Gaming headsets are a beast to look into. Finding one that will provide the features and quality desired, looks cool, is comfortable to wear, and at the right price can take some serious retail prowess. There are so many options that in my own searches I’ve turned to reviews to help narrow down my search. My own hunts have turned up plenty of options, but not many will have reliable reviews or any at all for that matter. So after winning and using the Predator Galea 500 headset, I thought I’d help others in their search by providing a review of this high-end gaming headset for PC.
Disclaimer: Though this product was won at a party hosted by Predator, I was in no way obligated to provide a review of this product. I chose to write this review after spending time with the Galea 500 and found it to be a product worthy of a critical view.
Predator’s Galea 500 headset comes onto the market hoping to not only offer a high-quality PC audio experience but also boasts features to enhance a VR set up. The first thing I noticed is that its a USB headset; it doesn’t use your standard headphone jack. So, if you are looking for a headset that can be used on-the-go or on various devices, this isn’t the one you are looking for.
The Galea 500 uses a bulkier design that offers comfort for long periods of time. Large, soft cups hug the ears and create a confined listening space. This allows for more air to be moved around and provide fuller sound, like the hole needed for a subwoofer. An easy to adjust padded head strap that cradles the head uses gravity to create the tension necessary to keep the headset in place rather than squeezing. This is an extremely comfortable to wear headset, even for long periods of time, and even while wearing glasses or a hat. The only discomfort I experienced with the Galea 500 was when the temperature they were worn in was on the high side.
The bigger design, though I understand its purpose, caused me to have a case of hot ear. Though I am a person who starts feeling hot fairly easily, this could be a non-issue for others and is easily remedied with better ventilation or AC in the room. Visually a sleeker design is more my fashion, but as this headset will rarely leave my desk, it isn’t much of a concern. The ear cups feature lit-up Predator logos, offering up some nice aesthetic lighting that doesn’t distract. Finally, the microphone retracts into the left cup, putting it completely out of the way until needed.
Let us dig into what really matters: the audio quality. Built into the cord is a small control console that allows control over a few different things. Things like volume control, muting the mic, and adjusting some EQ are all pretty standard at this point for a gaming headset. but the Galea 500 allows you to switch between Music, Movie, and Sport. These modes are appropriate and offer an extremely satisfying and pleasant listening experience. Deeper tones sound full, and higher pitches come in crisp. Spoken dialogue comes in clearly and on even levels with louder sequences. It was really fun going through my music library listening to some of my favorite tracks on a set of headphones that blew pretty much all of my previous headphone experiences out of the water. Using the headset while playing games or chatting online was very easy; my friends said I came through clear on the microphone. I’ve also recorded a few voice over bits and podcast episodes with this headset now, and each time I’ve been pleased with the result. While not quite the same level as a designated high-end microphone, its passable and gets the job done for my needs.
The biggest and most unique feature of the Galea 500 headset though is the fourth and final EQ option, 3D Soundscapes, which launches the headphones into simulating a 3D environment for listening pleasure using a virtual 7.1 surround sound. What does this mean exactly? When something is behind you it sounds like its actually behind you.
If you have 3D Soundscapes mode turned on while listening to music, or watching a video it creates a sound source in front of you, and if you turn your head it will continue to sound like it is coming from the same spot. Turning completely around and your sound will seem as if it is behind you. The result is stunning; it no longer sounds like I’m wearing headphones. It sounds like I am sitting in front of a high-quality sound system. On a technical level, this is really impressive. The headphones are changing the timing between the two sides by milliseconds on the fly as it responds to the data received from the head movement. This is where the VR enhanced audio comes in. Put these on while playing something in VR and have the audio respond to your head movements like never before. The 3D location can easily be reset when needed with the quick press of the final button on the wired in console.
Before the Galea 500, I thought I knew what decent headphones sounded like. I apparently had no idea. These sound amazing. They are so good that it makes me wish I could use them on other platforms or on the go. The 3D soundscapes is incredibly impressive, and now is my preference for pretty much everything I listen to. In fact, when I switch back over, it sounds flat. Audio suddenly lacks the levels and depth I’ve grown used to. All this quality, however, does come at a cost. Listed at $299, that price point puts it in the same category as Bose, Beats, and other high-end headphone options.
The appeal of the Galea 500 is the 3D Soundscapes and the fact it is a headset, on top of the high audio quality. As a freelance video editor and animator, I’ve found these to be perfect for long days working, and then gaming in my downtime. I can’t say that about any other pair of headphones I’ve used in the past. If you are in the market for a high-end headset, specifically for PC use with no plans to need to use them on-the-go or on other platforms, definitely take a look at the incredible Galea 500 featuring 3D Soundscapes.
