EKSA, bouncing off the success of their E910 5.8GHz wireless headset have offered a sweet little alternative for those who like something a bit smaller for those on-the-go gaming sessions.

As someone who has a long commute in to work (a 4 hour round trip) I often take a gaming device or two with me. Usually armed with a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation Vita I tend to also pack a fairly tangles pair of wired in-ear headphones, with 3.5mm jack. Well those days are gone since Nintendo released a firmware update to allow Bluetooth headsets to be used with the Switch (some 4.5 years after launch!). The PS Vita always allowed Bluetooth headphones, so that was never a problem.

Now armed with the GT1’s and my handhelds of choice I can freely game with these rather nice looking GT1s. With a menacing pair of blue LED’s on the side which flash when in pairing mode, which is initiated simply when out of the charging case they are supplied with. The charging case features a blue LED strip which will illuminate whilst the earbuds are charging, with each individual bud being charge also pulsating their LED.

I found out during the review process that these buds are no longer just known as GT1’s, but now have the more apt name of the GT1 Cobra’s, due to the cobra’s head-like shape of the case / battery. Nowhere on the box I received did it say this info, which sort of threw me when I visited their website.

The buds feature a standard mode and a game mode, activated with a double tap of one of the ear buds, this game mode supposedly increases the low frequency response – rated at 38ms, which although is over double the incredible ESKA E910’s 15ms is still very pleasing. Personally I could not hear any difference flicking between standard and game modes on any game I tried nor listening to music on various device. I believe the emphasis with the GT1’s is on clarity, which there is in spades, but I was surprised by just how good and rich the bass sounded when sat perfectly in the ear (I did have to play around quite a bit to get that perfect air-tight fit), despite having 10mm drivers, where with my own personal Bluetooth earbuds I’m used to a 12mm driver (in fairness there is over £100 difference, so I won’t hold it against this rather fairly priced GT1 at $50 USD, about £37). Having spent a long time listening to music on the GT1’s I did grow fond of them and would happily use them as my go-to backup’s if my main music listening buds went missing. They are also super comfortable in long sessions and I had no in-ear irritation.

You’ll get about 4.5 hours out of the buds in game mode, with a full charge from the case taking about an hour and a half. The case can provide up to 36 hours too, so literally enough to get you to the other side of the world on a flight, should you need / desire.

On-bud controls are here too, a double tap will switch between game and music mode, tapping once will play / pause music (i.e. Spotify) – a single tap if your phone is ringing will answer / hang up. Unfortunately there is no on-bud volume control, so that will all need controlling from the device.

Each bud features a mic which pick up crystal clear for calls / in-game chat.

I paired the GT1’s with my PC, my Nintendo Switch, an OLED Vita and a non-OLED Vita. I also paired with a Huawei P30 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – I did have some difficulty with the non-OLED Vita and my PC at first with the connection timing out prior to pairing, but this issue seemed to have ironed itself out of its own accord.

I would certainly recommend these if you are looking for a gaming earbud due to the low frequency response, rich bass from those 10mm drivers and the excellent battery life. They are only stereo, which is to be expected, so don’t anticipate being able to identify exact locations of enemy footsteps in those competitive online games, but do expect a very fun little pair of buds which will service your musical needs too.

In a market crowded with overhead gaming audio devices with every feature known to man and woman, perhaps you are looking for a simple yet powerful stereo wireless earbud instead. If you are, then you really should consider the GT1 Cobra’s.

With these being the second EKSA product we’ve reviewed now, both exceeding expectation, we are certainly pleased with their output, especially in the low price band they position themselves in.

If you wish to pick up a pair simply click this link

TGS would like to thank the manufacturer for supplying the product for the purpose of this review. For more information please e-mail info@thegamesshed.com

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EKSA might not be a name everyone knows, but they are doing their very best to ensure that they become a scene disruptor. We were sent what claims to be the first 5.8GHz frequency wireless headset for review so without further ado, here are our thoughts!

The catch with this headset is that it operates on the 5.8GHz frequency band, whereas most devices operate on 2.4GHz. A 2.4GHz frequency can carry 450Mbps or 600Mbps. 5.8GHz typically carries up to 1300Mbps – significantly more data. Although the data carried by the 5.8GHz may not be used to its fullest by a headset, what you will find is there is less interference on this frequency in your gaming surrounding. With certain wireless headphones and headsets I have known several to drop connection every now and then on the 2.4GHz frequency, but not once has this happened with the EKSA E910 – a possible must-have for your next gaming headset?

Frequency aside, the headset is a decent piece of kit. A 1200mA battery will see you game for roughly 10 hours, with a full charge achieved from flat in around 4 hours. The frequency response is rated at 20Hz – 20KHz with a speaker diameter of 50mm. To get the most out of this headset though you will need to install the EKSA EQ software suite – read on for more info on this.

On the left cup there’s a volume slider, a mute button for the mic and a power on/off button, along with a USB C charge port. Towards the front of the left cup is a retractable mic which sounds clear and tucks away nicely if you are not using it or have a dedicated desk mic – as I do.

The headset boasts 7.1 Surround Sound, which is turned on or off with a quick press of the power button. This feature only ever coming into full play when downloading the specific EKSA software from their website: click here – but be warned, your PC will not like it. You will have to click through a multitude of “untrusted application” alerts and such, but at the end you will get yourself a whole EQing suite which boasts some rather nice presets. After installing this and setting my 7.1 to FPS I spent a large amount of time feeling rather smug in Call of Duty, easily identifying every footstep. It was a joyful experience. With some tinkering on the EQ you will find your preferred settings for any situation – gaming, voice chat or music.

The outside of each ear cup has a red light, which is a decent feature if you are an RGB nut. The ear cups are leatherette memory foam packed and really very comfortable. Due to the cups engulfing the entire ear and the cups being closed back, this headset does very well at isolating outside noise too, which is an added plus.

The headband adjusts for different sized heads and each cup has slight degrees of movement to provide comfort for all fits.

Presently on the EKSA website they are charging $89.99, down from $119.99 with the added bonus of a buy-one-get-one-free, making each unit around $45 – with free shipping. In my opinion a steal at $45.

The headset works with PC (on which I did my testing), Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch (TV mode), so there is plenty of scope for these cans, although you will only be able to EQ properly with PC gaming via the software suite.

In summary, this is one very comfortable headset, offering a very low latency, interruption free gaming experience, with 7.1 surround sound, which can be used with multiple systems.

One tiny feature which annoys me ever so slightly is the onboard voice telling you “power on”, “power off” etc. It’s a bit grating, but in the grand scheme of things, I can certainly overlook it.

I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on EKSA in the future to see where they take their brand.

For more information on the EKSA E910 visit their website below:

Click here for our PowerA Fusion Pro Controller review

TGS would like to thank the manufacturer for supplying the product for the purpose of this review. For more information please e-mail info@thegamesshed.com

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Snakebyte – a manufacturer of 3rd party console and PC peripherals and accessories have sent us a bundle of their new range of cables and docks.
First off we’ve taken a look at the curiously released HDMI:CABLE 5 4K, a 3 meter (almost 10ft) braided, premium HDMI cable, targeting PlayStation 5 users.
What I have found most curious about this cable is that the PS5 (should you be lucky enough to get your hands on one) ships with a technically more superior HDMI cable in the box

To say this isn’t a good HDMI cable would be an injustice to Snakebyte, as it is a good cable – in fact it is a very good cable and presently the cable I use on a daily basis for my PS5 gaming. The fact it is less ‘technically superior’ to the pre-packaged cable will more than likely not even be relevant to the majority of PS5 owners, you see this all boils down to HDMI 2.1 versus HDMI 2.0 and what input your television has.

The Snakebyte HDMI:CABLE 5 4K is an HDMI 2.0 cable and the large majority of 4K televisions only support HDMI 2.0 (denoted as having 2.0b inputs if at all listed – most specs from retailers fail to state what type of HDMI port the TV has). Newer, high end 4K TV’s are only now starting to implement HDMI 2.1 more widely and for those it is strongly recommended that you use a 2.1 cable for the very best PlayStation 5 experience.
An HDMI 2.1 cable / TV combo will output 8k signal at 60fps, a 4k picture at 120fps, however a 2.0 cable / 2.0b TV will output 4k at 60fps (2k @ 140Hz / 1080p @ 240 Hz). This is all due to the amount of data which can be transmitted by the cable.
The above info might all seem a bit technical and it should also be noted that not all games can even currently output those 4K 120fps images, so it is pointless information for the most, but we thought we’d lay out the facts up front.

We do not actually have a 2.1 enabled TV so swapped out the stock 2.1 cable for the Snakebyte HDMI:CABLE 5 because it is twice the length and heaps more durable. The tough braided black and white cable looks absolutely stunning hanging out the back of the hulking great PS5, matching the dramatic new colourway. At 3 meters in length you should have more than enough HDMI cable to play with to address any console storage issues on your television unit you might have had due to the size of the system.
The cable also works flawlessly with other HDMI 2.0 systems such as the PS4 / PS4 Pro, or even Xbox / Switch should you so desire.

Snakebyte products over €19.99 come with a 5 year warranty too which should give an added level of comfort over the build quality of their products. One point to note is that Snakebyte do charge shipping via DHL for anything under €39, but anything above this is free, so you might want to double up with a buddy, or get yourself another one of their PlayStation 5 products (GAMES:TOWER & TWIN:CHARGE both look like absolute beauties).

The real draw here is that it is long, matches the PS5’s colour scheme and is a very tough cable, however if you really do want this cable in HDMI 2.1, Snakebyte do have you covered with their HDMI:CABLE 5 PRO, a 2 meter variant which also happens to cost the exact same amount as the 2.0 3 meter cable. We’ve not actually been able to test this cable but based on our experiences with the HDMI:CABLE 5 4K, we will certainly be snapping one up when our 2.1 compatible television magics its way past our bank manager.

Jump on to the Snakebyte site now to order yours at just €19.99 each:
HDMI:CABLE 5 4K
HDMI:CABLE 5 PRO

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We were sent over PowerA’s latest competition controller to have a look at and boy were we excited.

The PowerA Fusion Pro Wired Xbox Controller is the competition controller for Xbox and Windows PC you should be considering if you are seriously into competing in video games and want to play using a controller.

A fully officially licensed Xbox controller, featuring a 4 paddle mappable detachable “Pro Pack”  which is totally programmable on the fly, easily detached in one simple click and stored away for later use, this is the ultimate solution to adding those all-important esport ready paddles without having to always have them attached.

The Fusion Pro also features several swappable parts to enable user customisation including convex or concave analogue sticks and swappable metal analogue surrounds – all moddable no matter what level of skill you are at. A simple click and go solution will see you up and running in literally seconds.

Around the back of the controller sees two three-stage trigger lock switches to enable you to change trigger sensitivity for each trigger to suit your play style.

Braided 9ft break-away cable to do away with those pesky wireless latency concerns

All this packed nicely into a hardshell carry case.

With no drivers required when plugging into a PC, the Fusion Pro is a dream to work with. The speed at which components and features can be changed (face plate, hot swapping hardware components), remapping in three clicks is also an absolute joy. Make no mistake – as many features as this controller packs, it’s very easy to set-up, modify and use.

The FUSION Pro comes in at about 24% heavier than a wireless Xbox controller with a battery pack on, and for me, with my big hands that is a blessing. As soon as I picked up the controller for the first time it instantly felt more premium. The braided cable may be questionable in some eyes, however, there is an ever-present annoyance with competitive gamers – controller latency caused by wireless controllers. I use the controller at a desk, and it is always plugged in. I never have to check I have charged prior to playing and due to good cable management this is not a problem for me. If I was playing on my main television in my house this may be more of an issue as I have a toddler who is very handsy with items which are not hers!

The soft-touch finish and rear textured grippy material give have ensured that all my lengthy gameplay sessions remain sweat free, which is nice. The 3.5mm audio jack allows for headset connectivity too, so if my wireless headset runs out of juice I can simply wire it into the controller.

The standard button layout and motors are all present here too. This includes a lovely dpad with a rounded edge which will allow for many hours of retro games to be enjoyed with zero thumb pain and damage.

This controller really does have a very premium feel to it. I’d absolutely not question it if you were to tell me this was a first party Xbox controller had I not been privy to information to state otherwise.
Coming in cheaper than an Xbox Elite Controller and looking a darn site more attractive (especially that white and bronze option) this is a very viable alternative.

I’ve now semi-retired my wireless Phantom White Xbox One controller for PC gaming in place of the FUSION Pro, due to a number of factors. The ability to either have the paddles on or off and their ease of programming and the weight of the controller. I like to be able to feel connected to my pad, to know it is in my hands. The weight screams superior quality and with weight and good texture, the pad and I are one. I’ve toyed with the paddles, assigning them to different racing strategies in F1 2020, or chat options in other PC titles (push to talk for microphone etc.) – the possibilities seem endless, especially with PC.
Having no additional software requirements and being plug and play, anyone can use this controller, no matter how skilled.

8/10 – Solid build, heavy in the hand with a lovely finish. Removable paddles and changeable analogue sticks make this a serious competition controller.

Grab yours from Amazon now.

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