INTRODUCTION

   If you're an avid gamer just like me then you are certainly aware that October has seen the launch of three very special game titles, the long awaited XCOM Enemy Unknown turn based RTS, the DOOM 3 BFG FPS (special remastered edition of the original DOOM 3) and the Medal Of Honor Warfighter FPS. So it goes without saying that i spend quite a few hours playing all of them (except DOOM 3 BFG which was not as remastered as i had hoped) during the past 2 weeks and as i already mentioned in a previous review as expected i took that opportunity to test some of the latest gaming related peripherals to reach our doorstep. Plantronics is a company i bet most of you know but what some of you may not be aware of is that aside their quite impressive Bluetooth headsets they also manufacture surround gaming headsets and today we will be taking a rather thorough look at their GameCom 780 7.1 surround headset.

   From the day two airline pilots working in a garage set out to invent a new kind of aviation headset until today, we have considered breakthroughs in audio technology as our daily business. We pioneered the lightweight headset, the mobile headset, noise-canceling technology and the personal speakerphone, always driven by a single obsession: remove the barriers to simply smarter communications. The result? Our products are used by everyone from pilots, astronauts, and 911 emergency workers to 100% of the Fortune 100. From friends conversing across the globe, to mobile professionals doing business on the road, to contact centers and executive offices, Plantronics is the choice for everyone united by digital technology and the human need to communicate. Plantronics is a publicly held company (NYSE: PLT) headquartered in Santa Cruz, California with offices in 20 countries, including major facilities in China, England, Mexico, and the Netherlands. Our products are sold and supported through a worldwide network of Plantronics partners, including resellers, systems integrators, retailers and mobile carriers. And a half a century later, we are striving every day to deliver simply smarter communications with innovative design and technology.

   Plantronics manufactures an entire line of headsets aimed towards gamers with the GameCom 780 7.1 surround headset being their second best after the very good and quite more expensive GameCom Commander 7.1 surround headset. Unfortunately so far Plantronics has focused only on the manufacture of virtual Dolby surround 7.1 headsets (basically stereo ones) so you will not find something similar to the Tritton AX Pro or the Psyko Carbon 5.1 surround headsets in their product line. Certainly the differences between a good virtual 7.1 surround headset and an "real" 5.1 surround headset are not massive (placing many drivers inside such a small space does not produce the same results as an real surround system) but the difference is there for those who can actually benefit from that (such as professional gamers and audio enthusiasts). So let's take the latest GameCom 780 7.1 surround sound headset for a ride to see just how good it is compared to other similar products.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

From the front of the package you can see the left side of the headset through a clear plastic window, the Plantronics logo and several Dolby logos.

The unit’s specifications along with the bundle contents and warranty period are placed at the left side.

At the rear of the box Plantronics has placed the features list in 15 languages. 

The bundle includes the GameCom 780 7.1 surround headset, get started guide, a piece of paper that informs you to install the drivers first and the software CD.

THE GAMECOM 780

Thanks to the glossy lightweight hard plastic used the GameCom 780 weighs just 270g.

The 13cm long noise-cancelling microphone is placed on the right side earcup.

Plantronics has placed several small vents for better ventilation of the 40mm speaker drivers ontop and beneath both earcups.

At the front of the right earcup we see the Dolby virtual surround enable/disable button which when pressed/enabled turns blue.

Moving at the rear of the same earcup we see the microphone mute switch and the volume control knob (not the best place for that).

Both earcups can be rotated 90 degrees as seen above for easier storing.

The joints between the headband and the earcups have two arrows which need to be aligned for proper use.

The earpads (or ear cushions) are very comfortable and medium in size.

The same exact thing applies for the headband (a lot more comfortable than most leatherette ones).

In order to adjust the size of the GameCom 780 Plantronics has placed two metal rails on each side which by default are 3cm while when full extended they are almost 6cm (meaning you get 3cm on each side).

The GameCom logo is engraved on the exterior of the headband and i have to admit that it looks great.

Unlike most virtual surround headsets the soundcard is placed somewhere in the main body and not at the end of the 2m long cable.

USING THE GAMECOM 780

As usual you can either choose to use the bundled software or check the official support page for any updates.

Unfortunately the closest thing the GameCom 780 has to a control software is this small box which comes up once you double click on the Plantronics icon placed in your taskbar (and can't be moved). From here you can enable/disable virtual surround and also optimize the soundcard for use either with games/movies or music.

However you can still use the Windows speaker setup configuration to test the headset (actually it worked better than i had hopped with the 780).

CONCLUSION

   With the GameCom 780 7.1 surround headset Plantronics has shown us that they can be very successful in manufacturing pretty much everything related to sound and not just Bluetooth headsets and professional VOIP solutions. Now I’m not saying that the GameCom 780 is perfect since it doesn't offer the same level nor the same deep bass like the Tritton AX Pro which I’ve been using for the past year but mids/highs are quite good (however I suggest disabling Dolby when listening to music), positioning audio is surprisingly accurate (especially for a virtual surround headset) and thanks to the materials used it feels very light so even after 4 hours of use both my head and neck were fine. The design of the headset is also something i liked a lot (as i did the black/red color combo) and without doubt adds to the overall image of the product, however because of the light materials used the GameCom 780 doesn't feel very sturdy (some parts could be better) but overall we were all satisfied with its build quality, for its price range always.

   Since virtual surround sound headsets are basically stereo ones bundled with USB 5.1/7.1 surround soundcards their prices are almost always in the sub USD100/100Euros category (few exceptions, mostly wireless ones) but we were even more surprised to see that currently the Plantronics GameCom 780 retails for just USD56.52 inside the USA (Amazon) and for 49.90Euros inside the EU (Caseking). So since I’ve never tested or used anything equally good at around the same price range i really think that the Plantronics GameCom 780 is a real winner which is why it comes highly recommended for people who can't afford to spend much on a gaming headset and also walks away with our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (Overall)
- Audio Quality
- Positioning Audio Accuracy
- Design
- Lightweight
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Bass
- Doesn't Feel Very Sturdy