Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Review: Your WoW Playmate!

Gaming headphones? That’s nothing new. How about a set of audio gear custom made for a video game? Now that’s something! Meet the Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft, a headphone that is specifically intended for players of World of Warcraft, Blizzard’s most popular online game.

World of Warcraft (WoW) is a big name in the online game industry. Based on the medieval fantasy realm of the legendary Warcraft RTS game, WoW has gained massive popularity among online gamers worldwide. The title has even expanded to include a couple of novels written around its theme, giving players something else to follow up other than the game itself. Now, we have even more items dedicated to WoW, like this pair of headphones here. What’s so special about this particular item and how exactly does it contribute to the overall gameplay of WoW?

Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft (WoW) has some unique features that distinguish it from the rest of the headphone crowd, at least when it comes to WoW gaming. The most interesting of these is perhaps the ability to make your voice sound like one of the featured races in WoW. Imagine that, you can “fully” become an orc, elf, or dwarf, simply by downloading the headphone’s driver from its corresponding website. A multitude of voice options will be put at your disposal. To turn your voice to match that of WoW inhabitants, you only need to select the desired sound and speak to the attached microphone. Interestingly enough, this voice-changing feature can also be used in other games.

This headphone offers some nice additional features as well, such as music equalizer, volume adjustment buttons for both the sound drivers and microphone, THX sound effects, and decorative lighting effects on the exterior. User profiles can also be customized using character pictures from the World of Warcraft game. Note that these extra facilities would only be accessible after you install the driver. That means you cannot expect to have full functionality on any other computer that doesn’t have the driver installed.

Now, after we have explored the headphone’s features, it’s time to check its sound quality! As a headphone that is obviously gaming-oriented, Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft produces strong low-frequency and background sounds to enhance the overall atmosphere of a game. If you like big explosions, you won’t be disappointed. Other frequencies are equally well-reproduced too, from clashing swords, whistling arrows, and clanking armor suits, all can be heard in remarkable clarity. There is no doubt that Creative’s WoW headphone really works out for games.

The story’s a bit different when it comes to songs, though, particularly those with slower tempo and rich details. The negative effect of the sound boost implemented in Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft is that it kills the small details in mid-range and higher frequencies. However, if you don’t typically listen to this kind of music (examples include classical and “audiophile” songs), there is nothing to worry about. Bass frequencies could actually benefit from the boost.
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How about the microphone then? Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft has a nice, detachable mic that can be removed when not needed. When attached, its flexible plastic body allows the mike to be oriented in various directions to suit your preference. The mic captures reasonably clear sound while minimizing background noise interference.

What about the looks? As an addition to good sound quality, gaming headphones should make the owner proud by sporting fancy looks, especially in the presence of other gamers. In this regard, the Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft does not disappoint. The WoW theme is applied thoroughly on this headphone, resulting in a striking appearance that would immediately remind everyone of the game. The sound drivers also have WoW symbols on it, one of which doubles as a volume adjustment button.

The most eye-catching feature of this headphone is, of course, the glowing faction emblems (Alliance and Horde) on the exterior of its sound drivers. If desired, you can change the emblems with others that also come with the headphone. Finally, you can adjust the glow’s intensity, pulse frequency, and color, through the driver.

Gamers often wear headphones over prolonged period of time, which is why you will find a pair of comfy ear cushions on the Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft. They’re nicely covered in soft leather too, contributing well to the overall comfort when wearing this headphone.
Unlike most headphones, Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft uses USB connection. This is actually a convenience because users have no need to plug two different types of audio jack into the computer (audio-out and mic-in).

Interested? This headphone will set you back around US$ 120, which is quite reasonable given the headphones’ unique sets of features and looks. Plus, the Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft will give your friends something to envy about when you show it in front of them!

Specifications:
Headphone
Driver Material: 40 mm Neodymium Magnet
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
SPL (1KHz): 112 dB
Mic
Type: Noise-canceling Condenser
Frequency Response: 100Hz – 7KHz
Impedance: 2.2 Kohms
Sensitivity @1KHz: -48 dBV/Pa (Uni-directional)
Included Accessories:
Manual Book
Travel Pouch
Two sets of faction symbol (Horde and Alliance, a pair for each symbol)
Official Website