Elise Su, Author at Headphonesty

With their price-to-performance ratio, the MPOW Air SE will exceed your expectations. No doubt these gaming headphones deliver more than what they’re worth. Buying gaming headphones doesn’t need to burn a hole in your pocket, and the MPOW Air SE is good proof of that. Since its release in 2020, the MPOW Air SE has garnered thousands of positive reviews from the public, particularly regarding its price-to-performance ratio. This didn’t surprise me, though! Since these headphones are marketed as containing all the necessary features to make up a quality pair of gaming headphones, for less than $50, who wouldn’t say they are a steal? That’s why I’ve been quite curious about how these gaming headphones actually stand against their competition. Are they really something worth considering? Or should you save up a bit more for more advanced ones? Read on for a full gaming review! Company Overview. Founded in 2013 in Santa Clara, California, MPOW is a new brand that has found its stable footing in the headphones market today. So much so, that within a year after its launch, the company expanded to 30 regions and garnered 30 million dollars in sales every month. And have since generated 1.2 million dollars in revenue per employee. MPOW lived through its vision to improve the quality of life of people who dream big, work hard, and play hard. Because of that, they are quick to establish their headphones as budget-friendly alternatives for different headphone niches like noise cancellation, hearing protection, casual music listening, office, and, of course, gaming. To date, they have supplied over 12 million pairs of headphones and served 10 million customers. Technical Specifications: Form: Over-ear, Closed-back. Drivers: Dual 50mm high-density neodymium drivers. Impedance (Ohm): 32Ohms. Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz. Maximum Input: 50mW. Speaker Sensitivity: 103± 3dB. Mic Dimension: Ø6.0×2.7mm. Mic Sensitivity: -38±3dB. Mic Impedance: 2.2KΩ±15% Ear Pads: Memory foam. Source Plug: 3.5mm TRRS. Removable Cable: No. Cable Length: 7.2 ft. Weight: 460g. Compatibility: Playstation 4, Playstation 4 Pro/Slim, Xbox One, Xbox One S/X controller, Nintendo Switch/3DS, PSP, Tablet, Mac, iPad, Laptop, PC, Mobile Phones. Packaging. The headset comes in a lightweight box made of cardboard with a matte finish. Its size is compact enough to fit into tight space, though it is prone to creases and smudges. The layout is clean, straightforward, and highlighted with blocks of white text. Each side is chock full of information, displayed in a manner that is not overwhelming to the viewer. Everything you need to know about this pair of headphones can be found right on the box. There’s nothing too significant about the box, though. They kept it simple with the color scheme, so the amount of details laid out against it seems to come off as sort of a juxtaposition. However, I appreciate the thought that went behind positioning all the different elements together. Nothing about the design is too lavish or showy, but it doesn’t come off as poorly done either. Additionally, it didn’t make much sound when I rattled it a bit, so I assume that everything inside was able to stay perfectly still and intact. Taking out the contents didn’t take up much time either. The box has an easy-to-open tab on top, and the items are neatly packed inside. The headset, of course, took up the most space and came enclosed in bubble wrap. I think this is actually a unique packaging choice, as I’ve seen most headphones come in die-cut cardboard boxes. But the bubble wrap serves as a reminder that this is just a budget pair of headphones and can’t really compare to the neat and chic packaging higher-end pairs have. Moreover, two small, resealable plastic baggies contain the rest of the items. One holds the user manual and warranty card. And the other has the Y-splitter jack add-on and the microphone’s foam cover. Everything about the packaging is minimal and straightforward. There is nothing flashy, confusing, or unnecessary to be found in it. In the box. MPOW Air SE Gaming Headphones x1. Y-cable splitter cord x1. Microphone windscreen filter x1. User manual. Design. I received the version with the black and red color palette. Since only two colors take up the appearance of this model, it creates a clean and chic design scheme. Granted, they lack the RGB LED lights that are often found on flashier gaming headphones, but, given their price, this really isn’t surprising. Black is the prominent tone here. The aluminum backplates come in a smooth black finish, topped off with the MPOW logo in a toned-down shade of red. The earcups are also black, made from protein leather and plush memory foam. The red steel sliders have small indents that help you adjust the height. They connect the earpads to the headband, along with a pair of red wires at the back. One thing that makes the Air SE stand out, though, is the red stitches that hold together the thick black leather and cushion padding. It gives it a more distinct look and serves as a highlight. I wouldn’t say there’s anything too unique about the design. They look like your typical run-of-the-mill pair of gaming headphones, save for the lack of flashing RGB lights or additional controls. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I actually quite like how minimalistic everything about them are. But if you’re looking for something that stands out in a crowd, the MPOW Air SE aren’t it. Cable. The use of the word ‘Air’ in this headset’s name could be misleading to some, as it seems to imply a wireless feature. Obviously, this is not the case, as the MPOW Air SE comes with a cable made with thick and braided black nylon. With a length of 7 feet, the cord will have a tendency to get snagged on objects. It is supposedly tangle-free, but over a few days of use, I experienced a few instances of the wire getting caught on itself. However, its nylon material is durable, as well as heat and weather-resistant. Gamers who move around a lot will appreciate the length of the cord. However, it could be bothersome to use with portable consoles, like the Nintendo Switch or the PSP Vita. I could see myself constantly needing to move it out of the way. The in-line audio control is a small and simple setup. On the top is a one-key mute button, then a rolling switch on the side for adjusting the volume. Both the mute and volume options come labeled with red icons to indicate which end is which. This simple accessibility is a treat for any avid player that often fiddles with the sound and mute options. Connectivity. This headset also comes with a Y cord that acts as the splitter for both the microphone and the headphones. Build Quality. The MPOW Air SE are bulky in structure and have a bit of weight to them. But these factors are understandable considering the materials they’re made from. Despite the relatively low price point, the manufacturers still built these headphones to last. The metal sliders are plain and simple, but they’re durable. Enough that they won’t bend or break from overextension. Even the earpads feel thick and solid and contain leather padding meant to withstand constant use. The earcups are coated with anodized aluminum, making them resistant to corrosion. This also supposedly makes them less liable to scratch or fade. Thanks to the dustproof and dampproof cotton foam, the cardioid microphone looks like it’ll last long as well. There’s no need to worry about breaking the microphone from repeated turning either. It is entirely flexible, rotatable and is unlikely to be victim to damage. However, it is far too easy to mistake the microphone for a detachable one. This is what happened in my case. I confused my pair with one of the other available versions of the MPOW Air SE with a removable microphone. I had already tinkered with it a bit before realizing my mistake. Fortunately, no damage was done either externally or internally. It still worked perfectly fine upon the first try. This may serve as a testament to how durable this headset is. Comfort. MPOW designed this headset with comfort in mind – and they did not disappoint. The padding on the headband is quite bulky. Still, the headphones did not feel heavy to wear, even after long hours of use. Since they're meant to bend to the shape of the wearer’s head, they can feel a little snug when at the lowest height. But the soft padding prevents them from being uncomfortable. You can use the adjustable sliders to ensure that the headset stays in place. This is useful in instances of fidgeting or sudden movements. They’re not only tailored for comfort, but also for an optimized gaming experience. Moreover, the ear cup pads feel incredibly soft, covering the entirety of my ears. They come in protein leather, intended to dissipate heat and prevent sweating. However, upon further testing, I found that they did not reach my expectations. Not long after putting them on, they already started to feel warm. And after an hour or so, I was sweating. Keep in mind; this took place while I was sitting in an air-conditioned room. This is bound to bring discomfort for anyone. And I imagine that in warmer settings, it would be even more unpleasant. While using the microphone in-game, its distance was far enough from my face that it never felt like it was in the way. And because it's rotatable in all directions, it was easy to keep out of sight when I didn’t need it. This eliminated the fear that it would get caught in my hair or hit my face while playing. Sound Quality. The MPOW Air SE sports 50mm neodymium drivers, which is an outstanding feature for a pair of gaming headphones at this kind of lower price range, as most headphone drivers normally start at 20mm. Despite being bigger in size, the drivers are light and do not need much power to produce quality sound output. But though the audio quality does fare decently, it’s not anything too remarkable. This is where the aspect of the price...

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