The Roccat Elo 7.1 isn’t as comfortable as it could be, but this headset sounds good, functions well and doesn’t cost that much. While Roccat doesn’t command the same kind of attention in the headset space as Turtle Beach, SteelSeries or Astro, it’s always put out reliable gear that delivers slightly-better-than-expected performance for the price. That’s the case with the Elo 7.1 USB, which sounds very good and lets you customize a lot of software options, even though this headset falls a little short on comfort and fit.
The headset’s black plastic chassis has odd, ugly angles just above the earcups, and a steel headband way, way above an elastic strap.
The mic itself has a strange kink in the front, meaning that you’ll have to position it slightly farther away from your mouth than you’d expect. But the whole apparatus feels a little stiff, particularly the earcups, meaning that the headset is not going to sit perfectly around your ears, and it’s going to press down harder than you’d expect.
But I was also extremely relieved to go back to models with plusher earcups and more precise fits, which are comfortable rather than just tolerable. I tested the headset with Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, Doom Eternal, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy XIV, and everything sounded just as it was supposed to. Likewise, the Elo 7.1 USB is not bad at all for music, particularly since you can tinker with audio presets for various game genres and entertainment modes. I listened to tracks from Old Crow Medicine Show, Flogging Molly, The Rolling Stones and G.F. Handel, and was pleased with the performance across the board. You can try out different audio presets for different genres (MOBA, FPS and so forth), switch between stereo and surround sound, adjust mic sidetone and even try out different voice-changing filters.
ROCCAT Elo 7.1 USB Gaming Headset Review
Now, I’m putting the middle child of the group through my testing regime, the ROCCAT Elo 7.1 USB. So far, ROCCAT’s Elo range is a very acceptable line of gaming headsets that are both good in quality and price. The front of the box shows off a nice graphic of the headset and also details that it comes with surround sound and RGB.
All of ROCCAT’s Elo range of headsets have an exposed cable that runs through the adjustable headband into each earcup.
Something to note is that all of the headsets are exactly the same in terms of how they are built and feel – the only difference is the features that come with them. As I have mentioned in my Elo Air and Elo X Stereo reviews, I personally prefer a gaming headset that has a decent clamping pressure, as I believe that clamping pressure gives me new levels of immersion in-game as I cannot hear the outside world. I also understand that this isn’t every gamers’ personal preference for gaming headsets, as some people find that high clamping pressure combined with leatherette earcups leads to hot and sweaty ears. I found that all of the Elo series headsets to be extremely comfortable and very simplistic when it comes to features.
If I was to knit pick about the Elo 7.1 USB’s design, the few things I would tell ROCCAT to reconsider is the positing of both volume wheels on the back of the left-hand earcup. During my experience with the headset, I didn’t find the volume wheels’ positing to be overcrowded, but I can imagine that some gamers would. Once you have downloaded the ROCCAT Swarm software, installed it, and opened it, you will be presented with this screen. The Swarm software also allows users to change the RGB color the headset is emitting under the ‘illumination’ category.
I feel like myself, and I think I can speak on behalf of a large portion of gamers out there; we would prefer it if changes that are made in the software are immediately updated on the headset. During this testing period, I like to play a variety of different games, depending on the design and purpose of the headset in the market.
Grenades, arc stars, and a variety of different gun sounds in Apex Legends came through to my ears in crystal clear quality. As for Titanfall 2, I was lucky enough to be able to play through the campaign of the game for the first time with the headset, and wow, did the 7.1 USB provide an awesome experience. The Elo 7.1 USB is priced at $70, and I felt that the quality of the surround sound the headset produces is what you would expect when you hand over $70 – it’s more than acceptable, but nothing mind-blowingly good. The Elo 7.1 USB has an awesome sleek black design with a very comfortable clamping pressure that adds new levels of immersion in-game.
Bass was nice and tight, the mids were clear, and the highs didn’t have any distortion. So, if you can afford to pay an extra $29, I would recommend the Elo 7.1 Air, as wireless is something you just can’t give up once you have used it.
If you cannot afford the extra $29 and don’t mind losing surround sound, then I would recommend the Elo X Stereo, as that headset is the king of the $50 price point.
However, I would still suggest holding onto your money to get the 7.1 Air as it considerably increases the whole experience of the headset when you don’t have to worry about the cord. All in all, ROCCAT has done a great job with its Elo line of gaming headsets, and I cannot wait to see what future iterations will look like!
Roccat Elo 7.1 Air review
The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air is currently the highest-end product of the batch, offering wireless audio, bright LEDs, and surround sound. Editor’s note: This review was updated on October 7, 2021 to include new charts and scores for the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air’s frequency response and isolation performance based on our new testing setup. And like most of the best options in, the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air offers the full slate of features you’d expect from a decent gaming headset, but it doesn’t exactly break new ground. Leatherette is still a little stiff to get a great seal around a pair of glasses, and the headset lacks the tension to really force the issue, but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for shorter sessions. The Roccat Elo 7.1 connects to your Windows PC or console of choice via 2.4GHz USB RF dongle, and all you need to is plug it in and turn it on. If you want access to additional features, the headset supports Roccat Swarm, the company’s requisite PC desktop app. Swarm brings access to 7.1 virtual surround sound, as well as more granular controls for headphone EQ, LED light color customization, mic settings, and more. Roccat claims the Elo 7.1 Air can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, and in our testing we found that pretty much the case.
At a consistent output of around 75dB, the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air lasted just over 23 hours, 30 minutes on a single charge with the LED lights shut off. On PlayStation 4, connecting was just as straightforward as on PC, and though surround sound wasn’t available, the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air still managed just fine outputting stereo for games like Dauntless and Marvel’s Spider-Man. The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air offers pretty accurate audio output for a gaming headset, compared to our target curve. The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air avoids the trap many gaming headsets fall into by not boosting the bass to brain rattling levels.
The under-emphasized bass shouldn’t be an issue either—explosions, gunfire, and other low, rumbling sounds are always going to be the loudest elements in a given scene or moment. While its sound is reasonably accurate, the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air sports some of the worst isolation performance I’ve seen from a gaming headset. This means people with deeper voices will come through a little distorted, as the bassier parts of their speech don’t output at the same volume as other equally loud aspects. The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless is the same price, has better battery performance and more accurate audio, and it works on every platform but the Xbox One (no surround sound though).
The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air is perfectly fine gaming headset, but compared to the wealth of remarkable options at the same price, you might be better served looking elsewhere.
Customer Reviews: ROCCAT Elo 7.1 USB Wired Surround Sound PC Gaming Headset with AIMO RGB Lighting Black ROC-14-130-01
With a variety of headsets available from many trusted brands, I was anxious to get my hands on the ROCCAT 7.1 RGB PC gaming set to try. They state that they’re using some, I imagine, proprietary Turtle Beach audio tweaks to provide a superior listening environment while playing games. Included in the box you’ll find the ROCCAT headset with an attached USB A cord, a detachable microphone, and the appropriate guide/warranty cards. The 7.1 surround works well in games, such as FPS, but didn’t notice any real change while playing an MMO; in this case World of Warcraft.
It does a great job staying in place, and the memory foam, along with the light weight, make long gaming sessions comfortable. If you are lucky enough to have a compatible ROCCAT Vulcan keyboard, you will find the AIMO unified lighting system react to your gameplay and key presses. Colors of the RGB lights appear to react to things happening on screen, and when pressing buttons on the Vulcan keyboard. Overall, it is easy to recommend this headset for those looking to compliment their ROCCAT gaming accessories that utilize the AIMO lighting settings.
Roccat Elo 7.1 Air Gaming Headset Review: Well-Priced Wireless Contender
PC gamers will find a lot to love about the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air and don’t have to spend a huge premium to obtain it. In its fight to be the best gaming headset, these cans opt for a wireless connection, letting you cut the cord and simply plug in a USB Type-A dongle.
But although dropping the cable is convenient, being limited in how far you can move from your PC and unsure of exactly how much battery life remains are not. The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air is a sleek, matte-black beast, from the top of its headband all the way down to the metal forks holding its earcups. There are a number of subtle, thoughtful touches to the Elo 7.1 Air’s overall design that make it very pleasant to use for long gaming sessions. But the Elo 7.1 Air isn’t a dramatic outlier: the wireless Corsair HS70 Bluetooth and Razer Blackshark V2 Pro are only slightly lighter at 0.7 pounds each.
I usually detest self-adjusting headbands because they never seem to fit my rather large noggin without significant slippage, so it’s wonderful to finally experience one that works as advertised. Adding to the Elo 7.1 Air’s ability to stay rocking for the long haul, the memory foam padded earcups are comfortably tight with just the right amount of depth to avoid crushing ears against the drivers.
You can choose between Color Cycle, Fully Lit, Heartbeat, Breathing, Blinking or Roccat’s Aimo Intelligent Lighting, which is supposed to react to how you use the headset and improve the more you use it.
I even played with the headset sitting on my desk to see if I could notice gameplay-specific lighting reactions, and while there were some cool effects, it didn’t seem obviously triggered by any audio cue. Still, the Elo 7.1 Air has good specs for the price and should cover the full frequency of what human ears can hear. The booming bass we’ve all come to know and love from gaming headsets is well represented here but thankfully doesn’t interfere with clarity across the frequency range.
Mids and highs are crisp and clear, making the Elo 7.1 Air well-suited for music, movies and gaming. With virtual 7.1 surround sound on, positional audio cues were readily apparent in DOOM Eternal and CS:GO, as well as in slower paced titles like the Dark Souls series dripped with atmosphere.
Superhuman Hearing amplifies more subtle sound effects like footsteps in both stereo and virtual 7.1 mode, and this can certainly be useful in competitive titles.
This is perfectly fine with your gaming setup at home, but it’s not ideal in an office setting or out in public, where the excess sound pouring out of your headset will likely annoy those near you. I found dropping the mic’s sensitivity is necessary, as the default level is a bit too high gain and can distort occasionally. The Elo 7.1 Air can be fully charged from a dead battery in as little as 90 minutes, so, thankfully, downtime between marathon sessions is minimal.
Each EQ curve is tailored to its specified gaming genre, with the Racing, Explosions and FPS presets offering a significant bass boost and the others a more mid-frequency focused experience. The Balanced and Instrument presets were best for music with their flatter curve, and Dynamic was well-suited for movies with its high and low frequencies boosted.
The app also lets you play with the clarity of voice and audio and adjust mic sensitivity and the bass frequency EQ. The Roccat Elo 7.1 Air manages to punch above its weight class in all of the categories that matter, providing great value for your hard-earned cash.
There are a few small issues that prevent the Elo 7.1 Air from achieving perfection, most notably the lack of a truly accurate battery level monitor.
Roccat Elo 7.1 USB Review
For just under $150 AUD you get huge 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound, Turtle Beach’s TruSpeak microphone technology, and of course, AIMO Intelligent Lighting. The overall look of the Elo 7.1 USB is sure to divide many gamers — On one hand, its design is a bit basic as there are no obnoxious in-your-face RGB effects. This is where Roccat’s superior German engineering has come into its own as the weight distribution of the headset in first-class, even deceiving the most trained eye. This doesn’t help when you have absolutely useless teammates who can’t even watch your back for 4 seconds so you can reload, instead, you both die to some noob with a shotgun who was 1-13 you’re upset.
Thankfully, the mic is at least removable, which is good in case you have deaf teammates and want to free up some real estate. If you have read any of my other reviews you will know that I am not a huge fan of virtual surround sound and the Elo 7.1 USB does little to change this.
The unidirectional microphone utilises TruSpeak technology and is a clear (pun intended) highlight of the headset. This is no disrespect to the rest of the Elo 7.1 USB but from the moment the first time I jumped on Discord for a round of Valorant and was instantly I was asked which microphone I was using, I knew it was a winner.
OK, not so much with my voice, but absolutely impressed with the clear, crisp and natural sound that Truespeak mic provided. Sure, its far from perfect with too many options crowded into each page but the level of customisation and the vast amount of settings on offer is next-to-none.
Everything from firmware updates, to profiles configuration, to EQ settings, to microphone sensitivity and active-noise reduction are all there. In the age of wireless technology is can be hard to look past a fixed USB connection, but if you can you will not regret it and I guarantee that you will absolutely the love its audio quality, clear microphone, great software support, and AIMO intelligent lighting.
Roccat Elo 7.1 USB Headset Review: A Good Headset At The Right Price
As its name suggests, this gamer headset connects via USB and also offers 7.1 virtual specialization, to improve immersion. A second flexible plastic hoop, covered with foam and imitation leather, ensures the connection with the skull to distribute the weight correctly and above all to adjust perfectly to the morphology of each person.
Despite this, the Roccat Elo 7.1 USB adapts perfectly to large skulls and will therefore convince the vast majority of users. Going down along the structure covered with hard plastic not really qualitative, we will appreciate the presence of a joint allowing the pivot of the atria at 90 °.
The two ear cups are also mounted on a rather classic articulated system to be able to correctly follow the curves of the user’s head. Completely gadget since out of the user’s field of vision, this lighting can be personalized using the Roccat Swarm software which we will discuss a little further on. In particular, there are two adjustment knobs allowing independent management of the output volume of the system as well as the level of the audio return of the integrated microphone. As often, we have here a small shape memory boom which is long enough to place the microphone correctly at mouth level.
No windshield is provided, so pay attention to sound tests to check if the microphone is not too sensitive to breath You can also customize the sample rate used by the headphones and activate some voice enhancement features, compressed sounds and bass. We put them to the test on several music listening sessions of different styles as well as on a few shooting games to verify the performance of its virtual 7.1 specialization. When listening to music, with the headphones set to a stereo profile, we enjoy a rather rich and enveloping sound.
In short, the Roccat Elo 7.1 USB offers an overall convincing performance that will adapt perfectly to the gaming use for which it was designed. In our tests, we did not exceed 20% sound level on Windows to remain in acceptable listening conditions.
The supplied microphone is also convincing with an ultimately quite clear sound that does not distort or stifle the voice too much. On the other hand, we remain quite skeptical about the noise reduction proposed in the pilot, which does not seem very effective, or even totally useless.
A near contender: ROCCAT Elo 7.1 Air headset review
ROCCAT has some successful peripheral releases under its belt with the Vulcan TKL and Burst Pro lightweight mouse. Adding 7.1 support typically leads to a price hike, and the difference between surround sound and stereo is difficult to notice for some everyday gamers. Users get ROCCAT’s 50-millimeter drivers, a wireless dongle, USB-C charging cable, on-ear controls, and a detachable microphone. These are hardly anything to write home about when considering the Logitech G Pro X 7.1 headset, but the price tag is what makes the Elo 7.1 Air a viable option.
It’s by no means a premium-feeling headset, but it presents a solid feature set that tries to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the G Pro X. That being said, the price is right for those curious about 7.1 headsets but lack bankroll to take the plunge with a more premium option. Straight out of the box, the Elo 7.1 Air has an interesting look, but it isn’t as visually striking as the company’s Vulcan TKL. The provided ear pads form a tight seal and do a great job of staying cool over long play sessions.
The on-ear controls are a nice touch, but users will likely mix up the volume wheels. The Elo 7.1 Air features two independent volume wheels that control in-game sound and the mic monitoring level. This is a helpful and utilitarian feature, but the wheels feel identical and are placed right next to each other, making it easy to adjust the wrong setting. Testing the 7.1 surround sound feature in the Swarm app didn’t inspire much confidence in this headset’s capabilities.
Our reviewer found the headset provided accurate-enough imaging to make decisive calls based on audio cues. Our reviewer would advise running something else if you base your gameplay heavily on sound alone and have the budget for a more premium headset.
Mic monitoring is a nice addition that can help users identify what ambient noise needs to be addressed. By the time you’ve lowered the sensitivity enough, you might not even be picked up by the microphone, depending on which chat app you use.
Software is the easiest feature to pick apart as a reviewer, but ROCCAT’s Swarm app is particularly rough around the edges. It has a unique enough appearance with comfortable ear pads that will suit users without oversized noggins like our reviewer’s.
Be First to Comment