Tt eSports Shock Spin HD Surround Gaming Headset

Many games today feature audio that’s not limited to stereo anymore. With the advent of multi-channel entertainment systems came support for it in many games and titles and as such, demand for them in gaming headsets also have increase. We’ve looked at such products in the past and today we have another one in our labs with an upgraded offering of sorts from Tt eSports which is the Shock Spin HD.

We’ve already checked out the Shock Spin and looking at that specs of the Shock Spin HD, everything seems to be the same with the exception of the packaging, the included software and the most important piece of all: the USB sound card. Taking from all these, we can conclude that Tt eSports opted to soup up their existing product with the addition of an audio processor that can provide surround sound albeit virtual.

For this review we’ll be omitting the other sound criterias and solely focus on the surround performance. If you want to see how the Shock Spin performs, please see the review here.

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• High Quality 7.1 Channel Virtual Surround Sound provides Gamers a Realistic Atmosphere.
• 3 Meters Cable with Gold-Plated USB Connector for Smooth Signal and Data Transmission.
• 4 buttons : #1 Vol+ (Press button), #2 Vol- (Press button), #3 MUTE SPK (Press button), #4 MUTE MIC (Press button)
• LED indication Red LED x1,Green LED x 1, S1: MUTE_MIC LED ON, Red*1, Power ON, Green *1
• Sound Processing, Flashing

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[singlepic id=4954 w=260 h=180 float=center]The Shock Spin HD is packaged differently than its vanilla incarnation. The front of the box features the product image with some marketing bullets.	[singlepic id=4955 w=260 h=180 float=center] Behind the box are plenty more marketing highlights in numerous translations.
[singlepic id=4956 w=260 h=180 float=center]Not much action on the sides of the box this time around.	[singlepic id=4957 w=260 h=180 float=center] Now this is where all the action happens, flipping open front flap reveals a good peak of the package content similar to the Shock Spin’s. The back of the flap has the specs of the product.
 [singlepic id=4953 w=260 h=180 float=center] Here is a shot of the Shock Spin HD side by side with the Shock Spin’s box. You can see the box shows what color you’ll be getting so there’s no guesswork involved.	[singlepic id=4958 w=260 h=180 float=center]Inside the package we have plenty of stuff with the headset itself, the extension cable with inline controller, the microphone and the one that sets this thing apart from the original Shock Spin, the USB sound card. You also get an driver CD, a manual and warranty policy booklet.

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[singlepic id=4967 w=260 h=180 float=center]The Shock Spin HD looks very much like the Shock Spin on the count that it is the same product. It features the same styling and headband.	[singlepic id=4966 w=260 h=180 float=center] We’ll just highlight some shots we didn’t show on the Shock Spin review. Here we have a topshot of the headband garter and it features a print of the Tt eSports logo.
[singlepic id=4969 w=260 h=180 float=center]As we’ve previously noted, the Shock Spin HD has some very comfortable earcups. Tt eSports claims they’re velvet but we’d like to disagree. Still they very comfortable. The texture might be a bit rough for some people but its bearable. The one thing unbearable is the stench it has.	[singlepic id=4972 w=260 h=180 float=center] Here is a side by side picture of the white and red version. Notice how the red version gets a black cord whilst the white one has a white. The Black version also has a black cord.
[singlepic id=4971 w=260 h=180 float=center] All the cables are braided and are of very good build quality with gold-plated connectors.	[singlepic id=4962 w=260 h=180 float=center]Here is what sets this product apart from its brother: a USB sound-card. The headphones plug in directly to this dongle and it has a mic-mute and volume control functions.

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[singlepic id=5419 w=260 h=180 float=center]This is the main screen of the configuration software. You can choose the input channels and the output on this screen. The 7.1 virtual surround filter is on this screen and this is where you enable it for virtual surround.	[singlepic id=5420 w=260 h=180 float=center]Clicking on the little hammer icon will shift you to the environment editor or shifter. This lets you set the expanse and distance of how much you want the sound to feel like. You can also tilt them around for you pleasure but beats us why’d you’d do that on a headphone.
[singlepic id=5422 w=260 h=180 float=center]Pretty self-explanatory here.	[singlepic id=5414 w=260 h=180 float=center]For those who want to tinker with the output you have some options here in the equalizer. I particularly find the environment filters a bit lacking and but you’d probably leave this to default if you’re on surround.
[singlepic id=5418 w=260 h=180 float=center]This tab lets you muffle out audio and sort of artificially create a karaoke effect. Now depending on the recording of your file it may either work and remove the vocals on your sample but sometimes it’ll just make it sound wet and stupid.	[singlepic id=5415 w=260 h=180 float=center]From the info tab we can see the 3D engine is Xear3D which is made by C-media.

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PERFORMANCE AND FUNCTIONALITY

Like we’ve mentioned earlier, we’ll be focusing on the surround imaging in gaming to gauge the Shock Spin HD’s performance. Please refer to the Shock Spin review for  further detail on how the headphones perform in stock form.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.ttesports.com/products/product.aspx?g=download&s=21&ss=3“]DRIVER[/button][button color=”red” link=”http://www.back2gaming.com/review/tt-esports-shock-spin-gaming-headset/”]Shock Spin Review[/button]

First game we pick up for this test is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

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We’ve made it very clear in our earlier review that the Shock Spin suffers from some issues when using weak sources or sound cards. The Shock Spin HD employs its own USB sound card and straight up, it did address that problem we had. We also would like to point out that the USB sound card had issues when we used another USB plug for it. We were merely using another plug except for the one provided and the sound was garbage. Please use the included USB cable when using the included sound card.

With those out of the way we dive into our game. COD:MW3 has a maximum of 6 channels in its audio options which means it has 5.1 output. So back to our game, we chose a snowy level so we can see how the USB sound card can handle rendering of multiple layers of audio. Immediately we felt that the sound card itself provides clean, pronounced audio. Compared to a Shock Spin plugged into an ALC892, the volume and performance is totally different. The Shock Spin HD has close feel to its sound stage and doesn’t flavor the bass too much.

Now for surround rendering, footsteps are defined and had depth to them and so where other sounds. Despite that though, compared to the likes of the Razer Megalodon and Logitech G35, the Shock Spin HD has average pinpoint positional rendering when in surround mode. It gave the feeling of a close sound stage with audio feeling like they’re close in. The illusion of distance and depth was solid and overall the Shock Spin HD had a certain presence in its surround capabilities which makes it a gaming performer.

We also liked how you can change the depth and positions of the virtual channels. This gave the Shock Spin HD much flexibility than true surround cans. Also, one can also plug the Shock Spin HD into any 3.5mm audio source and use it as a typical stereo headphone.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the original Shock Spin, the Shock Spin HD’s performance was somewhat superior even though the surround capabilities didn’t really outshine anything we’ve already seen. The build quality still has a lot lef to be desired and we’ve yet to get rid of the stench on our sample. Those aside, we’ve mentioned you’d need a decent sound card to power up the Shock Spin but with the HD bundle you’ll be getting a decent one. Which is also compatible with any other 3.5mm headset you may have.

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Tt eSports suggests the Shock Spin HD at around $100 making it a bit out of reach unlike the Shock Spin. We’ve yet to locate this product locally so we’ve no idea on local pricing. We can however assume it’ll cost much less than the Logitech G35 that goes around for Php5000 or Razer Megalodon that’s around Php6900. Both of which have their own virtual surround engine, the latter featuring its own inline sound card.

That said, we like the Shock Spin HD. It’s clearly an upgrade over the regular version and clearly made us realize the headset can be something more. Its comfort level is still top notch in our standards and long-session gamers will appreciate it.  Being cheaper than other virtual surround solutions out there, its got performance that’s a touch below awesome. So in closing if you’re on a tight budget and considering a surround gaming headset, you might want to check out the Shock Spin HD. Its modular design and comfortable feel coupled with acceptable performance might satisfy gamers who do not desire to have an all around listening solution and just want a solid gaming, headset. The Shock Spin HD is a gaming headset that’s focused on what it’s made for.