Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Headset Review

Introduction

Are you ready to take your audio to the next level? If the answer is yes, then keep on reading, as Creative are telling us that their new headset is one of the best around, and we’re eager to find out how it performs as much as you are! This isn’t our first venture into their pro gaming headset range, and their mighty impressive Sound Blaster H5 gave a flawless performance when we reviewed it recently. With that in mind, the H7 promises to be even better in almost every possible way, so let’s not beat around the bush any longer, and get stuck into the details.

“CLEARER, LOUDER, HARDER, BETTER! Built with the powerful and versatile BlasterX Acoustic Engine Pro, the Sound BlasterX H7 combines large, responsive 50mm FullSpectrum™ audio drivers to offer customizable, best-in-class surround sound audio for absolute gaming immersion.” – Creative

Equipped with a virtual 7.1 surround processing engine, X-Plus profiles, scout mode, powerful full-spectrum 50mm drivers (118dB/mW), a 24-bit 90kHz USB DAC, multi-format support, a detachable noise-reduction microphone, in-line controller and more, the H7 are as well equipped as you could possibly hope for.

First up, take a look at this short product trailer from Creative.

Packaging and Accessories

The packaging for the H7 is really nice, with a large clear plastic top that shows off the full design of the main headset.

Around the back, a quick rundown of the main specifications, as well as what is included in the box.

In the box, you’ll find a braided USB to Micro-USB cable, a braided 3.5mm male to male 4-pole audio cable, a detachable microphone, as well as all the usual documentation.

Both cables are of a very good quality, with thick black braided and durable headers that are sure to last many years of use. Even if they do fail, they’re standard fit cables, and can easily be replaced with aftermarket products.

The microphone has a very flexible boom, a large foam head to block unwanted wind noise, and a sturdy housing for the 3.5mm jack.

A Closer Look

The headset comes hard-wired with a short cable, attached to the built-in USB powered DAC to ensure you get the best possible audio performance from the headset.

The DAC can be connected to your PC via USB for the best performance, but is also USB powered for use on devices such as consoles, where your audio is connected via the 3.5mm jack cable; this ensures you’re always getting the best performance, as well as access to the advanced sound processing features of the H7, on any device.

The headset looks gorgeous, with reinforced steel making out the main construction of the headband, as well as the mounts for the ear cups. It’s quite lightweight but incredibly durable at the same time.

The driver housing is quite deep, but thanks to an ergonomic shape, they  don’t look too large, and still have a nice sleek look to them. We especially love the backplate on the ear cups, which features a subtle textured BlasterX logo on a metal backplate that matches up with the other metal components of the headset, which the X features some red LED backlighting that powers up when the USB cable is connected.

On the base of the ear cup, you’ll find the hard-wired cable hands from near the back, ensuring it doesn’t trail too close to your face or neck. Next to that, a deep recess for the microphone connector, ensuring it

Each driver is wired in with a short braided cable that passes through to the headband. The exposed design has a little slack to it, so that when you increase the length of the headband, it doesn’t get damaged.

From minimum to maximum, the headset has enough adjustment to suit younger games, as well as those of us with quite large heads, such as myself.

Each driver is mounted on a small pivot, which allows a good degree of adjustment. This will help ensure the ear cups and their padding get a close and comfortable fit around your ears, helping keep the sound of the headset in, and any other sounds out; a big advantage if you’re gaming in a noisy environment such as a LAN gaming event.

Comfort certainly isn’t an issue here, with some of the thickest, softest and most luxurious padding you’ll find on any headset on the headband, helping to evenly distribute the weight of an already surprisingly light headset.

A good thick memory foam padding on the ear cups too, with soft and high-quality leather padding that does a great job of providing a close and sound proof fit.

The face of the drivers has been treated with a soft cloth covering too, which is comfortable on the ear and allows for a close fit. Oh, and the headband is crazy flexible, despite the fact that it feels incredibly strong; whoever designed the headband deserves a pat on the back.

Finally, the microphone clipped into place, sitting nice and study into the housing of the driver, and with enough range on the boom to find that optimal speaking position.

Performance

Setting up this headset couldn’t be much easier, just download the software from the product page, and you’re good to go. What’s interesting, is that while you can’t use the software on say, mobile or consoles, you can still use your preferred settings. Just download the X-Plus tool, select a pre-set such as “Battlefield”, upload it to the USB DAC, and take your headset back to your console. This is a great tool to have, and one that can’t be mentioned enough.

The main software is really easy to use, as it lays out everything in tabs, with clear and easy to use controls and tidy graphics.

There are a lot of features to the acoustic engine, but with three preview modes for you to listen to, you can demo all of the surround sound and processing features with ease. Tweak your settings while playing a preview of your choice, and you’ll quickly find which one suits your tastes. What is impressive is just how much of an impact each has on the sound. The Surround feature certainly has the most impact, and the demos give you a great impression of this. If you’ve ever used a virtual surround headset, I can be you’ve never heard one quite like this! The processing is flawless, bullets whip around you, explosions rip from far away, helicopters buzz 360-degrees; it sounds amazing!

The powerful EQ gives you a huge range to play with too, and even when you’re pushing the limits of the ranges, you’ll find the sound doesn’t distort thanks to some very capable drivers.

I’m not a fan of scout modes, as I prefer a more natural sound, but I can’t argue with the advantages it gives. If you want to hear the footsteps of your enemies sooner than later, turn this on and you’ll have an edge on the competition.

Want to annoy your teammates? Tweak these settings and you’ll sound pretty funky, a good laugh, but again, these settings are not something I care for.

The headset can be quickly adjusted from stereo, 5.1, and 7.1, giving you plenty to play around with to best suit your source material. Stereo certainly works best for music, surround for movies and games. Either way, whatever you play through this headset, you’re going to be in for a thrill ride. The high-resolution audio support is perfect, bringing out a lot of detail across the entire audio range, source material dependant of course.

Overall, this is one of the best sounding headsets we’ve ever tested. It sounds as good as my Astro A40, which comes with a much larger desktop amp, and comes with the added bonus of being cheaper. If you want the best audio in this price range, you’ll find it in the H7.

Final Thoughts

Price

The Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Headset is available directly from Creative for £139.99, which isn’t cheap, but when you consider that it goes toe-to-toe in terms of performance with something like the Astro A40, which costs £149.99, yet comes with a more compact amp, more software features, and is more comfortable, it’s a bit of a bargain.

Overview

I’m blown away by this headset, it really is one of the best we’ve ever tested both personally and professionally. The H5 headset is fantastic, it really is, but the H7 takes every single aspect of that headset and makes it just a little bit better. Of course, all this quality and performance doesn’t come cheap, and I’m sure more than a few people will be running a mile from their credit card than pay £140 for a headset, but the simple fact is, you get what you pay for.

When it comes to gaming, you can pick up a decent headset for about £60, but it’s likely to be quite focused on gaming performance and build quality won’t be anything special. The same goes for music headphones, you’ll get good sound, but you’ll lack the microphone and other features. However, when it comes to enjoying multiple types of media, such as movies, music, and games, you’re bound to want a headset that can do it all, and that’s exactly what the H7 delivers.When it comes to movies, the surround processing from Creative is simply unmatched, and if you’ve ever had doubts about virtual surround processing, you can leave your concerns at the

When it comes to movies, the surround processing from Creative is simply unmatched, and if you’ve ever had doubts about virtual surround processing, you can leave your concerns at the door because the effect is flawless here. Gaming is even better, now just because of the surround processing, but also affects processing that gives you access to the best profiles for your favourite games, as well as modes to enhance the sound of enemy footsteps, the powerful noise-cancelling microphone, and that closed back design that helps you forget the real world and enjoy the digital one. Audiophiles can join in on the fun too, as those full-spectrum drivers literally do not miss a beat, and if you’re a music lover, you’ll find a whole new level of appreciation for your favourite albums.

The build quality is second to none, with an extremely durable, yet surprisingly flexible steel frame, high-quality cable braiding, luxurious soft leather padding and more, giving them the premium quality look and feel you would expect from a premium-grade headset. The fit is flawless, feels perfectly balanced and lightweight on your head, so don’t worry about those long gaming sessions, as you could easily forget you’re wearing this headset.

What else is there to say? Not much, as the H7 promised to deliver unmatched performance, comfort, and quality, and it delivered on all fronts. One of the best headsets money can buy, and it’s as simple as that.

Pros

• Exceptional audio performance
• Flawless surround processing
• Extensive audio processing and EQ settings
• Multi-format support
• Built-in high-quality DAC/AMP
• Great build quality
• Extremely comfortable
• Competitive price vs rival offerings

Cons

• None

“If you’re looking to take your gaming, movies, music, even your Skype calls, to the next level, the Creative Sound Blaster H7 is the headset you’ll want at the top of your shopping list. Flawless performance, build quality and style throughout. Highly recommended!”

Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Headset Review