With wireless headsets seemingly on the rise in gaming and a new console generation to pitch them for, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see affordable wireless headsets like the LucidSound LS15 P entering the market. But does this mid-range option make much of a connection?
Kind of, yeah. The LucidSound LS15P is certainly a solid pick for PS5 and PS4 as a wireless headset that might be worth it for those who want to cut cables, but the sound quality itself takes quite a hit when compared to similarly priced wired options. I switched between the LS15P and my old Kraken headset, broken band and all, and found that there was only one clear winner.
It’s not that the LucidSound LS15P sounds bad, per se, just rather flat, a little basic. It really lacks the richness and depth you need for competitive play to be able to pick up on the little details, like exact enemy locations or the breadth of bass in a game’s score — music, in particular, is seriously disappointing. The bass overall is always a little lacking, despite the “powerful 50mm drivers” that are supposed to provide exactly that. Switching between EQ modes doesn’t do much good, either, though I have to say the change between each is barely noticeable. No matter what I selected, I could never properly place footsteps in Fortnite or hear the third-party inevitably stomping their way over in Apex.
It doesn’t help that the LucidSound LS15P feels a little on the quieter side, its audio control system not letting you go past much of a threshold. While the cups themselves are somewhat noise-cancelling, the lack of deep, relatively loud audio means you will still hear external distractions. It’s also worth noting that you should not use this headset for PC as there’s no way to control audio if you’re using a cable connection, and may even encounter some interference when using a wi-fi extender while listening wirelessly. Bit of a niche issue as I’m someone who doesn’t have a phone line in their office, but still worth bearing in mind.
But in terms of actually listening wirelessly on PlayStation, it really couldn’t be any simpler. Plug the dongle into your console, turn on your controller and headset, and you’re good to go. I was a little surprised at just how easy it was to setup, expecting some kind of hoop to jump through, but nope: it’s pretty much plug and play. If you want to chat, simply attach the external mic (the internal one is as weak as you’d guess), briefly fiddle with the settings, and natter away.
Another thing the LucidSound LS15P has going for it is the comfort factor, thanks to it being a fairly great fit for most heads with its soft padded cups and ample crown room on top. As someone with a Head Zeppelin, that stuff’s pretty important. Likewise, its “interface” is intuitive, a female voice telling you when you’ve muted audio or when you’re running low on battery, as well as all the buttons being obviously laid out. Speaking of battery, the LucidSound LS15P seems to match its prospective battery life of 15 hours and there’s always the option of switching to a 3.5mm cable should the battery flat out. As mentioned, though, you don’t get much to play with on a wired connection; it’s pretty much take it or leave it.
Ultimately, the LucidSound LS15P is a fairly safe option in terms of wireless gaming headsets for PlayStation fans that might be a good pick for any young players with birthdays coming up, those who might not mind the concessions for the price point. For anyone who plays games remotely competitively, though, there are far better wireless options out there, even at the <$100/£100 price point.
Review unit provided
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