Introduction

The samples I receive for reviews usually don't come with a warning, but the Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 did. Sharkoon asked me to be careful when adjusting the volume level of this €60 analog gaming headset as it could, depending on the amplifier it's connected to, blast my ears right off of my head. They were, of course, joking, but a point was made. The Skiller SGH50 has an unusually high sensitivity of 112 dB. Sharkoon wanted it as easy to drive as possible, so that just about anyone can play it loudly regardless of the capability of the headphone output on their device. This being an analog headset, you can connect it to any source with a 3.5-millimeter output, including desktop computers, laptops, gaming consoles, and mobile devices of all sorts. Sharkoon also pointed out that it took them a full year to tune the speaker drivers of the Skiller SGH50 to their liking, so that's another aspect of this product I look forward to examining.



The Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 is based on a familiar dual headband design, where the inner headband is actually a suspended strap that extends as necessary to cater to differently sized heads. It is equipped with a pair of thick, circular pleather ear pads and detachable omnidirectional microphone, which can be muted via an in-line remote control. The remote control is also used to adjust the volume of the headset. The integrated 50-millimeter dynamic speaker drivers have a specified frequency range of 10-40,000 Hz so that Sharkoon could slap the Hi-Res Audio badge on the Skiller SGH50. The audio cable is removable, which is a nice touch for a reasonably priced gaming headset. Sharkoon bundles it with a 1.1-meter 4-pole (TRRS) audio cable, additional 1.5-meter extension cable, and 3-pole (TRS) splitter, which you'll need to connect the headset to your desktop computer's sound card.

Specifications

• Drivers: 50-millimeter dynamic (neodymium magnet)
• Impedance: 55 Ω
• Sensitivity: 112 dB
• Frequency Response (specified by the manufacturer): 10–40,000 Hz
• Design: Closed-back, over-ear
• Microphone: Detachable, pop filter supplied
• Connectivity: 3.5-mm analog (4-pole TRRS + dual 3-pole TRS)
• Supplied cables: 1.1-meter 3.5-mm (4-pole TRRS), 1.5-meter audio extension cable, 28 cm dual 3.5-mm (TRS) splitter cable
• Weight: 342 g
• Warranty: 2 years

The Package

The box depicts the Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 gaming headset from various sides and goes over its key features and technical specifications. A thick cardboard insertion protects the headset inside, which is why I wouldn't worry about any potential damage during shipping.


Here's everything you'll find inside the box. Aside from the headset itself, there's the accompanying detachable microphone with a pop filter, three cables (1-meter 3.5-mm TRRS, 1.5-meter audio extension, and 28-centimeter dual 3.5-mm splitter), user manual, and couple of stickers. Interestingly, Sharkoon went with a combination of a 1-meter 4-pole (TRRS) cable and an extension cable instead of just making the TRRS cable longer, as most other manufacturers do. I appreciate this approach since a 1-meter cable is definitely long enough for mobile devices and gaming consoles if you're connecting the headset to the gamepad. If you need more, that's where the extension cable kicks in.