purpose they were designed for, Gaming Entertainment. If you have an Alienware rig, you have no reason not to get them.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    For the price its very high quality

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    For the price range its very good. Feels good and sounds good. So I tried it via usb and audio jack. The only thing I didn't like is if you don't use it with a DAC/Mixamp the volume isn't as loud as I would like it to be. Also my ears would sweat after a few hours wearing them. The usb cable for me is short so if your TV is far from when you sit, you will need an extension cable. The headset is light and comfortable. It's a closed back headset. The mic is pretty good both wires come with volume control. Check pictures. The usb one the control part is bigger with digital volume control. The audio plug cable has the smaller control the volume level is a scroll wheel. I used this Dolby atmos on my PC. Big difference when turned on. For ps4 I tried both usb and audio cables. Both worked. By itself,but it sounded better with the usb cable. I forgot to mention the mic has to pulled out from the left cup

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Comfortable and versatile headphones

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Verdict: The Alienware AW510H Headphones are great computer / gaming headphones that deliver quality sound, a great microphone, and versatile utility across many platforms. Initial impressions. When unboxing, these are presented very nicely as the top of the box slides off the bottom part to reveal the headphones. Nicely done! Also, these are big! Pretty imposing! But I don’t mind since I don’t think they will ever leave the house. I love the gray color and the Alienware logo on each earcup. Lastly, the retractable microphone is super cool. Setup. Setup was easy. On my computer I chose to use the USB connector instead of the 3.5 mm connector because I plug in through a USB hub with individual power switches, so if I want to use the computer speakers, I just power off the switch for the headphones and the sound will play from the computer. This way, I never have to unplug the headphones. As soon as I plugged the USB cable into the computer, Windows installed the driver and the headphones were working within just 10 seconds. I did not install any additional software. Given the length of the cable, I did not try to connect these to my XBOX directly; I just plugged into the controller with the 3.5 mm cable, and voila! Sound. I am very pleased with the sound of this headset. The sound quality is great, and most importantly, the surround sound effect enhances gameplay and performance, particularly for first person shooters when hearing other players moving around you matters. Sound is solid across the spectrum. Overall, I was happy with these headphones while playing games, listening to music and watching videos online, and conference calling. The headphones provide some passive noise cancellation / isolation. When nothing is playing on the headphones, I can still hear the outside world, just a little quieter. When something is playing however, the outside world goes away. I think this is due to the great and strong sound that comes out of the headphones. These will go pretty loud, probably the loudest I have heard in headphones. At most I can only run sound to half of the range before it is too loud. Versatility. My favorite attribute of this headset is its versatility: I can connect over USB or 3.5 mm. I can choose to connect to only use the headset and not the microphone, or I can use the included 3.5 mm adapter to use the integrated microphone. Beside the great gaming performance of these headphones (only using sound, I don’t talk when I play), I’ve used them three times this week for work teleconferences from my computer. Yes, I think they are a little big but no one else noticed. Performance during the teleconference was flawless. Both mic and sound were great. Wear. I initially felt that the headphones were a little tight after about 30 minutes of use, specifically (for me) the lower back portion of each earcup. I was disappointed and considered dropping one star from my review because of the comfort. I tried different adjustments and position to relieve pressure behind my ears. Wearing it “smaller” so that more of the weight was placed on the upper band on top of the head helped a lot. Then I realized that most my discomfort came from my glasses! When wearing the headphones over the glasses, the earpieces form the glasses were being pressed behind my ear causing discomfort. So… if you wear glasses, put the headphones on first, then wear your glasses in a way that works. This resolved my comfort issues, and in the end, these are fantastically comfortable for hours. Things I like: - Great surround sound - Convenient volume button with easy mic mute feature - Braided cable for durability - Retractable microphone! You can put it away when not in use. - Not wireless! I appreciate the simplicity of using this headset with my computer. No pairing, or charging, or anything else. It just works! - Easy and reliable USB connection on laptop. I had no issues with installation and they always work despite turning them on and off several times a day through my USB hub - Headband has a comfortable gel-like pad - Memory foam on the earpieces is comfortable - Adjustable earcups to fit any size head - Great value! It’s hard to beat these headphones at this price point - Long cables: the 3.5 mm cable is about 63 inches and the USB cable is about 82 inches. - They lay flat so I can put them next to my keyboard on the keyboard trey and close it. Things I don’t like (just being nitpicky here): - The braided cable is thick. It doesn’t fit in the slot under my gaming keyboard. This is not a big deal; I just routed the cable another way. Anyway, I prefer to have a braided cable for durability rather than being able to route the cable under my gaming keyboard. Overall, these are great headphones. These work perfectly for everything I want them to do. I think these are solid 5-Star Gaming headphones, specially at this price point. I hope this review was helpful!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great gaming headset designed for Alienware PCs

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    For full disclosure I wasn't able to test the 7.1 surround capabilities of this headset because I don't have a supported Alienware PC and the headset requires Alienware Command Center for it to work properly. I tried to get the software to work with my PC, but I couldn't get it configured properly and gave up after a few days of trying and tweaking. I got this headset because I liked the look and it matched my Alienware gaming keyboard. With that out of the way, I will treat it as a regular gaming headset. The packaging cradles the headset nicely with 2 velcro tabs and all cables are stored in the bottom part of the carton. Everything is recyclable so that's a plus in my book. I initially liked the look and feel of the headset but was surprised that there are no lighting effects at all. Not even the logo. I thought that was a missed opportunity, but that's just a cosmetic gripe and in no way detracts from its performance. The headset feels substantial without being heavy. The adjustment band has positive clicks that help it stay in place during gameplay. The earcups are substantial enough that even people with larger ears will be comfortable wearing it. The microphone is retractable and is easy to pull out or retract back out of the way. Both earcups swivel so that the headset can be stored flat on a desk surface. Left and right are easily identified because of the shape of the headset and the embroidered letters ( L & R) inside each cup. The sound resolution seemed adequate for gaming although the volume control felt cheaply made in comparison to the rest of the unit. It comes with all the necessary cables for many different applications, but I felt that using the USB connection provided the best compromise for my setup. Music sounded pleasant and the highs and midrange seemed adequate, the lows were a bit muffled for my taste. In average I used them in about 2-3 hour stretches and found that they did cause my ears to sweat a bit, but most of my other over ear headphones/headsets also did the same. The over the ear design provides some ambient noise reduction, but they are not designed to completely block out outside noises. Other than the fact that this headset is specifically designed to perform optimally with specific Alienware PCs and the cheap volume control, this is a great headset for gaming.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    GREAT SOUND – ODDLY UNCOMFORTABLY LARGE

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    GREAT SOUND – ODDLY UNCOMFORTABLY LARGE REVIEW: Alienware - AW510H Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset for Alienware Area-51m and G3 15 3590 - Lunar Light BEST BUY: Tech Insider's Network SUMMARY: A mixed bag of great sound, but odd fit. No instructions, overpackaged. (NOTE YOU CAN ADJUST THEM BY MOVING THE HEADPHONE CUPS UP OR DOWN INSIDE THE FRAME) I almost returned them for being too large and no adjustment. Just as I was about to box them up, I noticed the “inside” grooves for adjustment. UNBOXING: (see picture) INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: Clunky over-sized packaging that I had to destroy to open up. I could only open it part way (see picture) until I ripped open the box. I think the shelf hang tag got caught up in the inside and would not allow me to pull the box open as designed. A great array of cords, but no instructions, just 20 pages of warranty in 100 languages. I hate this trend of no instructions. They seem very sturdy and should hold up well to lots of use. PERFORMANCE / EASE OF USE: INITIAL SETUP: I like that it included a variety of cords. I decided to use the USB cord as it was closest to my head (the cords are just an OK length) and the USB ports on my PC which are in the front. Windows found and auto loaded a driver and I was good to go. I thought there must be more to it, so I went to the Dell website and tried to load Alienware Command Center and another driver, but it was not needed. Command Center did not seem to do anything special with the headphones, but I have no experience with Alienware prior to today. Sound was fantastic no issues there at all. Setup was quick and easy as far as the PC goes. PERFORMANCE / USAGE: The controls for the headset are in an awkward position on the cord (too high or too low) it basically ends up in my armpit. They only have a volume up/down, but not a mute button. These things are heavy (more than 13 oz’s /450 grams with a cord. It feels like I am wearing a VR headset and it weighs about the same as a Rift S VR set for comparison. I checked them on my spouse and the comment was, it felt like I am wearing a hard hat. SUMMARY: Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I would recommend these if you have a very strong neck! I have another wireless set by a different mfg also over the ear, and they are half the weight but don’t sound as nice. I would recommend for the overall sound quality, but not the weight.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Love them after small growing pains

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    After spending about a week using these headphones, I can safely say I would happily recommend them to anyone not wanting to shell out big bucks for wireless headphones, though my recommendation comes with a few caveats. First Impressions: - Premium look, but plastic is thin and doesn't have a premium feel. It's lightweight, so maybe that was a conscious design choice. - Premium feel - They feel great to wear, and I've returned a number of other over-the-ear headphones for lack of comfort (my ears are on the larger side and these have plenty of space). The foam padding in the head band as well as in the ear pieces is awesome, quite possibly the best of the several brands of over-the-ear headphones I've tried. - Microphone is retractable. I absolutely love this feature because 90% of the time I'm using headphones I don't need a microphone. Having the ability to pull out the microphone when I do need to use it provides much better clarity and directional sound capture than using headphones that don't have a physically separate microphone. It's a really clever feature I would love to see adopted on other headsets. - USB controls - I've developed a love/hate relationship with these controls. I love there is a physical microphone mute switch so if I'm talking over discord or ventrilo and leave my mic open, I can use a physical control instead of a keyboard shortcut to control my mic audio. I love that I can adjust the volume up and down, and it changes the actual computer volume, rather than a separate headset volume. I'm not used to using wired headsets, and I sometimes find myself accidentally changing the volume as the controls fall between my arm and body. I've muted the volume at least a few times without realizing it until it starts beeping (which happens when it's fully turned down and you continue to hold the volume down button). It's not that big of a deal though, and I'm overall happy with the control. - Sound quality - I have a lot to say about this, so I'm going to dedicate a full section to it below. *In case you don't read the full review, know I'm very happy with the audio quality over USB after adjusting settings* I first connected these headphones to my MacBook using the 3.5mm cable, because that's the device I had nearby at the time. The audio quality compared to another set of headphones I had was atrocious. I felt like I was using a $10 pair of headphones I picked up at the airport while waiting for a flight. There was virtually no bass and the treble was "tinny", and it was all around just an awful experience. I then connected the headphones to my Alienware computer via the USB connection, and there was a noticeble difference in sound but it still wasn't great when I played back the same music. I launched the Alienware Command Center (which I wish would have launched automatically when I connected the headset), and found the equalizer options and noticed it was set to a default "Alienware" setting. Once I changed this to the "Music" setting and listened to the same song again, it felt like a completely different set of headphones. The bass is rich and deep, and the treble was clear. The Alienware Command Center also has some sample audio to show off the 7.1 surround sound as well as allow you to make adjustments, and the surround sound is really impressive. I'm more of a MOBA and MMO gamer than an FPS gamer, but the sample sound bytes showing off the directional audio was really neat. You could clearly hear the difference in footsteps vs shots going off in front of or to the side of you and tell which direction that was coming from. I could see it providing a legitimate advantage in any game where surround audio is supported. My advice to the Alienware team would be to launch the Alienware Command Center at least the first time these headphones are connected, as my entire experience with these headphones was completely changed after playing with those settings. So, in summary of the audio, the 7.1 surround sound was very impressive, and after adjusting settings in the Alienware Command Center, I was able to get to a point where I was happy listening to music as well. - Quirks / Complaints These headphones aren't noise cancelling and audio both escapes the headphones, as well as bleeds in from the environment. - I noticed while listening to music at a medium-loud setting that the sound was being picked up by the built-in microphone when I listened to audio playback. This isn't a huge deal but if I'm playing a game online and only intermittently talking, I would need to turn the music down or it would bleed into what they hear over the mic. Realistically I'm probably going to have my music on low if I'm grouping and talking so it probably isn't a major issue. - When I was listening to music / playing a game while my kids were in the same room watching TV, they could hear my music audio and I could still hear their TV audio. I generally prefer to wear headphones that would prevent this noise exchange. As I mentioned above, the audio quality over 3.5mm was just awful, so they should make improvements or not include that cabling option at all. Overall, after making the audio adjustments in Alienware Command Center, I'm happy with the sound quality and comfort of these headphones, though I still think it's worth investing in the wireless version if you can afford it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent if you already own an Alienware system

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I saw that Alienware was coming out with a new model headphone and had to give them a try. Wanted to pair them up with my Alienware R8 desktop and even though the description states for the Alienware laptops these work perfectly with my R8. Unboxing: The headphones are really well packaged inside a slide out inner box with the headphones themselves being very firmly held in place by two Velcro straps “nice to keep for cord management”, along with an instruction manual, a USB cable “with control module”, a 3.5mm cable, and a 3.5mm splitter. The headphones themselves feel very sturdy and well made, and they are pretty light for their size. Setting up: I used the included USB cable to attach them to my R8 and the “already installed “ Alienware Command Center immediately recognized them after windows automatically installed the drivers for them, “couldn’t have been simpler”. The command center shows the headphones being attached and there are quite a few options for tweaking the sound settings. If you don’t feel like messing around with all the controls then there are a bunch of preset settings that you can choose from. Use: I’m going to be comparing these to my, Astro A40s and Audio-Technica M50XBT, the Alienware being a good bit cheaper that those two so we will have to see how they compare. The first thing we’ve noticed wearing these is that they really deaden outside sound a lot more than either of the other two headsets. For me, I have hearing problems, and these block out almost all outside sound sources, “unless they are really loud”, my wife says that they block out a lot of sound but she can still hear, but not nearly as much as with the other two. The earpieces slide up and down within the headband and were easy to adjust for either of our heads. The padding of the ear pieces is also thick and very soft, this helps with the sound deadening and comfort. Now for sound quality, I’ve used these playing Wolfenstein II “The New Order”, The Witcher 3, Deus Ex “Mankind Divided” and a few others. Gaming with these on is great!, sounds are very clear, and the surround system works very well gaming, at least as good as the A40s and a little better than the Audio Technica, “although the A/Ts are dual wired / wireless also so they win for that reason only”. As for listening to music, we both have to say these are midway between the A40s and the A/Ts, with the A40s sounding just a little bit better overall, I’ve played around with the software to see if I could get them sounding as good as the A40s "the A40s Bass is pretty hard to match", and I haven’t been able to tweak them that far yet. Conclusion: For the price you are getting an excellent set of headphones, for us they blocked out more sound than the others we compared them to. And they are cooler “temperature wise”, to wear when compared to the A40s, “those really get warm after an hour of gaming”. The headset design is really neat, it compliments my Alienware R8 desktop so I do like that. The pull out microphone works really well and I like how it stows away if you aren’t using it. The A40s swings up out of the way or you can detach it all together. I did use them for some chats and people generally said we sounded better with the Alienware on. Now these are not true 7.1 surround headphones, but use a DAC unit “built into the USB cable and software to mimic it, “sort of like the Spatial Sound” in Windows 10 that you can turn on for headphones. It works pretty well, especially with gaming but you aren’t going to get true 7.1 with a set of headphones at this price point. I also like the controls on the cables, with the USB one you can adjust volume and turn on/off the microphone. These are handy as the new Logitech keyboard I have eliminated the dedicated volume keys so this feature makes it easy to adjust the volume while gaming. The other plus is the USB cable is nice and long, a good foot longer than the ones that came with the A40 so I don’t have to use an extension cable. So if you already have an Alienware system and the Command Center installed these are going to be a breeze to set up and use. For the price they are really going to be hard to beat, so give them a try if you are in the market for a new set of headphones, especially if you already have an Alienware system.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Solid but not perfect.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    UNBOXING/SETUP: The unboxing process of this product was great. You feel like you are buying a premium product. You slide the box out which shows the headset, then you have your legal documentation, and your cords (4 pole 3.5 mm to 4 pole 3.5 mm, 4 pole 3.5 mm female to dual mic/sound 3.5 mm adapter, and last USB 2.0 to 4 pole 3.5 mm). It’s simple, clean, and to the point. It has a lot of the technical specs on the box itself. The major one being it’s 20hz – 40,000 hz and 50mm high-res drivers, which is supposed to give you a lot better sound. Which I think it does. It also has 7.1 simulated surround sound (which nearly 98% of surround sound headsets have), and are USB or 3.5 mm. They are closed back (which means they have passive noise isolation and will dampen the sound around you allowing you to focus more on the sound of the game you’re playing). They do NOT have active noise cancellation which uses microphones to cancel out sound. At first, I tried just 3.5 mm to 3.5mm which made setup super easy. Second, I tried USB to 3.5 mm. That was also very easy to setup. It automatically installed two programs from Alienware. With one of them allowing you to adjust a bunch of the sound. I left it at stock for review purposes. The software itself is not that intuitive and takes a little while to figure out. I think their animations are also low hz which makes them look like they are stuttering. I wouldn’t rate the software all that high, but it worked, and I didn’t have problems installing it. COMFORT: Comfort is great. They don’t have a lot of squeezing force. On the top is just faux leather filled with a lot of air. As for the earpads themselves, it’s a mesh material that is very soft and foam like. On the outside it is faux leather. On the inside that actually touches your head it’s a mesh material with little holes like you see on the Steelseries Arctis lineup. The earcups themselves The microphone pulls out easily. You can adjust it but only to a small degree. Nobody had any complaints when it came to the microphone. There is no side tone that I was aware of. SOUND: For a hundred dollars these guys sound great. I think a lot of that has to do with the 20hz – 40,000 hz. They aren’t audiophile headphones. But you’d be hard pressed to find another headset that sounds as good, or better, around the $100 mark. At first, I tried the 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm via my GoXLR Mini. Sound was good/great. Second, I tried 3.5 to USB. I found the sound to be a lot better through this method. With just 3.5 mm the bass was more pronounced, which made sound muddy, which made finer details less pronounced or non-existent. However, directional sound was a lot better. In general, I struggled with directional audio with these. But that is a common problem I have with a lot of headsets. If I had to describe the sound in audiophile terms it would be as follows: It has more of an airy sound, with good analyticalness (for this price point and USB), with relatively good balance focusing mostly on treble and bass with mids in the background. There is some brightness in the highs but not enough to hurt your ears. There is occasional congestion/muddiness. Relatively good detail but not great depth, soundstage, or imaging. Sound is mostly forward/fun. I would say they sound mostly natural. PROS: Sound Comfort Price Microphone Solid cables. Great unboxing experience. CONS: Not great directional audio. Software leaves a lot to be desired. 7.1 simulated surround sound does not sound better than stereo. Build quality is solid. But I’d be afraid with a moderate/severe amount of stress they would break. CONCLUSION: I think this is worth the asking price. As there won’t be too many other headsets that will sound this good for both microphone and sound that are as comfortable. They aren’t perfect and if you’re an audiophile I’d keep looking. But for most people, especially those who are more causal gamers, this will be a solid choice. I won’t recommend them for those hardcore gamers who want to bring their gaming to the next level. As these don’t bring anything revolutionary.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Brilliant Looks - Sound - Comfort

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Alienware 510H gaming headset offers astonishing sound and comfort with a sleek, modern form factor. Without any tuning the headphones sound amazing right out of the box. To start, the hi-res 50mm drivers can push sounds from 20Hz to 40KHz according to Alienware. My testing showed the headphones went as low as 15Hz. Impressive for gaming headphones. The 7.1 surround sound immersed me in every game I tested, allowing me to hear the positions of enemies in all directions precisely. The headphones are very comfy and provide excellent noise isolation with leatherette ear-cups. One slight issue is that the headphones tend to slide off my head when tilted back too far. The built-in microphone sounds great with very good noise isolation. However, I have noticed that the microphone is a little stiff when pushing it in. Not a major inconvenience but worth mentioning. Another great feature of the headset is the variety of cables it comes with. With a USB C, 3.5mm, and headphone/microphone splitter cables. Love the Polar White color and design, quite different than other headphone gaming sets. Overall, great sound quality, comfort, and refreshingly new design, the Alienware 510H gaming headset will put you a tier higher than your opponents.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    great headset for the price

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    the design of this headset is very clean,minimalistic, nothing too aggressive. the packing was very simple and clean. inside the box you get a cord to use for Console gaming or PC, cord also have the ability to mute your mic if you wanted to. the headset is very light the version I got was the lunar white, it has a tiny hint of grey, no RGB be on this headset so if you’re looking for one this is not it. after testing this headset I notice that it fit nicely around your ear, noise cancel is decent on this headset much better than Astro A40. the audio quality was great from my experience after using it for 2 days I was enjoying my experience, you can also download the alienware command center to adjust the headset sounds. in some cases i’d almost prefer this over my Astro A40 because I think this have a much better quality speakers than the Astro. the downside is that Alienware doesn’t have a button on the headset to separate game/chat audio. so I decided to plug it on my Mixamp, the quality sounded muted/ low, so I didn’t not enjoy that. the headset also have an issue that the bass is too loud sometimes and it really does require you to adjust it on the computer, beyond that i’ll be using this on PC, great headset

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Egrace

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great product. I love it! #alienware #alienwareheadphone

    I would recommend this to a friend