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I've heard very little of Gioteck while hunting for good headsets, which is kind of curious. Specializing in PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 equipment, they're a company who has an accessory for almost anything. With everything from headsets to controllers and even a few HDMI cables, they seem like a pretty good company to get unique gear. Their latest headset, the EX-05 is especially interesting. Boasting the ability to be used on the three aforementioned consoles, it promises to compete with such video game giants as Turtle Beach at only a fraction of the price. That's a pretty bold claim, and I was curious as to whether or not they could make good on it.
So Many Options - One promise that's definitely fulfilled is the multifunction. Whether it's your PS3, your PC, or your Xbox 360, the EX-05 handles all of them. With adapters designed for easy plug-in, players can switch consoles without having to change the head gear.
Competitively Priced - I was told the headset ran at about 40 quid over in England. However, seeing as we're all living in America, I decided to hop on Amazon.com and find a general price. At about 60 dollars, the EX-05 sits at an even price with Turtle Beach's X12 multi-platform headset and is quite a bit cheaper than the PX21. Overall, it's a price that's not dictated by brand name but performance.
That's a Great Sound - It may be a bit short of Bose's noise canceling technology, but the EX-05 delivers. The sound from both voice chat and game audio can be altered simultaneously, making it easy to turn down the voice-chat when 12 year old kids start screaming racial slurs. The microphone also broadcasts quite well with limited pick-up from sources other than the player's vocal chords.
Mostly Comfortable - The design is solid enough that even though you know you’re wearing the headset at all times, it’s comfortable. It’s like your brain is being hugged by a giant worm with a head at either end made up of fur. It holds close and won’t randomly fall off your head for no reason, which is always a plus when you’re shaking your head in sorrow at how poorly your team plays.
DON'T WEAR IT IN PUBLIC
The Wal-Mart of Headsets - I don't feel it's necessary to mention design when the quality of a product is good, but I know there are people out there who won't wear headphones unless they're Beats By Dre. Unfortunately, this headset is pretty unattractive. Not that I mind it, but it's definitely not the most fashionable thing to put on your head. With no flashy gimmicks to sell to the mindless masses, it looks and feels like it was made to be all performance and no flash.
My Brain is Burning - After about two hours of wearing the EX-05s while playing games, I realized my ears were quite hot. This, as I soon learned, was a small design error in which the headphones sacrifice ventilation for high performance. Sure, taking them off for five minutes generally alleviates the problem, but who has time to take off their headset when they're running 5 mans with their guild?
Urge to Itch... Rising - At the top of the EX-05 sits a giant headband. With the way the design works, if one doesn’t feel the insane discomfort of their ears attempting to imitate a Colorado forest the giant headband will be doing a fine job of making them feel like they have ticks. The massive stretch of what I assume to be PVC and mesh press against your head just right, making it so that every time the headset moves in the slightest, it will begin to itch. If one isn’t a master of denying their body, this urge to itch will eventually consume them.
As it stands, the Gioteck EX-05 is a good headset. It's reasonably priced and can handle anything that any of the competition can throw at it. With the 2 largest issues being comfort after prolonged use, it’s a very good starter headset for someone who isn’t ready to invest in a $200 name. Hardcore gamers may be slightly turned off to it due to it’s mild discomfort levels that steadily increase without a break every 2 hours, and that’s definitely something to take note of. However, despite a handful of design flaws and an unattractive design that little Billy might not like because it doesn’t glow like his friend’s headset, it’s a solid piece of work. It gets the job done, and it does so humbly and efficiently.
*This review was based on review sample provided by the manufacturer.*
