Designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and performance, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog gaming headset feature true 5.1 sound. For that purpose there are no less than 8 speakers (4 on each side). Apart from that there is the so called "Dual mode-remote" remote control, which allows you to control all volumes. For us this is reason enough to find out what the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog can do.
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Today, we will be checking out the latest product from Roccat, a company which is well known for its high quality gaming peripherals. We are really curious to see what the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog gaming headset can do.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
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Preview
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
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Specifications
Headphones
| Model number: | Kave XTD 5.1 Analog |
| Frequency: | 20 - 20'000 Hz |
| Impendance: | 32 Ohms |
| Cable length: | 3.0 m |
| Driver size: | 40mm |
| Plug: | 1x USB2.0 3 x Jack 3.5mm |
Microphone
| Frequency: | 10 - 10'000 Hz |
Remote control
| Microphone control: | On button |
| Volume control: | On wheels |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
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Test conditions
When it comes to headset testing, especially the microphone one, we subjectively describe both the acoustics and microphone quality as well as the ergonomics. The end result therefore relies also on the tester himself. We are doing our best to ensure comparable results even if different reviewers were testing different products. We think these reviews can be seen as a help if you like to buy a specific product and therefore can be seen as subjective consumer advice.Music
- Eminem - Recovery
- Medina - You and I
- Adam Lambert - Whataya Want From Me
- Lady Gaga - Lovegame and Pokerface
- Various House Mixes
- Senteced - Mourn
- Apocalyptica - Master of Puppets
- Poisonblack - Love Controlled Despair
Movies
- The Hunt for Red October
- Black Hawk Down
- Moon
- Prometheus
- Transformers I
Games
- Battlefield 4
- Crysis 3
- GRID Autosport
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
Wearing confort and ergonomics
The Kave XTD 5.1 Analog, although not lightweight, is very comfortable and well balanced, mainly due to the used materials and soft ear cushions. Even the rubber used for the headband is well made, rather soft and pleasant to the touch. The cable is unfortunately not removable but with a suitable and above average length, measuring at three meters.
To connect headphones to your computer you need to plug in four 3.5mm jacks and the Roccat marked USB cable. The headphones do not require any software since they are completely plug-n-play. This great demand for connectivity is tied to the nature of the headphones, since, as the name suggests, the XTD 5.1 Analog is true 5.1 headset.
The Kave XTD 5.1 Analog features a remote control called "dual-mode remote" where you can control the volume of all the speakers placed in the pavillions of the headphones. Each wheel feature a maximum of 8 steps and there are also two switches for the microphone and the listening mode. The remote control has a clip and an additional support that allows you to place it on your desk.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
Acoustics
Headphone
Although these are nice looking and good quality headphones, the sound is a what actually matters. To test the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog we listened to different audio sources including games, music, streaming media and high-definition movies. Roccat has chosen to use 40 mm ear cups with a big soft bolster that isolates your ears. Despite being a gaming headset, we were pleasantly surprised by the good balance between high and low sound, even the mids are on a good level without being too dull. The remote control placed on the cable works well, and only with a high volume, we detected an excessive sound distortion. When it comes to movies, we used exclusively titles with 5.1 audio AC3 and DTS-HD, the classic encoding that you can find on DVD and BR. In these scenarios, the Roccat Kave XTD 5.1 Analog behaved overall very well, and we believe that only the bass reproduction is not completely clear, but can be rather described as "hit and run".The most interesting aspect of these headphones certainly concerns the presence of four independent drivers, three measuring 40 mm (front, center, rear) and one 30-millimeter, which acts as a sub-woofer. However, despite the fact that Kave XTD 5.1 Analog headset are true 5.1, we can say that the sound is not near as immersive as a 5.1 speaker set. In some fields, we found slightly muffled tones which are without depth. In addition, we haven't seen any difference between "Movie" and "Gamer" mode.
Microphone
The microphone in our opinion is very good and the design used by Roccat is a great addition. The design chosen by Roccat is great and gives the headphones a very stylish look. On the end there is a blue LED that signals the activation or deactivation of the microphone. The sound captured can be described as natural on Skype and Team Speak.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that Kave XTD 5.1 Analog from Roccat is a good gaming product in almost every scenario. Despite the relatively high weight of 335 grams, the Kave
does not weigh in when placed on the head and fits well mostly thanks a big contact
area of both pavilions and the headband. We think that 335 grams is a proper weight for a closed gaming headphones. The build quality, as well as the materials, fully comply with the Roccat's standards and any aspect or detail have not been left to chance. The cable is not removable, however,
has a suitable length which should ensure a high level of comfort, while the remote control is in our opinion too bulky we would like to find a more compact and solid base, easier to be placed on the desk.
The sound quality of the speakers is on a good level, and in our opinion, the highs as well as the mids are quite well balanced, not making it too annoying and pronounced. Only the bass, in few situations,
did not appear very clear. The passive isolation of the ear cups is definitely good, the padding used by Roccat and the particular shape of the halls provide a good isolation from the surrounding environment. It is not the first time that we've come across a true 5.1 headset. The overall sound experience is pleasant and this is definitely a good 5.1 headset. However, we have to say that this headset is not nearly as immersive as a fully fledged 5.1 surround speaker set. The microphone, which has been placed on a flexible arm, is average compared to other products we've tested over the past years.
Despite the presence of a USB header, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog does not require any software in order to work properly, it is only necessary to connect all the cables supplied to start using headphones. The USB cable is there to provide enough power for all the drivers.
Checking Geizhals.eu, the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog costs 100 Euros excluding shipping costs. The price is certainly very interesting for a product of this type. Overall the Roccat Kave XTD 5.1 Analog scores 4 stars out of 5.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 5 - Wearing comfort/ergonomics |
| Page 2 - Preview | Page 6 - Acoustics |
| Page 3 - Specifications | Page 7 - Conclusion |
| Page 4 - Test conditions |