I'll be honest, I had no idea what Monoprice was until about a month ago when I was given the opportunity to review the Dark Matter headset. Founded way back in 2002, Monoprice creates thousands of affordable electronics, ranging from computer monitors and headsets to 3D printers and webcams. As far as headsets and headphones are concerned, Dark Matter is one of its cheaper offerings. Some of its high-end, non-gaming headphones run upwards of $300 – so I was curious to know if the $39.99 Dark Matter managed to perform any better than its price tag let on.
The bad news? It didn't.
The good news? It's still a solid headset. If you're seeking an affordable, good-looking gaming headset that'll easily connect to your PS4, Xbox One, PC, or Switch, the Monoprice Dark Matter might fit the bill – just don’t expect anything beyond an average audio experience.
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Dark Matter Headset Full Specs
- Driver Size: 53mm
- Frequency Range: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Detachable Mic: Yes
- Connection: Wired 3.5mm
- Cable Length: 8.3 feet
- Volume Rocker: Yes
- Mute Button: Yes
- One Year Warranty
Beautiful And Bulky
The first thing you'll notice about the Dark Matter headset is its size. I've tested a lot of headphones over the years, and these jumbo-sized earcups dwarf them all. Despite their bulk, the headphones are surprisingly light and easy to wear during extended sessions. My dumbo-sized ears fit well in the jumbo-sized cups, and I often found myself forgetting I even had them on.
Overall construction of the headset is a bit spotty, with a squishy headband, an excessive eight-foot-long cable that's constantly tangling, and earcups that – despite their size – somehow offer little to no passive noise canceling. I'm a big fan of how they look, but once you go hands-on, you can immediately tell they're on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Still, compared to some of the gaudy RGB-laden headsets on the market, the Dark Matter is a breath of fresh air.
Sound That Won't Surprise
Looks will only get you so far in the world of gaming headsets – what really matters is sound quality. And while I'm a big fan of Dark Matter's looks, the same can't be said of its audio performance. The 53mm drivers are impressive on paper, but in reality, they have trouble properly expressing notes on both ends of its frequency range. Most sounds are a bit muddled together as well, and the lack of ANC and poor passive noise canceling means any ambient sound leads to a less-than-impressive audio experience.
To be fair, these things only cost $39.99. Not many headsets in that price range perform better than the Dark Matter – and they often look a lot worse. Explosions still sound great, gunfire rings true, and it's easy to tell where footsteps are coming from in CS: GO.
The same goes for the microphone, which performs exactly as you’d imagine. It's not the clearest mic in the world, but the option to detach it when not in use is a nice perk for a headset at this budget. I'm also a big fan of volume rockers on wired connections – even if the low-quality cable is a pain to constantly untangle. Quickly muting your mic or turning down the volume for an in-real-life chat is a breeze, thanks to the large toggle located near the top of the cable.
Verdict
Dark Matter is a perfect example of "getting what you pay for." There's no doubt it's a good-looking headset, but despite massive drivers and a gorgeous frame, its sound quality leaves much to be desired.
Given its $39.99 price, however, it stacks up nicely against the competition and should be on the list of anyone seeking a reliable headset on a budget. The biggest thing to be aware of is the lack of passive noise canceling – featuring monstrous earcups, the amount of ambient noise that sneaks through is a bit surprising.
If you don't have a noisy roommate or have a dedicated space for your games, that shouldn't be much of a concern. Regardless of where you play, the Dark Matter headset will provide you with a good-looking gadget for your desk and decent, reliable, no-frills audio.
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A Dark Matter headset was provided to TheGamer for this review. The headset is available for purchase through the official Monoprice website.
