Roccat is a big name when it comes to gaming peripherals. We’ve looked at their keyboards and mice but why stop there? Their latest headset, the Renga Boost, boasts studio-quality sound with amazing comfort, and we had the opportunity to put it through its paces. So far it has proven a high competitor for its asking price. This is our review of the Renga Boost.
Specifications
- Current Pricing: $59.99
- Dimensions: 20.0 CM (H) x 21.0 CM (W) x 10.0 CM (L)
- Weight: 210g
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Driver Units
- Measured Frequency Response: 20~20000Hz
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Compatibility: 1 x 3.5mm jack (sound), 1 x 3.5mm jack (mic)
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Studio Quality Sound?
The Renga Boost’ biggest claim to fame is its “studio quality sound.” It is the first thing you notice on the box, it is the first thing on their website, and it is something you definitely want to take a look at. I will tell you right up front that overall the sound quality is pretty amazing. It is crisp and clear, and you really get a good sense of surrounding in most games. If you are playing a role-playing game or a game where you don’t need to worry about sounds around you then it is great.
That being said, I play a lot of battle royale games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Ring of Elysium. If anyone knows anything about these games then you know that directional sound is very important to your survival. I can tell you that while using this headset to play these games I was at a loss for how the directional sound really was. The sound cues were definitely clearer than the other headsets I’ve used, however, when you are looking right at the sound of a gunshot or right at the airdrop plane, everything goes silent, indicating that the center panning is off. When you turn your character away from these noises then you can hear them clearly in your left or right ear, depending on the direction. This is a huge loss for me. I would love to make sure that I hear what I want and in the direction, it is supposed to be in. I don’t want to turn left or right to determine where I should be heading.
The ear cups themselves are open backed which is another issue in itself for full immersion into your games. The first thing I noticed is how much background noise carries directly through the ear cups and into your ears. I fought to hear my game above the noise of my two-year-old daughter and her playing in the background. When I wear closed back headsets the noise is almost drowned out and I feel more immersed in my games.
If we take a look at our previous Roccat Renga review, we can say that most of what was said about the studio sound quality still holds true. There may be some small changes here and there but I would still argue that “Studio Quality Sound” is still a bold claim to be putting all of your advertising into. You want to make sure the little quirks, such as directional sound quality, are correctly worked into the system before claiming that you are one hundred percent focused on gaming or gamers.
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Like Wearing Air
When I first opened the headset box and put the Renga Boost onto my head I was blown away by how comfortable it was. Normally you have to play with the adjustments on your headset to find the perfect fit. The perfect fit for me is the sweet spot where you barely feel like you are wearing the headset, and where it doesn’t move backward or forward on your head. The headband design by itself is enough to make you fall in love. You put the boost on your head and then it automatically slides to your head size. The plush ear cushions are a testament to comfort and you want to have this kind of cushion on all of your headsets. Another boast of Roccat is that this headset is thirty percent lighter than other headsets. When I wear my Astro A40s versus the Renga Boost there is no doubt that Roccat wins the day in weight. My neck never had any problems holding this set on my head.
Multiple Platforms, You Say?
Roccat wanted this headset to be used on more than just PC. With a 3.5mm headset jack you can easily plug into your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles, and with some adapters, you can plug it into other devices as well. The sound quality is just as good on the consoles as it is on the PC, but I don’t play anything but role-playing games and shooters on my systems lately, so the battle royales I play are restricted to PC. The directional sound that I spoke about before is not nearly as big an issue when you aren’t playing that specific game type. Jacking into your PS4 or Xbox One Controllers makes it a very simple and smooth transition from PC to consoles.
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Conclusion
Roccat has made some pretty big claims with the Renga Boost, and from where I am sitting it seems a lot like the original Renga. If you were a fan then, you’ll be a fan now with the improvements on display. The overall specs of the headset are similar, which leads us to believe this is an opportunity to reintroduce this headset to newer gamers who may have missed it the first time. While it is very comfortable, the things that make or break games for me is the directional sound. Hearing things right in front of you can be the difference between winning and losing and I found it to be inconsistent.
Did I absolutely hate the Renga Boost? No. I actually quite liked them and will continue to use them for my console gaming, but I will not for competitive games on my PC. This headset is still middle of the road compared to headsets like the Astro A40s. Still, $59.99 is a very good price for newer gamers who want to get a quality headpiece but may not have the demands for directional sound like I have.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Overall sound quality is very good
- Well-priced
Cons
- Directional sound is inconsistent
- Microphone is middling; muffled
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of review.
