I came across the INSMART Gaming Headset while browsing Amazon the other day. As someone who plays a lot of online games (particularly Call of Duty: Warzone), I’m acutely aware of how valuable a good headset can be. They enable you to hear enemy footsteps and gunfire more clearly and precisely than standard TV or surround sound speakers. This, in turn, allows you to anticipate enemy positions. Not only that, but they facilitate effective comms with teammates – essential for pulling out big wins when it counts. Overall, a great headset is a huge advantage – and one that often comes at a fairly steep price. So, when I saw the TH618S INSMART Gaming Headset at a mindbogglingly cheap price, I decided to give it a go. And, truthfully, I was pleasantly surprised. Read on for my INSMART Gaming Headset review to find out if it’s worth your time and money.
INSMART Gaming Headset Review
The Price
I bought the INSMART TH618S headset from Amazon UK for a staggeringly cheap £13.58. And while Jeremy Clarkson may not be willing to pay “thirteen quid”, I certainly was.
At £13, you can’t really go wrong. Admittedly, as of the time of writing, it’s still on a limited time deal down from its usual price of £15.98. But, even so, it’s still crazy cheap. INSMART’s range is clearly there to provide budget headsets. Now, at this price point, you’re never going to get something that blows you away. I just wanted something serviceable. As long as it does the basics, I’m happy. Luckily, it (mostly) does.
INSMART Gaming Headset Sound Quality
As I mentioned, the whole reason for buying a gaming headset is to shut out outside noise and give yourself a true advantage in online play. For that to really be the case, a “good” gaming headset needs to offer strong sound quality.
The INSMART TH618S gaming headset gives surprisingly decent sound quality – for the price. In fact, I was surprised by how well it captured subtle in-game audio. Footsteps and bullets were relatively easy to hear, which is a big plus. Bass-wise, the headset was certainly lacking. However, as far as a cheap headset goes and based on sound quality alone, it really isn’t bad value.
Unfortunately, the more advanced stuff is where this INSMART Gaming Headset falls down. The TH618S’s official description claims it offers an “immersive gaming experience with stereo surround sound”, which INSMART badge as “3D Surround Sound”. And it just about gets away with it. But compared to pricier headsets like the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 I regularly use, there’s no comparison. For example, while you can hear enemy footsteps, it’s not that obvious where from. The sound just isn’t as rich or multi-layered as you get with premium headsets. And I occasionally found the combination of frantic party chat and heavy action to be borderline headache inducing when using this headset.
Microphone
A good gaming headset offers solid and consistent microphone quality to enable you to chat with friends and other players as you game. The INSMART Gaming Headset falls at this hurdle.
While just about serviceable, my friends complained of poor sound quality when I spoke (likening it to me having a bucket on my head). Not only that, but they frequently said it was cutting out and suffering interference, which meant they couldn’t always hear me. When playing Call of Duty: Warzone, there were a few instances where they missed important comms – obviously not ideal. Worst of all, they missed out on some of my amazing banter thanks to the microphone quality. Simply not good enough.
Build Quality
This INSMART Gaming Headset looked and felt pretty cheap. But, then, it was only £13 so what do you expect?
The earpads were spongey and not very breathable. The speaker casings had a cool RGB light when plugged in via USB (although not when using the 3.5mm jack) but were made of cheap and hollow plastic. Similarly, the headband was made of flimsy, bendable metal. To put it simply, there was nothing premium about the build quality of the TH618S INSMART Gaming Headset. I’d expect it to deteriorate pretty quickly with regular use.
INSMART Gaming Headset Review – Final Verdict
For £13, the TH618S INSMART Gaming Headset is decent value for money. Sound-wise, it’s actually surprisingly good. The audio isn’t especially deep or rich, but it enables you to hear subtle details when it counts. The surround sound isn’t great, though. Be warned if you’re expecting it to give you a significant edge in tense enemy encounters. In the same vein, it also offers no alternative sound modes to tailor the audio to different games or scenarios unlike many premium headsets.
The microphone is what really lets the INSMART Gaming Headset down, though. Yes, it’s cheap. But the mic is barely passable. If you’re someone who likes to chat with friends while you’re gaming, I’d consider going for something else. While it is functional for the most part, it’s just too inconsistent.
As an entry level gaming headset at an incredibly low price, INSMART are offering a decent bit of kit. For a younger kid or those on a tight budget, the TH618S headset would do fine. But for competitive players or those wanting a deeper and more advanced audio experience, consider investing in a premium pair – because you won’t find anything special here.
Overall Rating: 5.5/10
Which gaming headset would you recommend? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other tech reviews…
