At first we would like to thank Patriot Memory for offering a sample of their Viper V370 RGB 7.1 Surround Sound Headset for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About Patriot Memory:

 

“Mission Statement

 

To be the vendor of choice for the computer and consumer electronic industries with a commitment to service and quality

 

Vision

 

Commitment, focus on innovation in technology, product quality, and customer satisfaction are the key enablers of our future success

 

Company Profile

 

Established in 1985, Patriot Memory builds a full range of memory module and flash memory products, offering a perfect blend of quality and value. Patriot products include Extreme Performance (EP), Signature Lines (SL) and Flash Memory solutions (FM)”

 

Product Features:

 

7.1 Surround Sound

 

Experience all the action coming in all directions. The Viper V370 Gaming Headset offers clear crisp 7.1 Surround Sound for the ultimate in-game experience.

 

Ultra-Bass Response

 

Amplify your gaming experience and live the sounds of your game! Feel the vibrations of any setting with the Ultra Bass Response feature.

 

Foldable Microphone

 

The foldable microphone easily allows gamers to communicate with fellow teammates, competitors and friends alike. Neatly tucks away for post use and organization.

 

RGB Lighting

 

Compliment your room and setup with rich RGB lighting effects

 

Product Specifications:

 

Cable length: 2.2M

Approximate weight: 385 g/ Net Weight

Connector: USB

 

Speaker:

Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz

Impedance: 32 ohms at 1kHz max

Sensitivity: 110dB +/- 3dB at 1 kHz max

Input power: 10mW

Main Drivers: 40mm Neodymium magnet

Sub-Drivers: 30mm

 

Microphone:

Frequency Response: 100Hz-10KHz

Signal-to-noise ratio: 60dB

Sensitivity: -46dB +/- 3 dB

Pick-up Pattern: Omnidirectional

 

The second peripheral we are going to review from Patriot Memory is the V370 RGB Surround Sound headset; the market out there is abundant with products of this type, both wired and wireless, so in order for the manufacturers to jump ahead, they have to provide new and interesting features for the potential customers. This particular unit, while it does look pretty standard on the outside, it packs dedicated subwoofer drivers that can be activated with a single switch.

 

Let’s take a look at the packaging first; the unit is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard enclosure with a small window and right on the top we can also observe the main product highlights:

 

 

 

On the back side of the box, we will get to see an explanation of the headset interfaces, but also the technical specifications involving the speakers and microphone. The box contents area informs the user that besides the PU leather pair earpads, we are also getting a free set of cloth mesh ones:

 

 

 

Inside we will find the headset, along with quite a bit of bundle:

 

 

 

We do really appreciate the inclusion of a carry bag as well, that helps frequent travelers keep their investment in good shape for longer or we can simply use it to prevent dust accumulation on the V370 RGB Surround while not in use:

 

 

 

As we have mentioned before, we are getting a separate set of cloth mesh earpads for those that prefer this material instead of PU leather, along with a removal tool:

 

 

 

 

For the V370 RGB Surround, Patriot Memory has chosen to go with a matte black exterior finishing and silver accents around the logo; thanks to the mostly plastic construction, the unit weights about 385g:

 

 

 

The included microphone can be easily released from the left cup and features an omnidirectional pickup pattern:

 

 

 

The red/black Patriot Memory Viper color scheme can be also observed on the preinstalled earpads, that are quite large and comfortable:

 

 

 

The headband can be expanded as needed and we could also find number markings on the metallic inner layer:

 

 

 

Both exterior areas of the earcups do feature a black metallic mesh, while the central area houses a plastic, chromed plate for the Viper logo. The logo is also surrounded by a V-shaped RGB LED area:

 

 

 

The left earcup does come with additional controls such as the Volume wheel, but also the Ultra Bass Response (UBR) switch, that activates the dedicated subwoofers:

 

 

 

On the left cup we can also see the USB connectivity cable, which is braided and features the same black/red color scheme:

 

 

 

 

The headband does feature a pretty thick soft cushioning, covered by leatherette material:

 

 

 

The leatherette layer does come on top with the Viper logo:

 

 

 

The USB connector does not feature any fancy design, but is gold-plated for optimal contact:

 

 

 

The product documentation is shipped in a Viper-branded red envelope:

 

 

 

Here we will find the Quick Start Guide leaflet, along with a nice set of Viper case stickers:

 

 

 

 

After plugging in the headset inside a spare USB port and installing the necessary software, we could enjoy the RGB goodness on the exterior of the earcups:

 

 

 

 

 

VIPER V370 RGB Surround software interface looks similar to other headsets we have tested in the past that were powered by C-Media Xear technology; the top informational area does show the current operating mode of the product, but also allows a quick volume control adjustment; dedicated volume sliders are available from the Speakers menu as well:

 

 

 

Microphone settings are also available from the next menu:

 

 

 

The Lighting area permits the user to choose from one of the available presets:

 

Static

Breathe

Blink

Heartbeat

 

By right clicking on the Speakers menu, we can uncover even more options we can work with, for fine-tuning the audio output:

 

 

 

Sample Rate

 

 

 

Equalizer

Viper Surround Headphone

Viper Audio Brilliant

Viper Dynamic Bass

Viper Smart Volume

Viper Surround Max

 

The Microphone settings follow the same type of extra menus:

 

Sample Rate

Vocal Effects

 

From the Information area, we can learn about the available software versions:

 

 

 

The Application does come some specific settings of its own:

 

 

 

We have tested the V370 RGB Surround with different audio material such as YouTube music clips, standalone MP3s, games and movies. At the default, non-Ultra Bass Response setting, the low frequencies are not very punchy, the accent being put more on mids and highs; if the audio material you are listening does contain lots of vocals, then this is the mode you should operate in. However, the headset really becomes alive after enabling the two dedicated mini subwoofers, and we felt the vibration even when only holding the earcups in your hands; this is definitely the mode to be used with games and action movies!

 

Thanks to the dedicated software with Xear audio effects, we can fine tune the audio quality quite a bit, in order to fit our preferences; the microphone does also come with Magic Voice effects that morphs our voice in real time, in order to have fun with our friends (similar to the effects found with Creative sound cards). Speaking of the microphone though, it picks up the voice decently, but it also has the tendency of not isolating the nearby noises as well.

 

The RGB lighting can be customized as well from the GUI and we can choose from four different presets; we are really missing the ability here to get different programmable segments on the cups or make the RGB lighting blink depending on the music you are listening to.

 

While we could note the extra bundled fabric ear cushions as a positive, on the negative side the headset was not designed with rotatable ear cups in mind, so people with certain head shapes could feel discomfort during longer usage times.

 

The proposed headset solution from Patriot Memory can be found online for only about 40 Euros, which is very affordable in our books, considering the multitude of features!

 

Patriot Memory Viper V370 RGB 7.1 Surround Sound Headset is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Patriot Memory for making this review possible!