LVL 40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset Review – Chat Mode ON

LVL 40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset Review

The Nintendo Switch is such an interesting console, as you probably know. It is the intersection of modern console and handheld gaming. You can play AAA games on the bus. Sometimes, even with the portability of the Switch, it is not always so convenient with the audio bothering people around you or getting drowned out in a loud place. The LVL 40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset from PDP Gaming looks to solve that conundrum.

The name is certainly a mouthful, but our headset is designed very specifically for Nintendo Switch. This is both a good and kind of bad thing. We will get to that later. Its functions are very simple. There is a scrolling dial to adjust volume and a microphone attached to the left-hand earphone. As standard for headsets, the size is adjustable and it has padding under the arch and on the earphones.

How Does This Sound?

Our audio hardware, whether it is a speaker or headphones, is important for our auditory experience in gaming. The benefit of having a headset is that you can hear some of the more hidden layers of sound. While testing out the LVL 40, I played some retro games on Nintendo Switch Online. I like hearing those 8-bit bass-y sounds you don’t normally hear on speakers.

Something I really do love about this headset is the volume control. A lot of headphones and headsets have click-y buttons or touch activated controls, which I personally hate. Just behind the left headphone on the LVL 40 is a small dial that rolls really smoothly. Adjusting the master volume on your Switch or PC is not really necessary.

Get on My LVL

Unfortunately, this hardware is not without issues. Bear in mind, the problems I have with it may not apply to everyone. My own needs in a headset unique and the LVL 40 is intended for a more specific use. One of the drawbacks to this wired headset are… well, the wires. Both headphones have wires attached that join into one 3.5mm plug.

The intended use for this headset is to play your Nintendo Switch in handheld mode and plug it into the top. The wire is too short for anything else really. To test the audio, I plugged it into my PC, which I sit right next to, but even 18 inches away, I felt it there was not enough slack in the cable. Though a wired headset is the only way to go for a Nintendo Switch, since it does not support Bluetooth technology. There’s really no way around that.

The microphone sticks out the left side of the headset. It is on a bendy wire for optimal mobility. You can slide the microphone up into a muted position, which is a neat tactile function. The microphone does not work when plugged into a PC, which again, is my personal issue with it.

When it comes down to whether you want to buy the LVL 40 Headset or not, think about what you would need it for. If a wired headset for handheld mode is what you need, then great. If you are expecting other uses out of it, you may be disappointed. The unfortunate limitations of Nintendo Switch as a console do play a part in what its uses. For $25, it is really up to you what you expect out of it.

***Hardware provided by PDP Gaming for this review***