At Computex this year, Cooler Master impressed the tech world by refreshing and reinventing nearly its entire accessory line. We’ve got our hands on the first of these reinventions with the MH752 gaming headset. Featuring high quality drivers, 7.1 surround sound, and a comfortable, lightweight design, it may just be the best headset Cooler Master has ever released. For $99, it should definitely be on your radar for your next gaming headset.
Specifications
- MSRP: $99 (MH752) / $79.99 (MH751 - no USB/7.1)
- Driver Diameter: 40mm
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
- Impedance: 26 Ohms
- Sensitivity (@1kHz): 97dB ± 3 dB
- Cable Length: 1.5m 3.5mm connector (removable), 1.5m USB cable (removable)
- Connector: 3.5mm 4-pole jack / USB Type A
- Materials: Steel and plastic headband, PU leather and foam cushion
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Microphone
- Pick-up Pattern: Omni-directional
- Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz
- Sensitivity (@ 1kHz): -42 dB ± 3dB
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 55dB
- Microphone Type: Detachable flexible microphone
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Controls
- Volume Control Up/Down Buttons (control box)
- Microphone Control Up/down buttons, mute switch
- Virtual 7.1 surround sound On/off button with indicative LED
- Physical Dimensions: (L X W X H): 5.87 * 3.35 * 8.46 inches
- Weight (without Cable): 250g
- Warranty: 2 years
Right out the gate, it’s clear that Cooler Master is taking a different approach with the MH751/752 headsets. The design is simple, without the overstated gamer flair we’ve come to expect from gaming headsets. In fact, these remind me a lot more of my M50X’s from Audio-Technica, one of my favorite headsets of all time. The colorway is black without any fingerprint-attracting gloss finishes and the earcups are textured to not show any oils from your fingers. They’re sleek and unless you recognized the CM hexagon, you’d never know these were from a gaming company.
While it’s doesn’t scream “gamer,” I don’t want it to. I’m a 32 year old father of three. When I invest in an expensive headset, I like to be able to wear it out of the house without attracting looks. Just like those M50Xs, you could wear these out of the house without a second thought.
And you may just want to. The speakers driving the MH752 sound great whether you’re playing games or listening to music. Cooler Master has tuned them with a moderate bass push, which is great for games, especially with surround sound enabled, but also make them sound great when you’re listening to music. I’ve listened to everything from pop (PVRIS) to prog rock (Coheed and Cambria) to hip hop (Eminem) and found that they nicely balance that punchy, fun low end with clear mids and highs tuned to cut through, so you hear all of those small details gaming headsets tend to miss.
We have another gaming headset on the review bench that completed drowned out the upper keyboards in the opening of I The Mighty’s The Sound of Breathing. Swapping over to the MH752, those same notes were crystal clear. That said, even compared to Cooler Master’s own MasterPulse Pro - their previous flagship headset - the MH752 is a big improvement.
In games, this balance becomes even more important. If you’re playing a competitive game, being able to hear tiny cues in the mids and highs can save your life and give you the jump on other players. If you’re playing RPGs and MMOs, having that full spectrum of sound helps create the immersive audio experience we all love. Heading into Stormwind and hearing that big orchestral track open up is one of the most iconic experiences in World of Warcraft. This headset makes that moment even better as you pick out the individual strings and notes.
Cooler Master has two different versions of this headset that will launch side by side. The MH752 we tested retails for $99 and features an optional USB dongle that enables virtual 7.1 surround sound. Interestingly, this dongle can be used with any headset, even your run of the mill pair of earbuds. The algorithm Cooler Master is using here seems to be an improvement, too, widening the soundstage without overemphasizing the reverb and distorting positionality. For $20 less, you can pick up the MH751 which is identical but lacks surround sound. Both headsets feature standard 3.5mm audio cables and detachable mics for use with smartphones, PS4, modern Xbox One consoles, and PC.
When it comes to construction, Cooler Master has done a great job of crafting a headset that is not only durable but exceptionally comfortable, even over many hours. The MH752 features a metal headband and high density plastic in the yokes and driver housings. Cheap yokes tend to get brittle and break easily, but these are some of the most solid I’ve ever seen. Even twisting them trying to get them to flex, they offered almost no movement whatsoever. I’d never recommend drop testing headphones but I’d suspect they’ll hold up to quite a bit of abuse.
Cooler Master has also knocked it out of the park in comfort too. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of big, bulky headsets that hurt my head after a couple of hours. The MH752s completely solve this problem. Cooler Master, the top of my head thanks you. But weight is only one half of the equation. The other is the cushioning. CM has opted for a lightweight, breathable foam surrounded in leatherette. It does the job well and is also effective at venting heat. Like all leatherette, it will get a bit warm over time, but my ears never started to sweat. The other side to this is that sound isolation isn’t the best we’ve seen, but it’s not terrible and I feel this is a fair tradeoff.
Finally, we come to the mic. I was pleasantly surprised! The MasterPulse mic was built into the headphone itself and really wasn’t very good. The mic on the MH752 is exponentially better. It has a good amount of gain out of the box and almost no compression to speak of. Have a listen for yourself.
If I had to criticize anything, it would be that they’re a bit narrower in width, which gives them a bit of a “limp” look. They stretch easily, but gamers with very large heads and your friendly local gorilla may find them just a little bit tight.
Final Thoughts
The MH752 may just be the best headset Cooler Master has ever released. By freeing themselves from the trappings of “gaming” accessories, they’ve delivered a headset I that’s just at home in your gaming rig as your morning commute. They look great, sound great, and are designed to sit comfortably on your head for hours at a time. This is one of the rare instances where there’s just not a lot to criticize. Cooler Master has knocked it out of the park. For $99, this is one of the best gaming headsets you can buy.
Pros
- Understated design - easily worn in or out of the house
- Great sound quality for games, music, and movies
- Comfortable for long hours - no head pain
- Improved surround sound
- Affordable - excellent pricing for what’s on offer
Cons
- Not made for zoo animals
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.