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General: NOX Audio Specialist Review

SBFordSBFord Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
in News & Features Discussion

In this week's hardware review, MMORPG.com correspondent Carolyn Koh takes on the NOX Audio Specialist headset. As the 'new kid on the block', NOX has a lot to prove. Does the Audio Specialist headset make the cut? Find out in Carolyn Koh's comprehensive report.

I was asked to take a listen to the NOX Audio Specialist at E3. “They are a company that made OEM audio products for other companies,” I was told, “This is the launch of their own brand.”

Color me skeptical. I’m tough on sound and music reproduction, and especially on headphones. I’m a classically trained singer and pianist with perfect pitch. I work in high-performance audio in my day job, with speakers and components that are the Lamborghinis of the audio world. Most headphones give me a headache after a half hour at most. Some I cannot bear for longer than ten minutes at a time. The person I spoke to at the booth wasn’t a “talking head,” instead they handed me to the Acoustic Engineer, Ralph Isaacson, almost immediately and we talked tech specs and design philosophy. So I brought the head set home to review.

Check out the NOX Audio Specialist Review.

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Comments

  • AlusciaAluscia Member UncommonPosts: 39

    Carolyn, is there any way you can test the clarity of the microphone? Great sound from the headphones is nice, but if you sound like you're talking through a blender in a windstorm, then the headset is junk for gaming/raiding.

     

    Thanks in advance!

  • adam_noxadam_nox Member UncommonPosts: 2,148

    I've really never seen such pompous arrogance in a review before, and I'm quite sure all of it was unwarranted.  No one knows or cares who you are, you impress no one with your sophomoric music and audio terminology.    Have fun with your lambo earphones lawl.

  • hikariukhikariuk Member Posts: 34

    Originally posted by Terikan3



    I've really never seen such pompous arrogance in a review before, and I'm quite sure all of it was unwarranted.  No one knows or cares who you are, you impress no one with your sophomoric music and audio terminology.    Have fun with your lambo earphones lawl.


     

    Actually a lot of us do care, which is why we asked her to do more reviews after the first one was posted.  They're well written and technically adept.

    Don't conflate your own ignorance and lack of interest with everyone else's opinion.  If you're not interested, don't read them.

  • lestaticonlestaticon Member Posts: 38

    Good review here again. After your last review, which got me interested in the tech behind good headphones, I finally bought the Sennheiser HD448 headphones. I'm still getting used to them but am blown away by the quality of sound you can get out of them.

    You make the NOX set sound interesting though.

  • lestaticonlestaticon Member Posts: 38

    Originally posted by Terikan3



    I've really never seen such pompous arrogance in a review before, and I'm quite sure all of it was unwarranted.  No one knows or cares who you are, you impress no one with your sophomoric music and audio terminology.    Have fun with your lambo earphones lawl.


     

    Your defensive mechanism is running rampant with that response. Really, it's OK for someone to state credentials and be proud of their ability, especially when in the realm of something they are passionate about. It's only processed as arrogance in your head.

  • NifaNifa Member Posts: 324

    Originally posted by Terikan3



    I've really never seen such pompous arrogance in a review before, and I'm quite sure all of it was unwarranted.  No one knows or cares who you are, you impress no one with your sophomoric music and audio terminology.    Have fun with your lambo earphones lawl.


     

    Actually, yes, some of us do care, which, as hikariuk pointed out already, is why several of us have specifically asked  the author to do more reviews of this kind.

    As a professional who has worked in the television industry, I know an awful lot about many things having to do with video quality.  Sound, however, is not my department and I don't know jack about it...so I'd rather seek a qualified opinion from someone who does rather than the guy making minimum wage at the electronics store.

    Firebrand Art

    "You are obviously confusing a mature rating with actual maturity." -Asherman

    Maybe MMO is not your genre, go play Modern Warfare...or something you can be all twitchy...and rank up all night. This is seriously getting tired. -Ranyr

  • mbeach90266mbeach90266 Member UncommonPosts: 13

    Thanks for the nice review. 

    I'm also interested in more of these kinds of reviews - specifically covering some of the "3D - Gaming Headsets" that can be found out there.  What is the difference between them and regular gaming headsets as far as direction and depth of sound go?  Do they work any better?

    And as another poster noted, some testing and information on the microphone quality would be great.

     

    Thanks again.

  • ITPalgITPalg Member UncommonPosts: 314

    NOX...reminds me of the great fun game for the PC back in 2000.

    twitch.tv/itpaladin
    @ITPalg
    YouTube: ITPalGame

  • DwarvishDwarvish Member Posts: 208

     Thanks for a great review.

     I've been looking for a good but not terribly pricy set of heatphones for a while now.

     I was very close to trying Sennheiser'd 350s or 280s but was a bit concerned  that in both cases, bass seemed to be an issue in reviews. both are in the $100-$150 range.

     Just looking for a gaming set. For music I  have an aging but still incredible set of studio monitors with an Altec Lansing 604E (hmm, or was it C) as the central speakers in each box.

     This puppy sounds like it is exactly what I was looking for.

    Thanks again

     

    ps:  thanks for posting credentials. Non-professional reviews are all over the map.

  • ArmEagleArmEagle Member Posts: 36

    So, I'm a totaly audionoob. And the frequency chart doesn't say everything. And though I can understand that the high-freq dip on the Tritton headset is bad, it is more stable overall. This headset has quite the long-band drop in the center (though, sure, the graph starts at 60, it drops 30%. Is that that voice-clarification you mentioned, dropping these other frequencies on purpose?

    Also, is the sensitivity of the human ear to different frequencies taken into account in that graph? If not, does it matter much?

    Just trying to learn a bit.

  • eyceleycel Member Posts: 1,334

     

    They look ok, I thought the headphones would be more when I first looked at them in the case.  I was thinking like 200 or so for some reason but I supose I was really only thinking around 160. Still there only 79 dollars and look ok, they kinda look like a pez dispencer or something, I cant explain it.  Nice that they are mobile though.  I love headphones and reading about them. So cool.

     

    image

  • eyceleycel Member Posts: 1,334

    Originally posted by Terikan3

    I've really never seen such pompous arrogance in a review before, and I'm quite sure all of it was unwarranted.  No one knows or cares who you are, you impress no one with your sophomoric music and audio terminology.    Have fun with your lambo earphones lawl.

    Huh huh, I wasnt expecting this.  Rolfmou! Rolerskates to the extream yippy!

    image

  • tvalentinetvalentine Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 4,216

    good review, glad to see another tech review. I'll have to consider NOX the next time i want to buy a headset. Keep em coming image

    image

    Playing: EVE Online
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    Looking forward to: Archeage, Kingdom Under Fire 2
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  • DeeweDeewe Member UncommonPosts: 1,980

    I once again really enjoyed that review, the geek part in me drooled at reading this well done article.

     

    Please keep them coming! for now they are my favorites articles on that website ;)

  • tank017tank017 Member Posts: 2,192

    Thanks for these headset reviews Carolyn.

    Ever since your Tritton review you really got me motivated into looking into buying a good headset.I was always just content with your average earphones and never really thought of upgrading.

    Whats even better is that you have the knowledge,backround,and equipment at your disposal to really put these products to the test and reveal which is the best product for the money!

    Will you be reviewing Razer at all? I'll probably hold out on buying until I read a couple more of your reviews. ; )

  • wfSegwfSeg Member Posts: 96

    Thanks for the review :). I have an AKG, but been interested in a gaming headset. Looking forward to more reviews before I decide on buying one. And the name "Nox" reminded me of a little game from way back when ^^.

    "I am the harbinger of hope. I am the sword of the righteous. And to all who hear my words, I say this: What you give to this Empire, I shall give back unto you."
    -Empress Jamyl Sarum I

  • tkoreapertkoreaper Member UncommonPosts: 412

    Spend about $30 more and you can get one of the best gaming headsets made. http://www.medusa-usa.com/medusa-nx-51-gaming-headset-p-954.html no, I don't work for this company or any hardware manufacturing company for that matter. I'm just a user of the headset I just mentioned and am completely blown away by them. You cannot go wrong with these.

  • gauge2k3gauge2k3 Member Posts: 442

    I know this will not get listend to.  But please consider revieing the Sennheiser PC 350.  I am so impressed by this headset I feel it deserves your review.  It is,

    1. Comfortable.

    2. Durable.

    3.  Has Crisp Clean Sound.

    4.  Cheapish.

    I say cheapish as it is more expansive than this headset, although I feel bang for buck this heaset sets a new standard.  It is only slightly more expensive, yet offers worlds more sound for the extra price.  Please consider reviewing this priduct as Sennheiser deserves a good review for trying as hard as they did with this head set.

  • ScotScot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,445

    I will need to get a new headset earlier than I thought, this is the sort of advice we need. More equipment reviews please! Like I said before, give this woman anything audio.


     


    It amazes me that when you show the relevance of your background in a review you are called pompous, we dont want unschooled reviewers do we?

  • TheHelperTheHelper Member Posts: 108

    Must say for music i have never ever loved anything more than the Turbine: Monster "In-Ear speakers." And for drumming i use Sennheiser HD 465, great bass in them.

    However this was very exciting to read about thanks for giving us this review i might go out and test one. Continue writing reviews Carolyn!

  • AtakAtak Member Posts: 82

    if you want real headphones buy Beyer-Dynamic

  • xaldraxiusxaldraxius Member Posts: 1,249

    Are these being sold through regular retailers or can you only get them through NOX audio?

  • MyskMysk Member Posts: 982

    I, like most others, appreciate the knowledgeable review, especially since I exclusively use headphones on my PC.

    The "holy grail" for me would be a good set of of 5.1 (or better, 7.1) headphones that don't break the bank. The 7.1 can be virtual as long as it's reproduced well.  The head set that I have now (ABS  AZ-1) has actually given me a blister on each ear.  It doesn't get much more uncomfortable than this. image

  • CaledoniaCaledonia Member Posts: 21

    Great review, as usual, Carolyn.  Keep 'em coming!

    I've always mostly despised headsets, but I've been needing something decent, and portable...

  • CarolynKohCarolynKoh Staff WriterMember Posts: 202

    Originally posted by Aluscia

    Carolyn, is there any way you can test the clarity of the microphone?  

    Thanks in advance!

    Voices were clear through game sound but perhaps I didn't make that clear in my review. As for measurable clarity tests... you and other posters have me thinking.  I'll have to tap a recording engineer friend for help.

    Cheers.

    Carolyn

    {edited for typos}

    Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MMORPG.com or its management.

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