I’ve been using the Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 5 for a while now. It’s a mid-tower case that holds a full ATX motherboard and plenty of other stuff, but also two of those giant, top-mounted usb 3.0 ports. I had been using it for all my work PC builds and other projects where I needed a lot of usb ports, but I needed something a little more quiet than the built-in fan.
Cooler Master made a name for itself by creating some of the best chassis in the market, but they also produce some of the most innovative power supplies and coolers. That’s why it was a matter of time before they released their first top-shelf enthusiast PSU, the MH650. The unit has been around for years, but it’s probably the most important product Cooler Master has ever created. Because of its distinct features, it’s also the most likely to find a place in enthusiast’s systems.
To say that the Cooler Master MH650 is the best case for any mid-tower computer is an absurd statement. It’s clearly the best case on the market, but is it the best case? We’ll take a look and see.
If you’ve noticed a trend, we’ve been working on a lot of long-term evaluations, and we now have two gaming headsets – one of which is this Cooler Master MH650. Fortunately for us, the wonderful people at Cooler Master were kind enough to let us to take our time writing this review. That being stated, here is the Cooler Master MH650 Long Term Review, which has been in the works for quite some time.
The Right Balance of Light Design
The Cooler Master MH650 is entirely made of polycarbonate, with the exception of the headset’s band, which is made of genuine metal for added durability. It’s also pleasant to adjust with the correct clicks and know that the adjustment will stay in place. The earcups rotate inwards or outwards depending on your perspective, and they may be stored flat. It comes with a bag in which you may keep it, which is a great touch.
Comfort is essential for a prolonged gaming session, and the MH650 delivers in every aspect. Rather of opting for a “faux-leather” material to add “extra-ness,” Cooler Master chose a conventional cloth, which is much superior in terms of ventilation. The fake leather has a pleasant feel to it at first, but as you wear them for extended periods of time, you will find yourself sweating profusely. So the earcups and headband are made of fabric, which is a lovely touch. Oh, and the earcups are interchangeable, but not the head rest, which I wish was attached with Velcro so you could tear it off and replace it when it became worn out.
CM Software and RGB Glory
If you think this headset appears clean without RGB, you’re mistaken. We didn’t realize it had any until the grayed-out ring began to shine in a rainbow of hues. As someone who prefers to keep my peripherals clean and avoid RGB, I thought the splash of light on the headphones was quite interesting. The ring light, which flashes and cycles depending on the mode you’re in – and which you can adjust with the PC program – is very relaxing. However, there is one time when you’ll notice the lights are in your face: when it’s muted.
When the physical switch on the sides is toggled, the headphones flash quickly in red light. There’s no way to turn it off, and I found it annoying, but having a continuous reminder that it’s muted was a lot better than having a little red light.
Mic is detachable and has physical buttons.
Speaking of the microphone, it’s removable, which is excellent for situations when you don’t need it and can be reattached afterwards. It’s covered by a rubber flap, which I believe will eventually break apart, but hey, with proper care, it can endure for a long time. Because the microphone is constructed of flexible plastic, you may move it closer or further away.
Starting with a physical volume dial that is nice to have at arm’s reach and control immediately rather than Alt+Tab-ing every time, a physical mute switch that I love where it clicks in when mute and clicks out when unmuted, an RGB button to control the lights, and a 7.1 ch Button to enable/disable 7.1 channel audio, these headphones have four physical controls. You’ll see a Micro USB port outline if you look closely; this is because the Wireless version of the MH650, known as the MH670, has the same body.
USB Direct Connectivity
If you’re searching for a 3.5mm headphone, you’ll have to turn back since this isn’t it. We need to take care of this before one of you makes a mistake. The braided wires provide a wonderful touch of durability; they don’t detach and are hard-wired. However, it connects to your PC or laptop via a normal USB-A connector on the opposite end of the connection. One advantage of the wire is that it is long enough to be routed from your PC all the way to your ears, making cable management a breeze. It does, however, come with a USB-A to C converter that allows you to connect it to a phone or other device that supports USB-C. The fact that they contain a dongle makes me ecstatic.
Audio-wise, it’s better than you’d expect.
Gaming headphones are notorious for having hit-or-miss sound quality, but the MH650 offers a really excellent balanced audio that focuses on clarity and balance. It’s remarkable that the headphones cover every frequency without a hitch, and the bass response is tasteful and not as hefty as you would expect – so when we listened to Jurnee Smollet’s It’s a Man’s World, we were blown away.
What about the gameplay experience, though? There are a few things I’d want my gaming headphones to excel at: spatial awareness in shooter games, excellent separation of speech and audio without having to pick between the two, and fantastic audio. Now, I stated earlier how balanced the audio is, and for the most part, you can say the same while you’re playing games. Even at maximum level, I’m pleased it doesn’t scream or create strange noises that may disrupt your listening experience.
The audio works well with the voice chat – in my situation, when I play with my friends, I use Discord to talk over the built-in voice chats in games for privacy, and it worked well for the most part, and I didn’t have to go to the mixer to lower the game volume or anything to hear my friends. Finally, with excellent separation and audio changing depending on the position of your opponent as you turn, the spatial awareness – this headset takes the cake.
To be honest, we’re just concerned about gaming performance, and it covers all the bases and does it better. The microphone does seem a bit weak, but if you listen to the clip below, you’ll notice how clear it is and how well it sounds – thus communication in games should be a breeze.
We didn’t speak about the 7.1 Virtual Surround because, after testing numerous headphones that claim to have a feature that barely works, Cooler Master’s argument is that it does function, but it’s not as mind-blowing as you’d want. So, this is basically the only other drawback I can think of for this gaming headset.
If you don’t want to watch Wired…
Now, for those who don’t want USB-based headphones and want something wireless to keep their desk clutter-free, the Cooler Master MH 670 is basically a wireless version of this, and for those who want to use the legacy 3.5mm, that’s the one you should look for as it has a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack that’s detachable for you to use it however you want.
Conclusion
I had low expectations for this one, but the Cooler Master MH650 proved me wrong with well-balanced audio for gaming and other audio tasks, as well as a splash of RGB on top of it. Right now, these headphones are available for a surprisingly low price of under RM 300, making them an excellent buy, and I don’t think I could recommend anything else – although the HyperX Cloud Stinger is in the same price range, the Cooler Master MH650 has a better build, better drivers, and an overall good package.
