Sandberg HeroBlaster Wireless Headset – Hardware Review
Only recently we took a closer look at a great gaming microphone from Sandberg’s eSports lineup, and now we’re back again to look at another product from the same assortment, namely the HeroBlaster Wireless Headset. While the headset name may sound a bit bombastic, it’s actually a fairly modest piece of gaming equipment that comes at a very affordable price. We put this wireless headset to the test, and for the most part, we were impressed.
Design
All in all, The HeroBlaster Wireless Headset is a good-looking piece of gaming hardware. You’ll be treated to a modest black headset with a matte coating for the most part, with the Sandberg logo on the exterior of each ear cup and the Sandberg brand name on the sides of the headband as well. The matte finish also gives the device a more premium look.
As this is a gaming headset, it’s not uncommon to have some added flair thrown into the mix. In this case, you’ll have LED lights in the ear cups, but it’s done in a fairly modest way that the otherwise classy exterior blends well with the typical gaming influences. If you don’t like the LED lights, you can also simply turn them off.
Comfort
It’s no secret that budget headsets often cut corners when it comes to functionalities but also in terms of comfort. We were surprised to find that the HeroBlaster is an extremely comfortable headset, with ample padding in both the ear cups, as well as the headband. The faux leather-like material is very pleasant to the touch, but you’ll easily see fingerprints and stains on it. This in combination with the matte finish does require some maintenance, as you’ll have to regularly wipe the device clean.
The HeroBlaster has an over-ear design, meaning your ears don’t get squished when using the device. That being said, even with the over-ear design, you will not drown out all outside noise. This wasn’t an issue for us, as most sounds were muffled to the point they were typically not that noticeable. Only in a very loud environment, you might experience some discomfort.
A small feature we personally like is that you can detach the headset’s microphone. This makes the device a bit more versatile, and it allows you to just enjoy music without having the microphone in the way.
Specs
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Up to 10m wireless range
- Up to 10 hours playback
- Charge time: Approx. 2 hours
- Charging input: USB DC 5V
- Battery: Rechargeable 400 mAh
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Driver unit: 50 mm
- Frequency range: 50 Hz – 8 kHz
- Impedance: 2200 ohms
- Sensitivity: -40 dB – +3 dB
- Directivity: Omni
- Colorful light on earcup (ON/OFF)
Overview
Sandberg’s HeroBlaster Wireless Headset is a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset. There is no dongle included in the box, so you’ll either have to have one of your own, or you’ll simply have to have a PC with a Bluetooth connection. If you have a desktop PC without one, this may be slightly disappointing news. That being said, you’ll be up and running in a moment or two, and from that moment on, it’s pretty much smooth sailing. The headset doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, and you can basically just (un)mute your microphone, change volume settings, skip tracks, turn the LED lights on or off, and pick up calls. All of these function buttons (some are multi-function) can be found on the left ear cup and are easy to access. We did notice that some pictograms on the buttons looked a bit faded.
The device also comes with an AUX cable that allows you to turn this wireless device into a normal wired headset. We do have to mention that the cable was quite short. Because of this, we only found it comfortable to use a wired connection when either sitting very close to the source or when using it for devices such as Nintendo’s Switch or Valve’s Steam Deck. The cable does have a small control box incorporated that allows you to mute your microphone or change the volume settings.
While higher-end devices often have better drivers than the HeroBlaster, the sound quality was still great. We enjoyed crisp audio during our gaming sessions, and when calling, those on the receiving end also received clear audio feedback. There is of course a quality difference compared to more premium devices, but all in all, the HeroBlaster performs well across the board. The 10-hour playback time is also fairly accurate.
Conclusion
For the price you’re paying, Sandberg’s HeroBlaster Wireless Headset offers a lot of value for your money. You’ll be treated to a comfortable gaming device with all the basics, while it also looks like a premium device. We very much enjoyed gaming on the go with this one, but it would have been nice to have a dongle included as well for desktop users without a Bluetooth connection. Even so, on a tight budget, the HeroBlaster performs amazingly well.
No Comments