Viper V370 Headset Review "Hear No Evil Speak No Evil"
Review by: Jennifer Griffiths
Video & Testing by: Philip Griffiths
Introduction :
One of the most important parts of game play is sound and communication. If you can’t hear what is being said to you by your Ops Team, you could miss out on some really “need to know” tactics. If you do not have a clear mic and you are telling tactics to the team, they may or may not understand what you have said and therefore this leads to a “wipe”. In every day terms, that means communication breakdown due to a crappy headset. I am picky about my headset. It has to be perfect in every way. I go through at least one a year because it takes a good bit of hammer. The gamer will put the headset on, game a bit, take it off and go for a “break”, come back and put it back on. Chances are, in the process of the game play they will be called by someone in the house 50 million times to answer a question. *lift the ear cup to hear, mute mic to answer and resume play* And you thought your life was tuff! So, today I am looking at the Viper V370 headset. I will be taking it for a week in the life of the gamer. Yes, you heard me right, a full week. I wanted to put it to the test on not one but two game scenarios where I would use voice and need to hear what is going on. The first game team uses Discord to communicate. The second has a chat that was built into the game framework. Will I get my communications and live or will it let me die? Find out this and more on this edition of Tech For Techs!
Manufacturer statement:
The Patriot Viper V370 RGB 7.1 virtual surround sound gaming headset is designed to provide an enhanced PC gaming experience. Engineered with a closed back and ergonomic ear cups, the V370 blocks out environmental noise and fits comfortably over the ears to keep you relaxed and focused on your game longer.
The built-in microphone makes for a crystal clear sound and folds away while not in use. Simply fold it out to turn it on and fold it away to turn it off. Volume and UBR controls are conveniently located on the ear cup, eliminating the need for awkward and heavy audio controller on the cord. The RGB LED illumination and audio settings can be customized using the Viper software.
Experience Patriot’s revolutionary Ultra Bass Response (UBR) system to add an extra dimension of enhanced audio to your game play. Simply flip a switch to enable two powerful sub-woofers to really feel the game between your ears.
Backed by Patriot’s award winning customer service and a two year warranty, the V370 is compatible with nearly every Windows® operating system, including Windows® 10, Max® OS X, or higher.
About Viper:
Viper Gaming is a brand of Patriot Memory LLC, a global leader in performance memory, SSD's and flash storage solutions. Viper Gaming was established in 2007 with the unveiling of the well-known, top-tier line of computer memory. Since then, the Viper Gaming brand has become synonymous with elite performance and reliability among gamers worldwide.
In 2015, Viper Gaming decided to expand its product categories to include gaming keyboards, headsets and mice. Offering entry, mid-level and high-end solutions with rich feature sets that won't break the bank, Viper Gaming's award-winning peripherals provide gamers everywhere the best price-for-performance and reliability that enables every Viper Gamer to dominate in their sport.
Packaging:
The V370 comes in a smart looking box. You can clearly see what you are getting before you purchase it, and that’s always nice. I would have liked to have seen more Patriot branding references here for those that are unaware that Viper is a Patriot product. I find a lot of brands are failing to mention this these days. Most of what you need to know prior to purchase is in easy to read print on the box. The art work on it is well thought out and it will look nice on your shelf. They took nice pictures and made them stand out, unlike most manufacturers that like to use a black box and just light up the keys on the keyboard. Well done on this.
Unboxing:
Opening it up, I find a User Guide card, stickers and my headset. As for the headset, it has nice leather affect cups on the ears, the head piece is lightweight, but it is not that plastic stuff that breaks when you look at it hard. It actually has a durable metal going down the adjustable sides. I like this. I am also impressed with the red and black braided cable. Not only did they give a braided cable, but it is an attractive one and it is not so small that it tangles so easy. Finding my way down to the connection, it is a simple plug and play USB. It does not connect to Mic and Headset ports as well. Simple USB connection. It has nice RGB lights on the side for those that like that kind of thing. Your microphone is hidden in the ear piece and when you are not using it, you can fold it up so it does not break. Pretty clever.
Installation:
Plug and Play USB
Testing:
And now to try it out…
Tonight, I am playing ESO and using my Discord App to speak. The sound is clear, and I have no problem hearing my team members. The only crackle I hear is due to their own break up issues, this is no fault of the headset. However, my team members struggled to hear me. I could not adjust my mic to get closer to my mouth, nor could I adjust the volume of the mic on the headset. I had to go into Windows and do this “is that better, is this ok, can you hear me now” until I got it right. You can mute it, but I found myself having to take my headset off to find the mute button, so, I decided to just cover the mic instead. Bit annoying if I am fair.
I also went on SL and gave instructions on how to craft using the game interface to chat on. Everyone complained that I was too quiet, and I had to make manual adjustments in my interface *which with my headset are spot on at the same levels*. When asked which mic I sounded better on, my Hyper X won hands down. We later went into an area with music and I have to report that I could not tell the difference in quality than that of my own headset. So, that being said, I have to say well done on sound quality. I did this alternating back and forth on both games over a week, listening to and letting others listen to me to conclude my results.
Pricing:
RRP : £49.99
Conclusion:
This headset is ideal for a novice gamer or someone who just does not want to disturb others in the room when they listen to sound on the computer. I think there could be some changes in the mic area that would not go amiss like being able to bring the mic to your face and the controls for volume and mute being on the braided cable in their own area. All in all it is a nice headset with quality sound. Just a shame that the mic was clear yet quiet.
Stand out point:
I like the RGB lighting on the ear cup, it is a nice added touch. I am also liking the braided cable and the fact they made it red and black and thicker. It does not tangle as bad as some and the length while generous is not over the top.
Pros:
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Braided Cable
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Comfortable ear cups
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Lightweight
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Nice RGB on the cup
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Well-built and durable
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Clear sound
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Good Price
Cons:
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Mic adjustment or lack of
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Mic was quiet
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Would have liked the volume controls to have not been on the ear for ease of access
Scores:
Packaging - 4
Sound Quality - 4
Mic Quality - 3
Comfort/Durability/Value - 5
They got a Gold Award
