Soon after the Cougar Immersa was first introduced, back in the summer of last year, it started drawing a lot of attention from gamers around the world - and not only those with a limited budget. It didn't take long for it to show up in various "Best under $50" lists. Today, it's widely regarded as one of the best gaming headsets in its price bracket. Let's find out if there's any truth to that!
The Cougar Immersa is a no-frills, closed-back, over-ear gaming headset. It doesn't aspire to be anything else, but a really good device you'll enjoy using during your gaming sessions and when you're watching movies or listening to your favorite music. It's a fairly large headset, which automatically makes it unsuitable for outdoor use. If you insist, you're welcome to connect it to your smartphone or a handheld console, and you can use its retractable microphone for communication since it offers a 4-pole (TRRS) 3.5-mm audio connector. For the same reason, regular gaming consoles (PS4 and XB1) are also supported. Of course, it's also equipped with the standard dual 3-pole (TRS) 3.5-mm audio input and output via a supplied Y-splitter, so it's fully compatible with desktop PCs and other devices that use separate plugs for speakers, headphones, and microphones.
The sound reproduction is taken care of by a couple 40-milimeter neodymium magnet dynamic drivers inside a pair of huge 100-milimeter ear pads that, combined with a smart dual-headband design, ensure the Cougar Immersa can sit on your head for hours at a time without ever becoming uncomfortable. As already mentioned, the microphone can be retracted with a single movement of a hand, which visually transforms the Immersa from a gaming headset into a pair of classic, albeit futuristic headphones in a matter of seconds.
Specifications
40 mm dynamic driver (neodymium magnet)
32 Ω impedance
20-20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
Closed-back, over-ear design
Retractable boom microphone
2.1 m braided cable
Weight: 350 g
The Package
The Cougar Immersa comes in a sturdy, partially transparent box. The front of the box depicts the headset, and you can see most of its left half through the plastic window. You'll immediately notice that the headset doesn't even try to look neutral. With the entire outer headband and the company logo on the inner headband painted orange, and with orange details and light gray mesh on the ear cups, the aesthetics of the Immersa are quite distinct - and very pleasing to the eye, if I may add. There's no chance of confusing it with another headset.
On the sides, you'll find a general list of supported devices - your desktop PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and consoles - and a couple of its key specifications. The specifications are repeated on the rear of the box, where you'll also find additional pictures of the headset and the in-line remote (no microphone here - it's literally just a module with a mute button and a volume dial). There's not much else to say about the box. It's well made, looks nice, and describes the product well, which has it fulfill its purpose.
This is what you'll get inside. Doesn't look like much, but it's everything you really need. There's the Immersa itself, the user manual, and the Y-splitter, which you'll need if you want to connect the headset to your motherboard. It's basically an adapter that turns the 4-pole TRRS connector (combined audio in and out) into a pair of 3-pole TRS connectors (separate audio in and out).