At first I would like to thank Cooler Master for sending a sample of their CM Storm Pulse-R Gaming Headset for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About CM Storm:

"Owning the PC trenches for almost two decades, Cooler Master ’s veterans present their scars from battles past as claims of triumph over the competition. United with a new generation of eSports athletes and engineers, now marching under the flag of CM Storm, the time has come to reveal truly ground-breaking, military grade hardware for the gaming revolution.

 

Through long-standing research programs, CM Storm is co-developed with the world’s most prolific enthusiasts and eSports prodigies. Thanks to intensive testing and continuous feedback, the CM Storm division has been able to encompass and improve upon gamers’ needs and their tough to handle scenarios.

 

By working directly with the gaming community we have injected our Storm Tactics into each and every product we make. Storm Tactics, with a heavily dedicated focus on Strength, Security and Control, will keep your most vital gear fortified and well tuned at all times.

 

2008 marks a new era for Cooler Master, as its fierce Storm Gear stands ready at bay to mobilize and back up your gaming skills.

 

CM Storm – Arming the Gaming Revolution"

 

Product Features:

 

Optimized for Gaming

 

42mm drivers deliver clear highs as well as powerful bass in all range of tones, creating an unprecedented audio experience for gamers. Cushioned ear cups and headband provide a luxurious feel and remain confortable even after the most epic gaming sessions.

 

Light ‘em Up

 

Stylish white illuminated grooves within earcups and MIC (USB powered) intimidate your foes and keep your gaming gear looking stylish.

 

Durable Aluminum Plating – Ready to Mod

 

CM Storm’s Pulse-R is the first gaming headset that empowers users to take their creativiry to new levels and create a product which represents their individual style. Remove the aluminum plates and customize it as you see fit; the ultimate e-sports headset.

 

A Versatile Weapon

 

Reinforced cushioned ear cups and headband give noise cancellation and maximum comfort during long gaming sessions. Unique lightweight, adjustable aluminum headband keeps you concentrated on what matters – winning.

 

Convenient In-Line Remote with Volume Slider and MIC Mute Switch

 

Easily control volume and MIC levels within arm’s reach with the sliders. The cable is detachable for easy storage and transportation.

 

Command with Clarity

 

Detachable Microphone Arm with Noise-Canceling MIC system ensures clear in-game team chats. When you see the white LED on, you are ready to command.

 

Product Specifications:

 

 

Just recently Cooler Master has released new peripherals for their CM Storm gaming series. The Aluminum series is composed from a headset named Pulse-R, one mouse named Reaper, but also a mechanical keyboard, MECH. In this article we will take a look upon the Pulse-R gaming headset, which is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard box, which is fully sealed:

 

 

 

On the front we can see a photo of the headset in operation, along with a listing of the main product highlights:

 

 

 

If we look on one of the sides, we will discover the technical specifications for both the headphones but also the detachable microphone

 

 

 

After the removal of the outside packaging, we will end up with a black, sealed cardboard box:

 

 

 

 

The headset is kept secure inside a plastic mold, while in the center we will be able to find the microphone:

 

 

 

The detachable microphone attaches to the main assembly via one jack plug and sports a military look; the central body is rubberized and flexible so we will be able to use it in a convenient position:

 

 

 

 

The cable is detachable and the connector which plugs into the headset comes with a pretty beefy plastic protection:

 

 

 

Next we have the in-line remote which has a microphone on-off switch, a pretty sensitive volume slider but also a central white LED light:

 

 

 

The other end of the cable comes with an USB connector for powering the LEDs, one microphone and one headphone jack for plugging the product to our sound card:

 

 

 

The cable is braided for extra durability:

 

 

 

Cooler Master has also included a leaflet with connectivity instructions along with the product:

 

 

 

The Pulse-R headset looks pretty solid, with large and comfortable cushions which cover the ears and provide comfort during long gaming sessions:

 

 

 

The sides come with removable machined aluminum plating, which can be customized on our liking:

 

 

 

 

Also on the exterior we will find the markings of the left and right channels:

 

 

 

The soft headband is also meant to contribute to the comfort of the headset:

 

 

 

On the bottom of the left cup we will find the connectors for microphone and audio/power cable:

 

 

 

On the inside of each cup we will get to see the branded CM Storm fabric. Each one hides a 42mm driver with frequency response between 20Hz and 20KHz:

 

 

 

The headset can be adjusted in small steps in order to achieve a perfect fit:

 

 

 

The top side of the headset we will see again the CM Storm branding:

 

 

 

The microphone can be attached in just a couple of seconds when needed:

 

 

 

 

When the headset is connected to a spare USB port, boom, we get to see the stylish white illuminated grooves within each ear cup:

 

 

 

As we have also mentioned before, the remote is also lighted up for an easier identification in low light conditions:

 

 

 

When the microphone is activated, its tip will also be lighted up, this without distracting us unnecessary during gaming:

 

 

 

For testing the headset, we have connected it to our Creative Sound Blaster Titanium HD sound card and ran multiple games, TV shows, but also played some music. As with most gaming headsets, we are used on seeing more accents on the medium and low frequencies so we will get cool effects when bombs go off, in shooters but also in car games. While playing music we felt the need to work a little bit with the equalizer in order to expose more of the high frequencies and the end result was quite good.

 

Cooler Master did use high quality materials with the headset and the cable is braided for extra durability. One unique feature of this headset is the removable aluminum plates, which can be removed with the help of an Allen key for painting in our favorite custom colors. The white LEDs are present on both cups, the in-line remote and the tip of the microphone lights up when it is enabled. Speaking of the in-line remote, we would have really liked to have a wheel for modifiying the volume in the place of the slider, since we have seen that the solution chosen by Cooler Master is really sensitive and we can end up turning up the volume too high or too low if we are in a hurry.

 

Considering that Cooler Master has thought this headset for both home use and LAN parties (thanks to the removable cable), we would have really liked to see a carry pouch included inside the package for an easier transportation, even if this accessory could have raised the price by just a little.

 

The Pulse-R headset can be found online for about 70 Euros, a fair price, in our opinion, for what it is offered.

 

CM Storm Pulse-R Gaming Headset is Recommended For:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Cooler Master for making this review possible!