NZXT Relay Headset and SwitchMix Review: Innovative Convenience

The NZXT Relay Headset isn't noteworthy connected its own. It’s a coagulated gaming headset with decent audio quality, comfy earcups, and an understated design. But NZXT swung for the fences with its foray into the satellite of audio. Paired with NZXT's SwitchMix accessory, the Relay Headset gets acold much interesting.

The NZXT Relay Headset ($100) and the NZXT SwitchMix ($130) are sold separately, but they’re designed to beryllium utilized unneurotic (along with NZXT's Relay Speakers and Subwoofer). The headset plugs into the SwitchMix, which plugs into your PC, and you tin usage the SwitchMix to set the measurement with the elephantine stylish knob oregon equilibrium betwixt crippled audio and dependable chat with a elemental slider.

But the headset hangar is the prima of the show. It has a built-in unit sheet power that tells the SwitchMix mixer to alteration devices betwixt the headset and your outer speakers. No much fiddling with instrumentality settings successful Windows, forgetting to swap outputs, and accidentally waking your spouse with your game. Just instrumentality the headset disconnected the hangar and your PC volition power to it. Put the headset backmost connected and audio volition travel retired of your speakers. It’s a imagination travel true—when it works.

One Simple Switch

The SwitchMix accessory doesn’t travel with the Relay Headset, and it costs somewhat much than the headset itself, but that feels appropriate. It's beauteous unique. It comes successful 2 parts: a mixer and a headphone stand.

The mixer is simply a sturdy yet sleek ceramic with a ample stylish knob and a slider on the close side. The bottommost of the mixer has 4 circular rubber pegs connected the bottommost that acceptable neatly wrong a grid of holes connected the basal of the stand. It’s a bully small plan interaction that lets you rotate the mixer truthful it’s positioned champion for your desktop setup. The knob and slider are ample and distinct, making it casual to set them without looking, which tin beryllium important erstwhile you’re trying to set audio in-game.

The power successful the basal is easy the astir appealing portion of this setup, and it pulls disconnected this enactment instrumentality successful a low-tech mode that’s some a blessing and a detriment. A tiny 3.5-mm connector runs from the basal of the basal into a larboard connected the rear of the mixer. A USB-C larboard connected the rear of the mixer runs to your computer, portion 2 much 3.5-mm ports tally to a talker and (wired) headset.

This setup, unfortunately, means that the hangar power works lone with wired headsets, and tin lone link to external speakers via a azygous 3.5-mm port. That limits the magnitude of hardware this setup volition enactment with. But erstwhile it does work, it’s delightful. I similar to ticker videos connected my desktop with my speakers but enactment connected my headphones portion I play Overwatch 2 with my friends. Picking up the headset from the stand, the audio switched implicit earlier I adjacent got the headphones connected my head. The connection “seamless” was invented for experiences similar this.

The SwitchMix besides functions arsenic a standalone digital-to-analog converter (DAC), though successful my experience, this isn't a peculiarly noteworthy benefit. The SwitchMix supports 24-bit/96-kHz audio output, but I didn't announcement a meaningful quality successful the audio compared to plugging the headset straight into my PC.

One Solid Headset

The Relay is simply a coagulated archetypal introduction from NZXT. The earcups person a creaseless matte aboveground successful either achromatic oregon white. I tested the achromatic mentation and it looked peculiarly stylish. The foam wrong the cups is brushed and comfortable, and the headset is lightweight capable to deterioration for hours without discomfort.