Hello! It’s time for another long-overdue article from Relatable Reviews from the Ignorant Customer! Let’s just assume that’s the name while I haven’t actually decided on one. A few months ago, I had been looking to finally get myself a dedicated gaming headset because I was playing more and more games online (think CS:GO, League and Warframe, among others.) At the same time, I came across an article about the release of Overwatch-themed Razer peripherals, including the Man O’War Tournament Edition headset, decked out in the trademark Overwatch colors. After some careful consideration (and debate over other, more acclaimed choices) I decided to try this out, marking my first foray into Razer peripherals. Disclaimer: I still don’t own a copy of Overwatch, and I don’t feel obligated to get a copy just because I’m using an appropriately-themed headset. I’d like to try it out someday though! My expectations are high, to be completely honest, because Razer has been a very visible brand both on social media and among my game industry peers, so let’s see what these headphones have to offer! (The Overwatch Razer Man O’War Tournament Edition headset sells for PhP 5,495 at Datablitz.) SummaryPros: Lightweight, outputs clear sound, beautiful and sturdy cable, looks great. Cons: A little pricey, minimal bass, sweat-prone. Recommended for: Gamers who like listening to/need to clearly hear game environments, frequent movie watchers. Not recommended for: Bass lovers, most likely. What’s in the box? Besides the headset, included are a splitter cable for microphone output on PCs and some Razer stickers. It’s pretty bare-bones, but hey, you get everything you need to game on both console and PC, so I’m not complaining. A lightweight lookerLet’s get this out of the way: the headset is pretty light, at least by my standards. Part of it is thanks to the dominantly plastic build which is both good and bad. It certainly feels premium with the cushions and whatnot, but I can’t help feel like the pair is easy to break, especially with the noticeable creak when stretching the headphones while putting them on. This is a pretty sizeable package too, with over-the-ear cups and a wide headband, so the weight is pretty good (if you’re not so concerned about the material.) The ear cups use a really soft padding covered by what seems like leather(?) that sits well over the ears even on first use. It’s kind of like memory foam in that sense, I guess. The only downside here is that they can get a bit sweaty, but thankfully the material makes it easy to give the cups a good wipe. The braided cable on this headset (they’re Tournament Edition pieces which I believe translates to wired vs wireless) is also worth noting, featuring a solid wrap and minimal tangling. There’s a control pod part of the way down the left ear that’s just a little too low, but it does serve its function well by providing an independent volume control and a mute switch. The left side of the headset sports a retractable boom mic for those that require voice chat, and you can easily adjust the angles to suit your needs. The color scheme on the Overwatch Man O’War also looks great and does a good job of masking the rather cheap-feeling materials, with bright oranges and blacks in all the right places. Sadly, the logo doesn’t light up or anything, but I guess that’ll just kick the price up to a less acceptable point. Clarity VS cost, and cablesThere’s isn’t much to say about the sound quality on this headset except that it outputs a very clear sound. Voices in music and movies are all highlighted over music, so you might be able to go without subtitles for some media, but this comes at the expense of booming sound. There’s very little (if any) bass present which can take away from the experience of, say, action movies. For games, it does become a bit of an advantage because it keep ambient noise clear. For games like CS:GO, this is great for hearing enemies approaching behind walls and doors, but for more dramatic titles and situations, a lot of the heavy impact won’t be there. Personally, I would’ve lost juuuust a little more bass for the price tag. Comfort is barely an issue considering the weight and the cushions installed on the ear cups and wide headband, allowing for long sessions of uninterrupted play. Honestly, mid-game the headset really becomes a negligible part of the experience thanks to the weight, so that’s a plus. It’s just a little off for hotter days because the sweat is more noticeable minus the headset’s weight. The cables are also very good at staying in the background thanks to both the main and the splitter cables’ length. Conclusion The Overwatch Razer Man O’War Tournament Edition headset (still such a mouthful) serves up clear sound over what is clearly not the most affordable price. It does the job for games that make good use of environmental noise, but expect reduced impact from the lack of decent bass. While this pair is an unobtrusive addition to the gaming experience, don’t expect to not feel the dent in your pocket afterwards.
Published by Stephen CruzI'm a full-time producer with a full-scale inferiority complex. Deeply introspective, which is a nicer term for an overthinker. I love to have meaningful conversations, at least when I know to stop talking. View all posts by Stephen Cruz |
