Roccat ELO X Stereo Gaming Headset Review

A Closer Look & Performance

The Roccat Elo is a really nice looking headset, I’d say it looks pretty understated, but that’s a bit hard with the Roccat logo emblazoned on the side like some She-Ra special. I do like it though, it’s funky and best of all, it’s not RGB. I do like the driver design though, they’re pretty minimal in their own right and the closed-back design gives me hope for a decent sound too.

The only other big of brighter branding would the be the world ELO on the sides of the headband. There’s a fair bit of plastic on show here, but honestly, I think it looks and feels pretty decent. That semi-matte finish and very light texture to it is nicely muted and even under my bright spotlight right now, it doesn’t look too harsh.

Ergonomics are a strong point for this headset, and everything pulls and turns in one direction or another. The ear cups can be rotated inwards, so you can ensure a clean fit around your ears.

Of course, they rotate all the way in too, so you can comfortable wear the headset around your neck between games. It’s a minor feature, but one I absolutely love to have on my own headsets.

On the side of the ear cups you’ll find some basic controls. There’s a volume wheel and a microphone mute button. The volume is great as you can just max the source volume and deal with the rest here, saving you from getting up to make adjustments.

The ear cups pack Roccat’s 50mm drivers, which are pretty damn impressive actually. The maximum volume certainly won’t leave you longing for more, it’s got a good kick to it with plenty of low-end grunt too. It’s not excessive bass either, but there’s a good amount for sure. What there does appear to be is a bit of boost on the mid-range, giving the headset a warmer and more open sound. I quite like that as it makes details really pop while gaming, and I enjoy the sound for music too. However, I found the headset handles a moderate EQ pretty well and something akin to the “rock” preset can net some great results for movies and music.

The drivers sound best on their default setting for gaming though, striking a solid balance between game detail and team chat mix. However, it’s the ear cup design its self that really surprised me. They’re quite big, but they’re not hollow. There’s no reverberation when you tap on them, and you can’t hear cable drag over your clothes either. I’m guessing there’s some dampening material in there, and the end result is a really tight sound response from the drivers, which results in less echo and distortion. They feel really immediate, even in bass-heavy fast-paced music. Not bad for a cheaper gaming headset, not bad at all.

The ergonomics are really good though. The headband uses that classic deal band design. The two metal bands give the headset a good clamping force over your ears, while still allowing it to bend and flex as required. However, the inner headband is on springs, and will auto adjust to the wearer.

Few headsets fit me quite right, as I do have a large head and I’ll admit this one is cutting it close but it does fit. It feels a little tight at first, but the PU leather design and memory foam are known for this, and it takes a little time to break in a new headset. Overall though, I found it comfortable and the lightweight design was certainly a benefit for the longer gaming sessions.

The headband is a lot more breathable than the leather too, but it also gives it a little traction helping secure the headset in place. The amount of padding is much more than a headset of this weight and size needs, but hey, I’m not complaining about it, as it’s very comfortable.

The ear cups aren’t breathable, but their design is still a welcome choice. It creates more of a seal around your ears, which helps lock in the sound, and block ambient noise out too, much like a set of ear defenders.

The added benefit of this is that it does help tighten up those lower frequencies, giving you more bass for your buck than you get from open drivers. It’s got a good amount of padding to it too, with an around the ear design. Plus, Turtle Beach’s acquisition means they’ve lent them their glasses friendly relief design, so there’s a soft spot for your frames to pass through.

The detachable microphone is great, as I rarely (if ever) use one while gaming outside of a headset review/test. However, it’s nothing remarkable and nothing bad, it’s a pretty standard mic as to be expected in this price range, but it’s certainly nothing to complain about either. It has a built-in pop filter and a positional boom, which is always welcome.