Introduction

The XPG PRECOG Studio claims to be the first ever gaming headset with a balanced design and a 4.4-mm (Pentaconn) connector, instead of the usual single-ended (unbalanced) 3.5-mm jack. Those that never ventured into the world of higher-end Hi-fi will be interested to know that the Pentaconn connector typically uses five contact points (TRRRS, Tip-Ring-Ring-Ring-Sleeve), allowing separate left and right channel signal paths, as well as ground and two additional connections for balanced audio. Balanced audio is regularly used in professional and Hi-fi audio because it’s designed to reduce electrical and radio interference, essentially eliminating unwanted noise.

The way this works is by splitting the audio signal into two identical signals, but with one being inverted (180° out of phase) relative to the other. These two signals are sent through a pair of wires within the same cable. Any external noise or interference picked up along the way affects both wires equally. At the receiving end, a differential receiver compares the two signals. Since the noise affects both signals equally, it appears as a common-mode signal and is canceled out when the receiver subtracts one signal from the other. The subtraction process effectively cancels out the noise, leaving only the original audio signal. This results in a cleaner sound, especially over long distances. This method is particularly useful in professional audio environments where long cable runs are common, as it significantly reduces the potential for noise and interference. Also, a balanced signal is generally louder than an unbalanced signal, because balanced connections send two in-phase signals, which effectively doubles the signal strength. This results in an increase of about 6 to 10 dB compared to unbalanced signals.

Sounds expensive, right? Well, here’s the kicker. The XPG PRECOG Studio is priced at a mere $60, which puts it pleasantly close to the budget gaming headset category. But wait, there’s more. You’re not only getting a gaming headset with a balanced cable and connector, but also an external USB dongle to drive it. The XPG-branded dongle is equipped with the ESS ES9260Q DAC chip, as well as a pair of ESS Sabre 9601K amplifiers. I’m hesitant to call it a sound card simply because it offers no software support of any kind, so there’s no conventional way to alter the default sound signature or do any other kind of configuration. What you see is what you get, but with such strong technical specifications, is that even an issue? Let’s examine the XPG PRECOG Studio to find out.

Specifications

• Drivers: 50-mm dynamic (neodymium magnet)
• Impedance: Not specified
• Sensitivity: 101±3 dB
• Frequency Response (specified by the manufacturer): 20–20,000 Hz
• Design: Closed-back, over-ear
• Microphone: Omnidirectional (non-removable)
• Connectivity: USB-C (USB Type-A adapter supplied), 4.4 mm analog
• DAC: ESS ES9260Q (up to 32-bit/96 kHz PCM)
• Platform support: PC, PlayStation 4/5, mobile devices
• Weight: 300 g

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