LucidSound, the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today shipping of the LS41 Wireless Surround Headset, a premium surround sound, multi-format headset and a new flagship model for the Company. Available now via Amazon and other leading gaming retailers, the LS41 features wireless audio when used with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and can also be used with Nintendo Switch and other mobile devices via the 3.5mm wired connection.

Beyerdynamic had a lot for us to check out at CES 2019 including their new Soul BYRD In-ear Headset which they debuted at the event. Designed to be an all-rounder it delivers well-balanced sound along with a universal three-button remote with microphone that allows for full functionality with Android and iOS devices giving users access to both platforms respective virtual assistants along with the flexibility of media playback, and phone calls. They use a closed design to prevent sound penetrating out while still being focused on comfort via its ergonomic shape that gives users a snug fit. It even has aluminum faceplates giving the Soul BYRD a clean, premium feel. To accommodate various ear shapes and sizes, Beyerdynamic includes five in ear tip sizes from XS to XL. MSRP is listed as $89.00.

Next up during our little tour was the Beat BYRD which is another in-ear design that focuses on delivering balanced sound and powerful bass. It uses an ergonomically shaped housing for a secure fit much like the Soul BYRD with flexible cabling for extended comfort during use. The ones on display featured bright orange wiring indeed living up the high-flier moniker in the placard. However, unlike the Soul BYRD, the Beat BYRD in-ears are just headphones. Meanwhile, the Blue BYRD offering gets rid of the wires altogether and instead uses Bluetooth for connectivity. Like the Soul BYRD, it offers a universal three-button remote and microphone. They also had an active noise canceling Blue BYRD ANC on hand as well which is a neckband in-ear option that makes use of Bluetooth.

The pace of innovation can't stand still, and if there's one space that needs cost-cutting and new product injection to increase its install base is the VR ecosystem. HTC took to CES 2019 to reveal their new take on the VR, a semi-portable VR headset that has been designed not only for room-scale VR, but also for home use and, cryptically, on-the-go (holy moly, the headset flips up towards your forehead!).

Apparently, the Cosmos will have the ability to be powered by your smartphone and perhaps other devices - not all that surprising when you think of the RAM and computing power that it holds right in the palm of your hands (I'll say. My smartphone is a much better performer than my work PC...). And HTC says the Cosmos will be their sharpest VR headset ever - which should mean that it should feature higher resolution than the Vive Pro's 2880×1600 (1440×1600 per eye) display. A smartphone would likely only be able to power some sort of augmented reality graphics on that resolution, though - but I might be wrong.

Players expect higher performing hardware to get the most out of their systems -- whether they're competitive eSports players, PC gaming enthusiasts, or those interested in massive multiplayer experiences or looking to play their favorite single-player titles at the highest settings. Based on feedback from the gaming community, performance is the number one thing they value most. To fulfill gamers' needs, Lenovo is turning user feedback into product ideas. And to ensure our products continue to meet and exceed users' evolving needs, we continually fine tune and improve our innovations. As a result, the latest Lenovo Legion gaming line-up is more powerful than ever -- with a new range of high-performance PCs and an entire family of re-designed gaming accessories and monitors.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules, NAND Flash products, and mobile accessories today announces the XPG EMIX H20 gaming headset. Featuring virtual 7.1 surround sound, high-fidelity 50 mm drivers, and RGB lighting, the EMIX H20 offers gamers a new level of immersion and awareness for more exciting gaming experiences.

Having situational awareness is key to winning on the battlefield. Without it, your adversaries will gain the upper hand and ambush you when you least expect it. The EMIX H20 helps tip the scales in favor of the user with virtual 7.1 surround sound, which allows them to hear their friends and foes alike, whether in front of or behind them, so they're never caught off guard. Combined with its high-fidelity 50 mm drivers, the EMIX H20 delivers crystal-clear sound quality with a wide range, excellent accuracy, and optimized bass for total aural immersion.

If you've just experienced deja vu, it's because the HyperX Orbit S headset we went hands-on last evening packs Audeze-made planar magnetic drivers, and features head-tracking. Californian audiophile headphones and DAC maker Audeze fancies a bigger slice of the gaming audio pie, and has swan-dived into the competitive market with a feature-packed monstrosity, the Mobius.

The Audeze Mobius is an around-the-ear gaming headset that packs the company's finest 50 mm-class planar-magnetic drivers that have been tuned with a gaming-optimized sound-stage; and incorporates head-tracking positional audio technology, much like the HyperX Cloud Orbit S. On the software side of things, a virtual surround DSP takes in real-time input from the headset on the exact spatial position of your head compared to a static display (much like a VR HMD), and accordingly moves the audio perspective. The software is pretty intuitive and lightweight, and doesn't come with too much DSP bloat. We went ears-on with one of these, and the sound-quality blew our minds first, and the realism the head-tracking feature adds to gameplay took care of the rest. Head-tracking audio headsets could gain popularity among gamers who don't want a display within an inch of their eyes.

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, will be showcasing its new line up of wireless peripherals including the MH670 gaming headset, MM831 gaming mouse, SK621 65-key travel size keyboard, SK631 TKL layout keyboard, SK651 full-layout keyboard, and the GS750 headset stand with built in Qi wireless charging. "Showcasing this "Work and Play" line-up at reflects the Cooler Master commitment to bring high-performing products to gamers and creative pros of all levels." says Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager.

Audio
The MH670 is a wireless, hassle free headset that provides superior comfort through lightweight construction and plush swiveling ear cups. Its 3.5mm connection adapts to an array of devices including PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and most mobile devices. Virtual 7.1 surround sound and 40mm Neodymium drivers work in harmony to provide a full and a balanced sound with excellent noise isolation. Its detachable Omni-directional boom microphone and fold-flat design grants easy portability and usage beyond the gaming environment.

HyperX is bringing in a large selection of gaming peripherals to CES 2019, beginning with its new flagship gaming headset, the HyperX Cloud Orbit S. This headset implements two killer features - Audeze planar-magnetic drivers; and Waves Nx head-tracking. Audeze is a well-known brand among audiophiles and music composers, and makes audio monitors for studios. HyperX is sourcing 50 mm planar-magnetic drivers from the company that provide an extremely wide frequency-response range, and high SNR. This is probably the first gaming headset to feature audiophile-grade drivers, which are probably re-tuned by HyperX with a gaming-focused soundstage.

The next killer feature, Waves Nx, is a combination of positional audio DSPs, and hardware head-tracking, similar to VR HMDs, which in real-time moves the audio perspective of your game, and emulates a virtual 7.1 setup over the stereo drivers. This would help even if your display is static and your head is turning to track opponents in a competitive online shooter. You get three detachable cables based on cord length, type, and usage scenario. HyperX is developing two variants of this headset. The full-featured one is priced at USD $329, and the one without Waves Nx head-tracking goes for $299.

beyerdynamic, one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and conferencing products, announces the TEAM TYGR bundle, pairing the TYGR 300 R gaming headphones with FOX Professional USB Studio Microphone. beyerdynamic will showcase TEAM TYGR during CES 2019 from January 8 - 11, 2019.

beyerdynamic's TYGR 300 R is the ultimate gaming headphone with adjustable yokes and a spring steel headband to adapt to any head size. Designed for gaming applications in quiet environments, the TYGR 300 R features an innovative acoustic fleece with soft ear cushions. The single-sided connection cable is terminated with a 3-pole, gold-plated mini jack plug and a screw-on gold plated adapter.

beyerdynamic, one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and conferencing products, announces Soul BYRD, an in-ear headset with an incredible sound spectrum and form-fitting design. beyerdynamic will debut Soul BYRD during CES 2019 in Las Vegas from January 8 - 11, 2019.

beyerdynamic's Soul BYRD is a multi-functional, robust headset with extra flat in-ear design and powerful sound spectrum. The ergonomically shaped housing creates a secure and snug in-ear fit and, combined with the flat shaped housing, the in-ear headset is ideal for relaxing or sleeping without any discomfort. Its closed design prevents music from penetrating to the outside and eliminates ambient noise from the outside. Soul BYRD is manufactured with anodized aluminum faceplates to create an elegant design. The flexible and high-quality cables have a soft surface to prevent them from becoming tangled and limit cable noise to a minimum.

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc. today announced it is the No.1 PC gaming headset brand in retail for two years running in 2017 and 2018. The achievement is based on total retail revenue in the United States according to the NPD Group - Retail Tracking Service. HyperX became the e-tail sales leader when it entered the gaming headset business with HyperX Cloud. Starting in 2017, HyperX exceeded revenue sales of all other headset brands sold through retail outlets. In 2018, HyperX continued to grow market share bolstered by the growth of Fortnite, PUBG, Call of Duty and Battle Royale multiplayer games.

Best known for its gaming headsets, HyperX provides a variety of PC, console, and wireless headsets including the Cloud II, Cloud Alpha, Cloud Flight and Cloud Revolver. The recently launched Bluetooth-enabled Cloud MIX gaming headset allows gamers to unplug from their gaming device and take their wireless headset anywhere for on-the-go listening. The Cloud MIX design is subtle, street-ready and popular with people who want to use one headset for both gaming and listening to music.

LucidSound, the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today the start of a pre-order campaign for the LS41 Wireless Surround Headset, the company's next-generation flagship model delivering advanced surround-sound and premium build quality.

Wireless when used with PlayStation4 and Xbox One, and compatible with mobile devices via the 3.5mm wired connection, the highly-anticipated LS41 is expected to start shipping in January 2019 and is available for pre-order at Amazon and other leading retailers starting today.

After forming a partnership back in May of this year, HTC and McLaren are now seeing their cooperation pay off with the launch of a Limited-Edition HTC VIVE Pro headset ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that takes place this weekend. The overall goal for this launch is to give fans a "unique experience that can't be had watching on television" according to Alvin Wang Graylin, HTC's China president. The racing simulation released with the headset is rFactor 2 Mclaren Edition, which is based on rFactor 2 and was produced by Studio 397. This particular version allows users to race classic cars from the British team's history. As expected it sports a full day-night cycle along with dynamically varying weather, which pairs well with the "real-road" technology that changes grip characteristics as more cars drive on the track. The most prominent new feature to be added with this release is the inclusion of mixed class road racing. The game is available now but requires a Viveport subscription.

After the success of the original Renga released in 2016, ROCCAT refreshes the stereo headset and brings it back to the market as the ROCCAT Renga Boost. Offering studio grade high quality sound, the Renga Boost will charm gamers with its discreet all-black look, its amazing acoustic performance and its superior lightweight comfort. Designed for gamers in search of a premium audio experience, the Renga Boost's 50mm neodymium drivers provide crisp trebles and deep, powerful bass. The optimal alignment of the drivers ensures an immersive and dynamic experience as well as a perfect fit to the ears.

For long-lasting gaming sessions, the Renga Boost offers superior comfort. With earcup ventilation, an ergonomic snug-fit headband and plush ear cushions it ensures a remarkable level of comfort. At only 210g it is 30% lighter than competing headsets, yet using a solid structural housing designed for hardcore use.

In June 2016 Valve announced 'Destinations', a Steam workshop not easy to find anymore, that allowed the end user to enter real and fictitious scenarios through the magic of virtual reality. The idea was intriguing, but the media was not completely sold and judged Valve's proposal as both "the best and the worst of VR". From all this, however, came a singular discovery: those who reverse-engineered its code discovered in it the HLVR acronym, which initiated a wide debate about the potential appearance of a Half Life VR (HLVR) version specifically developed for VR headsets.

Lending further credence to this hypothesis was Gabe Newell's announcement in February 2017 that Valve was preparing three big titles for virtual reality- two of them based on Source 2, and one of them based on Unity. More such signs appeared in the summer of 2018, and everything was pointing towards this project being indeed real, that it would likely be based on Source 2, and that it would offer a full-fledged blockbuster title that this generation of VR has been desperately seeking. We now have more data courtesy a "leaked email" to Reddit user 2flock that suggests Valve's work is apparently going beyond just VR game development, as images of a prototype device seen below confirm that Valve is also working on its own VR head-mounted display (HMD), one whose development would also be more advanced than initially suspected.

LucidSound , the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today the shipping of the LS31 Wireless Gaming Headset. Announced at E3 2018 and compatible with PlayStation4, Xbox One and PC, the new LS31 serves as a follow-up to the LS30 headset, LucidSound's top selling headset.

Re-built, re-engineered and re-imagined for an ever-evolving gaming marketplace, the new LS31 delivers uncompressed wireless audio, and features a host of upgrades designed to keep the LS31 ahead of the competition.

Creative Technology Ltd announced today the release of the Sound BlasterX H6 gaming headset, which elevates both gaming and audio experiences to the next level.

Featuring an all-new design, the Sound BlasterX H6 packs massive performance with a plethora of enhanced features - including pro-tuned 50mm Neodymium drivers, breathable memory foam fabric mesh pads, detachable noise-reducing ClearComms microphone technology and RGB lighting.

HyperX today introduced its first Bluetooth-enabled headset, in the form of the CLOUD MIX. The new HyperX CLOUD MIX mixes the best of both HyperX's wired performance with the convenience of Bluetooth 4.2. The new headset features the same 40 mm drivers, which achieve frequency response of 10 Hz to 40,000 Hz with total harmonic distortion of less than 2% for maximum sound clarity.

Battery life stands at 20 hours, which will be more than enough for at least a couple days of on-the-go listening. The headset features a pair of microphones depending on use-case: a built-in mic for when you're on the go, and a plug-in mic with better performance that's Discord and TeamSpeak certified. Hardware includes a volume rocker, power button, a micro-USB port, and 3.5 mm jacks for both mic-in and audio-out. For now, HyperX is making the Cloud MIX available exclusively at Best Buy in the US, for a suggested price of $199.99.

Leading gaming headset and audio accessory brand Turtle Beach (NASDAQ: HEAR) officially enters the PC gaming headset market with today's announcement that the company's all-new Atlas line of headsets built for PC is now available at participating retailers worldwide. Designed in collaboration with leading esports teams, including Astralis, OpTic Gaming, and the Houston Outlaws, Turtle Beach's Atlas line features three different models, including the Elite Atlas Pro Performance PC Gaming Headset, the powerful Atlas Three Amplified PC Gaming Headset, and the versatile Atlas One PC Gaming Headset. Each Atlas headset offers PC gamers an innovative set of features, functionality and pricing, starting with the Elite Atlas with a MSRP of £89.99, and the Atlas Three and Atlas One with MSRPs of £69.99 and £39.99, respectively. Read below for full details of each Atlas PC gaming headset.

"We worked with some of the best pro gamers in the world to make sure our new Atlas line delivers PC gamers the superior audio performance and comfort Turtle Beach is known for," said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach. "Turtle Beach's success is rooted in our ability to innovate and offer a broad portfolio of products designed for all types of gamers, from professional competitive esports athletes to those just getting into gaming, and that's what we're now bringing to the PC market with our Atlas headsets. We knew we needed more than just a single offering, so we built the Atlas lineup to cater to the various types of PC gamers out there - whether they're shopping based on specific features or budget."

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced the Razer Nari Ultimate wireless gaming headset with Razer HyperSense, featuring advanced haptics to deliver a deeper immersive experience for gaming, movies and music.

Razer HyperSense features haptics by Lofelt, a leading German technology company that specializes in creating intelligent haptics for immersive, natural tactile experiences.

Standalones headsets are the new flavor of the VR town this side of 2018. They bring a sorely needed dimension to this segment, allowing users to enjoy some VR experiences that are near what the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive offer, but with a much more palatable price and format. The ability to not be tethered also means being able to experience room-scale VR without having your lizard brain worry about tripping on cables either. This brings us to the Oculus Quest that was launched this week at the Oculus Connect 5 developer conference, just a couple of years after the debut of Project Santa Cruz that has finally culminated in a retail product.

The new wireless, standalone headset goes beyond what Oculus Go went to when announced earlier this year. Based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (Oculus Go was based on a Snapdragon 821) and offering 64 GB of integrated storage, the Oculus Quest offers 1600x1440 resolution per eye and has full six degrees of freedom (6DOF) support versus the three degrees on the Oculus Go. The headset will be available in spring of next year for $399, and more details can be seen past the break.

LucidSound , the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today shipping of their LS25 eSports Stereo Gaming Headset within Europe. Developed to appeal to the eSports community and competitive PC gamers, the LS25 remains focused only on the features essential to providing superior performance during tournament play. Committed to audio fidelity, comfort and ease of use, the LS25 delivers rock-solid, distortion free performance, ideal for the PC gaming community, yet compatible with Xbox One, PS4 , Nintendo Switch , Mobile and PSVR .

The all-new LS25 features improved driver units delivering crystal-clear sound and tuned in-house by LucidSound engineers so players can easily distinguish between their teammates, in-game audio and the sounds of their competitors. Improved ear-cups provide even greater comfort for sustained play and are easy to detach from the headset for cleaning or replacement. The signature LucidSound control scheme is ideal for when gamers cannot afford to lose their concentration allowing gamers to quickly adjust volume.

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, announces the availability of the upgraded Arctis 3 Bluetooth, widely regarded as the best gaming headset for the Nintendo Switch. The award-winning headset now features updates based on user feedback, a new price and is the best headset to work with the newly launched Nintendo Switch Online service. The Arctis 3 Bluetooth allows gamers to easily chat by connecting simultaneously to the Nintendo Switch via the 3.5mm wired connection and the Nintendo Switch Online phone app via wireless Bluetooth audio.

"The Arctis 3 Bluetooth was the first headset on the market that could seamlessly have both wired gaming audio and wireless Bluetooth at the same time," said Brian Fallon, SteelSeries Audio Category Manager. "The unique solution makes this headset the best for Switch gamers so that they can easily chat with their friends over Nintendo Switch Online."

Worldwide shipments of virtual reality (VR) headsets were down 33.7% year over year in the second quarter of 2018 (2Q18), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker. IDC expects this to be a temporary setback as the VR market finds its legs. The arrival of new products, such as the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Pro, and new brands, combined with the need for greater headset fidelity all point to a positive outlook for the quarters ahead.

Screenless viewers brought a lot of attention to VR in the early days as the entire market was artificially propped up by brands like Samsung, Alcatel, and Google that bundled the headsets with smartphones. However, since then, the screenless viewer category has declined substantially, shrinking from 1 million headsets in 2Q17 to 409,000 in 2Q18. This category was the largest contributor to the decline in shipments for the overall VR headset market.

(Editor's Note: Naturally, the adoption of such a standard does imply that graphics card manufacturers will have to start fitting USB 3.1 connectors on their graphics card outputs. This opens up a proverbial can of worms on backwards compatibility of this new data delivery protocol, however, in that even current top-of-the-line graphics cards lack such a port - meaning that this protocol will only be compatible with eventual, future GPU releases.)

A new industry consortium led by NVIDIA, Oculus, Valve, AMD, and Microsoft today introduced the VirtualLink specification - an open industry standard that enables next-generation VR headsets to connect with PCs and other devices using a single, high-bandwidth USB Type-C connector, instead of a range of cords and connectors.