The XANOVA Juturna-U is a gaming-focused headset that can be used by both PC and mobile gamers. Currently, it's priced at RM375 on Lazada and comes with a Virtual 7.1 Sound Card to give the maximum audio immersion possible while gaming as well as an external microphone for the best audio quality. Over the weeks, we have been taking a look at the XANOVA Juturna-U and how it fares in our prolonged tests.
Design - Surprisingly lightweight and flexible
Starting with the headset itself, the headband at the top is lined with a foam padding with PU leather wrapped around which is soft to the touch. It also features a closed-back design (which I prefer) and is capable of passively blocking out the noise and ambient sound more effectively compared to an open-back design.
The earcups which are tilted 90 degrees for easy storing
Memory foam padding to ensure maximum comfortability
Both earcups feature what feels like an aluminium shell (which felt cold to the touch at times) with the XANOVA logo printed on them, Easy Bass Control, 90-degree tiltability as well as really comfortable and soft memory foam padded earcups that are large enough to fit most ears. Also on the left side of the earcup, you will find a 2.5mm audio connector where you can insert one of the two cables that are included in the box.
Speaking of cables, the Juturna-U comes included with two different audio cables, one with a flexible boom mic and the other with an in-line microphone which I will explain more in the next section and lastly, a Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card has a 3.5-mm audio cable socket to connect the headset and the One-Key FPS mode.
Left: Inline microphone cable, Right: Flexible boom microphone
Virtual 7.1 USB Soundcard
Light and comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time
Throughout my use I've noticed the pop-filter on the boom microphone tends to slide off while removing the headset from my bag, especially when I'm travelling. I highly recommend removing the boom microphone and storing it safely in the fabric pouch provided in order not to accidentally lose the pop-filter. In terms of the weight of the headset, it was light enough for me to wear for extended periods of time while gaming, listening to music or even watching movies for extended periods of time. I've even gone as far as falling asleep on my bed while wearing it, which I don't really recommend as the cable could get tangled somewhere.
Tech Specs and Features - A fit for both mobile and PC gaming
- Closed-back design
- 40mm Drivers
- Driver Impedance of 32Ω
- Frequency response at 20Hz~20kHz
- Omnidirectional Microphone
- Weighs at 290g
- Headset dimensions at 195x180x45mm
- Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card included
- Features interchangeable audio cables, Easy Bass Control
The headphone did not require me to install any driver or software in order to use the Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card. That being said, there is no way to natively change the equalizer other than tweaking it from the device you are listening to. In addition to that, The Easy Bass Control switch that is located on both sides of the earcups allow the user to tweak how the headphone sounds by allowing more air into the earcups, which is great for those who prefer a more bass-heavy sound signature.
Easy Bass Control all the way open
Easy Bass Control all the way closed
The cables that come included let me choose between a lower profile in-line cable microphone cable, at the cost of audio clarity. Then the other cable, which has the flexible boom microphone gives better audio quality but takes up more space. Personally, I've always opted for the flexible boom microphone as the gives me the best audio quality during voice calls.
The One-Key mode found on the Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card, which I rarely use, enhances sound frequencies around the mid-range to improve the clarity of sound effects such as gunshots, explosions and footsteps while gaming. As for mobile gaming, you can plug the headset to mobile devices via the 3.5mm audio cable and it can answer and receive calls, as well as utilize your phone’s personal assistant.
Performance - Sounds pretty decent, however...
Testing the headset along with the Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card, the headset sounds pretty good as I am able to hear the highs and mid-tones very clearly with no noticeable distortion. As for the lows, I highly recommend that users open the Easy Bass Control all the way to get a much fuller bass sound, making it great for listening to almost any kind of music genre from RnB, Rock and even Heavy Metal.
The headset doesn't sound too shabby
Discord VOIP client, everyone can hear me loud and clear with a very small audio feedback
The One-Key mode found on the USB Sound Card is very interesting as it tweaks the equalizer to make sound effects such as gunshots, footsteps and explosions more audible, which could give you an edge while playing games that are very sound reliant such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Escape from Tarkov and others. That being said, I didn't like how the One-Key mode tweaked the audio as it enhanced the mid but made the highs and lows sound rather thin, which made my listening experience a little less enjoyable.
When using the headset on a mobile device, the headset sounded exactly the same as if it is connected to the Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card on the PC. Not only that, I’ve even tested the headset for making mobile calls and found that I can hear the caller clearly and my voice did not sound distorted to them. Do note that your mileage may vary depending on your cellular reception.
Used the headset for audio recording using the flexible boom microphone
That being said, I noticed that there seems to be a sort of audio loopback while doing voice recordings, which is a big no-no especially when I am doing production work such as audio recording and voice-overs. To explain further, the audio coming from the headset can be picked up by the microphone.
While this is not a big issue, it makes the headset less suited for doing live commentary while recording or streaming your game. To add on to that, if I connect the headset directly to the PC via the 3.5mm cable, the headset sounds vastly different compared to connecting with the Virtual 7.1 USB Sound Card. But this can be remedied by using an equalization utility that can be found in audio drivers of certain computers.
Conclusion - Great for both music and gaming, if you don’t need the microphone for professional recording
The XANOVA Juturna-U is rather interesting, as it is able to perform well for both PC and mobile usage. Not only does it handle sound effects from games and movies decently, listening to music was rather enjoyable as well. Unfortunately, the microphone is rather lacking and I would not suggest to it for any form of professional recording due to the audio loopback.
But other than that, if you are looking for a decent and adaptable gaming headset, the XANOVA Juturna-U, starting from RM375, would make a great choice. If you are willing to spend a little more, the award-winning Kingston HyperX Cloud 2 priced at RM390 on Shopee is definitely a more worthy headset to get your hands on due to the fact that majority of the headsets mentioned features a strong metallic core.
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