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.