Parenting is full of impossible challenges. For example, you can’t save your kids from being pwned relentlessly by l335 Fortnite players – being a n00b is a rite of passage that every gamer must walk alone.
But you can save their hearing with the PuroGamer Volume Limited Gaming Headset, a product aimed squarely at protecting eardrums from the impact of virtual explosions and gunfire rat-at-at-ats by keeping the volume sensibly low at all times.
To put that in numerical terms, the volume is limited to a maximum of 85dB, which is generally considered to be the maximum safe level for extended listening.
If that’s what you’re in the market for, read on.
Design
The form factor of this PuroGamer headset is simple and to the point, with a black, cushioned headband and round, cushioned earcups, both finished with vegan leather. The only real hint of flare is the disc of record-like shiny plastic encircled by a glowing cobalt ring on the outside of the each earcup.
The detachable microphone is similarly unassuming, though the glowing blue disc at the end is a nice, subtle touch. It has a braided cable, too, giving the headset a reassuringly high quality feel.
We found the PuroGamer Volume Limited Gaming Headset to be reasonably comfortable to wear over long periods, though it has a firmish clamp. It’s not the kind of headset that you can forget you’re wearing, but, on the other hand, there’s no danger of it coming off if you shake your head too vigorously.
Functionality
While this headset comes with a detachable microphone, the cable is not removable. Worse, it has two connectors – USB and 3.5mm.
This isn’t necessarily a problem if you’re planning to use the headset in the same place every time – and if you’re using it as part of your PC or console gaming setup, that’s likely to be the case – but having a permanent dangling connector is nobody’s dream scenario.
About halfway up the cable you’ll find the inline controls – a matchbox-size plastic box carrying a volume dial, a mute button, and a slider for switching between 3.5mm and USB microphone input, all of which works as you’d expect.
Sound
The PuroGamer Volume Limited Gaming Headset isn’t professing to be a high-end pair of headphones for audiophiles, but it has a solid, clear, well-balanced sound profile.
If you do find yourself listening to music through it you certainly won’t be disappointed with the quality. Bass, mids, and separation are all very respectable, though a trace of tininess is sometimes detectable in the treble.
More importantly, the PuroGamer Volume Limited Gaming Headset is ideal for gaming, thanks to the impressive level of detail and clarity that it provides. Soundwise, you’re not going to miss a single thing that’s happening in your game – unless, of course, there’s a lot of background noise.
The volume-limiting technology in his headset is inevitably a double-edged sword. Yes, it fulfils its objective of protecting the wearer’s eardrums. But it also deprives you of the ability to crank up the sound to combat background noise, or, hell, just because you’re a free citizen and you feel like living dangerously.
Unfortunately, PuroGamer doesn’t offer much in the way of passive noise cancelling to compensate for its limited volume.
The mic, meanwhile, provides clear audio for the person at the other end of the line.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to criticise the PuroGamer Volume Limited Gaming Headset, since its greatest limitation – a low maximum volume – is exactly what you’re buying it for. In those terms, it offers a practical, stylish, fairly comfortable option for shoppers who care about eardrum integrity above all else.
For the most part, that means parents in search of headsets for their children. If that’s you, and your children have a stable gaming setup in an environment that’s relatively free of background noise, you can buy these with confidence.
You’ll certainly struggle to find anything else as safe, robust, and high quality in the same price bracket.
