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 [Review] Roccat Kave - Updated 8:55PM 27/Oct/2010, real 5.1 surround sound headset

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TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 09:29 PM, updated 15y ago

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Roccat Kave Review
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Outside the box:
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Took off the Kave's plastic wrapping, you see it has the Roccat and its logo printed on it.

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The back of the box, features briefly stated in 10 languages. Tech specs are also stated.

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The left of the box, features explained with introduction.

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The right of the box.

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The top of the box. As you can see, the box is sealed with 2 stickers


This post has been edited by Silverfire: Oct 27 2010, 08:55 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 09:29 PM

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Out of the box:
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Kave smilling at you biggrin.gif

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Proper paddings within the box to prevent the Kave from getting scratched even before you use it.

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The connectors. Green/Orange/Black/Pink. Green for front left/right, orange for center/sub, black for rear left/right while the pink's for the mic. The jacks are protected with rubber covers.

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The overall items found within the box.

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The miscellaneous, a Roccat member card included behind the booklet. A manual and a disc containing a demo and wallpapers of various resolutions.

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The included EQ/volume unit, Roccat call it the Desktop Remote.

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Kave's power'd up brows.gif

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Official tech specs from Roccat


This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 7 2010, 10:48 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 09:31 PM

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Headsets used for comparison:
  1. Razer Piranha
  2. Roccat Kave
  3. SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
Tested on:
    Realtek ALC1200 8.1 HDA Codec
    R2.43 drivers
Why Roccat? Why Kave?
No real reason why I bought it but if you want one then its the real 5.1 it offers. Attracted me by 1st sight. So I asked 3 dealers(moderno, Cex and lingloong) for their price and simultaneously placed an order for 2 units with Cex, one for me another for a friend(raxeus). That's about 24 hours ago. So Cex informed me that stock's ready for my collection yesterday night but due to lack of transport, I collected them this evening. Unboxed it nice and slowly. Finally got them on my head and ears, the feeling was great as opposed to Piranha, it really causes pain. But after prolonged usage, you'll feel the headset pressing down onto your head(too heavy). I compared these 3 headsets side by side and found the Kave best amongst them, the bass and clarity is not as good as the Piranha but much better compared to Siberia. The Siberia somehow lacked the crisp supposingly present in some audio. For audio clarity, I guess the Piranha would take champion but its really hard to distinguish which is better comparing with the Kave unless you're looping the same audio again and again to catch every note. The Kave's rear speakers are not as distinct as the front so I suggest have the rear's volume higher than the front. However, the Kave weights quite a lot. Apparently, the Siberia is found to be the lightest amongst the three while the Kave's heaviest. For build quality, all 3 of them are very good. The texture, the paint, the box, everything in good order. There's a problem with my set though, my Roccat member ID is not working but bah... Doesn't matter much as long as the Kave works perfectly. A point to note, I really like that EQ/Volume control unit, much more handy when it comes to adjusting volume, more convenient than the shortcut keys on my keyboard which are unresponsive at times. As for the adjustable Game/Movie mode, I can't tell the difference between these 2. I can hear very slight difference but I can't tell what it is. Am I the first to own Kave in Malaysia? icon_idea.gif

Update:
  1. If you play DiRT2 like bumper cars then you'll experience lotsa vibration from Kave's Game mode. When you turn around in your trailer, you can distinguish the 5.1 clearly.
  2. Did not sense vibration from COD:MW2 and H.A.W.X.
  3. Review layout updated. Click on images to enlarge.
  4. Did some research, static noise was created by PC Beep, mute it at Windows Sound control panel and the noise is gone. Kave works like a charm now brows.gif
  5. Roccat have replied my support ticket regarding the unusable Roccat ID and have fixed it for me. Its working now biggrin.gif
  6. After some tweaking, the vibration drivers and bass really kicked in. Flawless except the weight!
QUOTE(Roccat @ http://www.roccat.org/Support/ROCCAT-Kave/FAQ/#klb_77032_47_1_en_439)
Two options are available to you which control how the headset sound is mixed: ‘Game’ and ‘Movie’. The ‘Game’ setting is equivalent to the original 5.1 sound setting and is best suited to games, particularly first-person shooters. If you intend to watch films on the computer, ‘Movie’ is the best setting as it ensures that the voices sound clearer and more defined.


Comparison done:
  1. Comfortness:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★☆☆
      my head feels squashed
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★☆☆
      feels bit heavy eventhough there's cushion on top
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
      cushion padding is not as thick as the other 2 but most comfy amongst these 3
  2. Audio quality:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
      clear, crisp with strong bass, least static when highest volume
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★☆
      clear, crisp with moderate bass, much louder than Piranha and Siberia while retaining its clarity
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★☆☆
      clear, less crisp with weak bass, moderate static
  3. Bass quality:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★★
      very good bass but I think its too heavy
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★☆
      moderate bass but I think its just the right amount of bass
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★☆☆
      weak bass
  4. Design:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★☆☆
      the mic's a bit too far out in my opinion, some might find it difficult to record properly and limitted mic rotation
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★★
      the mic's 360° full adjustable, detachable mic and foldable
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
      didn't really liked the sides but overall great looking with detachable mic
  5. Mic quality:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★☆
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
  6. Mic sample:
    Roccat Kave
  7. Noise cancelling:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★★
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★★
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
  8. Cable length:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★★
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★☆
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★★
  9. Finishing quality:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★☆
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
  10. Packaging quality:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★★
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★☆
  11. Portability:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
      2 3.5mm jack(Green/Pink), 1 USB for blings
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★☆☆
      4 3.5mm jack(Green/Black/Orange/Pink), 1 USB for power(does not work without USB power)
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★★
      2 3.5mm jack(Green/Pink), 1 USB for equalizer/simulator
  12. Speaker configuration:
    Razer Piranha
      Stereo 2.1
    Roccat Kave
      Real 5.1
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      Simulated 7.1
  13. Price tags:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★☆
      RM249
      around average users' budget
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★☆☆
      RM339
      above average users' budget
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★☆☆
      RM359
      above average users' budget
  14. Competitors' overall in terms of everything compared above:
    Razer Piranha
      ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
      Quick discomfort, best audio amongst the 3, mic is clear but design may not appeal to everyone
    Roccat Kave
      ★★★★★★★★☆☆
      Can't work without USB power and discomfort after moderate duration of use. Great stuff at that price tag, one of the cheapest 5.1 headsets around
    SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset USB
      ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
      Best comfort but worst audio amongst the 3, best portability and at a price tag that high I'd rather go for something else
  15. Tested on:
      Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
      Napoleon: Total War
      Mirror's Edge
      DiRT 2
      H.A.W.X.
      Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
        261kbps
      Crazy Dog by Big Bang
        192kbps
      Assassin's Creed Cello Trailer Theme by Jesper Kyd
        320kbps
      Spice and Wolf Opening Theme by Yoshino Yuuji
        320kbps
      Hope's Theme by Masashi Hamauzu
        320kbps
      Serah's Theme by Masashi Hamauzu
        320kbps
      Snow's Theme by Masashi Hamauzu
        320kbps
      Lightning's Theme by Masashi Hamauzu
        320kbps
      New Divide by Linkin Park
        320kbps
  16. Music samples for vibrations and bass for Roccat Kave(and others for comparison):
P.S.
1st time doing a review, any advice will be most welcomed. Correct me if I'm wrong in anyway, methods, data and so on. Thanks! notworthy.gif





This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 27 2011, 05:56 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 10:18 PM

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QUOTE(OlgaC4 @ Mar 5 2010, 10:16 PM)
so many cable which is which usb pulak
*

Amended 2nd post with jack info.
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 10:34 PM

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QUOTE(OlgaC4 @ Mar 5 2010, 10:20 PM)
usb for what??

Added on March 5, 2010, 10:25 pm

what sound card u pakai for this review?
*

USB to power up the LEDs and enable the EQ/volume controller to work.

No sound card sad.gif Realtek® ALC1200.
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 10:39 PM

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QUOTE(AlexLai @ Mar 5 2010, 10:33 PM)
Nice review bro. biggrin.gif
*

brows.gif Thanks, hopefully I didn't do too bad.
QUOTE(OlgaC4 @ Mar 5 2010, 10:38 PM)
Basically u hook only one cable to the onboard mb sound card?
*

1 for Piranha and 1 for Siberia but 3 for Kave.

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 5 2010, 10:44 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 10:45 PM

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QUOTE(OlgaC4 @ Mar 5 2010, 10:44 PM)
You asus PT6 mb got 3 audio input for onboard sound card?
*

It's a Realtek® ALC1200 8 -Channel High Definition Audio CODEC to be exact. Quoted from http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QtpKQuER...6trc&templete=2.
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 10:52 PM

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QUOTE(AlexLai @ Mar 5 2010, 10:48 PM)
How useful is the EQ actually?
*

I find it quite handy to mute/adjust volume than my keyboard's shortcut keys, quite unresponsive at times. As for the EQ its more to adjust the volumes for Center/Front/Rear/Sub only but if you find whichever direction is harder to distinguish then you may adjust it to be louder than the others. As for the adjustable Game/Movie mode, I can't tell the difference between these 2. I can hear very slight difference but I can't tell what it is.

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 5 2010, 10:53 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 5 2010, 11:03 PM

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QUOTE(AlexLai @ Mar 5 2010, 10:55 PM)
Better mid range?
*

hmm.gif I'm not sure. But after repeated looping, Game mode sounded more solid than the Movie mode hmm.gif
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 01:25 AM

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QUOTE(j.sun @ Mar 6 2010, 01:12 AM)
Wow! Very nice review bro! Keep it up!

Btw, the kave won't work until you plug the usb in right?
*

Yep, won't work till you plug in the USB. Another downside if you're looking for portability(PMP).
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 01:29 AM

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QUOTE(168257061 @ Mar 6 2010, 01:25 AM)
bro, just an advice.
Go do a full burn in at least with 100 hours for headphones before giving a proper sound signature review. tongue.gif
300 hours is the best.
Because I suppose ur Kave is new ? And new headphone doesn't sound nice for alllll headphone. tongue.gif

but the review layout is nice to see. very neat thumbup.gif
*

You mean it would sound better or worse after 300hours? That's 12 and a half days sad.gif
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 01:59 AM

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QUOTE(j.sun @ Mar 6 2010, 01:38 AM)
It will sound better. Just leave your music on with the headphones plugged in la. Will sound much more better smile.gif

thumbup.gif for your review
*

QUOTE(0168257061 @ Mar 6 2010, 01:47 AM)
yaya... what j-sun is right.
It will sound better after burn-in. Well for me at least. I also testing headphone when fresh out of box vs burnt-in biggrin.gif
100 hours will do basically. Just leave ur headphone with mid level noise... dont too loud.. later voice coil crack  laugh.gif
*

I see, thanks for the invaluable advice. I will update you guys after 5 days tongue.gif
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 02:16 AM

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QUOTE(vailance @ Mar 6 2010, 02:15 AM)
if plug in usb only will work?
*

Yep, will only work if USB is plugged in. It acts as a power source to the EQ/Volume control unit while the unit power up the Kave.
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 02:52 AM

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QUOTE(Cyclonechuah @ Mar 6 2010, 02:36 AM)
nice review, thinking about getting between siberia v2 or kave
*

If the Siberia V2 has got better audio quality then go for it but if you're looking for surround sound headsets then Kave.
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 11:26 AM

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QUOTE(doob @ Mar 6 2010, 06:41 AM)
nice review bro
im currently using barracuda for 2 year +
is it "berbaloi" if i change to this??
*

I don't think so unless you're wanting its 5.1.
QUOTE(hydrogen @ Mar 6 2010, 08:06 AM)
Thanks for the review.
btw. I got the Kave exactly the same time as you. Scary, I know. I saw you post in the forums yesterday at 7pm. The same time as me.

Looks like we're the first two in Malaysia. Or at least, the first two who bothered to post. hahahaa
*

Haha, yeah. I couldn't wait to collect my Kave. Posted the 1st minute I reach home laugh.gif
QUOTE(TDUEnthusiast @ Mar 6 2010, 09:09 AM)
notworthy.gif I just got my Roccat Kave yesterday after placing my order for like 5 months ago through Moderno laugh.gif. I don't regret waiting for that long though.. This is a fine gaming headset.

Wanna borrow my Elite PRO and test again? brows.gif.
*

brows.gif I would love to test them out again with your X-Fi brows.gif But I'm selling off my Piranha and my friend his Siberia sad.gif
QUOTE(Silverfire @ Mar 6 2010, 02:52 AM)
If the Siberia V2 has got better audio quality then go for it but if you're looking for surround sound headsets then Kave.
*

After reading others' review about V2 I would recommend Kave any time. The audio quality for V2 is more or less the same as its predecessor while the price tag flies up from RM350 to almost RM500.

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 6 2010, 05:28 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 09:36 PM

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QUOTE(AlexLai @ Mar 6 2010, 09:31 PM)
How's the mic?
*

Download/Play Kave's mic sample at http://www.cruxiaer.com/audio/KaveMic-03.wav. I sound like a noob doh.gif

So how is it? I don't have Siberia's and Piranha's for comparison.

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 7 2010, 10:18 AM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 10:26 PM

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QUOTE(franklooi96 @ Mar 6 2010, 10:24 PM)
Bro, will it work if only plug in 2 jacks? Which is mic and headphone, but had to choose which direction right..?

Of course with USB plugged in.
*

Yeap can work but what'd you mean by choosing direction? If you only plug in green then surely only have front left/right+sub(2.0/2.1).

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 6 2010, 10:28 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 10:41 PM

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QUOTE(Defallen @ Mar 6 2010, 10:34 PM)
Actually quite confused with what he's asking, lolz.
Just to be sure, only work if you plug in both USB and 3.5mm jacks. Not gonna work if you only plug in USB w/o the jacks.

tongue.gif

Edit : Btw, good review, Silverfire.
*

Thanks for the compliment tongue.gif
QUOTE(hilmiangah @ Mar 6 2010, 10:36 PM)
omai....suara so macho  wub.gif

the price is kinda good but my heart want me to get a decent audio technica.haiz..............must compare the headphone 1st and then decide.
*

I'ma record again nao! http://www.cruxiaer.com/audio/KaveMic-03.wav.

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 6 2010, 10:53 PM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 11:11 PM

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QUOTE(franklooi96 @ Mar 6 2010, 11:10 PM)
Sorry sorry, I'm a little noob at these, I thought every jack has it's own direction of sound, sorry. smile.gif
*

Well, you can plug the green jack into the black output then you'll get rear left/right instead of front left/right.
QUOTE(franklooi96 @ Mar 6 2010, 11:10 PM)
Got it captain, you can land your plane now on railway number 13.

It sounded really clear like those used in plane and watchtower communication.
*

LOL! Hopefully I don't sound as noob as 01 and 02 in the newly recorded 03 icon_idea.gif

This post has been edited by Silverfire: Mar 7 2010, 12:37 AM
TSSilverfire
post Mar 6 2010, 11:24 PM

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QUOTE(franklooi96 @ Mar 6 2010, 11:14 PM)
I was asking that because I was worried that computers with only 2 audio jacks wouldn't get the full performance out of this awesome headphone. Got the answer, thank you!  notworthy.gif
*

No probs, we're always here to help rclxms.gif
QUOTE(711726 @ Mar 6 2010, 11:21 PM)
how good is it when comparing it with zalman 5.1 headset?i own one,so loud,even i can feel the bass inside my head lol. cool.gif  cool.gif
*

Can't tell, I don't own a Zalman 5.1.
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