The good news is that you only have to switch between the modes to suit the current game that’s on deck. Specific sound signatures like footsteps or rustling are harder to discern in this mode as well due to this characteristic. You get a good bass response with it for those explosions and effects, but it can drown out the highs if your volume level is too high. Stereo mode sounds better, in our opinion, since it is more suited for action-packed games. Vocals also become slightly “nasal” when it’s active, and it is not as directionally accurate as we’d like for a 7.1 implementation. The most noticeable difference between the two is that the 7.1 mode emphasizes the mids to a point where bass response diminishes and becomes almost unnoticeable. Its sound quality is a mixed bag, particularly when the simulated 7.1 feature is used or when it’s off and stereo mode is running. This model comes in black, white, and pink, so there is an option for different tastes. The pair can get loud with a sensitivity of up to 95dB, so it can damage your eardrums if you always use it at max volume.

The Fifine H9 has 50mm dynamic drivers with 32 ohms of impedance, so it won’t require special amps and equipment to be fully utilized. The foam padding doesn’t do much since they are squishy and easy to compress, unlike memory gel types. The headband is also slightly smaller, so the clamping force will be tighter for bigger heads. The upside of that is it is very lightweight so that it won’t put too much pressure on your lobes. Sure, it is plasticky, but it doesn’t feel fragile enough to the point where it’ll easily crack with a little bit of flex. Overall, the design and build quality in relation to the price at the time of this review is decent. That would make it easier to stow the headphones, and it would prevent damage to the cable. The setup is fine, although we wish the half connected to the cans could also be removed. The Fifine H9’s cable comes in two parts, starting with the 3.5mm line from the left and the in-line soundcard with a cable that goes into a USB port. That’s not a bad thing, and we’d rather deal with that rather than use a pair with a fixed boom mic. The arm is flexible enough to let you move it out of the way, but the only way to truly disengage it is to pull it out. You can still use it by connecting the 3.5mm jack to controllers and on the handhelds themselves, so it’s not entirely a bust for console gaming.Īnother thing we want to highlight is the mic, which is completely removable if it is not needed. The Xbox and Switch devices often like exclusive peripherals, so it is understandable for this budget model. However, consoles except the PS5 do not support the soundcard, so you’ll have to use the 3.5mm lead from the headphones itself for those.

It also extends the cable quite nicely, so you won’t accidentally pull it out if you are connected to the back of your PC. It has dedicated buttons for speaker and mic volume levels, a mute trigger, and the 7.1 button at the center. One of the desirable features of this budget option is its in-line sound card, which connects to a USB-A port on your PC and laptop. That doesn’t mean that it’s poorly designed, but bigger users or those with longer ears might not get comfortable with it. However, the headband and earcups themselves on the F9 appear and feel slightly smaller. The headset itself looks simple and elegant, and it sort of resembles the HyperX Cloud II, which prioritized comfort. It’s simple and straightforward, although we wish that the gadget had more protection in its factory box. There are no fancy inserts inside, although the USB soundcard and mic were separately boxed in between the headset. Handling the box for the Fifine H9 and opening it instantly reveals that it’s a budget model.

There isn’t a lot of stiff competition in the budget range, but let’s see if the H9 can punch above that limitation. You get a 7.1 soundcard-equipped pair that works great for PCs and is compatible with all currently available gaming consoles. The Fifine H9 is a very affordable gaming headset that comes with features you won’t normally get from its price category.

Best xbox headset on a budget