SteelSeries Tusq - In-Ear Mobile Gaming Headset – Dual Microphone With Detachable Boom Mic – Ergonomic Suspension Design Earphones – For Mobile

Disclaimer: I don't like gaming headsets.I own several pairs of superb headphones for music, and reference - and every time I don a set of "gaming" headphones they tend to feel like a toy - that said, I felt these warrant a review.The build quality on the Arctis 9X are great - the sound quality is also very nice, but at this price point - you expect that. Different pre-sets subtly change the sound from more natural, through to some that are more bassy which are good for movies - but on the whole, they don't have any gimmicky features like my old turtle beach set, which branded "saturated midtones that make my ears bleed, as a trade off for hearing footsteps louder" as "Superhuman hearing" or something similar.Connectivity:On my Xbox One X - I don't think these have ever dropped out other than one time I forgot to charge them.Whilst my One. was being repaired, I temporarily re-used my old regular Xbox one. I noticed a fair few dropouts, needing me to turn the headset off and on again.- This was an issue I had read in some reviews after buying the headset, and I was concerned - I was never able to recreate the issue until I used an OG Xbox One, so in my personal experience. Perfect on the OneX - frustrating on a standard Xbox One.Volume: 10/10They are not deafeningly loud, (except in COD - which has the worst sound mix of a game ever.) but they definitely dont suffer with being too quiet. If they don't go loud enough for you, then you've probably already done some damage to your hearing.Sound Quality: 8/10Comparing them to a set of high end reference headphones is unfair, they don't reproduce a huge wide soundstage, with intricate highs mids and lows, however... after burn in - ive found that they perform better than most closed back headphones I own, the mids are far clearer on these for example, than on HD25s, HD280Pros, or aiaiai DJ headphones.Overall - I was surprised at how good these sound.Comfort: 10/10Aside from a pair of AKG702s i own - which is like wearing a pair of pillows on your head - these are the most comfortable headphones I own. I can play games in them for hours on end, and then settle into a movie before taking them off. Being over ear they are comfortable as they dont put pressure on you, the elasticated headband makes a clever snug fit to your head, without being tight - and they are heavy enough that you trust them not to fall apart, but not so heavy that they induce fatigue.Sound isolation: 8/10No complaints here, the isolation is really good, so if someone is sleeping next to you, and you are watching tv - you probably wont disturb them unless you have it cranked right up, or take them off to break the seal to your head.Battery Life: 10/10Incredibly long battery life. Since covid kicked in and we've all been working from home, ive had these on all day every day almost - as they pair to your phone to be a bluetooth headset too. There is an indicator light that changes colour depending on how much battery you have left.Connectivity: 9/10Being able to play games and listen to music off your phone, or take phone calls whilst gaming is almost seamless (with 1 caveat ill address in the downsides).Microphone: 10/10I've had several people join parties and query what mic I have because its so clear, they assume im using a dedicated mic like streamers use. It's also very easy to mute the mic with the button just behind your right ear, and the mic has a light on it so you can see in your peripheral vision if you are muted.Price: 6/10I paid £130ish for these on Amazon in the sale. There are better "headphones" available for that pricerange, but in terms of gaming headsets, I dont know. they are feature rich, with a long battery life, and great reliability, but for £190 that they are currnetly listed at, Id rather they were more than just a gaming headset, which they could have done with some aesthetic changes - which would have pushed this score up to a 9 or 10.Ergonomics: 7/10On either headset cup at the back,there is a jogwheel, the left one changes chat+game mix (very useful when your super loud friend crashes the party) and the overall volume on the right one. The chat mix also has a marker point for the mix at 50:50 that you can feel without looking. The power button is convex, and the bluetooth/answer call buttons is convex. Without looking, you can easily feel exactly what is what.In principle - everything about the design is perfect.. Until you lean back against the sofa/pillow, and the jogwheel catches the seat/pillow behind you, and either turns the sound off, or cranks the volume to the max.Placing these controls under the earpieces, or on top of them instead of at the back would have made them perfect.Aesthetics: 6/10They nearly got this perfect, the earcups are minimally styled, and the matte black looks sleek - however they have a truly gharish green pattern to the headbands that makes them look a bit childish. It is also a real shame that the microphone doesnt sit flush when it retracts into the headset. This would be the difference between them being a set of headphones that never leave the house, and being a set of headphones that never leave my side... I just dont want to be on the tube in a set of headphones with a boom mic, and a gharish pattern on the headband.Charging: 7/10The problem I have with the charging isnt that it takes long, they seem to charge really fast! The issue is that if you are using them and put them on charge without turning them off, I dont really understand what they do.. but it doesnt seem to charge. Ive found that once i finish using them I either have to turn them off, then plug them in, or plug them in, and immediately remove the charger, and plug them in again. This could be by design so that when you first plug a usb in it works to connect to a PC or something, but it does mean that occasionally if you forget, you can plug your headset in - but it doesnt charge. Once you realise you need to see the slow pulsing light to know its charging, then you'll probably be ok.Overall: 9/10My first headset from this company, due to the build quality I cant see myself replaceing them any time soon, and if in the same position again I wouldnt hesitate to get these. If you are looking for a great gaming headset thats comfortable to wear, these are my shout.If you want a set that doubles up as something you would use as wireless headphones out and about - the non-detachable/hidden mic might put you off, as it did me. If you are less vain than I am, then youll have a nice sounding set of headphones for your travels too. :)

The SteelSeries Tusq is an intriguing entry in the realm of gaming earphones, designed with the needs of mobile and console gamers in mind. Its lightweight build and detachable boom microphone set it apart from other in-ear options currently available.Design and Comfort:The Tusq features an over-the-ear hook design that provides stability during extended gaming sessions. The earbuds are lightweight, and the inclusion of different ear tip sizes ensures a snug fit for most users. The build quality feels solid, with a durable cable that resists tangling.Audio Performance:Sound quality is clear and well-balanced, with a strong emphasis on midrange and treble frequencies. This makes it excellent for voice clarity in games and communications. However, bass enthusiasts might find the low-end response slightly lacking. For competitive gaming, the precise audio cues enhance situational awareness.Microphone Quality:The detachable boom microphone offers impressive clarity for an in-ear headset. Background noise reduction is effective, making it suitable for noisy environments. The additional in-line mic provides flexibility when the boom mic isn’t needed.Compatibility and Portability:The 3.5mm jack ensures broad compatibility with PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. The compact design and included carrying pouch make it highly portable, ideal for gamers on the move.Pros:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessionsClear microphone performanceGood audio clarity for gamingCons:Bass response may not satisfy all usersLimited soundstage compared to over-ear headsetsConclusion:The SteelSeries Tusq is a versatile and portable gaming earphone solution, perfect for gamers seeking a lightweight alternative to traditional headsets. While it may not deliver the immersive audio depth of larger headsets, its clarity and convenience make it a solid choice for mobile and casual gaming.

Giving it a solid four stars.Great headset, sounds great, works great, feels great, it's easy to use, controls aren't too finicky.I use it for my Xbox Series S and the connectivity is good enough for me to walk to and from the bathroom with minimal connection issues.Now the reason I give it four stars is because a few of my friends have had this same headset about a year longer than me and have had nothing but issues with it. The charging cable breaking, the usb slot breaking the actual plastic housing that attaches the headband to the speaker cracking.To note, I've experienced nothing like this but about 3 months into me owning my headset, it just wouldn't turn on this was solved by a quick 20 minute google and repair (I had to remove the padding around the ear and jam a needle into a hard reset switch) which was a little annoying but my friends had theirs under warranty and I believe they haven't had any issues with their new ones.Aside from their issues, I can't complain, I would still recommend this headset, the battery life is amazing I've never had it die on me, as long as you charge it overnight you should have no issues either. 8/10