Altec Lansing AHS602

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 7.0
  Features : 8.0
  Performance : 6.0
  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Nathaniel Wilkins
• Edited by:
  David Carnoy
• Reviewed on: 01/25/2005
• Released on: 08/09/2004

If you're tired of playing the silent type in games such as Counter-Strike and Unreal Tournament 2004, Altec Lansing's AHS602 two-way headset might be just the solution. In addition to offering refinements such as SRS 3D sound processing and an in-line control module, the AHS602 lets you communicate with other players through a built-in boom microphone. Although the AHS602 ($99 list) is also suitable for DVD sound, Voice over IP (VoIP), and speech-recognition applications, its high price and specialized features are overkill for nongamers.

About the same size as a typical set of full-size headphones, the AHS602 features sealed, ear-cupping drivers that completely cover your ears, effectively blocking out background noise and limiting sound leakage into the room. The padded, adjustable headband enhanced the 'phones' comfort, but this reviewer's ears felt clamped down after about an hour of continuous wear. The boom mic, which is attached to the left earpiece, can be swiveled up and out of the way when it's not in use.

One 2.3-foot cord segment connects the control module to the left earpiece, while a second, 5.3-foot segment emerges from the control module and splits into a 1/8-inch stereo headphone plug and a 1/8-inch mic plug for two-way communication through consumer computer sound cards. The in-line control module allows you to adjust the overall playback volume, the microphone volume (mute, low, high), and the SRS 3D surround effect (includes on/off and level controls). A single AAA loads into the control module to power the headphones' active circuitry.

In our testing, the AHS602's respectably large 40mm drivers set this model apart from the cheaper, smaller two-way headsets that are better suited for less engaging applications such as VoIP and voice recognition. While the SRS circuitry added some extra depth to the soundstage in Unreal Tournament 2004, it fell short of delivering a convincing surround-sound simulation.

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Altec Lansing AHS602: $29.99

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 0 stars Not yet available
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• Showing 3 of 3 user reviews

• 2.5 stars

  "Not worth the price...................."

  by Thetostig on January 28, 2006

• 3.5 stars

  "Solid Gaming Headset, Not Bad For Music"

  by Mister Clam on June 4, 2005

• 5.0 stars

  4 out of 4 people found this helpful

  "Great headset! Read the pros and cons for details."

  on January 6, 2005

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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 72

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 27 reviews of Altec Lansing AHS602 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 70/100 and users 78/100. Comparing these reviews to 158038 other Headphones reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 72/100 = Good.

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• techgage.com

  Editors' rating: 90

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• thetechlounge.com

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• techtree.com

  Editors' rating: 50

  Summary: As far as the microphone goes, its performance is very satisfactory especially in voice recording (its primary functionality). It does a reasonably good job of filtering the background noise and the low and high recording volume levels work very well. ...

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