Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition Review

During the Fall of 2016, we reviewed the Creative H7 headset, which brought a $200+ headset to the $120-150 price range. That headset was outstanding, both in microphone quality and audio experience. Not everyone has the funds to purchase a headset that expensive, however, so Creative has come out with a cheaper, but almost equally as amazing, headset in the sub $100 price range. Enter the Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition headset!

Similar Build to the H7

The actual headset design is not too far off the H7, so those familiar with that look will see similar features in the H5. Here is what Creative has to say about their newest headset,

The BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition is an upgrade from the BlasterX H5 with improved drivers for better sensitivity and more accurate sound reproduction. This gaming headset also features an upgraded microphone to help you ace your games with better voice pick up and noise cancellation in loud gaming environments. Looking sleeker than ever, the BlasterX H5 comes with new brushed metal earcup plates and gun metal finishing.

Headset Features

Removable Microphone – The quality of the microphone is great, but unfortunately it is not retractable like so many other headsets on the market. With loads of video game peripherals and cables lying around, and with my kids in and out of my video game drawer, I’m always afraid I’ll lose the microphone. With that being said, I do find removable microphones of a better quality than retractable microphones, and this is also true of the H5 Tournament Edition.

Audio Control Dongle – When reviewing the H7, I said that the audio dongle was one of the worst features. After using that headset for months, my opinion of audio dongles has drastically changed. Not having to fumble blindly trying to change my audio settings on the headset itself is a great feature. Everything is directly in front of me and easy to access, which I now consider an OUTSTANDING feature!

Comfort to the Max!

Like the Sound BlasterX H7 headset, the H5 doesn’t scream comfort when you look at it. In fact, compared to other headsets, this one ‘appears’ to be very uncomfortable. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The H5 is one of the most comfortable headsets on the market, and for those looking to use it for hours on end, it is a great feature.

Let me tell you, I have a favorite headset company when it comes to comfort, and this headset matches most of those, and even exceeds a few of them. While the ‘look’ of the headset screams lack of comfort, the reality is a much different story. The band over the head is very cushioned and feels great around the top of my head. The ear cups are large, fit nicely over my ears, and don’t exert any extra or painful pressure on my head, even during long play sessions. Comfort is the number one selling feature for myself in a headset – yes, even over sound – so the fact that these were great even before plugging them in was a great way to start of my review.

Audio Quality

There are two aspects to look at when reviewing headsets: microphone quality and driver quality. While the H5 Tournament Edition doesn’t quite match the audio quality of the H7, it is a big improvement over the standard H5; the microphone, however, tops all the Creative console headsets! Lets tackle that first.

Microphone

This microphone is outstanding, and I’ve even been using it to do a number of lets plays. Yes, it doesn’t beat the quality of a stand alone desktop microphone – that will probably cost you $150-200 – but it still gets the job done very well. I’ve embedded one of my Let’s Plays below, and you can hear the microphone in that video. If my interactions with other people are as clear as that – and for the record, they are – then this headset for those who play a lot online is a home run!

Drivers

I’m not going to sit here and pretend the H5 Tournament Edition is as good as the H7, but it is no slouch either. For under $100, I think it is one of the better sounding headsets on the market, and the quality definitely is a bargain for the price. In terms of what you get in the ear cups, I would argue you are rivalling many headsets in the 150$ range.

One of the big differences between the H7 and the H5 Tournament is that the H7 has a USB connector that will enable 7.1 surround sound. It’s a great feature, but only for those who are looking for the ultimate experience. If you just want something to pump your game volume into your ears, there is no reason to get the H7 when the H5 Tournament Edition will do the trick!

Conclusion

You can’t go wrong. For under $100 in the United States, the Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition headset is a great enhancement over the original H5, and one of the best Creative headsets to date. While it lacks a few of the features of the Sound BlasterX H7 headset, you will also be saving a wad of cash! Overall, the quality of the build, microphone, and drivers makes the H5 a competitive headset in a saturated marketplace. It beats out most, and for a great price!