Roccat Syn Max Air Headset Review – great audio but comfort is severely lacking
The Roccat Syn Max Air has a really cool RGB charging dock and a load of awesome features, but was rendered practically unusable due to discomfort.
Described as a surround-sound wireless gaming headset, the Roccat Syn Max Air comes with an RGB charging dock and is made to be used with PC but is also compatible with PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch and any other Bluetooth device. You get an external detachable microphone, meaning you don't need to invest in a separate microphone, along with a range of controls on the earcup for easy adjustment.
The features present on this headset are good, but for me, this is all overshadowed by the fact that the device was practically unwearable, especially for long periods of time. Those who find comfort in the headset will be glad to know that it boasts excellent audio quality, which really shines when gaming and still pulls through when listening to music. The microphone is also decent enough and allows your friends and teammates to clearly hear what you are saying.
This device comes in at £209.99 / $249.99 / AU$399.99 which is costly for any headset, however, this includes the charging dock which makes it somewhat more justifiable. For comparison, similarly priced headsets include the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro X which comes in at £250 / $249.99 / AU$448.00 and the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless which costs £189.99 / $199.99 / AU$288, that are competitors for the best gaming headsets on the market.
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset – Design
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset (Jasmine Mannan)This headset boasts a sleek black design, accompanied by a black charging dock. Both components feature RGB, within the earcup and around the base of the charging dock. The earcups are very thick and coated in a, supposedly, breathable fabric containing not only standard memory foam but also cooling gel.
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The cooling gel worked as intended, keeping my ears from getting too hot. However, I didn't find the fabric very breathable at all, and the thickness and tightness of the earcups made them uncomfortable to wear, as they didn't have a tight enough fit around my ears. The top of the headband was also very thick, and whilst this did provide a nice level of support, it made me feel a bit overheated whilst playing.
Roccat states that the headset is made from durable and lightweight aluminium and weighs in at just under 400 grams with the microphone connected. For comparison, the lightweight Razer Barracuda headset comes in at 250 grams and the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless comes in at 335 grams, so it clearly has some work to do.
You'll find controls on the earcup which are easy to use and mean you don't have to constantly go into the settings on your device. There is also a detachable microphone which you can flip up and down for muting and unmuting.
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset – Features
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset (Jasmine Mannan)The Roccat Syn Max Air comes packed full of features, which are to be expected for this price point. Of course, the charging dock is of note here, you are able to just place the headset in the dock and as long as the pins connect, it will rapidly charge. You don't have to connect the headset to your PC, instead, you are able to plug in the dock which will also pair the headset so don't worry about having to waste another USB port.
You are able to simultaneously connect to your phone with Bluetooth allowing you to take phone calls while gaming without having to remove the headset. I tried this feature and it worked as intended, so for those who do find themselves making calls often and needing a type of passthrough, this is an excellent option.
The headset boasts immersive 3D audio after you install the drivers which was great gaming. You also get what Roccat calls superhuman hearing, which boosts those critical in-game sounds for that extra edge. Both of these factors combined did make for a much more intense gameplay experience.
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset – Performance
Roccat Syn Max Air Headset (Jasmine Mannan)This headset really didn't meet my expectations, although the features were extensive, the lack of comfort really let them down. Thanks to a combination of the weight, the stiff earcups and the lack of tightness around my ears, I simply couldn't wear them for longer than 30 minutes at a time, because at this stage, the neck pain kicked in. The top of my head also began to feel quite sweaty from the headband which, of course, only contributed to my discomfort. It was not a good combination.
All of the features worked as intended, the audio quality was good and I found the superhuman hearing setting to help me in some games by amplifying things like footsteps and gunshots. Paired with the 3D audio, it made it super easy to decipher where these sounds were coming from, this really took my gameplay to the next level and as the name suggests, I did feel somewhat superhuman.
It was also great when listening to music and watching videos, however, it's clear that this headset really shines when gaming. It didn't provide the richest audio quality for music specifically, especially for songs which rely on bass.
The microphone quality was decent, but not great. There was some static interference and a lot of background noise being picked up, but at the end of it all, my friends and teammates were still able to make out what I was saying clearly, which I suppose is the main purpose.
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Final thoughts on the Roccat Syn Max Air Headset
I was really excited when I first got my hands on the Roccat Syn Max Air. The feature set was promising, particularly the charging dock, something I was really looking forward to checking out. The audio quality is exceptional for gaming and honestly, I would have used this headset as my permanent headset had it not been so uncomfortable.
Comfort is definitely relative, and my uncomfortable experience may not apply to everyone else. Aside from this, this headset was pretty spot on, with the superhuman hearing setting really living up to its name, but comfort is something that simply can't be overlooked.
Score: 2/5
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