Introduction

Recently, I reviewed the Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 2 (reviewed here), a $40 analogue gaming headset with excellent value for the money. The F.R.E.Q. 4 is only slightly more expensive, coming in at $53 if you’re buying it in the US. For European customers, the price gap is currently wider as the F.R.E.Q. 2 goes for €38, while the F.R.E.Q. 4 costs €61. The differences between these two headsets boil down to connectivity—instead of a 3.5-mm analogue connection, the F.R.E.Q. 4 sports USB connectivity and boasts some extras that come along with it.

The Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 4 is based on a pair of 50-mm dynamic speaker drivers (compared to 40-mm drivers on the F.R.E.Q 2). According to the manufacturer, these are “tuned for gaming,” promising a remarkable bass and crisp highs. The USB connectivity brings three features which don’t exist on the F.R.E.Q. 2: RGB lighting effects, Xear 7.1 virtual surround sound, and a software driver for tweaking. The microphone didn’t change. As such, it’s still omnidirectional, retractable, and equipped with ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) technology used to suppress external noise.

Specifications

• 50-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
• 32 Ω impedance
• 20–20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
• Closed-back, over-ear design
• Retractable, omnidirectional microphone
• Customizable RGB lighting system
• Xear 7.1 virtual surround sound
• 2.2 m rubberized USB cable
• In-line remote control with volume, microphone, and surround sound controls
• Weight: 320 g