Over the years, gaming headsets have been my achilles heel. Some have been uncomfortable to wear, others have been fiddly to setup and a few have lacked in the sound they push out. Thankfully the LS20 from LucidSound hits all the right notes (no pun intended).
Let’s start off with the construction of the headset itself. The main frame of the headset is made from metal with a padded headband for added comfort and the ear cups being mainly plastic with, just like the headband, padding for the ear cups to sit and feel comfortable over the ears. The LS20 also features ear cup arms that can be swiveled to allow you flexibility if you so need it. The main construction of the headset is very well made and feels sturdy and unlike many other headsets, don’t feel like they’re about to fall apart after prolonged use. I’ve got to give LucidSound big props for the construction and overall feel of the LS20 headset as it’s an incredibly comfortable and generally great looking headset.
The left ear cup on the LS20 headset is where most of the controls are located with the right ear cup having a EQ button and a click of the outside shell of the right ear cup to mute the mic. On the outside of the left ear cup it features a volume wheel which you turn to adjust volume levels and click to mute the same audio and also controls for music and calls if using the headset on a smartphone for example with the included 3.5mm cable. The control system used in the ear cups on the LS20 is very intuitive and works very well once you’ve gotten to grips with it after a short amount of time. The headsets boom mic (which connects into the left ear cup) is removable so you can use the headset as a pair of headphones rather than a gaming headset if needs be as when the boom mic is removed, the integrated mic takes over. One great thing about the LS20 is that it will work with anything. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and also mobile phones and it’s super easy to setup and not once did I have any connectivity issues while setting up.
Inside the box, the LS20 comes complete with all all the cables and accessories needed for you to use the headset straight away; without the need to buy added accessories. These include a removable boom mic, 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, a micro USB charging cable and a quick start guide. The headset is connected via the included 3.5mm cable that connects to the PS4 or Xbox One’s controllers and with a switch of a setting through each devices settings, the headset is up and running and ready to go instantly. Like I said above, the headset is extremely easy to set up which is always a bonus. The LS20 features a rechargeable battery inside the headset that can be charged by using the included Micro USB charging cable and connected to a PC or Mac. One full charge of the headset will give you a roughly 20 hours which is fantastic as it means that your gaming session wont be interrupted by the fact that after a few hours, you need to recharge the battery up.
So, let’s talk about the audio that the LS20 pumps out. The headset has 40mm speakers integrated inside its casing and from using this on the PS4 and Xbox One mainly, its easy to see why. The clarity of voice and gaming audio is absolutely fantastic and the headset sounds crisp and the audio for a gaming headset is without a doubt, one of the best I’ve used. If you’re looking for a headset that will mainly be used for gaming, then the LucidSound LS20 is a great option and one that will give you a clarity thats needed for the immersive medium that is video gaming.
While the audio crispness and punch is fantastic while gaming, there is a downside to the audio when listening to music on a smartphone. Unfortunately, the vocal from audio tracks lacks clarity at times and sounds a little muffled which surprised me due to the fact that its the total opposite when using it as a gaming headset. Another slight issue is the lack of bass on the headset as well. While it does have a dedicated EQ button to change this, for me personally, it still lacks during some of the more heavy hitting bass tracks. Saying that, this isn’t a major issue as it doesn’t necessary make listening to music on the device sound bad per say, but from a personal perspective, I wanted a little more from a bass standpoint.
VERDICT
Overall, the LucidSound LS20 is an absolutely fantastic headset and without a doubt one of the best I’ve used for gaming. It’s comfortable, has a brilliant and intuitive control system and sounds great for gaming. If you’re in the market for a new gaming headset, then the LS20 will not let you down. While it may lack punch while listening to audio tracks on a smartphone, as an overall package, it’s one of the best out there and ultimately, one you won’t be disappointed with.
This Headset is available now at Argos for £79.99
