I reviewed so many headsets through the years that they have an inclination to mix collectively. It is not typically I come throughout a headset that leaves a bitter style in my mouth, however Alienware’s AW920H did simply that.
It is unlucky as a result of it is meant to be a premium headset that delivers a equally premium expertise, nevertheless it as a substitute falls quick by lacking expectations. A dud microphone, practically unusable quantity controls, and an odd design harm what must be a wonderful headset on paper.
It is a disgrace as a result of this appears to be one among Alienware’s few forays into the premium headset area not too long ago — not together with Dell’s different headset lineups — and it was a swing and a miss.
Alienware AW920H: Worth and availability
Alienware debuted its AW920H headset at CES 2022, with its Lunar Mild mannequin launching a month later in February 2022 for $200. A Darkish Aspect of the Moon coloration variant, which is available in all black, launched in April on the identical value level. These are the one two colorways obtainable for this headset in the intervening time.
In addition to Amazon, it seems to be obtainable for buy on Dell’s personal web site. Sadly, on the time of writing, it will probably’t be discovered on on-line storefronts like Greatest Purchase or Walmart.
Alienware AW920H: What I like
Energetic noise cancellation goes a good distance in offering a greater audio expertise throughout. Even with building happening proper exterior my condo for a couple of days, ANC noticeably diminished the noise; a lot in order that it was troublesome to inform there was any building in any respect.
With a fast toggle, ANC will be turned on and off at a second’s discover, supplying you with a superb sense of its precise results. The white background noise it delivers is definitely tuned out, and utterly unnoticeable when audio is definitely taking part in over the headset.
| Class | Spec |
|---|---|
| Weight | 300 grams |
| Driver diameter | 40mm |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz-40 kHz |
| Microphone sample | Unidirectional |
| Battery life | As much as 55 hours (Bluetooth), or as much as 30 hours (2.4GHz) |
| Energetic noise cancellation | Sure |
Except for its lively noise cancellation, I haven’t got too many good issues to say concerning the AW920H. The audio expertise is about what you’d count on from a headset at this value level, that means it is nice. I’ve no points on that entrance as a result of the whole lot sounds great coming by way of the earcups. That is arguably a very powerful facet of any headset, so it no less than excels the place it counts.
Its 55-hour battery life over Bluetooth additionally beats out a few of the competitors, and it means you will not have to fret about charging it up fairly often.
Alienware AW920H: What I dislike
I’ve blended emotions concerning the AW920H’s earcup design. The flat facet accented with a shiny black end undoubtedly lends itself to the “alien” identify, however I believe it makes me appear like an airline pilot greater than something. I can respect wanting to face out amongst different headsets, however this one attracts the attention in unappealing methods.
Its aesthetic was just the start of my troubles with the AW920H. Although it is constructed for use wirelessly on PC and cellular, it will probably connect with PS5 by way of a 3.5mm jack.
As quickly as I attempted to do that, I instantly seen that audio would not play out of the best earcup in any respect. I then tried to attach it to my PC by way of the wi-fi 2.4GHz dongle and located the identical difficulty; no audio in the best earcup. Solely once I swapped again to the three.5mm connection on PC did audio lastly play appropriately on each side. Not off to an amazing begin. Alienware has since contacted me concerning the points and despatched me a brand new headset unit, although this explicit downside nonetheless remained.
Once I tried to attach it to my PC over Bluetooth, I had related points. Audio would not play in any respect at first, and I wanted to fiddle with my PC settings to get it to work. Whereas different headsets would join over Bluetooth and be advantageous proper out of the gate, Alienware’s AW920H stumbled fairly a couple of occasions.
The audio controls are in-built such a approach that they’re capacitive by way of the best earcup. Swiping on the earcup, in principle, will alter the quantity up and down. In observe, I discovered these controls to be nearly unusable. They labored perhaps one out of each 10 occasions I attempted, and it by no means gave the impression to be in the identical space or with the identical strain.
Typically I even wanted to swipe with two fingers to get it to work. More often than not I sat at my desk trying like an fool as I clawed at my headset. And after they did work correctly, they have been imprecise. The brand new unit I used to be despatched appeared to resolve this difficulty, because the contact controls have been responsive.
Although there’s an inline management on the three.5mm twine, it solely works to mute and unmute the microphone, so I had no saving grace in the case of audio, until I did it by way of my PC or PS5 settings manually.
Trying to make use of the microphone painted a well-recognized image as nicely. I attempted to file myself over Audacity, and regardless of the microphone being linked, turned on, and chosen in Audacity, it would not choose up any sound. It has a pleasant purple LED on the tip to point once you’re “correctly” muted although, so there’s that.
On the brand new unit I examined, the microphone labored advantageous over Bluetooth, however not so nice over the two.4GHz dongle. It produced a loud garbled static noise till Alienware help despatched me hyperlinks to the proper drivers to replace. This, once more, solved the problem.
All of this added as much as make for an extremely irritating expertise. When it works, it really works simply advantageous. However I should not want to leap by way of hoops and cross my fingers and hope it really works correctly. The capacitive contact controls for its audio have been particularly disappointing.
Possibly different folks can have higher luck with it than I did. Because it stands, the person expertise wants some rethinking.
Alienware AW920H: The competitors
If you happen to’re in search of a PC headset, you possibly can’t go unsuitable with the Razer BlackShark V2 Professional. It is one which I nonetheless use to this very day for conferences and podcasting, and it hasn’t let me down.
It sports activities a cushty construct that I can put on for hours with my glasses with out feeling strain, and on PC it helps THX Spatial Audio for 7.1 encompass sound. What makes it even higher is that it is nonetheless one of many greatest PS5 headsets on the market too, regardless of not supporting encompass sound on console.
For one thing further premium and insanely expensive, there’s the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional. It’s by far among the best headsets I’ve ever used, and the GameDAC Gen 2 is a recreation changer in the case of audio controls. At $350 it may be a tricky promote, although. If you happen to’d slightly avoid wasting cash, you possibly can go for the wired model for $250. It cuts out 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth help, nevertheless it’s nonetheless simply as top quality.
There’s additionally the Logitech G733 headset for individuals who need one thing extra colourful with RGB lights. With colorways together with lilac, blue, white, and black at round $150, it is each trendy and reasonably priced. In my time with it, I particularly appreciated its close to 29-hour battery life and its lengthy wi-fi vary of 65 ft, permitting me to stroll round my condo with out worrying about disconnections.
Alienware AW920H: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You want its uncommon look.
- You need a headset with lively noise cancellation.
- You want Bluetooth 5.2 and a pair of.4GHz wi-fi connection choices.
You should not purchase this if…
- You need a headset that works straight out of the field with no fuss.
- You need bodily buttons to manage your audio.
- The headset design is a turn-off.
Whereas it is nice for listening to audio, nearly each different a part of the expertise with the AW920H is a irritating mess. “Plug-and-play” this isn’t. I can respect including options like lively noise cancellation together with Bluetooth 5.2, however when it is troublesome to manage the audio quantity, and the mic hardly works, it isn’t value $200.
I might very nicely be an outlier in my expertise with the AW920H. There are different individuals who have had a greater time with it than I’ve had, and perhaps you may be a fortunate one if that is one thing you are excited about. Based mostly on my time with it, I simply can’t suggest it when there are different headsets on the market which can be higher, and extra reasonably priced.
Alienware AW920H
Too many points make this headset exhausting to suggest to anybody, however perhaps somebody can have higher luck than I did. In my expertise, the person expertise simply is not definitely worth the value.
Evaluate changelog
This overview was initially printed on Aug. 13, 2022. It was up to date on Sept. 12, 2022 with the next modifications:
- Famous that Alienware has since contacted me about a few of the points I used to be having and despatched me a brand new headset.
- Up to date that the contact controls on the brand new headset work as supposed.
- Famous that whereas I nonetheless had points with the microphone, a driver replace resolved these.
- Clarified that I nonetheless had a difficulty when initially connecting the brand new unit over 3.5mm.
