Speedlink offers a new affordable wireless headset: the Mandas.
Information
- The Mandas offers up to 10 hours of battery life when used wirelessly, its Bluetooth is compatible with PCs, PS4/5 consoles and the Switch. For the Xbox One and your tablets or phone, a jack cable (supplied) will be required. We are promised a range of up to 10m thanks to the USB Bluetooth receiver.
- Its ear cups have a diameter of 50mm and the whole thing will weigh 350 grams on your head.
- Small detail: the ear cups have red LED lighting.
Practical details
The Mandas unpacked, I first note that 350g is not that heavy for a wireless headset! I remember some helmets that were really much heavier. This type of product has clearly evolved since its inception!
For cons, the appearance of the materials is a bit cheap I think. On the head, moreover, we feel that the foam is not very well distributed and the headband quickly becomes somewhat uncomfortable.
The USB receiver to be plugged into the PC is a little big, moreover it has a clip (not removable) which we could do without without problem. It's not a USB stick that I want to put on a keychain and carry around.
In use, the sound is no problem (on PC and Android smartphone). The microphone is of excellent quality. I made a few calls and my interlocutors found the sound much better than usual. Downside: the microphone is not removable but it has the merit of storing in the helmet.
The buttons are located behind the left earcup: one to turn the headphones on/off, another to control the volume.
The 10 hours of autonomy or almost are there, the description did not lie. The same goes for the range, which is excellent. I moved well away from the Bluetooth receiver and I was still picking up.
Little tour on Discord to test the microphone with Rassilon. He can hear me without any problem. I can also mute the microphone by pressing the button to adjust the volume, (the latter having the icons: "-", "+" and a crossed out microphone)
However I have a very versatile use for my headphones. If it would suit the gamer who uses it mainly on PC and occasionally on mobile, for a more nomadic use it lacks features:
- With smartphone and tablet the jack cable is mandatory and I would like to know why.
- No control on the cable like a stupid button to take calls.
- Impossible to mute the microphone. I thought that by straightening it we could cut the sound, well no! I then tried pressing the volume button, it didn't work either.
- Lighting cannot be turned off. When you are outside, avoid standing at a crossroads: you could be mistaken for a red light.
That said, if for the outside I don't find it practical, it's still happiness, wireless! Being able to get up with your helmet on is great. No more torn cables because we got up too quickly, no more cat playing the cable!
In conclusion, the Speedlink Mandas headset offered at 79.99€ will be very good for use on PC and can help out if you need it on mobile. On the other hand, if, like me, you need a more versatile helmet, then this model will not meet your expectations.
