Alienware AW920H headset assessment: Troubleshooting required

I reviewed such a lot of headsets over time that they generally tend to mix in combination. It’s no longer regularly I come throughout a headset that leaves a bitter style in my mouth, however Alienware’s AW920H did simply that. 

It’s unlucky as a result of it is supposed to be a top class headset that delivers a in a similar fashion top class revel in, however it as a substitute falls quick through lacking expectancies. A dud microphone, just about unusable quantity controls, and an ordinary design harm what will have to be a very good headset on paper. 

It’s a disgrace as a result of this appears to be one in every of Alienware’s few forays into the top class headset house lately — no longer together with Dell’s different headset lineups — and it was once a swing and a omit. 

Alienware AW920H: Price and availability

Alienware debuted its AW920H headset at CES 2022, with its Lunar Light type launching a month later in February 2022 for $200. A Dark Side of the Moon colour variant, which is available in all black, launched in April on the identical worth level. These are the one two colorways to be had for this headset in this day and age. 

Besides Amazon, it seems to be to be in the stores on Dell’s personal website online. Unfortunately, on the time of writing, it cannot be discovered on on-line storefronts like Best Buy or Walmart. 

Alienware AW920H: What I love

Active noise cancellation is going a ways in offering a greater audio revel in throughout. Even with building happening proper out of doors my condo for a couple of days, ANC noticeably lowered the noise; such a lot in order that it was once tough to inform there was once any building in any respect. 

With a handy guide a rough toggle, ANC will also be grew to become off and on at a second’s realize, supplying you with a just right sense of its precise results. The white background noise it delivers is definitely tuned out, and fully unnoticeable when audio is if truth be told enjoying over the headset. 

Aside from its lively noise cancellation, I do not have too many just right issues to mention concerning the AW920H. The audio revel in is set what you’ll be expecting from a headset at this worth level, which means it is nice. I haven’t any problems on that entrance as a result of the whole thing sounds glorious coming in the course of the earcups. That’s arguably an important side of any headset, so it no less than excels the place it counts.

Its 55-hour battery lifestyles over Bluetooth additionally beats out one of the festival, and it approach you will not have to fret about charging it up very regularly. 

Alienware AW920H: What I dislike

I’ve blended emotions concerning the AW920H’s earcup design. The flat aspect accented with a shiny black end for sure lends itself to the “alien” identify, however I believe it makes me seem like an airline pilot greater than anything else. I will recognize in need of to face out amongst different headsets, however this one attracts the attention in unappealing techniques. 

Its aesthetic was once only the start of my troubles with the AW920H. Though it is constructed for use wirelessly on PC and cellular, it might connect with PS5 via a three.5mm jack. 

As quickly as I attempted to try this, I right away spotted that audio would not play out of the appropriate earcup in any respect. I then attempted to attach it to my PC by way of the wi-fi 2.4GHz dongle and located the similar factor; no audio in the appropriate earcup. Only after I swapped again to the three.5mm connection on PC did audio in the end play as it should be on all sides. Not off to an excellent get started. 

When I tried to attach it to my PC over Bluetooth, I had an identical problems. Audio would not play in any respect to start with, and I had to mess around with my PC settings to get it to paintings. Whereas different headsets would attach over Bluetooth and be advantageous proper out of the gate, Alienware’s AW920H stumbled rather a couple of occasions. 

The audio controls are inbuilt the sort of manner that they’re capacitive via the appropriate earcup. Swiping at the earcup, in idea, will modify the quantity up and down. In observe, I discovered those controls to be almost about unusable. They labored possibly one out of each and every 10 occasions I attempted, and it by no means looked to be in the similar space or with the similar drive. 

Sometimes I even had to swipe with two palms to get it to paintings. Most of the time I sat at my table taking a look like an fool as I clawed at my headset. And once they did paintings correctly, they have been obscure.  

Though there may be an inline regulate at the 3.5mm twine, it simplest works to mute and unmute the microphone, so I had no saving grace in relation to audio until I did it via my PC or PS5 settings manually. 

Attempting to make use of the microphone painted a well-recognized image as neatly. I attempted to report myself over Audacity, and in spite of the microphone being attached, grew to become on, and decided on in Audacity, it would not pick out up any sound. It has a pleasant crimson LED at the tip to signify if you find yourself “correctly” muted although, so there may be that. 

All of this added as much as make for a surprisingly irritating revel in. When it works, it really works simply advantageous. But I mustn’t want to leap via hoops and go my palms and hope it really works correctly. The capacitive contact controls for its audio have been particularly disappointing. 

Maybe folks may have higher good fortune with it than I did. As it stands, the consumer revel in wishes some rethinking. 

Alienware AW920H: The festival

If you might be in search of a PC headset, you’ll’t cross fallacious with the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. It’s one who I nonetheless use to this very day for conferences and podcasting, and it hasn’t let me down. 

It sports activities a comfy construct that I will put on for hours with my glasses with out feeling drive, 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 the crucial highest PS5 headsets in the market too, in spite of no longer supporting encompass sound on console. 

For one thing further top class and insanely expensive, there may be the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. It is through a long way one of the crucial highest headsets I’ve ever used, and the GameDAC Gen 2 is a sport changer in relation to audio controls. At $350 it may be a difficult promote, although. If you’ll slightly avoid wasting cash, you’ll go for the stressed model for $250. It cuts out 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth give a boost to, however it is nonetheless simply as top of the range. 

There’s additionally the Logitech G733 headset for individuals who need one thing extra colourful with RGB lighting. With colorways together with lilac, blue, white, and black at round $150, it is each fashionable and reasonably priced. In my time with it, I particularly preferred its close to 29-hour battery lifestyles and its lengthy wi-fi vary of 65 toes, permitting me to stroll round my condo with out being worried about disconnections. 

Alienware AW920H: Should you purchase it?

You will have to purchase this if:

• You like its peculiar glance
• You desire a headset with lively noise cancellation
• You want Bluetooth 5.2 and a pair of.4GHz wi-fi connection choices

You mustn’t purchase this if:

• You desire a headset that works immediately out of the field with out a fuss
• You need bodily buttons to regulate your audio
• The headset design is a turn-off

While it is nice for paying attention to audio, almost about each and every different a part of the revel in with the AW920H is a irritating mess. “Plug-and-play” this isn’t. I will recognize including options like lively noise cancellation at the side of Bluetooth 5.2, but if it is tough to regulate the audio quantity, and the mic hardly ever works, it isn’t price $200. 

I may really well be an outlier in my revel in with the AW920H. There are different individuals who have had a greater time with it than I’ve had, and possibly you can be a fortunate one if that is one thing you might be fascinated with. Based on my time with it, I simply can’t suggest it when there are different headsets in the market which might be higher, and extra reasonably priced.