The NZXT Relay Headset is not noteworthy by itself. It’s a strong gaming headset with respectable audio high quality, snug earcups, and an understated design. However NZXT swung for the fences with its foray into the world of audio. Paired with NZXT’s SwitchMix accent, the Relay Headset will get way more attention-grabbing.
The NZXT Relay Headset ($100) and the NZXT SwitchMix ($130) are offered individually, however they’re designed for use collectively (together with NZXT’s Relay Audio system and Subwoofer). The headset plugs into the SwitchMix, which plugs into your PC, and you should use the SwitchMix to regulate the quantity with the large fashionable knob or steadiness between recreation audio and voice chat with a easy slider.
However the headset hangar is the star of the present. It has a built-in stress plate change that tells the SwitchMix mixer to vary gadgets between the headset and your exterior audio system. No extra twiddling with system settings in Home windows, forgetting to swap outputs, and by chance waking your accomplice along with your recreation. Simply take the headset off the hangar and your PC will change to it. Put the headset again on and audio will come out of your audio system. It’s a dream come true—when it really works.
One Easy Swap
The SwitchMix accent doesn’t include the Relay Headset, and it prices barely greater than the headset itself, however that feels acceptable. It is fairly distinctive. It is available in two components: a mixer and a headphone stand.
The mixer is a sturdy but smooth brick with a big fashionable knob and a slider alongside the suitable facet. The underside of the mixer has 4 round rubber pegs on the underside that match neatly inside a grid of holes on the bottom of the stand. It’s a pleasant little design contact that permits you to rotate the mixer so it’s positioned finest on your desktop setup. The knob and slider are massive and distinct, making it straightforward to regulate them with out trying, which will be essential once you’re making an attempt to regulate audio in-game.
{Photograph}: Eric Ravenscraft
The change within the stand is definitely probably the most interesting a part of this setup, and it pulls off this celebration trick in a low-tech manner that’s each a blessing and a detriment. A small 3.5-mm connector runs from the bottom of the stand right into a port on the rear of the mixer. A USB-C port on the rear of the mixer runs to your laptop, whereas two extra 3.5-mm ports run to a speaker and (wired) headset.
This setup, sadly, signifies that the hangar change works solely with wired headsets, and may solely hook up with exterior audio system through a single 3.5-mm port. That limits the quantity of {hardware} this setup will work with. However when it does work, it’s pleasant. I desire to look at movies on my desktop with my audio system however placed on my headphones whereas I play Overwatch 2 with my associates. Choosing up the headset from the stand, the audio converted earlier than I even obtained the headphones on my head. The phrase “seamless” was invented for experiences like this.
The SwitchMix additionally capabilities as a standalone digital-to-analog converter (DAC), although in my expertise, this is not a very noteworthy profit. The SwitchMix helps 24-bit/96-kHz audio output, however I did not discover a significant distinction within the audio in comparison with plugging the headset instantly into my PC.
One Stable Headset
The Relay is a strong first entry from NZXT. The earcups have a easy matte floor in both black or white. I examined the white model and it appeared notably fashionable. The froth contained in the cups is mushy and cozy, and the headset is light-weight sufficient to put on for hours with out discomfort.
{Photograph}: Eric Ravenscraft