Gioteck TX-50 Gaming Headset Review

Whilst some people are happy just to hear what is happening in their games, others have an innate desire to only allow the most premium of vibrations into their ears. Ladies and gents, I’m one of those people.

A self-proclaimed audiophile, I’ve used a variety of headsets over the year – some good, some not so good – and one thing that has been unavoidable is a clear link between price and quality. Generally, if you buy a cheap product, you get a cheap sound. Buy a premium product, you’ll get a premium sound.

However, over recent years that link has started to blur. More and more third-party peripheral manufacturers have been slowly upping their game and providing serviceable gaming headsets for a reasonable price. With Gioteck’s latest offering – the TX-50 – have they succeeded in bringing a superior sound to the masses at a decent price.

Upon arrival, the TX-50 has a truly premium look. Gioteck has a knack for making low-priced products look more expensive that they are, and this package is no exception. The plastic and card box contain a huge transparent panel which shows off half of the headset clearly whilst still providing plenty of info on the back. It’s chunky and clean with a premium look – even if it is fluorescent orange. Inside the box, you’ll find the headset itself and a barebones quick start guide; and I mean very barebones. As in, it says “plug it in” in four different ways.

Installation of the headset is very simple – it literally connects via a standard 3 ½ mm jack. Because of this, it’s compatible with everything; PC, Xbox One, PS4, Mobile – if it supports a 3 ½ mm connection it’ll work. (RIP iPhone and Pixel users.) The wire which connects from the main unit to your controller or device is around 5ft long and has a matt-black plastic finish. It’s a shame it isn’t braided for extra protection, but it does the job. Half-way up the cable is a discreet inline control switch which allows for microphone muting and volume control; a pretty standard feature for gaming headsets, but welcome none-the-less. One aspect of this switch I love is the clear contrast between muted and unmuted. Dependant on position, either fluorescent orange or green bar is shown. This distinctly shows whether you can be heard of not – a must-have for those hoping to avoid awkward conversations being broadcast to their team-mates. Overall I’m pleased by the connective part of the headset; it’s simple but strong and effective, and the fact the switch has a clip on the back to keep it where you need it is a welcome choice.

The headset itself has an attractive matt-black and orange design. The 50mm drivers are hidden beneath chunky polygonal ear-cups, which surround the ears with Alcantara cushioning. They are attached to a thick, cushioned headband – also in matt black – which prominently displays the TX-50 logo and Gioteck branding. The band extends on both sides by just over an inch, but the notches hold your chosen extension in place and allow for a good degree of customisation. The mic is attached to the left cup and extends on a moldable tendril by around six inches, which allows for perfect placement in front of your mouth. It’s a very attractive design which doesn’t betray the budget price and has plenty of personality. My only quibble with the look is the large orange Gioteck logo on the top of the band looks very out of place and this single chunk of plastic feels strangely cheap in contrast with the rest of the product.

Luckily it can’t be seen whilst worn. It isn’t the lightest headset but it’s very comfortable and muffles most sound. Even as I’m writing the TX-50 is doing an excellent job of muting the sound of Supernatural on the TV – and the headset isn’t even plugged in. It can feel a little stiff to put on initially, and the shape can take a little getting used to, but once adjusted it’s easy to forget they’re even on. If your noggin is the size of a basketball you might struggle to wear these, but for medium, to XL-sized heads, you’ll have a good time with these on your bonce! Build quality seems to be incredibly solid, though I did worry at first that the extensions may snap as they are a little thin in comparison to the rest of the headset.

The sound quality itself is where the TX-50 shines. The 50mm drivers blast out a quality bass signal whilst not overwhelming the other layers of sound. What results is a clear sound which is seemingly equalised for voice. When chilling on Youtube, vocals cut through the deep lower notes and treble tones alike, whilst in-game my team-mates come through loud and clear. On a headset, without an in-built sound card it’s a remarkable achievement, and even more so at this price. Whilst it isn’t going to be any good for mastering or equalisation, the TX-50 works fantastically for the purpose it was made – gaming. I also noticed a clear split in the left and right earphones, meaning you can precisely tell where an enemy is in FPS environments. I wouldn’t say you get anywhere near to a true surround experience, but it does a startlingly good job in this department.

All in all, then, the TX50 is a remarkably fab offering. Gioteck has truly created a premium product as a budget price-point. Yes, this isn’t going to hold a torch to £100+ headsets, but as a multi-purpose gaming device, you won’t find better for anywhere near this price. I can highly recommend picking one of these up if you’re a console or PC player and need a relatively low-cost, high-quality sound solution.

For more info on the TX-50 Head here

The TX-50 Works with Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Mobile and PC

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