After seeing off all comers and blowing us away with the Gambit Controller last week, We slipped on the Victrix Gambit Wireless Headset to see if it’s time to repaint the front room purple and black.
With plenty of wireless headsets on the market, the Victrix Gambit Wireless headset is a partner to the highly competitive Gambit controller and looks to offer a package that can support gamers relaxing on the couch or getting into the trenches at a competitive tournament. Costing $129.9 or local equivalent and on sale now, this audio option is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, and is PC compatible too. With two distinct variations on offer, we got our hands on the PlayStation compatible iteration of these cans to dive back into the bustle of Nigh City and find out if it helps us take aim any better.
Out The Box
Coming coated in a secure cardboard wrapper and bundled into a molded cardboard tray, the Victrix gambit isn’t particularly difficult to get in hand. While I could happily live without the separate plastic sheaths for the headset, cables, and receiver, this PDP brand has at least graduated far beyond plastic trays and cable ties to keep things pristine. While unpacking is undoubtedly set to easy mode, the unboxed Victrix Gambit wireless headset looks like a consummate pro. Clad in the same black and purple two tone scheme that won me over on the Gambit Controller, the Victrix Gambit wireless headset looks just as striking. The construction consists of a chunky matt black core that extends all the way around the outside of the ears. The oval ear cups are stylishly rounded off with a gloss Victrix X logo that is obvious without being offensively loud. The only other branding that can be easily located comes in a similar headband logo and a purple fabric cover inside the earcups, again showing off a version of the same Victrix Logo. To add a splash of color, the purple accents threaded through the exposed wiring, detachable 3.5mm jack, and plush padding tie the whole piece together to make the Victrix Gambit wireless headset feel a little more mature than a budget PlayStation purchase.
Despite the choice to rely on plastics for this piece, the quality of construction, mix of subtle highlights, and color scheme already make this a winning choice for somebody who doesn’t need distractions when busy taking headshots.
Specifications
Style – Over-Ear
Headband Clampforce – 550+/-50gf
Speaker Size – 50mm
Speaker Frequency – 20Hz – 20kHz
Nominal Impendence – 32 Ω per Speaker
Connection Type – USB Dongle Wireless / 3.5mm In-Line Cable for Wired
Battery Life – 16+ Hours
Battery Type – Rechargeable 900mAh Polymer Li-ion
Cable Length – 6.5 ft / 2m
Microphone Type – 6.0mm Bi-Directional Noise-Cancelling Mic
Microphone Frequency Response – 100Hz – 10kHz
Microphone Sensitivity – 45 ± 3dB
Microphone Signal-to-Noise Ratio – ≥60dB
Comfort
Putting the Victrix Gambit on for the first time, it’s immediately obvious that no distractions will be tolerated during competition. The Gambit headset features a definite grip around the ears and plenty of memory foam padding to keep out the rest of the world and avoid any earaches. The top also comes cushioned by a generous supply of memory foam and the complete form feels suited to those that might have wider heads, thanks to a lightweight plastic shell. While a fully plastic core doesn’t always give the impression of strength, a subtle balance of control and comfort is achieved here and the roughly 300 gams of Gambit headset sits nicely for hours at a time.
Setup
Setup and initial audio options on the Victrix Gambit Headset is as uncomplicated as its console compatible branding might suggest. With a wireless USB A transmitter to plug in and a power switch nestled by the left ear, the Gambit headset is up and running in no time. Volume is adjustable using an easily accessible dial decorating the outside of the right ear cup, while most of the more advanced functions that a PlayStation 5 can accommodate, like 3D audio, come configured through the console. This means the Victrix Gambit wireless headset is a plug in and go piece whether cord free or hooked up using the 3.5mm connection
When wireless isn’t quite responsive enough or you need to meet tournament requirements, Vicrix supply a satisfyingly secure 3.5mm braided cable. It’s a striking visual addition to the Victirx and an add on that feels like a deliberate alternative, rather than a throwaway piece of plastic. It doesn’t make any significant difference to performance but does add an in line volume control for when you do not want to be moving far to turn up approaching footsteps, or if the battery has finally given up the battle.
Battery and Wireless Range
It is likely to be a long raid before this headset runs out of power, however,. Victrix rate the Gambit for 16+ hours of playback, and we can easily believe that it manages this outside the lab. We don’t tend to try out headsets here using artificial use cases, running them in a real life situation instead. After things topped out past 14.5 hours and the meat sack between the cans gave out we left our initial out the box battery test firm in the belief that this will last far longer than your enemies. If you’re able to hang in past that window, then there’s always the 2m wired option.
If distance is more important than time when taking aim across the Apex arena then the Victrix Gambit wireless headset manages to keep connection across a full 10 meters, through a room wall, a front door, and down the garden path as we ventured out onto the sidewalk just to get it to disconnect. This easily managed to keep the noise going anywhere indoors and placed us in the middle of the battlefield, even from across the room. This immersive action is largely reliant on the solid sound reproduction and spatial soundstage of the Victrix Gambit wireless headset. The 50mm drivers wrapped up in this headset manage to channel plenty of power and you should expect to be blown away by the impact of this audio option.
The Victrix Gambit wireless headset manages some really quite impressive performance. When wading through the docks at the base of Babylon’s Fall or stepping through Night City, the separation of sound and individual audio queues comes through with excellent clarity. Background conversations are easily discernable beyond the hiss of a radio while the calls of the locals don’t ever fail to cut through a game’s soundtrack. If you’re expecting a headset that will thurst you into the trenches and blow away your senses, then hit buy right now. The Victrix gambit is capable of being heard but still being precise when it needs to with an immediate response and a solid virtual soundscape when dipping into 3D audio.
Problems do still arise when precision meets volume, however. The Victrix gambit wireless headset is tuned to be particularly bass heavy, as are many gaming orientated headsets. When the first mortar lands or a mechanized monster comes slamming across the screen that audio separation and spatial awareness can count for naught as the powerful 50mm drivers overwhelm the rest of the soundscape. The dynamic response is actually very solid and doesn’t dip into warbled nonsense, but the loud low level noises might not be to your taste and will suit Forza, Battlefield, or rock night better than a considered sniper sim.
Microphone
the microphone, much like the rest of the gambit, is focused on true reproduction. The box blurb notes that this microphone uses a bi-directional, noise-canceling microphone that was originally created for the Cobra attack helicopter. The working end of this add on comes permanently attached to the rest of this construct and wrapped in a flexible boom arm. While the flexible silicone sleeve of the boom arm feels at odds with the rest of the outer shell, this input option still manages a generally acceptable clarity, in ear monitoring, and will flip up out the way if you want to use something more expensive.
When the raid is over or the competition won, the Victrix Gambit is a great performer in the right situation. In immersive RPGs filled with neo punks or tough competitive scenarios, this headset wins through with through and while the powerful bass response will certainly announce your presence in online shooters. Outside the box, the Victrix Gambit managed impressive battery life, great levels of comfort, and great sound production all around. While I am not a fan of the molded plastic shell, the silicon microphone sheath, or the dated micro USB charging cable, the Victrix Gambit wireless headset is more than capable of kicking the official Sony alternative off its pedestal. Find out more about the Victrix Gambit Wireless Headset over at the official website.
