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I have reviewed a LOT of Thermaltake cases recently, so it is nice to get something a little different to try out with the new TteSports Shock Pro 7.1 RGB Gaming Headset.
Tt eSPORTS is a relatively new subdivision of Thermaltake focussing on peripherals and accessories for competitive gamers.
The Tt eSports Shock Pro 7.1 is a budget headset costing just £45 on Amazon, but according to the price history, it was as low as £32 back in October.
It is a USB powered headset with built-in microphone, RGB lightings and virtual 7.1 sound for an immersive gaming experience.
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Build and Design
With a price point this low, everything is kept quite basic, the headphones arrived in a simple cardboard box with plastic packaging inside. There are no accessories with it, just the warranty card and the install manual.
The headset itself is very light and plasticy which makes it feel a bit cheap, but the lightweight nature should make them comfy for prolonged gaming sessions.
On the left ear cup, you have the built-in microphone which can be flipped up inside the headphones when not in use. The earcup also has the volume controls, microphone on and off plus control of the RGB.
The USB cable is thick, long and braided, giving a more premium feel compared to the rest of the headset. Unlike some of the other Tt eSports models these are USB only, I assume this is because 3.5mm is no use for 7.1 surround.
Plugging these in will auto install and you can start using them straight away, however, Thermaltake recommends that you install their driver to enable the 7.1 effects. Once installed the software allows you to have some basic control over the speakers including overall volume, left and right volume as well as enabling or disabling the microphone.
The RGB functions are not software controlled, and you control this with the button on the headset, from what I can tell there are only two options, on or off. When on it will slowly pulse through colours.
They are quite comfortable to wear; the lightweight nature helps prevent fatigue when wearing them for a long period of time. However, the lightweight nature gives them a relatively loose fit on your ears, with a little adjustment you can get a reasonable seal with them though.
Sound Quality and 7.1
Sound quality is also decent, at well under £50 you are not going to have the best sound quality in the world, but they have a reasonable level of bass with clear mids and highs. There is no obvious distortion or tininess that you frequently experience with cheaper headphones.
They perform better with gaming and movies over music, I find you don’t need something perfectly accurate while gaming, you just need something that is punchy without distortion.
I am not a massive believer in surround sound on headphones and testing it using a Dolby Digital Surround 7.1 test as well as the Fraunhofer 7.1 test more or less confirmed my opinions.
To be fair, doing the above tests did give some level of surround experience but I am not sure if there is much improvement between 5.1 and 7.1 with is a very basic surround sound . At the end of the day, headphones are stereo in design and whatever black magic companies do to replicate surround is never going to be as good as 7.1 speakers. In terms of gaming, I guess it does add a little extra depth, but I wouldn’t recommend buying these, or any surround headphones, purely for the surround experience.
Conclusion
Overall, these are good for the money, there is nothing particularly outstanding about them, but at the same time there is nothing really bad about them either. Sound quality is good for the price, they are comfortable to wear for a long period of time and I like the fact that you can tuck away the mic when not needed.
If you are on a budget and need some headphones, these seem like a good choice.
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Thermaltake Tt eSports Shock Pro 7.1 RGB Gaming Headset Review
Overall
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I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
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