ADATA XPG PRECOG Gaming Headset Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The ADATA XPG PRECOG Dual-Driver headset is available now, but it seems the price is all over the place. It’s currently £180 on Amazon UK, but it’s just $150 on Amazon US (down from $250). I suspect stock is still rolling out, and things will settle down soon. That’s not cheap, obviously, but it’s about on-par for budget set of Electrostatic Headphones, which are typically around £200 for something like the Mitchell & Johnson GL1. However Electrostatic Headphones of a good quality start more like £500+ making the PRECOG a very tempting option. Of course, this also has a microphone, and USB amp, and carry case, and more. So expensive, yes, but pretty competitive when you consider what they offer.

Overview

ADATA is masterful when it comes to memory products. However, their gaming brand XPG is moving in the right direction to bring the same quality to gamers too. The PRECOG is one of the most interesting headsets I’ve tested in ages, but it’s not without its flaws either.

Dual-Driver

The dual-driver setup is pretty expensive to integrate, albeit worth every penny once you’ve had a bit of time to try them out. It seems they’ve cut a few corners along the way to prevent the price from being too extreme. The in-line controllers are functional, but also feel a bit cheaper than I think they should. It doesn’t contrast well with the premium cables and the metal housing on the USB headers. A little aluminium or brushed steel goes a long way, and the headset is so light, a little extra weight wouldn’t be an issue. It would put the price up, but in the enthusiast market, people will pay for perfect quality.

Beating the Competition

Let’s not beat them down too much though, because frankly, it’s unfair. There are many headsets in this price range and beyond with equal build quality. The Turtle Beach 800, the Astro A40 and the SteelSeries Arctis are the first that spring to mind and the XPG can thrash them on price too by £50-100, and while delivering drivers that can beat them with ease.

Amazing Sound

The sound quality is astonishing. The only way you’ll get equal sound quality is by buying a set of Electrostatic headphones, such as something from Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser. However, they’re just headphones and lack the extra gaming features, connectivity and processing you get from XPG.

Should I Buy Them?

I don’t think the style is quite as sharp as it could be, and perhaps XPG will improve on that in years to come. However, if you care about amazing sound quality, they’re a bit of a bargain. The build quality is competitive, and they’re damn comfortable for those long gaming sessions. Most of all though, it’s great fun to see a gaming brand push the boundaries and try something new in the gaming headset market; and successfully at that.