A few months ago, I had the opportunity to test the ultra-light gaming mouse from Mad Catz, M.O.J.O M1, and I came away seduced. It was therefore natural that I agreed to test the FREQ 4 gaming headset, an entry-level USB-A headset, released last year and restocked a month ago.
Technical specifications
- Large 50mm neodymium drivers
- Virtual 7.1 surround sound
- Retractable microphone ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation)
- Programmable RGB lighting
- Cable length 2m20, USB-A.
- Wired remote control
- Compatible Windows et PS4 (plug & play)
A helmet that does not go unnoticed
Before you can test the helmet, it must be unpacked. In view of the market segment targeted, we are on familiar ground: a simple box, in the colors of the brand (red and black) which contains the helmet, a small manual, and stickers galore, to stick on your peripherals, your front door or your refrigerator, it's up to you! We thus discover a beautiful beast of 320g, with a double arch. A first metal hoop which gives a frank impression of solidity to the object, and a second in fabric/rubber which adapts to the shape of your head. For a helmet sold for €59,99, we will therefore appreciate the presence of metal, with most manufacturers opting for plastic in this price range. The two loudspeakers are quite large and will cover the ear well. You can also adjust the colors of the helmet via the dedicated software. By default, the headset will naturally transition from one color to another, as is often seen on other devices of this genre.
The two cushions are made of imitation leather and will cover your ears well. After long gaming sessions, nothing to report, the headphones are not too heavy and you don't sweat around your ears. Caution, however, glasses wearers, I wore it on 2-3 occasions with anti-blue light glasses, and the pressure exerted by the two pads proved unpleasant after a few tens of minutes, the fault of the non-adjustable metal headband, which does not allow the earphones to be adapted as desired. Finally, and to finish with the design, the microphone can be retracted into the helmet. We can therefore if we wish, when we are not vocal, put the latter away so that we no longer see it.
Finally, you shouldn't be bothered by the length of the 2,2m cable, which allows most fantasies, so you can play with the headset plugged into the PC on the floor, while having a height-adjustable electric desk! The remote control included on the wire allows you to adjust the volume, to mute on the fly or to activate/deactivate the virtual 7.1. My only regret on the cable side is that a braided cable was not offered. Probably to cut a little on the margins...
Convincing sound, but not in 7.1
After a few weeks of use, what emerges from this headset is that it offers a truly convincing stereo rendering. If everything is correctly adjusted to the level of the game, we benefit from a quality sound rendering, which reproduces the different ranges well. On the other hand, we will be skeptical as soon as we activate the 7.1 rendering. To do this, it is necessary to install the Mad Catz software. We can then activate the latter on the fly via the dedicated button on the remote control. Although highlighted on the commercial sheet, we understand better why the FREQ 4 is sold as a stereo headset and not a 7.1. Spatial virtualization struggles to convince, and offers a rather unnatural rendering. I also noticed a permanent and very unpleasant crackling after a few minutes, which prompted me to deactivate this mode (other users also report this inconvenience and impute the RGB, but I did not notice this at my level ). The insulation, on the other hand, is good. When the good weather arrives, most of the windows are open in the house, and the traffic is heard. Once the helmet on the ears, it is hardly if I heard a motor roar. The microphone also fulfills its mission, since it masks outside noise apart from your voice, and it is clear that it works well!
Conclusion
Positioned at the entry level, the FREQ 4 is a headset with a rather atypical design and which perfectly fulfills its mission as a stereo headset, offering good sound reproduction and offering a quality microphone. On the other hand, do not expect wonders from the 7.1 mode, which is struggling to convince. For the rest, it's all good. To be seen over time if the non-braided yarn does not give up the ghost too quickly.
Amazon - 59,99€
