EVERYONE has his own preference when it comes to audio. Some prefer to focus on clarity while others want more bass. Gaming headsets are intended to be used for gaming, but many are lacking in the audio department when compared to standard headphones.
Today, we have a gaming headset that does quite well for both gaming and music, without having to break the bank. Let’s take a look at the Edifier G4.
DESIGN
The Edifier G4 gaming headset seems to have picked up some design cues from Sony and SteelSeries. It has some similarities to the Sony Extra Bass headphones in terms of cushioning, as the earpads are noticeably thick to give additional comfort for long hours of usage. The inner-side of the headband has thick padding as well, so you don’t feel like the headset is crushing your head.
The retractable microphone is similar to the SteelSeries Arctis 5, which can be hidden inside the headset if you don’t plan on using it. This is suitable for those who plan to use the Edifier G4 to listen to music outdoors but there’s just one problem. It uses USB connection and there is no 3.5mm connector to be found anywhere. This means that unless you plan on walking around with a laptop to listen to music, it’s not a viable option for people looking for an all-in-one purchase.
On the outer side of the earcups, you can see a metal mesh which houses LED lights. This particular unit has red LEDs but consumers can choose between red, green, and blue.
The controller of the Edifier G4 serves four different functions — activating/deactivation vibration effect, mute, volume rocker, and powering on/off the headset. While the mute button and volume rocker are obvious, the lack of labelling for the vibration and power can be confusing.
The USB cable is wrapped in rubber and is not gold-plated. But having a gold-plated USB connector doesn’t improve performance. I was told that it has a ferrite core, which blocks unwanted noise and thus, produces clean audio without audible hiss.
USER EXPERIENCE
Using the Edifier G4 gaming headset is straightforward. Just plug the headset to your PC via USB and it will automatically instal the necessary drivers. If you want to customise your listening experience or activate the virtual surround sound effect, you need to instal the Edifier Audio Center software. Keep in mind that you don’t actually need it, and it is fine to use without the software.
The headset is very comfortable to wear. Compared to its predecessor, the Edifier G3, I can wear this for hours on end without feeling like my ears are about to drop off and it doesn’t feel uncomfortably warm either. It is almost as comfortable as the Sony MDR-XB950BT Extra Bass headphone which is priced more than double of this.
As far as sound quality goes, it’s not something everyone would enjoy. In its normal settings, the sound is somewhat flat but once you’ve activated the Vibration Effect on the controller, the bass gets kicked up a couple of notches.
This is quite pleasant for those who are into electro/dance music and games as with each bass, you can really feel how punchy it is. The headset can only truly shine if you are willing to play around with the equaliser so you can have it suited to your listening style.
However, the bass is a little muddy and can make the audio feel a bit distorted. Chances are if you are the kind of person who enjoys classical music or audio with little bass, you will not like this.
The reason for this being that clarity plunges down with the added bass. Activating the Virtual 7.1 speaker shifter on the software doesn’t seem to have much difference but the Xear Surround Max feature seems to mimic surround sound quite well. It’s not true surround, but it’s better than nothing.
The microphone is nothing to shout about. It’s good enough for online chat but nothing more. If you are looking to use this for professional recording, it’s best to get a standalone microphone but if it’s just for talking with friends, it does its job.
PS4-FRIENDLY
Given that it is a USB gaming headset, it does work with the PlayStation 4. While standard headphones will need to be connected to the headphone jack on the DualShock 4 controller, you just need to plug the USB cable directly to the console. The cable length of 2.5m should be sufficient for most gamers.
Initially, I had trouble getting audio despite the PlayStation 4 acknowledging the connection of the headset since it automatically switched the microphone to the headset. Turns out, I had to turn the volume rocker all the way to maximum as volume is a bit soft. It would be much better if the volume could be dialled up a bit more but at max volume, it’s not bad.
As far as audio quality is concerned, it is no different than plugging into the PC. Keep in mind, however, that you can’t activate the virtual surround effect as you are plugging it directly to the PlayStation 4 and there is no Edifier Audio Center software for it. For most games, the Vibration Effect makes game audio feel more wholesome, which will give you quite an immersive experience.
CONCLUSION
The Edifier G4 gaming headset is a great option for those who aren’t looking to spend much for a headset. It has a heavy emphasis on gaming but listening to music on this thing is surprisingly pleasant if you are a bass-lover. It’s also very comfortable so marathon-gamers will be delighted to pick one up.
There are some quirks but given its retail price of RM269, it is forgivable. The Edifier G4 still offers great value for money.
Verdict: 3.5/5
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