Roccat Syva High Performance In-Ear Headset Review

Introduction Gaming on the go is becoming big business, sure there are many of us who would rather be sat at our desks while gaming, or even in front of the big screen, but there are many more options out there. These days we're gaming on or phones, tablets, hand-held games consoles, laptops and more these days, so having a headset that's as mobile as your gaming device can be very important. Not to mention lugging all your gear to a LAN event can be hard work, so having compact and easy to transport can literally lighten the load. Roccat is highly regarded by the gaming community for their high quality peripherals, and they're also the creators of some of the finest gaming headsets on the market, such as the Roccat Kave. With that in mind, the Syva headset has a lot to live up to, so I'll be looking for that same high-end performance, premium build quality and attention to detail that Roccat is renowned for. Features Top class audio - with deep bass and crisp trebles Ultra low in weight - easy to wear for extended periods In-cable microphone - for voice chat with enhanced clarity Premium comfort - thanks to three ergonomic ear tip sizes In-cable remote - for on-the-fly control over your audio Stylish ribbon cable - ROCCAT-coloured cable resists tangles The Syva pretty straight forward, and while they're not packed with features they are well specced. Featuring powerful 32 ohm drivers and a good quality microphone, changeable ear tips with extra sizes included, a high quality flat rubber cable and more. Driver Units Technical Specification Frequency response: 20~20,000Hz Sensitivity at 1kHz: 96dB/1mW Impedance: 32Ω Max. input power: 10mW Drive diameter: Ø10mm Microphone Technical Specifications Sensitivity at 1kHz: -40±3dB Impedance: ≤2.2kΩ Directivity: omni-directional The packaging is nicely designed, keeping in theme with other Roccat products. There are a few details on the front about the features, including the call/play button, lightweight design, VoIP+ MP3 compatibility and the 3.5mm jack plug connection. Around the back is a more detailed run-down of the features, but we'll be taking a close look at those in a moment. The box is held shut by a small magnet on the right side, allowing you to open it up like a display case where you'll find the headset neatly laid out in some protective plastic moulding. A Closer Look In the box you'll find the headset, which comes as a hard-wired set of in-ear headphones. Bundled with the headset are three pairs of ear pads, allowing you to tailor the fit to your personal preference. The jack plug is a 4-pole connection, so will be compatible with standard headphone jacks for use on devices such as MP3 players or at your desktop, while also being compatible with mobile phones and similar devices to allow use of the microphone for Skype, phone calls etc. The in-line controller is tiny, featuring just one button, but for starting and stopping your music or answering a call, it's all you'll really need. The ear pieces are covered in a durable funky looking rubber material. The earbuds are actually quite compact given they house 10mm drivers, and Performance Putting the Roccat Syva to the test was an easy task, their simplistic design means that they can be connected to almost anything that outputs audio. Since they're obviously more suitable for being mobile, I've been using them on my new favourite toy, the Nvidia Shield. The first thing I noticed just how much bass they can provide, playing through tracks like Bloodbath - So You Die, a track that often distorts most in-ear headphones due to its very low tuned guitar sounds, played through perfectly, death metal fans will love the low-end as you really get a thick sound without sacrificing the treble at all. Dancy music benefits too; Pendulum, Project Bassline and other electronic bands really sound superb, as does any other music I threw at them. Gaming really reaps a big reward, playing Half Life 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andres on the Shield sounded great with this headset. Game sound effects had plenty of bass, vocal tracks were really clear and there is a lot of detail to the sound, more than enough to help you get lost in your favourite digital worlds. Hooking them up to my smartphone I used the headset to make a few calls and a VoIP call on Skype, clarity was really good and despite the heavy bass of the headset, voices sounded fairly natural. The in-line controller is a little basic, but the single button function for starting and stopping music, or just answering a call is more than enough. PC performance was pretty spectacular too, I dare say comparable to a lot of similar price larger headsets in terms of sound quality and the microphone worked great for team-speak, the only difference being that you'll need to provide your own 4pole to dual 3.5mm 3pole adaptor to hook the headset up to the separate speaker and microphone ports on your PC. Final Thoughts Price The Roccat Syva headset will set you back £29.99 from More Computers, although most retailers are currently listing it at £32. This seems like a pretty good deal to me given their overall performance and build quality; they're actually cheaper to pick up than the now several years old Roccat Vire in-ear headset which the Syva are effectively replacing. Overview I often like to game in privacy by wearing a headset, and wearing a big over-ear headset with a portable device can often feel like overkill, especially when you're sitting on the train, not to mention that carrying a big headset in your bag with a portable gaming device can be impractical, defeating the "mobile" aspect by adding clutter to your bag. The Syva are a perfect solution to this, as they're small enough to fit in your pocket along with your smart phone and certainly easy to throw into your backpack when not in use. I've always got a set of headphones on me while I'm out and about anyway, perfect for plugging into my Vita, mobile or similar device, but the Roccat Syva beat out so many of the sets I've been using by a large margin. Their performance is spectacular and as a music lover I can't get enough of their bass reproduction and clarity. The fact that I can use this headset for in-game chat, skype calls, answering my phone and controlling my music from my mobile just sweetens the deal. I often take a set of headphones, as well as a larger headset with me when I'm travelling, but from now on I think I'll just be taking the Syva as they are great all-rounders. "Roccat have created an affordable, versatile and great performing product with the Syva, it may not be enough to have you throwing your 5.1 headset in the bin just yet, but if you're looking for a great set of headphones, or a very portable chat headset, then look no further." Pros Durable build quality Flat sleeved and tangle free cable design In-line controller Extra ear-buds included Powerful 10mm drivers Good quality microphone Cons No desktop adaptor cable included No carry pouch included Thank you Roccat for providing us with this sample.