Cooler Master Co., Ltd. is a computer hardware manufacturer from Taiwan. Founded in 1992, the company is a popular aftermarket brand for computer chassis, PSU, coolers, cooling pads, and other accessories.


INTRODUCTION

At first glance, CM Storm Ceres 400 seems like a solution for gamers on budget who wanted to have a gaming headset. Let's take a quick look on the overview of the headset

Large high quality 40mm drivers deliver great sound quality
Whether you’re playing a game, listening to music, watching a movie, or just chatting with family, sound is king. Ceres-400 has large, lightweight 40mm drivers in the ear cups that deliver powerful sound fidelity. Now you’ll hear every detail and feel every base and treble.

Adjustable headband for a perfect fit
Ceres-400 uses a kind of plastic that can expand while staying stable. You’ll be able to find the right fit no matter your head size. The ear cups lock in place to prevent accidental re-adjustment. Soft-touch material lines the headset and provides a comfortable fit.

Swivel Noise-Cancelling Microphone
Cursing at enemies or whispering sweet nothing to a loved one, this sensitive microphone eliminates background noise so your voice comes through with crystal-clear clarity. The mic can be quickly access or put away to fit your situation.

In-line volume control and microphone on/off switch
In-line control capsule allow you to adjust the volume and mute the microphone quickly and easily.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model Number : SGH-2010-KKTA1 (black)/SGH-2010-KWTA1 (white)
Headphone : Driver diameter: φ40mm x 7.5 mm(H)
Frequency range: 20 - 20,000 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivities(@1kHz): 108 dB ± 4 dB
input: 100mW
Connector: 3.5 mm headphone jack
Inner Ear Cup Diameter: 90 mm
Cable Length: 2.5m
Microphone: Directivity: Omni-Directional
Frequency range: 100 – 10,000 Hz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 50dB
Sensitivities(@1kHz): -30 ± 3 dB (0dB=1V/pa.1KHz)

Hardware Requirements: Audio Usage: Devices with 3.5mm audio jack
Audio + Microphone Usage: Devices with 3.5mm audio + microphone jack(smartphones)


RETAIL BOX AND PACKAGING


Legit reviews photo

The packaging was pretty awesome, and they got some information on the rear of the box with 9 different languages.


Aphnetworks photo

Inside the box, we got the manual, and the headset itself. So, there was no surprise about the content.

TESTING SESSION

Music :

My first impression on this headset while listening to music is they don't produce a lot of bass. I would say that normal multimedia headphones produces more thumphy bass than this one. The sound volume was pretty low for a gaming headset. I can even put the maximum volume with this headset and wear it like it was on medium volume level. I would say that this headset was not meant entirely for music (especially for audiophiles). The performance was not impressing at all. But we can't expect something high from this kind of budget range.

Games :

I did a lot of test with this headset while playing MOBA/RTS and FPS game. First, I test it with COD : Black Ops 2. First of all, the bass was not very strong. You won't get the feeling when you heard the explosion. The audio positioning was pretty good when I tested it with Razer Surround Sound Software (Thanks again Razer for the free software). You can hear front,back,left and right enemies after change the equalizer to more sensitive to footsteps. For RTS, I test it with Dota 2. I had no problem whatsoever with this headset playing the game. The bass and treble was not too muddy or flat.

Comfort :

In any gaming headset that you buy, if it was not comfortable, you won't use it anymore. In terms of comfort, I would say that this was really uncomfortable for me. The headset clamps to your ear after 1-2 hours of gaming session. The cloth ear cushions was made of hard foam, so it puts on pressure to your ear. I gotta say the only good thing I can say about comfort on this headset is it is lightweight, as they claim. There was almost no sound isolation from the ear cushions (as they claimed the headset ear cushions made of sound absorbing cushions).

Mic test :

I test it while playing Dota 2 several times. My teammates say the sound was clear and has really small amount of background noise. Which means this headset is good for bringing to LAN Tournaments or in a busy office.
I was very happy with the mic performance

CONCLUSION

The CM Storm Ceres 400 Gaming Headset is not a bad choice for gamers who wanted to buy their first headset. I can't say that I don't like this headset entirely. Maybe other gamers love it. Cloth ear cushions won't offer as much as sound isolation as leather ear cushions. Overall, this is a pretty good choice for gamers who's cutting on budget. For this kind of result and price, It's not a bad mid-end gaming headset choice. This headset available on market from RM129-RM159

PROS:

-Can adjust to almost any head size
-Noise cancelling mic works great
-Convenient Inline control and mic mute

CONS

-Clamps to your ear, can get really annoying after wearing it for a while
-Sound level was too low
-Not suitable for listening to musics
-Need an external sound card for better experience

This post has been edited by MuhdYusri: Nov 21 2013, 11:48 AM