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| Includes headset, travel case, USB sound card, QuickDisconnect adapters, and headband identity patch |
It’s always fun to see what a company can put together when it throws budgetary considerations out the window and pulls out all the stops. For Plantronics, the Gamecom Commander represents just such an effort—a completely over-the-top, luxury-tier product.
The Gamecom Commander doesn’t feel like other gaming headsets. It’s made of surprisingly heavy-duty plastic, with military-inspired oval earcups. Everything—the cups, band, wires, and microphone—feels more sturdily constructed than what we’re used to. Each set is laser etched with an individual serial number, and the Commander comes with a removable Velcro strap across the top of the headband, which allows you to customize yours with a personal or team patch (not included). Even the cable is top-notch, with a proprietary snap-away connector (so you can quickly switch between multiple devices), an in-line remote, and a telephone-style spiral cord.
Sound quality is exceptional, with unparalleled accuracy and clarity among the sets tested for this feature. The bass response is clear, but less powerful than some of the other headsets tested. The GameCom can be used as an analog set or with an included USB dongle that provides Dolby virtual 7.1 surround sound. As usual, the virtual surround is better than nothing, but not a replacement for the real thing.
We normally don’t talk a lot about the microphones on gaming headsets, because they tend to run a pretty narrow gamut between “mediocre” and “decent.” The Gamecom Commander is a different story, with a seriously heavy-duty mic with excellent noise cancellation and the best recording quality we’ve experienced in a gaming headset.
Even the Commander’s packaging is exceptional. The set comes in a high-quality rigged nylon carrying case, which you can attach to anything with the included burly carabiner—if that’s something you want to do.
Ultimately, the only thing that keeps us from unconditionally recommending the Gamecom is the price. It’s an undeniably high-quality headset, but at $300 you’re paying a lot for luxury. The sound quality is good, but you could do better with a $275 pair of audiophile headphones and a $25 desk mic. Still, if you want a traditional gaming headset and have money to burn, this could be the set for you.
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