Sound Quality

The PowerColor Alphyn AH10 is equipped with a pair of 50-millimeter dynamic drivers. The only supported resolution in wireless mode is 16-bit/48 kHz.

For gaming headset frequency response measurements I'm using the miniDSP EARS headphone test fixture, probably the least expensive such device on the market. It consists of two miniDSP UMIK-1 microphones placed inside a pair of silicone ears and affixed to a steel headphone stand. It's a USB-powered device, perfectly integrated with the fantastic Room EQ Wizard (REW) software, which is used for headphone and microphone calibration, as well as doing the measurements themselves. Every single miniDSP EARS unit comes with its own microphone calibration files, which are loaded into REW before doing the measurements. The miniDSP EARS certainly has its quirks. The artificial ear canals aren't particularly deep, so I wouldn't consider it a viable option for IEM testing. The integrated microphones are exceptionally sensitive to headphone positioning, partially because of the screws affixing the silicone ears to the stand, which aren't perfectly flush with the silicone surface. Some users also claim that the fixture is too narrow for very large Hi-fi headphones, so they have to use rubber bands to tighten the clamping force. The latter isn't something I ever had an issue with, though; all my headsets and headphones fit perfectly.

Because of all that, the miniDSP EARS is prone to user error. Whoever is using it has to know how to interpret the results and, even more importantly, how to spot those that are clearly flawed. After getting rid of the bad data, assuming the initial configuration and calibration were done properly, the resulting frequency response measurements are usable and in line with what one would hear from the headphones (or headset) in question. Once I got to where the frequency response plots corresponded to what I heard from the headphones and headsets I measured, I knew it was time to bring the results into my reviews. My testing methodology mostly follows the best practices of using the miniDSP EARS as covered in great detail in this article on Headphonesty. The most significant difference is that I'm using the updated HEQ compensation, where a subjectively neutral headphone would measure approximately flat. To compensate for minor seal variances, I'm measuring each ear until I get 10 usable results and reseat the headphones, or headset, between runs. After I have my results for one ear, I apply a 1/12 octave smoothing and average the measured responses. I then repeat the process for the other ear for an idea of whether any channel imbalance exists. It's important to keep in mind that my results cannot be directly compared to anyone else's, as only an identical methodology conducted on my exact sample of the miniDSP EARS would yield directly comparable results. Still, we now have a relevant visual representation of the sound characteristics of the headphones or headset under review, so I hope you find it useful.


For the PowerColor Alphyn AH10, I used the supplied 2.4 GHz wireless dongle as the source, as that best represents the experience future owners of the headset are going to have when listening to it.

You can explore my gaming headset frequency measurement database and follow its progress on my personal Squiglink. Let's take a look at the frequency response measurement of the PowerColor Alphyn AH10, both averaged and for each channel separately.




The PowerColor Alphyn AH10 gaming headset delivers a sound profile characterized by warmth and decent clarity. While not particularly exciting, its sound is mostly balanced, albeit with some trade-offs. The bass response leans more toward the mid-bass than the sub-bass. The sub-bass extension is present but not dominant, with a relatively polite delivery that lacks the rumble and deep impact bass enthusiasts might expect. However, the mid-bass is slightly boosted, adding the aforementioned warmth and body to bass instruments. This tuning ensures that kick drums and basslines have a pleasing punch, though the overall presentation might feel slightly soft or rounded in faster genres like electronic or metal. The bass is unlikely to overwhelm the midrange, making it a clean foundation for most types of music.

The midrange of the Alphyn AH10 is where the PowerColor's headset begins to show its quality, offering a clean and articulate presentation. The lower midrange is slightly recessed, ensuring no muddiness or excessive bass bleed. This creates a well-separated soundstage. In contrast, the upper midrange is forward, with a noticeable peak around 2 kHz that enhances vocal clarity and instrumental presence. Female vocals, acoustic guitars, and strings sound vibrant and detailed, though this peak can occasionally veer into shoutiness, especially on tracks that are already bright in this region.

The treble response of the Alphyn AH10 is smooth and inoffensive, making the headphones unfatiguing for extended listening sessions. Listeners seeking a bright and highly detailed treble presentation may find the performance slightly subdued, but those who value smoothness and non-fatiguing sound will appreciate this tuning.

When it comes to gaming, the default sound profile offers decent excitement, while maintaining clarity and giving a respectable amount of information about the virtual surroundings. You won't feel like your enemies are getting a jump on you because you weren't able to hear them coming. The majority of my time with the Alphyn AH10 was spent playing Delta Force, a free-to-play Battlefield clone, where I usually had a pretty good idea of what's happening around me, even in large-scale modes, where it's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer, unrelenting chaos. However, more demanding gamers will want to go with an even more revealing headset, with a more boosted treble than the one offered by the Alphyn AH10.

DTS Headphone:X 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound

The DTS Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround sound support can be effective to varying degrees. For the best results, the game needs to support Microsoft's spatial sound API, as that's the only way to achieve "real" 3D sound effects. Otherwise, the Alphyn AH10 processes any sound it receives into virtual surround by itself.

Out of the four factory-tailored DTS Surround Sound profiles available through the Keystone software (and on the headset itself), I found the "Music" profile to sound the best, as it opens up the sound while maintaining a somewhat (but not completely) natural tonality. The "Gaming" profile is the only other viable option for an improved sense of scale, but it sacrifices bass performance and introduces an unnatural timbre, which takes getting used to. The "Theater" profile is too boomy, while the "Voice" profile pushes the vocal range too far forward, making the Alphyn AH10 sound harsh and overly fatiguing.

Considering all of this, I preferred using the PowerColor headset in standard stereo mode, where it provided the most balanced sound (within its own sonic capabilities).