Hardware Review: Turtle Beach Ear Force Z6A (PC)

[News Portal]

Turtle Beach's new Ear Force Z6A is touted as providing the quality of a high-end gaming headset at a lower, more affordable price point. As our own ears were feeling cold and lonely, we were more than happy to put these claims to the test.

Read full article by Tim Colwill

[PalZer0]

These aren't very durable. The right ear on my Ear Force Charlie (which is based on the Z6A) snapped when I went to take the headset off a few days ago.

Not all that impressed to be honest as it appears to be a common fault.

[Tim Colwill]

Disappointing

Was it in the hinges?

[PalZer0]

Disappointing

Was it in the hinges?

Looks very much like it's the hinges. The ear itself is now hanging by a wire.

[zigarot]

I have these headphones. Went halves with a friend and Imported 2 from US in august before I won my CM storms .

They are wonderful, but I hate the volume slider gadget thingy. It's quite heavy and gets caught on my desk when I lean back. At the moment i have them velcro'd to the desk.

As for the actual unit with sound and quality, it's quite fantastic. I love to spin down all the outputs except bass to around 10-20%. Makes for some Good BF3 experiences.

Pinpointing with the Z6A is fantastic too, I love getting accused of hacking because I shoot before just before they come through doorways

The build quality i find quite good too, I've rolled over the volume controller, then headphones themselves, and dropped the headphones a LOT of times (maybe twice a day). It still works like a champ.\

Edit:
No hinge issues for me, but they are only 3 months old.

[PalZer0]

Edit:
No hinge issues for me, but they are only 3 months old.

My Ear Force Charlie is less than 2 months old and the hinge has snapped.

[revengous]

Edit:
No hinge issues for me, but they are only 3 months old.

My Ear Force Charlie is less than 2 months old and the hinge has snapped.

Gotta agree with you, I had a pair of px21's (loosk just like the z6a) 2 months in, the left ear stopped working, got a free replacement (dick smith ftw) but they completely died 2 months later.

Disappointing

Was it in the hinges?

Im disapointed in turtle beech in general, they look so good

[Xwaste]

I've had my px21 for well over a year now and they are still perfect.

[TRB]

At the same price point the Icemat Audio / steelseries V2 is better and way more durable.
They have a 50mm driver with 18hz-28khz range.

and right now I'm using Audio-technica's ATH-M50 which is superior in sound quality to even some $300-$400 sets.
The M50s have a 45mm driver with 15hz-28khz range, plus the whole thing is only 284g, where as the Z6a in the review are 500g total.

I got them on special for $127 a couple of weeks ago, they can be had regularly for about $150, even though the audio technica website lists RRP as around $250.

The ATH-M50s are studio grade for not much more then these cheap 'surround sound' gimmicks.

[Eskanasi]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lus ... -headphone

Read that for gaming headphones.

http://www.overclock.net/t/368653/ocnhc ... dsets/0_50

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/a/ocnhc-guide- ... headphones

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/a/headphone-buying-guide

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1014902/most ... ducts/0_50

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/t/248036/essen ... -read/0_50

And read anything that takes your fancy from that.

I don't agree with non-audiophile sites reviewing audio equipment. If you want some headphones specifically for gaming, buy a separate microphone and Headphones. There are some headsets you can use, but none of them are produced and marketed specifically for gaming, very rarely (and I can't think of one at all) are there actually decent 'gaming' headphones. For $150, which is apparently the price of these turtle beach headphones, you could get a pair of sennheiser HD 555's and a seperate mic, granted it'll probably cost you more like $165 if you don't get them on special, but it'll be worth it.

I know its a lot to read through, and I understand if you won't. But you can spend fortunes on audio equipment (as you all know) but you can also spend a whole non-fortune and get very good bang for buck. Just research it, please. And welcome to audiophilia.

[JCbrovz]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envy-aka-shin-czs-guide-to-headphone-gaming-particularly-with-dolby-headphone

Read that for gaming headphones.

http://www.overclock.net/t/368653/ocnhc ... dsets/0_50

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/a/ocnhc-guide- ... headphones

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/a/headphone-buying-guide

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1014902/most ... ducts/0_50

Also that.

http://www.overclock.net/t/248036/essen ... -read/0_50

And read anything that takes your fancy from that.

I don't agree with non-audiophile sites reviewing audio equipment. If you want some headphones specifically for gaming, buy a separate microphone and Headphones. There are some headsets you can use, but none of them are produced and marketed specifically for gaming, very rarely (and I can't think of one at all) are there actually decent 'gaming' headphones. For $150, which is apparently the price of these turtle beach headphones, you could get a pair of sennheiser HD 555's and a seperate mic, granted it'll probably cost you more like $165 if you don't get them on special, but it'll be worth it.

I know its a lot to read through, and I understand if you won't. But you can spend fortunes on audio equipment (as you all know) but you can also spend a whole non-fortune and get very good bang for buck. Just research it, please. And welcome to audiophilia.

i can not agree more. I find the audio technica ath ad700s are amazing for gaming, and the whole cybergamer community agrees. I cant stant when people say that the g35 headset is better than my audio technica a900s.

[Tim Colwill]

I don't agree with non-audiophile sites reviewing audio equipment.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

As a gaming site it's important for us to review all sorts of things, from graphics cards to gaming headsets to steering wheels to games controllers to actual video games.

When a product comes out, often we are offered a chance to review it. If it's something that appeals to our audience - as gaming headsets do - we'll take that chance.

[Mythor]

I'd rather read a review from a site that doesn't think $7,000 gold plated diamond encrusted cables make things sound better. "Audiophiles" are crazy.

[TheD]

Gaming websites reviewing headphones is like someone reviewing a computer with a Nvidia FX5200 in it and thinking it is the best thing ever because the only things they have used before are the PS1 and older.

[NamelessABC]

What's noise bleed like on the headset? I'm pretty much constantly in voice chat with "Push to Talk" turned off and people get annoyed when they can hear themselves and my music.

Currently using a set of Logitech G35 which will need replacing soon.