October 07, 2024
To call this headset understatedly brilliant" is understating things considerably. It has all of those great qualities head-mounted displays are known for - quality materials, ease of use, durability, etc. But if I had seen these features in a product anywhere else just 6 months ago, I wouldn't consider buying it over any other option available today. That's because when I reviewed the original version of this headset back in early 2020, there were still a number of factors keeping me from recommending it. Those issues have been addressed by its latest iteration, making this headset an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-performance HMD without breaking the bank.
When I was researching headphones over the past week or so, my goal was simple: Find a headset that delivers sound quality comparable to studio reference monitors but is also affordable enough to fit within the budget constraints imposed by college affordability. After all, if the $7,000 Dolby Atmos Studio Reference Monitors are truly the industry-standard... why settle just above them when those models offer a better overall experience for only five hundred extra dollars?
Well, after months of testing different gaming headsets, as well as listening through plenty of portable speakers, here's what I came away with about the varioh5-Aeroflex from Finnish audio accessory company Varjo Electronics: It sounds great. No compromises were made on its design and engineering because there wasn't any reason for it to compromise; simply put these aren't cheap components like sub-$500 units we've seen before and the money spent will definitely pay off.
In fact, they're likely to be significantly more durable than your everyday set - and they'll probably last longer too thanks to their unique material construction process. They don't always deliver a true 360 surround effect due to their proprietary cable layout but, again, since you won't usually be using such high fidelity devices outside of playtime, having a limited degree of directional control isn't a bad thing either.
I've been using a pair of Varjo's new Aero headsets since 2019 when its predecessor Varjo One launched, but am still awaiting their updated version. My early experience hasn't exactly been stellar; however, I'm eager to see if everything has changed. Since I used my previous review copy, I decided to do another head-to-head comparison between the current and older models. After doing some research, I found out that there should technically be no difference due to the updates made. Of course, none would want an inferior product being sold. As such, let me show off how much better things have gotten over the last three years. Let's start by seeing just how well these headsets perform and then move on to more subjective matters like design and fit. Then, after all, is said and done, I'll leave you with a conclusion as to whether or not they're worthy replacements for your gaming needs.
As is evidenced by its name, Varjo has produced headphones since 1998 but only started selling aerospace-grade headsets under its own brand in January 2020 when it launched its new line of models: the S2, P1, XL2/3S, XE8C+S, SE6, SE7D/SE9D, SL5iB-A+, and the S10R+. We had high hopes going into Varjo as its products consistently do well in tests; however, after spending about $180 USD in 2019 dollars (the price went down over the years), I found nothing better than my old Sony MDR7506 for gaming. This headsets battery lasts approximately 30 hours without needing charging and is more effective than any other comparable model including those sold by Sonos, Turtle Beach, and SteelSeries.
It also offers fantastic sound quality across all genres and sounds great wearing glasses too. Its buttons and mic work flawlessly every single time despite being worn daily over three-year intervals now. Although it does not include active noise cancellation (ANC)) technology like Corsair's VX8000 series and HP Omen X headband, it is considerably cheaper than either offering customizable EQ options. The biggest drawback of all these headsets combined is their bulky size making long-term use difficult if portability isn't required. Of course, if portability's important, then none of these will satisfy (they average about 40mm x 37mm).
