These days I do nearly all of my gaming via headphones. The location of my gaming space and having a two-year-old with an early bedtime means that I have to. This fall, Turtle Beach introduced a whole new range of Ear Force headphones, and we were lucky enough to get our hands on a few, including the Ear Force Kilo.
For disclosure purposes, these days I use a pair of 7.1 surround sound, wired headphones from Tritton that I previously reviewed as my primary set of headphones. I also have a pair of Turtle Beach PX5’s that offer me a wireless solution when it is required. Both are higher end headsets. The reason I bring this is up is to qualify any inevitable comparisons I make between the Ear Force Kilo and the units I am used to.
The Ear Force Kilos are part of Turtle Beach’s co-branding initiative with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The Black Ops 2 branding is featured prominently on the box, but on the headphones themselves (aside from the black and orange colour scheme) there is only a very light “Call of Duty” text across the top of them, and a Black Ops 2 logo on the volume control.
The Kilo’s sit at around the $80 price point. They are stereo headphones (no surround here) and are wired. While you have to plug them in to the console you are using them on, the cord is ample long enough to provide freedom for where you are sitting. I estimate it to be about twelve feet. The cord is surprisingly robust with a braided design, and the unit comes with an attached microphone for online chat. While it is not removable, the mic does tuck up somewhat neatly along the lines of the headset. The Kilos also require USB power (presumably for the mic), so there is some mild “setup” plugging for both the USB and appropriate RCA jacks. The RCA jack adapter is a decent length for setups like my own where your console and TV aren’t close together.
The ear cups are an over-the-ear design with a foam and leatherette construction that offers good comfort and some mild noise isolation. There is also a leatherette piece on the top of the headset for comfort. The ear cups aren’t the largest ones I’ve seen, but considering I have a pretty large head and big ears, they fit me just fine. As someone that wears glasses, the size of the ear cups is actually a good thing because they do not interfere with my glasses all that much. I should point out that these headphones are extremely light, which leads me to some concerns.
As light as the Kilo’s are, I am disappointed with its overall build quality. They are predominantly plastic and feel a bit too flimsy for my liking. Parents should be concerned that they might not endure the rigorous treatment that some gamers might put them through. Also, some of the design elements seem literally backwards. The volume control box, for example, is upside down as the cord naturally hangs away from you towards where it is plugged in. You must either continually turn it around or adjust to a whole down-means-up mentality in order to control the volume.
While the Kilos are stereo only, there is an offer included in the package for Turtle Beach’s Surround Sound processor. This can be attached to the Kilos to create a more 3D surround effect. It runs about $80, but might be an option for you if you’ve already bought these headphones or received them as a gift, and are looking for more depth in your audio. What comes in the box:
- The Kilo headset
- 3.5mm to dual RCA splitter cable
- Xbox 360 chat cable
- User manual
- Turtle Beach sticker
Things take a turn for the better in terms of how things sound. Despite being just stereo, these things sound good. The built-in bass boost tunes the sound to the lower end of the spectrum, but not to the point where it is overwhelming. It adds a certain punch to the gunfire and explosions associated with the Call of Duty product; however, I wonder if true audiophiles might think the sound is a little muddy though?
At the end of the day, the Ear Force Kilo headphones are a bit of a dichotomy. They sound great but their build quality is lacking. For the $80 price point, I expect more than just some Black Ops 2 branding. So, while they sound good and appear to be a good stereo option, the high price prevents me from making these a recommended buy.
