Great Build Quality... (cntd.)
A nice feature of the Pulsewave headset is the extensive Master Control Unit. From this little box, you can control the volume, the intensity of the vibrations, which mode you are in (USB or Standard, i.e. over 3.6mm audio connectors), as well as the activity of the LEDs and vibration effects. A minor drawback here is that the cable between the Master Control Unit and the headset itself has just the right length to fall just below the table level, where it is nigh inaccessible. Luckily, there is a small clip on the back of the MCU so it can be clipped to the user’s clothes.

The colour scheme of the headset is all black – cables, speakers, microphone – everything. At least, the headphone is all black until you plug in the USB connector. Assuming you have the correct settings on the Master Control Unit, LEDs will flash on the sides of the earmuffs, in tune to the base sounds (with blue, green, and red diodes showing the momentary intensity of the base) of whatever you’re listening. Luckily, the intensity (and activity) of this feature can be regulated, as some users may find such a gaudy display of flashing lights ostentatious and unprofessional.

...And Even Better Audio Quality
A very smart feature is that the microphone boom is fully detachable from the rest of the headset. Even smarter, the connector is a simple 3.5mm audio jack, allowing (if need be) a better, more receptive microphone to be attached. However, this shouldn’t really be the case, as we were highly impressed by the Pulsewave’s microphone. It worked flawlessly right out of the box, allows for a very high degree of manipulation (the mic boom is essentially a thin metal tube/spiral that can be twisted and turned in any direction imaginable), and the sound pickup was reasonably good for a microphone of its size. Both audio recordings and VoIP phone calls were of good quality, we had no problems understanding what had been recorded by the Pulsewave’s microphone.

Audio itself was a real treat. The headphone speakers sound crisp and clear, with plenty of bass, which is oftentimes a problem with headphones. This is further augmented by the Sonic Force Feedback, resulting in a pleasurable audio experience. In fact, we would consider the audio quality to be almost on par with audiophile headphones, as long as the bass vibrations are turned down a bit.

Ratings
We’ve rated the Teknmotion Pulsewave headset in a variety of categories on a scale of 1 to 10. Future headset reviews will feature the same criteria list, so you can compare them easily.

Looks: 8/10
Design+Build Quality: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Sound Quality: 8/10
Portability: 3/10

Our score: 6.6/10

All in all, the Teknmotion Pulsewave is a solid headset. It has a lot of upsides, such as the very good build quality, and the good speakers, microphone, and bass effects. However, things such as the unwieldy feel of the Master Control Unit and the battery pack, along with the hefty weight and size of the headset, mar the final score. In the end, we would still recommend the Pulsewave to any gamer who is looking for a rock-solid headset with a few cool effects on the side.