When you’ve been in the gaming and tech industry for the better part of a decade, not much surprises you. Technology advances at an ever-growing, but expected rate. While technical specs progress along the projected path and most companies keep creating variants of the same ole same ole, there are few that do things a little differently.
LucidSound was at this past E3, and had a lineup that made holding a headset feel like Christmas morning. They were not only touting accessible options for the most frugal of users, but also offering high quality options that would delight any audiophile or serious gamer. This includes Snoop Dogg, who likely isn’t keen on supporting something if it isn’t up to par.
Wait Who?
If you’ve never heard of them before, LucidSound takes their quality seriously. Their philosophy is literally: “make it look great, sound great, and feel great.” They were the first company to announce a 3rd party headset to connect wirelessly to Xbox through Wi-Fi Direct back in 2017. This company is headed by industry veterans that created Tritton Technology, which was later acquired by Mad Catz Interactive back in 2010. Suffice to say, they know what they’re doing.
They currently have a wide variety of headsets out, but are feeling out what consumers are looking for, and expanding their line. If you’d like to see what all is currently available, check out their shop. Now that we’re all acquainted, let’s look into what they had to show off this year.
Unveiling the LS1 and LS10
First up was the unveiling of the LS1 and LS10, which are for the more chat-focused gamers. Making high-quality headsets will get you some clout, but not everyone can afford top-of-the-line. However, dropping the price doesn’t mean the overall quality has to slide as well.
The LS10 series has 50mm speakers, and they’re optimized to deliver Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos Surround sound from Xbox One devices. They also have dual mics, with a flexible boom for in-game chat, or an integrated mic for mobile chat on the go. The volume controls are integrated into the exterior of the ear cup, which is just pretty dang cool innovation-wise.
There are two versions of the LS10, with an added ‘X’ or ‘P’ on the end. The LS10X is officially licensed compatibly-wise with the Xbox One and mobile devices, while the LS10P is compatible with PS4, mobile, and Nintendo Switch.
The LS1 headset only has one 50mm speaker, but that’s because there’s only one ear cup. This model is all function and very lightweight, but doesn’t sacrifice clarity. It also has a flexible noise-cancelling boom microphone, over-ear volume controls, and is made for long gaming sessions.
The LS1 also has two variants. The LS1X is only compatible with Xbox One, while the LS1P is only compatible with the PS4. The LS1 comes in at a $24.99 price point, while the LS10 is at $59.99.
Rose Gold LS35X
The LS35X is one of LucidSound’s most popular headsets. It has been in such high demand that they released it in a new color combination. This fall, a sleek rose gold and white Xbox headset will join their product lineup at a $179.99 price point.
Limited Edition Snoop Dogg LS50
Their newest headset, the LS50 is set to be their heaviest hitter. It has on-ear controls, 50mm speakers, and a 20-hour battery life. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a limited edition Snoop Dog version that will be coming to retailers in North America and Europe this fall.
They’re not messing around at $299.99, but not without good reason. There are multiple EQ modes, you can seamlessly switch between console and PC, or connect to any Bluetooth audio device. It also feature dual mics, gel-cooling ear cups for long gaming sessions, high-quality synthetic leather, and has a soft-touch rubber that makes it just…feel worth it. There was some hinting at having Snoop record voice prompts for the different EQ modes…but that remains to be seen.
Needless to say, this is definitely an impressive lineup. While I can’t speak to their actual usage long-term without doing a full hands-on review, a short demo with them at E3 was enough to make me interested in keeping an eye on this company’s wares. However, if it’s good enough for Snoop, it’s likely putting what I’ve currently got over my ears to shame. *insert green plant song reference that won’t get me fired*
Recent Comments