After several days of testing, we are ready to bring you our review on Creative’s new SXFI AIR GAMER: a hybrid headset with various interesting features
Not many months have passed since the release of Creative SXFI GAMER: the first headset of the Asian company to adopt a mode designed specifically for gamers. Less than a year after its launch we are faced with its improved version, which adds “Air” to the name. This ends essentially indicates that the headphones, at first usable only in wired mode, now lose this obligation.
Creative SXFI AIR GAMER is a headset that promises to be enjoyed in wireless mode, through a USB-C cable or, why not, with the use of an AUX cable rather than with one MicroSD can be inserted directly into the headphones. This is nothing if we think we can listen to theaudio coming from different platforms at the same time. Let’s find out what we liked and what instead made us turn up our noses, in the full review.
Pack & Specs – Review Creative SXFI AIR GAMER
The packaging of these headphones is really nice and rich. From the front we can take a first look at the headset, learning that the company was awarded 23 times at CES 2019/20 thanks to SXFI technology, through the badge at the top right. The remaining parts of the box highlight the various specifications, as well as spoil some of the features and contents of the pack.
Pack that opened will make us find the headphones in plain sight with a small box underneath containing everything else. A pair of versatile headphones must certainly have numerous accessories and indeed it is. Inside the chest of additions we will find the CommanderMic microphone, a cavo Type-C on both sides (in a durable rubber), a cavetto Jack to Jack it’s a adattatore da USB-C a USB-A. As if that were not enough, on the headphones we will already find the lower case installed NanoBoom Mic: Handheld microphone included, by the way, in the box of the Creative BT-W3 receiver, which we reviewed.
Technical specifications
- Audio Processing: Super X-Fi, SXFI BATTLE Mode.
- Interface: USB Type C, 3.5mm stereo input, Bluetooth 5.0, MicroSD (up to 32GB, FAT32 file system).
- Peso: 338g (con NanoBoom Mic).
- Frequency Response: 20–20,000Hz.
- Driver Size: 50mm Neodymium Magnet
- Battery type and duration: rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 11 hours.
- Bluetooth operating frequency: 2402-2480MHz.
- Codec audio: SBC.
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows 10, Mac OS X v10.13 or later.
- Controls: Tactile controls.
- Battery type and duration: rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 11 hours.
Let’s break down the headphones – Creative SXFI AIR GAMER review
Let’s now analyze the construction of the headphones. If aesthetically they are almost the same (clearly) to the younger sisters, there are substantial differences. Among the materials of which they are composed we have an opaque plastic as regards the external pavilions, a padded leather-like headband and the pads of the pavilions lined in another leather-like, this time perforated. With all sincerity, we did not particularly appreciate these bearings which, in addition to heating enough, are not able to muffle the noises coming from the surrounding environment.
We have the possibility to adjust the bow on both sides with a trolley ranging from a minimum of half a centimeter, up to a maximum of 11.5cm per side. The buttons and outputs are all positioned on the left side, recognizable by the large “L” logo present in the fabric inside the cap. Here we find in fact: the power button, the output to connect the microphone, the USB-C and Jack inputs, the button for activating the Bluetooth, the one to change the audio profile and the input for the MicroSD. The differences with the previous model obviously concern the presence of the Bluetooth button, an additional Jack entry and theabsence of the volume control wheel. This is because we will be able to manage it with the comandi touch.
One of the reasons why they have the suffix “Gamer” are obviously i led RGB. With a pattern completely identical to the ancestors, the headphones have a geometric pattern on the outside of the pavilions, as well as a profile that follows the outer edge. From both sides we will be able to enjoy enlightenment unfortunately available only in two modes. The first is the classic “rainbow” which allows the LEDs to change color continuously. In addition to this we will be able to choose a static color directly from the dedicated program, rather than completely turning off the lighting. To switch from one mode to another, just click once on the power button. In this field, we may have desired a wider plethora of choices.
Power on! – Review Creative SXFI AIR GAMER
The experience with these SXFI AIR GAMER begins in an undoubtedly particular way. After downloading theapp per smartphone SXFI App, we will in fact scan our ears and face. This is so that artificial intelligence personalizes the profile based on the shape of our head. To tell the truth it was not really easy to take these photos. Maybe because I was alone and therefore sometimes I didn’t frame the lens. Often, however, the grid following the ear was wrong and I was forced to retry the scan. After stepping out of a 1970s sci-fi movie, I was ready to get my hands on headphones.
The new Creative SXFI AIR GAMER can be connected to our devices in various ways and one of these is via USB-C to our PC. Just from PC, we will be able to download the program SXFI Control which allows us to equalizzare l’audio choosing an existing profile or creating it, increasing or decreasing the various frequencies. From here we can also decide whether to set the headphones in stereo mode, simulate a 5.1 or 7.1 surround. The static color lighting will also be selectable from the above program.
One of the items in SXFI Control is “GAMERCHAT“: what it is (in our opinion) among the most useful features a pair of gaming headsets can offer. Being able to connect multiple devices at the same time is not an end in itself. By connecting (for example) the headphones via Bluetooth to PS5, we will be able to take advantage of Discord calls with our friends who play from PC, rather than from Nintendo Switch and so on. This because the audio will come from both platforms, while on a (in this case the PC) we will be able to enable the microphone, which will allow us to communicate. It goes without saying that GAMERCHAT breaks down a lot of walls, making cross-platform communications easier and more immediate.
As we have already stated previously, we no longer have the “physical” volume controller. This is because we will be able to implement numerous functions through touch gestures on the left earphone. So let’s see what are the various commands that can be carried out:
- Swipe up or Swipe down: increase or decrease the volume.
- Swipe Right or Swipe Left: Select the previous or next song.
- Swipe Right or Swipe Left During a Call: Change the direction of the audio (center, right or left).
- Press and hold for 2 seconds: Activate Narrator.
- Touch and hold for 4 seconds with two fingers: Switch to mass memory playback.
How do they sound? – Creative SXFI AIR GAMER review
Starting from the headphones out of the box, the sound at first left us perplexed. Once we started tinkering with the equalizer a bit, and finally trying out the various SXFI and Battle Mode profiles, we were pleasantly surprised. The versatility of the headphones does not stop only at the type of connection or multi-link possible, but it also matters, if not mainly, audio. The three macro profiles that can be selected are: SXFI OFF (no profile selected), SXFI ON and Battle Mode.
If the first will be the simplest and most crystalline one, the other two modes have a precise address. SXFI (or Super X-Fi) is a proprietary technology of Creative that manages to adapt the sound to each user (as we have seen before), through the dedicated application. Beyond that, this technology is capable of simulate the sound of a system directly in the headphones. We know that said in this way does not make it, however the only way to fully understand is to try this technology. The latter was particularly appreciated when watching movies or TV series and made us feel like we were inside the hall of a cinema, with audio coming from the various sides of the room.
The Battle Modeinstead, it has a completely different footprint and is aimed at players. Especially in the FPS we noticed how the feeling changes from one profile to another. This Battle Mode yes, it will be lacking in several respects, but its job does it great. Thanks to it we have indeed managed to perceive the opponent’s steps in a more defined way, as well as the distance to enemy fire and so on. This it is not the mode for all types of gamers, mind you. Let’s talk about a profile designed for shooter lovers.
The fact that the Creative SXFI AIR GAMER do not necessarily need a power supply allows us to use the various profiles also on the different consoles: a plus not to be underestimated absolutely. Clearly, on the various consoles (and in Bluetooth mode) we won’t have the ability to simulate Surround, but they will work in Stereo mode.
We test the microphones
This headset includes two microphones. The one already installed is the NanoBoom Mic, a small device that manages to provide audio quality not excellent. The CommanderMic it is instead one of the strong points of these headphones. Connectable (as the previous one) through the AUX input, it is hands down one of the best microphones present in the various headsets we tested.
The audio output is really clean also thanks to noise suppression that the microphone offers. The additional Jack output allows us to connect our headphones via Jack while having the microphone installed, unlike the previous model. An unexcused absence is instead a button (present in the younger sisters) or a gesture to mute the microphone.
Let’s listen now i audio test of both microphones, performed on Audacity without changing any settings and without applying any filters.
CommanderMic microphone
Microfono NanoBoom Mic
Let’s sum it up
Creative SXFI AIR GAMER is, in our opinion, the most versatile gaming headset in its price range (€ 139.99 from the list). Technologies such as Battle Mode or GAMERCHAT make them a must-buy for all those users who are looking for a pair of headphones to use on different occasions and on various platforms. Whether it’s for watching movies or playing the upcoming Battlefield 2042, these headphones will positively surprise you.
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