➤ Acer Predator Galea 500, the review 🎮

Le Acer Predator Galea 500 they are part of a particular segment of the market, that of headset di high-end, where attention to the smallest detail and performance dominate, without discounts ... literally. The Predator line embraces the world of PC gaming in a complete way including monitors, notebooks, desktops, mice, keyboards and even backpacks and projectors: the Taiwanese company did not miss anything, and the Galea 500 are in this sense the proverbial icing on the cake of a rich and varied catalog. In fact, we are talking about a pair of headphones with audio surround managed by TrueHarmony 3D Soundscape technology, equipped with variable presets, USB interface (they are only compatible with the PC, unfortunately), 40 mm bio-cellulose driver, removable multidirectional microphone (without noise cancellation, however) and a sensitivity equal to 112 dB.

Packaging and aesthetics

The Acer Predator Galea 500 reveal all their personality already starting from the monolithic package, characterized by a splendid graphics with lots of sci-fi style artwork, which opens and transforms into a showcase in which to expose the headset. Even the placement in the box is a whole program: the headphones are wedged in a sort of column which, once removed, reveals the sturdy cable covered with nylon whose length, equal to two meters, is ideal for standard use but not if the PC is located next to or under the TV in the living room, requiring a USB extension cable in this case. On the cable there is also a large controller that can be attached with a clip to the clothes, and which allows you to select the preset desired among those available: 3D Soundscape, music, cinema or sport.

In short, the vocation is multimedia and nothing prevents you from using headphones for VoIP calls, as well as obviously for the voice chat in-game. The package also includes an instruction booklet and a bag in which to store the device when not in use. The attention of the designers was obviously not limited to the packaging: the Galea 500 boast an attractive and aggressive aesthetic, thanks to some very successful solutions applied to the polycarbonate structure, which alternates glossy and opaque areas, closing the pavilions externally with grids very nice to look at, which transparently reveal the light blue Predator logo when the headset is connected to a USB port. Also excellent is the location of the microphone, which disappears almost completely when not needed and can be pulled out with a simple gesture, lending itself to any adjustment thanks to its flexibility.

Ergonomics and performance

Once worn, the Acer Predator Galea 500 actually leave a little perplexing: even at a minimum, the opening of the headphones is quite wide, it does not "tighten" on the ears and this can be more comfortable, especially for those who wear glasses. but at the same time it leads the headband to exert excessive pressure on the head in the long run (the loss of the headphones, after all, is a good 540 grams), which is not compensated by the grip of the pavilions around the ears. In short, they are headphones for those who have a skull of important dimensions, and instead tend to "fall" if they are used by girls: a factor to be taken into due consideration, given the price not exactly popular, equal to about 180 euros. The controller allows you to manage the functions of the headset in a very simple way, which, once connected to the PC, configures itself automatically, without requiring the installation of drivers or additional software.

The big main button allows you to switch from multimedia presets to the three-dimensional environment, which virtualizes any source by processing it so that the sound is placed precisely and "moves" when we move our head. In addition to the keys to raise and lower the volume, there are three other buttons that surround the controller, and which unfortunately are a bit too small, difficult to access, especially at the beginning: one is used to activate or deactivate the microphone, one to change the audio preset and the last one to recalibrate the three-dimensional position. Used with movies and music, the headphones provide a surprisingly balanced audio, neither too dark nor too bright, without boasting a sound definition on a par with the flagship headsets of the most famous brands. Used with video games, they appear curious and fun: the three-dimensionality of the sound lends itself very well in shooters like DOOM, where it is essential to perceive the position of the enemies in order to dodge attacks and respond promptly to fire, but also large open worlds like that. of Assassin's Creed Origins take advantage of this technology, enveloping us in the voices and noises of the cities of ancient Egypt.

Comment

Price 180 €

Resources4Gaming.com

7.5

Acer Predator Galea 500 is a high-end headset, characterized by an excellent design and a certain attention to detail, which is reflected in a series of very effective solutions applied to the use of the device. The audio quality, well balanced between highs and lows, the presets available for multimedia use and the three-dimensional technology guarantee level performance, without disturbing the most famous products. Sorry for the excessive width of the headset, which makes it unsuitable for those with a medium / small head, and for the lack of compatibility with consoles.