In the arms race that is smartphone manufacture, HTC has unveiled the equivalent of the BFG from Doom: a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, running at 1.5GHz per core; a 720p hi-def screen; Beats-bolstered audio; an 8MP camera with an aperture of f2.0 for noise-free images and an impressive bag of tricks, including HDR stills and 1080p video. As with all Tegra 3 devices, this NFC-toting, Ice Cream Sandwich-flavored Android boasts a Battery Saver Core that portions out power depending on the apps and components that need it, which is just as well; you're going to be spending a lot of milliwatts showing it off.

Screening calls

The One X's 720p screen is a bright, 4.7in 'Super LCD2', fronted by Gorilla Glass, naturally. Perched just above it you'll find a 1.3MP camera for video calls.

Double team

The One X's 8MP camera is a true multi-tasker. While shooting a move, you can also capture a still; or take a full-res screengrab while watching the video back.

Skinny love

At half a whisker over 9mm thick, the One X just gets into the Skinny Club; not bad for a phone with as much processing power as an Eee Pad Transformer Prime.

 Over capacity

The HTC has a one-size capacity of 32GB. Prety generous, but if you're after more it also comes with 25GB free cloud-based storage courtesy of Dropbox.

Stop making Sense?

This is the first HTC we've seen with Android 4.0 from the get-go; given the great job HTC's Sense interface has done skinning previous Androids, we have high hopes for it.

AMD's shiny new Bolldozer FX processors have been released into the wild for some time now, so you might be wondering what this crusty old Phenom II processor is doing sullying this showcase of white-hot, high performance computing platforms.

Well, it all depends on pricing and product availability. We're not sure if AMD is still cranking out the Thuban processor dies that form the basis of the Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition, though we believe that to be the case, if only or manufacturing server processors.

The Anti-Doze

Although it will take a while for the 1090T to be completely flushed from all those retail channels, supply is now somewhat sporadic. There's still a decent choice of retailers, but prices vary wildly. The best price we could find was around $176, while others are charging over $319.

At the lower price point, the 1090T looks very attractive. On a per-core basis, it easily has the measure of the new AMD FX chips. It's not even that far behind the top FX 8150 eight-core model in several of multi-threaded tests, like the Cinebench professional rendering benchmark. It would have been faster than the FX in nearly scenario.

Intriguingly, however, database query benchmark does demonstrate that the theoretical benefits of AMD's exotic new Bulldozer architecture can sometimes translate into real-world gains. The 1090T gets left trailing-and horribly.

This IPS screen from ViewSonic shows what's possible when a technology is pushed hard enough. With a 24-inch screen diagonal and 1,920 x 1,080p box as cheap TN panels, but look closer and you'll spot the differences.

The viewing angles are quoted at 178 degrees for both horizontal and vertical. That may not sound like a dramatic increase over the 170 and 160 degrees typically claimed for TN screens, but it makes a huge difference. The 1,000:1 static contrast ratio also hints at a quality panel.

Slightly less impressive is the 6ms claimed for grey-to-grey pixel response. It's the one metric by which IPS panels can't compete with TN technology. The VP2365-LED's 250c/m2 brightness isn't exactly stellar either, especially considering that it packs an LED backlight rather than old school CCFL tech.

The screen's stand and chassis are bland to the point of anonymity, but it's sturdy and stable. They also offer full adjustability, including rotate, swivel, tilt and VESA wall-mount compatibility.

No frills

What you don't get is much peripheral technology. Unlike many cheaper screens, teh ViewSonic VP2365-LED's on-screen menu isn't stuffed with fancy image-processing options, but offers full color, gamma and temperature configurability. There's a dynamic contrast function too, but switchable pixel response modes and fancy adaptive color processing are absent.

Frankly, that's no great loss. Nor is the superficially limited connectivity (DVI and VGA is your lot) much of a downside. Instead, ViewSonic has cooked up a no-nonsense package that majors on the things that matter - panel, backlight and chassis quality. If ViewSonic can excel there, it will have a winner on its hands.

The VP2365-LED puts in a strong showing in the lagom suite of test images. Both black and white scales offer oodles of detail. The color scales aren't shabby either, and the viewing angles do the usual IPS thing, which means the're wide enough to be a non-issue. That often annoying effect of IPS screens, IPS glow, isn't evident either.

It's not entirely flawless though - the 250cd/m2 backlight rating translates into less than retica searing brightness. This isn't an issue for a slightly less flexible monitor.

The only other hitches involve the pixel response and refresh rate. Both, frankly, are relative. In absolute terms, the VP2365-LED is more than quick enough for games, movies, you name it. But it's not as lightning quick as an overdriven TN panel.

Overall, this is an incredibly impressive panel. It's not quite the holy grail of PC paneldom - a screen that marries the best attributes off all available monitors, ditches the bad bits and does it all at price you can afford. That the ViewSonic VP2365-LED doesn't quite pull that off is no surprise. But it comes awfully, awfully close - much closer than any other screen that's in the same price bracket.

Sony made its replacement to the PlayStation Portable worth the long wait. The PlayStation Vita takes the PSP's signature design and adds more processing power, optional 3G, dual analog sticks, and an amazingly bright, colorful OLED screen. The result: a handheld gaming device that eclipses the PlayStation 2 in power, and comes very close to the capabilities of the PlayStation 3. Sony made some strange decisions with the Vita's media playback abilities and Web browser, but for gaming it's incredible, making it Choice for handheld game systems, and a significant step ahead of the Nintendo 3DS ($169.99)

Design

Out of the box, the PC Vita looks like the PlayStation Portable at first glance, but the overall build quality of the PS Vita is much better, right down to the small details. Without a pop-out door for UMDs or a sliding design, the PS Vita feels much more solid than the PSP, and despite their small size the analog sticks have just enough give for responsive control without feeling loose. Besides the proprietary USB port and headphone jack on the bottom, every port and slot on the PS Vita is covered by a door. The top edge holds the game-card slot and an accessory port, the bottom edge holds the memory-card slot, and the left edge holds the SIM card slot. The handheld weight a solid 9.8 ounces, and at 3.3 by 7.2 by 0.7 inches (HWD) it's almost the same as the PSP in shape.

The layout is pure PlayStation, with a direction pad, four face buttons, Start and Select buttons, a PlayStation button, two shoulder buttons, and two analog sticks.

Hardware

The 5-inch OLED touch screen is gorgeous. It's bright, colorful, and extremely sharp. Its 960-by-544-pixel resolution makes it almost exactly equivalent to many current-generation large-screen Android phones, and not quite as high-resolution as the iPhone 4S or several 720p Android phones on the market. But at five inches, the PS Vita's display is more than sharp enough to lend a satisfying impression of high-definition video to a move or game. The screen is also multitouch, so you can pinch to zoom in the Web browser, the map software, and in games.

The front and back-facing cameras seem identical, and are only slightly sharper than the cameras on the 3DS. As a nice touch, the PS Vita supports Bluetooth devices just like the PS3, including stereo headsets.

Interface

Sony moved away from the XrossMediaBar (XMB) menu design of the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Bravia HDTVs and Blu-ray players and gave the PS Vita a complete touch-screen interface overhaul. The new system looks less like a gaming device's menu and more like smartphone's menu system, with everything controlled through the touch screen.

The Gameplay

With dual analog sticks and two touch areas, the PS Vita offers some of the best-feeling portable gaming seen yet. While the analog sticks and face buttons are roughly half the size of the controls found on a PlayStation 3 gamepad. The analog sticks have just enough range and tension to feel comfortable for shooters like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and the face buttons sick out far enough to be easily accessible for combos in games like Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3.

Thanks to the quad-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, tha PS Vita's processing power is roughly comparable to the PlayStaion 3, but scaled to handheld size. Lighting effects, crisp rendering, and smooth animation are all impressive to see on a 5-inch OLED screen you hold in your hand.

Media Playback

As great as the Vita is as a video game system, it's horribly clunky as a media player. The Vita includes music and video players, and the OLED screen is fantastic for watching movies, but Sony cracked down so hard on managing media that the features might as well not be there. To get media on your Vita, you can't drag and drop files from your computer to the device, or to the memory card. Not only is the memory card proprietary, but the USB connection requires loading Sony's Content Manager Assistant on your computer before you can only choose which folders o make visible to the Vita. From there, you need to use the Vita to transfer files, using the touch screen.

Network

The 3G/Wi-Fi Vita can use AT&T's data network or local Wi-Fi networks to connect to the Internet. AT&T's data plans for the Vita are $15 for 250MB of data monthly or $30 for 3GB of data monthly. Either way, if you plan on downloading games on your Vita, make sure it's connected to a Wi-Fi network. Less bandwidth intensive activities like Web browsing and multiplayer gaming make the 3G a useful feature. Network speeds were solid in PC Labs.

As a handheld-gaming device (emphasis on the word "gaming"), the Sony PlayStation Vita excels. It's powerful, has a beautiful screen, and offers two analog sticks so you can actually play shooters on the go without compromising. The relatively short battery life is the only thing that holds it back as a gaming system, but several irritating things crop up when using the Vita for other tasks. Its Web browser doesn't support Flash yet, its memory card is proprietary, and its content manager is a clunky joke.

The worst moments of our computing lives are all based around the same situation: you've turned your system on, and Windows, for whatever reason, won't start.

Has your computer turned into so much useless metal? Have you lost everything? It's horrible feeling.

Fortunately, there's a simple solution: with a Windows 7 installation DVD, a Repair function could get your PC booting again in next to no time. But if you don't have an installation DVD - and many of us don't these days - or if it's lost or scratched, you'll be in trouble. That's why you need to prepare for disaster before it happens.

Follow our simple guide and you'll have a Windows 7 system repair disc, which you can use to start an unbootable PC - and usually get it working again - in about 10 minutes.

While you're pulling out that spindle of recordable DVDs, we'd also like to suggest another option for disaster recovery: ghosting your drive. Making a bit-for-bit copy of your hard disk might seem a bit extreme, but it's worth doing on a new-ish PC, just so you can always restore it to its default state. Grab a copy of Macrium Reflect Free from www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx and use its clone facility - you'll need a stack of discs, but you won't regret it.

Creating a repair disc in 10 minutes

Ensure you're always fully protected against a PC that won't boot

1. Explore Control Panel

Click 'Start', then select the 'Control Panel' option. If the 'View by' option is currently listed as 'Category', click on the arrow to its right and select 'Large icons' so you can see all the available Control Panel applets on one screen. Find the Backup and Restore applet and double-click to launch it. This is where the magic happens.

2. Launch the disc creator

Click 'Create a system repair disc' on the left to run the tool that you need. If you don't see this option, you can also launch the repair disc tool as a separate entity. Simply click 'Start' again, type recdisc into the Search box, and then click on the recdisc link or hit [Return] to fire up the program you need.

3. Find a disc

Locate a blank disc - it can be either a CD or DVD, it doesn't really matter, although we'd recommend a DVD in case the process decides it would like more space. Place the disc into one of your optical drives. Then click the arrow to the right of the currently selected drive, in the 'Create a system repair disc' program, and choose the drive that contains your disc.

4. Click and burn

Click the 'Create disc' button and the program will burn the system recovery files to your CD or DVD. This shouldn't take long - on my computer, with a DVD drive which goes like the blazes, the whole thing is over in around a minute. Then, as the program suggests, I like to label my disc 'Repair disc Windows 7' so it'll be easy to identify in an emergency. You should too.

5. Test carefully

Test your disc in immediately to make sure it works - it only takes a moment. Leave the disc in the drive, close any open applications, and reboot your PC. If Windows loads as normal, you need to change your BIOS setup program to boot from your optical drives first. Check your PC's manual for more advice; there's a specific key you'll need to hold while booting.

6. Boot the disc

When your computer is booting from your repair disc correctly, you may see a message on screen prompting you to 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD'. If you do, just tap [Space] (or, as you may have guessed, any key of your choice) and repair disc will continue to load. Then you need to choose the option 'Windows Setup [EMS Enabled]' from the menu.

7. System Recovery options

Select your keyboard and click 'Next'. Select your Windows installation, then 'Next' again, and you'll see the recovery options. If you ever find that Windows 7 won't start, boot from this disc, click 'Startup Repair', and Windows should get your computer working again, automatically.

8. Read for (almost) anything

You now know all about the Windows 7 Recovery Disc creation tool. If you've completed these steps, well done - you're protected. Even if Windows 7 won't start, you can always launch the Recovery Disc, then use System Restore, a backup or Startup Repair to fix the problem and get everything back to normal.

Say hello to the real Sandy Bridge E, for it is this Xeon processor that truly reveals what Intel's ultimate 32nm technology is capable of. Up to a point, anyway.

Yes, the Core i7 3960X is an impostor - a cut-down shyster of a chip. Back when Intel launched the six-core 3960X, the decision to switch off two cores in the shiny new eight-core Sandy Bridge E die was all part of a balancing act. Intel had weighed up the conflict between clockspeed and cores, and decided that the best overall compromise was six cores at 3.3GHz with a little Turbo action on top.

Running eight cores would have meant a significant drop in clock speed and therefore compromising per-core performance. Even if opening out all eight cores would mean a big drop in the clocks with all cores heavily loaded, surely the whole point of Intel's Turbo technology is that the chip could still clock up when only a handful of cores were doing the heavy lifting?

Well, now the fastest eight-core Xeon iteration of precisely the same Sandy Bridge E processor die has arrived and the truth is out. The Xeon 2687W is rated at 3.1GHz, just 200MHz slower than the six-core Core i7 3960X. Thus, the 3960X runs just six percent faster while the Xeon 2687W has 33 percent more cores.

Core, Blimey

In fact, testing suggests the 2687W will run at 3.4GHz in pretty much any scenario save idling. At standard clockspeeds, it absolutely tears the 3960X a new one and fully delivers on the promise of an eight-core Sandy Bridge-based processor.

For the record, the 2687W doesn't just bring those extra cores to the table, it also ups the cache memory ante to fully 20MB. We can just about remember when 20MB was a healthy amount for system memory, much less on-chip CPU cache memory. Oh, and if you were wondering, the 2687W dropped straight into X79 test motherboard, in this case the Gigabyte X79-UD3, without so much as a BIOS update. Nice.

That's the good news, but the bad news comes in three flavors. First, the 2687W proves what we already suspected: Intel is sandbagging with Sandy Bridge E in Core i7 trim. The only reason there isn't an eight-core version is because Intel isn't under any pressure from AMD to deliver one.

Second, there's the minor matter of price. If you thought the 3960X was bad at around $1,270, it's hard to argue that the 2687W offers value at roughly double the price. Finally, there's the question of overclocking potential. Put simply, the 2687W doesn't overclock. The multipliers are locked and it falls over if you mess around with the base clock.

That's a problem, because the 3960X running at 4.5GHz matches the 2687W's performance in most (but not all) of the benchmarks. Of course, oveclocking isn't for everyone, but if it happens to be your bag, it turns out there's little point in paying more for those extras cores.

There's really very little point spending $2,382 for the 2687W's extra cores.

In your search for hardware, start with the CPU. It can influence many other choices you make, such as finding a compatible motherboard, CPU cooler, or power supply.

Intel Core I5-2500K

($295)
Though the 3.3GHz Core i5-2500K is a quad-core processor, it lacks Intel's hyperthreading technology, so you won't see the eight virtual cores that you can otherwise expect from Intel's quad-core wares. It does offer Intel's Turbo Boost, which automatically overclocks the processor to 3.7GHz when applications demand it, provided that the CPU hasn't hit its maximum heat and power threasholds. You'll also get Intel's integrated graphics, which have greatly improved in the Sandy Bridge era.

You could spend less on another Intel CPU, such as the $164 3.1GHz Intel Core i3-2100. But ultimately the Core i5-2500K will net you superior performance and improve the longevity of your PC. The K on the model numbers means it's unlocked and ready to be overclocked, if you're feeling adventurous. (You want to build a PC that will last a long time, and overclocking is a nice way to eke out a bit more power a few years from now, if you're careful). The 2500K costs just $15 more than the standard locked CPU, however; if you have no intention of ever dabbling with your processor's frequencies, that's money you can save.

AMD FX-4100

($171)
To save cash, you could choose the new 3.6GHz FX-4100. This quad-core CPU sits at the bottom of AMD's recently launched Bulldozer line. It offer AMD's Turbo Core technology, which follows the same principles as Intel's Turbo Boost; When your CPU has a bit of thermal headroom, it will automatically overclock up to 3.8GHz, to give applications a bit more oomph.

The FX-4100 is unlocked. The Bulldozer line is generous with overclocking too; you can expect substantial CPU frequency gains with minimal effort. In real-world usage, this CPU isn't nearly as fast as Intel's Core i5-2500K, but given that it's half the price, you probably expected that.

Intel Core I7-2600K

($436)
If you're building a PC for gaming, video editing, or other CPU-intensive tasks, it is recommended going with the highest (reasonable) entry in Intel's Sandy Bridge line, the 3.4GHz Core i7-2600K. This quad-core processor is equipped with Intel's hyperthreading technology, which provides eight virtual threads for your applications to play with. The CPU includes Intel's Turbo Boost and integrated graphics technologies, as well. If your work (or play) is graphically intensive, however, it remains in your best interest to buy and install a proper discrete graphics card, even with a CPU this formidable.

However plenty of room in your performance-PC budget? Take a look at the Core i7-3930K, Intel's new Sandy Bridge Extreme Edition six-core processor. With hyperthreading, this CPU offer 12 virtual cores, and it delivers incomparable levels of performance. Note, though, that it's priced at $900 - which puts it out of the reach of most mortals - and that it requires a motherboard supporting the X79 chipset.

AMD FX-8150

($350)
If you prefer to stay on AMD's side, check out the FX-8150. Altough this processor currently resides at the top of the company's much anticipated Bulldozer line, in most situations it barely outperforms the Intel Core i5-2500K. It's very friendly to overclockers, however, allowing you to make substantial CPU frequency gains without stressing your machine's CPU cooler extensively.

Why choose an AMD processor if you're not planning to overclock? The FX-8150's price has fallen considerably since it launched, so buying this CPU would leave you with extra funds to save, or to splurge on pricier components elsewhere. And if you shop judiciously, AMD-ready motherboards tend to be a bit less expensive than their Intel counterparts.

Canon's new top pro DSLR has a lot going for it, the full-frame EOS-1D X can shoot full-res, 18.1-megapixel RAW files at 12 fps, with face-detection AF for each frame, and JPEGS with the mirror locked up at 14 fps (no AF during shooting).

Dual DIGIC 5+

Two new-generation DIGIC 5+ processors, each 17 times more powerful than the DIGIC 4s found in the EOS-1D Mark IV (which, in turn, are 6 times more powerful than the DIGIC IIIs in teh EOS-IDs Mark III), speed camera operation and make it possible to use new higher-performance noise-reduction algorithms, on-the-fly chromatic-aberration correction and an improved video codec.

Rugged, Sealed Body

Like previous 1-series EOS cameras, the EOS-1D X has a rugged magnesium-alloy cover and chassis, with 76 gaskets and seals to keep out moisture and dust. The accessory Speedlite 580EX II, Wireless File Transmitter SFT-E6A and GPS Receiver GP-E1 are also sealed against weather and dust, as are many of the L-series EF lenses. A new Ultrasonic Wave Motion Cleaning system provides more effective sensor-dust removal than previous EOS cameras.

Improved HD Video

The EOS-1D X can do 1920x1080 full HD at 30 and 24 fps (25 fps PAL format), 1280x720 HD at 60 fps (50 PAL) and 640x480 SD at 30 fps (25 PAL). For the first time in a DSLR, you can choose AII-I or IPB compression, and Rec Run or Free Run timecoding-things of interest to serious videographers. You now can record up to 29 minutes 59 seconds per clip, with automatic splitting of longer files. Sound is still mono via a built-in microphone or stereo via an optional external mic, but now you can adjust the audio level while shooting.

New Metering System

The newly developed system in the EOS-1D X features a 100,000-pixel RGB metering sensor and its own dedicated DIGIC 4 processor. The system provides 252 metering zones for general shooting and 35 zones for low light. Intelligent Subject Analysis uses face detection and color recognition for added accuracy. It also includes partial and spot metering (exact area not yet stated), as well as center-weighted average metering.

Viewfinder & LCD

Similar to the EOS 7D's, the EOS-1D X's Intelligent Viewfinder shows 100% of the actual image area, with superimposed LCD display. For live view and video, the 3.2-inch Clear View II external LCD monitor features 1,040,000-dot VGA resolution.

New AF System

A totally new High Density Reticular AF system features 61 points, 41 of them cross-types with lenses of f/4 or faster and 21 cross-types with lenses of f/5.6 or faster (versus no cross types at f/5.6 with previous cameras). There are even five central dual cross-type points for extra precision with lenses of f/2.8 or faster. The 61 points cover 52% of the frame area (vs. 41% for previous EOS-1 cameras), and you can select any one of them manually. A new AI Servo II tracking algorithm promises the best performance yet in an EOS camera. Unfortunately, lost in all this is the ability to autofocus at f/8.

ISO 204,800

The EOS-1D X has a normat ISO range of 100-51,200, settable in 1/2-stop increments, which can be expanded down to ISO 50 and up to an amazing 204,800. That performance blows away the EOS-1Ds Mark III's 5 fps, and even the EOS-1D Mark IV action camera's 10 fps, and also smokes their ISO capabilities (normal range of 100-12,800 and high of 102,400 for the Mark IV, normal range of 100-1600 and high of 3200 for the Mark II). Importantly, image quality is touted to be better than that of either predecessor despite these new capabilities.

Dual CF Slots

The EOS-1D X has two CompactFlash slots, each accepting Type I and Type II cards and compatible with UDMA 7 cards (recommended for high-speed still and video shooting).

Not so long ago, affordable monitors were a case of anything you fancied so long as it was TN. More recently, screens with IPS and VA panels have been coming thick and fast. Hallelujah! The latest member of this new monitor army is Philips Brilliance 241P4QYES.

It supports what Philips calls an AMVA panel. Think of it as the latest iteration of the MVA breed, which in turn is a particular flavor of VA (vertical alignment) LCD panel. That typically means much better colors, contrast and viewing angles. The only slight snag is that the competition among the $318-ish, better-than-TN brigade is hotting up. Dell has been flogging eIPS screens for a while, while BENQ prefers to go with VA tech. Meanwhile, Viewsonic has just launched an IPS-based screen, the VP2365-LED. And it's very, very good indeed.

MVA - brilliant

Specs-wise, the Philips Brilliance 241P4QYES certainly looks promising. The AMVA panel is claimed to be good for 178-degree viewing angles in both planes, 6ms response times and static contrast of 5,000:1.

Factor in the LED backlight and good connectivity, which includes HDMI, DVI and VGA, and you have a very promising package. You even get a fully adjustable stand that lets you rotate the monitor to portrait mode. More predictable is the combination of a 24-inch diagonal and 1,920 x 1,080pixel grid. For PC use we'd prefer the slightly taller 1,920 x 1,200 alternative, but that's asking a lot at this price point.

Philips has also thrown a few image enhancement options into the mix. Not big fan of dynamic contrast, but it's offered here and since it's switchable, everyone wins. The same goes for pixel overdrive, a technology used to improved response times. It's known as Smart response in Philips' parlance, and again it's fully switchable.

As it happens, found it delivered noticeable better response when enabled, without introducing any inverse ghosting or input. As for the other image quality metrics, most are pretty impressive. Colors are rich without being over saturated. Black and white scales both reveal excellent detail, and there's little evidence of color compression. Gradients are rendered impeccably and there's plenty of depth to the contrast.

Less impressive are the viewing angles which can't quite match the best IPS screens. The overall brightness isn't exactly stellar either, leading to slightly dirty looking whites.

While the chassis is very adjustable and well featured, it looks cheap and the USB hub's four ports are inconveniently located on the rear. As good as the image quality is, things are moving fast right now and there are slightly better screens available for similar money.

It's a joy to find yet another great non-TN screen available at this relatively affordable price point though. The main benefits are excellent colors and contrast, and Philips has managed better pixel response than used to seeing from an MVA screen. Impressive.

While the mouse and keyboard on the previous posts are completely new to Corsair, this headset is less of a stretch from its comfort zone.

Its first bite of the headset cherry, the Corsair HS1, was a decent effort. To make its new cans worth buying though, it needs to take the SP2500's sound quality and add comfort, mic clarity, 3D positioning and intuitive controls. No mean feat, and Corsair is aiming high by promising 'audiophile quality' from $88 headset.

50mm drivers have been fitted to avoid distortion and cope with rumbling low-end frequencies, and the earpieces and headband are well padded for comfort, but can the Vengeance 1300 really deliver on all of its promises?

Audiophil-ish

Let's start by saying that using the phrase 'audiophile quality' is a mistake. When you appeal to the most finicky members of a community, you'll always find know-it-alls determined to prove you wrong.

It's like saying 'Hey, Internet! This new thing is as good as The Empire Strikes Back!'

So no, the Vengeance 1300 doesn't offer audiophile quality. The low-end's too exaggerated for that, and it'll never offer better clarity and true frequency response than Audio-Technique's ATH-M50, even with those 50mm drivers.

But a gaming headset doesn't need that kind of quality - most gamers would rather spend their pennies on a GPU than a sound card, and since a headset can only blast out what the sound chip produces, the chances are that this and most similar headsets are wildly overqualified.

Heard no distortion even at frankly dangerous volume levels; it appears no dubstep bassline or BF3 tank fight is too much for the Vengeance 1300. Background noise is deftly cut out too, which is great for maxing out immersion levels or gaming near a construction site.

If you have a 3D soundcard, the Vengeance 1300 will give Creative's SoundBlaster Omega run for its money. Creative's headset is pricier, so that's an impressive feat. It seems Corsair has crammed SP2500 sound quality into these cans after all.

The heavy foam padding cuts out background noise brilliantly, but after 30 minutes of continuous wear the Vengeance 1300 starts to get uncomfortable.

At the sub-$96 price range though, Corsair's sophomore headset is pretty much the cream of the crop. Those gamers looking to save even more pennies will find their basic needs sated by Sony's DR-GA100 set, but they'll be missing out on the Vengeance 1300's great noise-canceling tech and top-drawer sound quality.