ALIENWARE DEBUTS NEW PRO HEADSET IN COLLABORATION WITH TEAM LIQUID
BY BRIAN WONG
Today, Alienware is excited to introduce the Alienware Pro Headset, a new esports-caliber headset that follows through on the success of our recently debuted Alienware Pro Mouse and Keyboard.
This headset had to meet the demands of competitive gaming, so we collaborated with over 100 elite esports athletes and streamers, including those from the legendary Team Liquid. Over the course of 18 months, we combined their insights with our engineers’ expertise to create our most advanced gaming headset.
Through our focus groups, interviews, and hands-on research exercises, we uncovered and incorporated sought-after features and technologies approved by pros.
- 50mm Graphene Coated Drivers for superior directional audio.
- Hybrid ANC delivers the best possible active noise cancelling (ANC) experience.
- Two-mic Noise Cancellation to ensure the mic only picks up your voice.
- Soft memory-foam leatherette earcups enhance comfort, reduce pressure, isolate sound, and improve sound quality for focused gaming.
This headset provides essential cues to gamers; for example, the footsteps of a character approaching from a precise direction, the chiming of a spell or ability hidden nearby, and of course, the voice of your fellow squad members are all delivered with precision and clarity.
Superior Audio | You Can Run but You Can’t Hide
In gaming, audio quality is the #1 headset feature that matters above all else. Competitive gamers need clear audio input from the microphone and output from the earcups to eliminate distractions and provide the most precise directional audio, for themselves and their teammates.
Let’s start by talking about the audio features that enhance immersion and spatial awareness, and how that translates to the player’s ability to read the game, anticipate their opponent’s next move and maximize their potential.
From the beginning, it was clear that we needed to invest in the gold standard of gaming audio: 50mm graphene coated drivers. This advanced technology provides the best, out-of-box directional audio solution. The Pro Headset’s atom-thick graphene coating is the ideal material as it’s both strong and lightweight. Why does this matter? The weight makes it incredibly responsive which creates a natural, accurate, and clear sound with lots of depth. Our Pro Wireless Headset is also less prone to distortion, especially at higher frequencies, when compared to other gaming headsets that are made with titanium, plastic, or other materials. These attributes come together to provide gamers with clearer 360-degree directional and vertical audio. This is particularly advantageous in games like first-person shooters (FPS) in which gamers must know the direction and height of the sounds around them. High quality drivers are why pros in FPS can immediately flick to an enemy without even needing to see them first. [ProSetttings.com has additional info on how graphene drivers work]
Here are a few other key technologies found in the Alienware Pro Wireless Headset:
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) blocks out external noises (background conversation, clacky keyboards, fans, TVs, pets and more) to eliminate distractions so you can maintain focus.
- High-Res Certification via USB-C provides clearer and more detailed audio to hear subtle queues while also enabling a richer experience when listening to music.
- Pro-Tuned Sound: We gathered feedback from Team Liquid’s renowned VALORANT, DOTA 2, LoL, WoW, and other teams to ensure that the out-of-box audio is tuned for competitive gaming.
Not everyone desires active noise cancellation (ANC), which is why we made sure that the passive noise cancellation (PNC) was also effective. And since this headset is Bluetooth enabled, it can be used out of the home. That’s why we’ve enabled Transparency Mode – for situations when the player needs to hear sound through the earcups but also be aware of their surroundings at the gym, when commuting, or doing household chores.
Superior Mic | Command and Conquer
Pros also need a high-quality microphone for clear communications and removing background noise. Anything outside of the player’s voice and in-game sound is a distraction that can impact the outcome of a game.
That is why we implemented a two-mic, noise cancelling, microphone system that can detect and eliminate background sounds while enhancing voice clarity for clearer communications. How did we achieve this? The microphone is guided by a machine learning model that has been trained and tested in various environments and at different speaking volumes and pitches. This helps the microphone distinguish between verbal and non-verbal audio and enhances the player’s voice regardless of environment – sitting near a barking dog at home or surrounded by 50,000 cheering fans on the world stage.
Superior Design | Above the Clouds
We spent a lot of time trying to achieve the perfect balance of fit, weight, and style. Ultimately, we opted for a minimal design that prioritizes comfortability, versatility, and keeps your head resting in a virtual cloud.
We focused on the soft memory-foam leatherette earcups, which form a snug seal around the ear to improve sound isolation and block outside noises (which benefits the passive noise cancelling capability). This soft memory-foam material, paired with a deep earcup design, creates a well-balanced feeling that lets the headset conform to a wide range of head and ear sizes. We placed careful detail on making sure the earcups were done right so anyone can relax through extended sessions without discomfort.
Compared to other Alienware headsets, the Pro Headset is modeled around a more minimal style that makes it street ready. When you’re ready to leave the house, simply detach the mic and connect the headset to Bluetooth. For those who enjoy mobile gaming, the headset also features a low latency mode for Bluetooth that reduces lag to 80ms - almost imperceptible to humans, especially when used on a small screen like smartphones.
More on connectivity, players can select from three modes – USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, or 2.4GHz connections for PC, mobile and console gaming! Expect battery life of up to 70 hours (over 2.4GHz connection with ANC off), up to 35 hours (over 2.4GHz connection with default ANC on), or up to 75 hours (over Bluetooth connection with ANC off at default volume) [i].
Additional features and customization are supported by Alienware Command Center 6.4, a centralized hub that allows quick access to settings such as game-specific profiles and themes, AlienFX lighting, macros, and more to give control over all of your gear [2].
Customize the following Alienware Pro Headset preferences and sound experience through AWCC v6.4.x and Dolby Atmos integration:
- EQ: adjust the equalizer in the Dolby app for an optimal audio experience.
- Microphone Noise Cancellation Control: switch between Default mode for wider pitch and volume of input, or Enhanced mode to filter out more background sound Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Customization.
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Control: turn ANC on to block external noise or customize the Transparency level to specify the amount of background sound you want to allow through.
- Battery Saver Mode Customization: adjust battery saver settings to turn ANC and microphone noise cancellation on/off at a specified battery percentage level to conserve remaining battery life.
- Side Tone Customization: control how much of your own voice you can hear in the earcup.
The Alienware Pro Headset will be available this October in North America for $229.99.
Updating the Alienware Dual-Mode Headset
We are also promoting the Alienware Dual-Mode Headset to a Tri-Mode Headset with the addition of Bluetooth to support mobile gaming, phone audio and other Bluetooth enabled devices. The updated Alienware Tri-Mode Wireless Headset is designed for gamers looking for an immersive audio experience in a wireless headset they can wear with total comfort and easily adjust throughout long hours of gaming. It will be available this October in North America for $149.99.