Psyko Audio Labs Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset Review

Getting Psyko

The product slogan is “the dawn of audio as a weapon.” It seems like something out of the Dune movie version, where a sonic weapon is used by the rebels leaving on the desert planet Arrakis (weapon that only exists in the movie, not the book). Geek references aside, the ideia behind the Psyko is that the immersion and sound ambiance be helpful factors in improving gaming performance. FPS players know that sometimes survival depends on knowing where an enemy is coming from or where combat is happening. And of course, thundering bass and well-played sound effects give the sensation of being in the middle of combat, upping the adrenalin level and the enjoyment of the game.

Before playing, we tested the 5.1 sound configuration and the technical performance of the headset. We used some tracks available online to that end, as the ones offered for free by the site Lynne Music and Stealth Settings. The first one features a file in which a voice identifies, one by one, the channel that’s playing. The other site has tracks with THX sound test, some soundbites from several movies and games and some others that realy drives the subwoofer to the max. The test was impressive, specially the sound from the rear channels. It really came up from behind the ear, surrounding the earphone. You don’t have to have a musical ear to notice the subtleties, but those with a keener hearing will enjoy the ambiance.

To enjoy the full potential of the Psyko, we run the game that we think has the best sound environment on the shelves right now: Battlefield Bad Company 2. The game is already impressive in a regular 2.0 headset, but once the Psyko got into the scene we had to recalibrate the game volume and the amplifier output to prevent being overwhelmed by the sound itself. Witt everything set, the immersion was movie-like. One of the most impressive moments was when we were trying to escape an enemy chopper. Once we reached cover inside a bunker, it was possible to know the direction in which the helicopter was flying over by the surround sound blaring into our ears without relying on the minimap. We escaped through the other side and reached the artillery
alive. It’s a feeling that only a gamer knows how to appreciate, specially when your gear adds to the illusion of realism.

The headset weight is an issue to be considered: although it’s lighter than you could imagine, the Psyko is still heavier and bulkier than the competition, so in the long run the user tires more than usual. The solutions to make it comfortable are efficient, but still it’s up to the level of tolerance of each user. We only want to point out that it’s not as heavy as the design makes it look. The ideal scenario would be to physically sample it and see what it feels like for you.

The Psyko gave the feeling of surround as if we were in the external environment of a home theater, fulfilling the promise of its creator James Hildebrandt, who said the experience would occur naturally, without feeling as a simulation of surround.