Tech Up! EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro Gaming Headset Review

Even if black and green is far too common a colour combination when it comes to gaming headsets, there is no denying the futuristic appeal of the Star Engine E5000 Pro, with its snazzy light-up earcups that flicker in and out during use. While a choice of hue would have been quite the extra feature, this certainly looks the part, especially in a dimly lit gaming room.

Looks may be the least of anyone's concerns when it comes to a headset, though, and EKSA has delivered on multiple fronts here. The E5000 Pro, which arrives snugly in a soft drawstring pouch to easily lug it around, is incredibly lightweight. This is proven further when placed on the head, and the duality of its memory foam over-ear cushions and headband, which deliver extreme comfort over long periods of time, mean those that don't do their gaming in short bursts are going find a lot to like about this one.

Audio quality is, of course, the all-important factor, however. Naturally, there are other gaming headsets out there that will deliver more punch in this department, but EKSA has struck a tidy balance in what it has set out to achieve with the E5000 Pro. At £80/$70 (with some cheaper deals to be found recently), this headset hits that middle ground - not quite reaching the upper echelons of the expensive big brands but is a modest enough price that still pumps out some fine audio quality.

The initial impression is that the bass is lacking, but after digging around the EKSA website, the driver downloads page provides a free application that can be used on PC to adjust the stereo sound and 7.1 surround sound to deliver a more personalised output, including deeper bass, jazz and classic preferences, plus full customisation if more tweaking is desired. Surround sound is always a questionable feature, and a lot of it depends on the person's own audio software and whether the headphones being used are any good. Thankfully, the E5000 Pro is indeed a top piece of gear, but mileage may vary on surround sound performance depending on the individual's setup.

The Star Engine E5000 Pro's compatibility is impressive, with the box coming complete with a USB Type C cable, a USB-to-USB Type C extender, and a 3.5mm audio cable, covering a whole range of bases, including all consoles, portables, and computers. Surround sound is only possible through the USB and not the 3.5mm port. All these cables are detachable, making storage tidier, and the microphone attachment has a chunky foam cover for anti-spray goodness.

On the mic and chat side of things, noise cancellation is of a very high standard, doing an excellent job of filtering out the background noise on both ends. The audio received of the user on the other side can almost sound like they are in an underground echo chamber, but the clarity is not to be ignored. Some wireless earphones may perform better on mic quality, but it certainly isn't bad, by any stretch of the imagination.

8/10

Great - Silver Award

EKSA's Star Engine E5000 Pro checks all the boxes for those in the market for a mid-high-end headset. Comfort is one of the key features that stands out, and while the performance of the surround sound comes to life on PC after the driver download, this is still a recommended product for console and portable players, too. A cracking option for anyone not quite willing to break into triple digits for a new headset.