Roccat Khan Pro

The world’s first hi-res audio gaming headset.

Roccat’s Khan Pro headset is the first ever gaming headset to come with certified hi-res audio status, bringing that requisite 20Hz–40KHz response range in tow. But what does hi-res audio do for a gaming headset?

A great deal. Like other Roccat headsets we’ve tested, the construction materials and visual design here don’t scream ‘premium’. A largely plastic body and creaky earcups prove to be only minor marks, though — elsewhere, it’s deceptively brilliant. Controls are kept to a minimum, with a simple volume scroll wheel at the back of the left earcup, and a mic mute function tied to the swingarm. We would have liked a chat/game mix scroll, too, at this price point (they should cost under $200), we can let that one go. The braided cable connects via two 3.5mm audio jacks for mic and audio, rather than USB, and there’s a single-input adapter for mobile devices included in the box.

When you start pushing sounds through the headset, it’s difficult not to be impressed. It managed to find more clarity, bass response and articulate mids than most other sets we’ve tested. Its response sounds similar to our ears to the venerable HyperX Cloud and Cloud II from Kingston. They sound dreamy when listening to lossless audio.

The real question is... How often do you listen to hi-res audio? While it’s growing in popularity in PC games, it’s by no means the standard.

If that exemplary sound quality came in a more luxurious overall package, this would be a genuine best-in-class contender.