Review: Venom Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset — Great sound at a great price

Venom’s Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset might just be one of the best deals in gaming. It works with a variety of platforms and only costs £50. The headset has been engineered for prolonged use so it’s designed for comfort. Not only do the speakers produce great sound, but it also comes with a unidirectional microphone so you can talk to your teammates when playing a multiplayer game. The company really did include everything at such an affordable price point.

One of the main issues many gamers have is with the volume when it comes to headsets. Luckily, the Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset has in-line volume control so you can adjust it to your heart’s content. The neodymium speakers offer a deeper bass and clear audio at all times. While some users may have issues with the profound bass, the majority of gamers will find that it adds to the immersion. You never get over how good explosions sound when playing first-person shooters in particular. I actually prefer it to my existing sound system because you can hear just a little bit more detail which makes all the difference.

For example, in this one scene where two characters are talking, I noticed that there was a lot of wind but the voice of the actors overpowered the environment. With the Marauder everything is balanced, and I could even pick up on the little details. This is a major advantage when you’re using a headset rather than a traditional sound system. Eliminating external noises dramatically enhances the enjoyment.

Despite the fact that 7.1 Virtual Surround is in the name of the headset, it’s still important to stress just how good it sounds. While Venom’s offering isn’t on the level of an incredibly expensive Beats by Dre, they’re still really good. I found myself often using them on my PC just to watch movies. After you put them over your ears, you can’t hear anything else. Nothing stands between you and then game…or in my case a South Indian film called Baahubali: The Beginning.

While Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset might sound great, look good, and feature an incredible price point, there are some issues though. As with many headsets, prolonged use might not make your ears hurt, but it can get a bit toasty in there. This is where you get into a catch-22 sort of situation. If you use breathable fabric for the cushioned areas then you’ll let in a lot of external noise. If you don’t then excessive moisture can make your ears uncomfortable. Maybe there’s a headset out there which doesn’t suffer from this problem but I haven’t come across one. Despite the fact that this is a common issue, it’s still worth mentioning.

My second problem is that the headset comes with a copious amount of cables. While I understand that there are certain limitations when it comes to connecting headsets to consoles, this is a bit much. There’s a standard audio connection and USB cable coming out of the Marauder. These have to be inserted into a receiver which itself has to be plugged into the console. Surely there could’ve been a way to simply this? This setup is especially jarring to witness if you’re gaming in your living room and there are endless wires coming out of the device. Having a lot of cables running back and forth from your television to your couch might not be an ideal situation if you have energetic children running around.

Those are my only main complaints. While the build quality could be better—when it comes to the plastic used in Venom’s devices which I always have an issue with—the Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset is a robust and reliable product. I’m going to use this as my main headset from now on because I don’t have to worry about it not working with other devices. I tested the headset with an Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PC. There weren’t any problems with connectivity and the sound was always great. The biggest appeal of this device is that it works with multiple platforms so you only need to invest in one accessory. If you’re in the market for a gaming headset and own many consoles, then the Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset should be a prominent choice.

8/10

Marauder 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset