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Lightning Review: Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth Headset
Posted by Jason Chen at 7:40 AM on August 6, 2008
The Gadget: The official Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth Headset, which takes its design cues from stuff Snake actually wears in the game, like his Solid Eye and that body suit made for sneaking.
The Price: US$59
The Verdict: Passable only for gigantic MGS4 fans. Here's what we found. First, it's very uncomfortable to wear for more than 15 minutes at a time due to the shape of the ear-piece. It loops behind your ear and basically pinches itself in place. The back of the plastic part jabs into our ear painfully if worn too long. Not good.
When paired with the PS3, we got significant feedback and static when we were sitting on our couch, which didn't get better as we moved closer to the PS3. The guys on the other side claimed that the headset generated a noticeable amount of echo. The incoming sound quality wasn't that great on our side either. In comparison, the Callpod Dragon Bluetooth headset we synced with the PS3 sounded fine, with no echo and very little static. It was slightly better if you turned down the volume via the earpiece, but still nothing we'd call "great" or even "good."
On a side note, it's not that great for mobile phones, seeing as it gets very staticy if you move beyond a few feet away from your phone (we tested it with the iPhone). So there's no redeeming it there either.
Still, if you're a huge fan of Snake and can make do with the uncomfortable form factor and lousy sound quality, here's a headset that kinda makes you look like Snake, provided you grow a moustache and/or a mullet.
[Newegg]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
DarthTader
Posted 8:15 AM 6/8/08
Too bad, it looked good. Perhaps someone will take a good Bluetooth headset and mod it into this sweet case.
DarthTader
lpranal
Posted 8:11 AM 6/8/08
that was a story about someone writing a review for this product, which was epic. This is the actual LIGHTNING REVIEW™, in which Chen writes about products that cause you to be more likely to be struck by lightning. But without a picture of said editor Using it, Pantsing it, or getting struck by LIGHTNING it's a sad, sad husk of a review indeed.
lpranal
SinAmos
Posted 8:06 AM 6/8/08
@leetXcore: Nerdgasms are strictly prohibited unless you are wearing your Trekkie uniform, mobilized by using a personal mover, and can speak five different languages based on popular sci-fi pulp.
SinAmos
leetXcore
Posted 8:02 AM 6/8/08
@Rabid Penguin: Yeah, I knew this sounded a little familiar.
leetXcore
oxweeblexo
Posted 8:02 AM 6/8/08
look at it. its not even sexy
oxweeblexo
leetXcore
Posted 8:00 AM 6/8/08
A shame, because an MGS4 bluetooth headset makes me nerdgasm.
leetXcore
Rabid Penguin
Posted 7:47 AM 6/8/08
[gizmodo.com]
Rabid Penguin
Rabid Penguin
Posted 7:46 AM 6/8/08
Didn't you guys already do a review of this awhile back, and gave it the thumbs down for sound quality?
Rabid Penguin
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 7:45 AM 6/8/08
So you're saying it's trash ...
GeekyNerdGuy
segamanxero
Posted 8:34 AM 6/8/08
I did a review and unboxing of it. I agree with Gizmodo's review...
+ Watch video
segamanxero
Ariel_Wollinger
Posted 8:32 AM 6/8/08
just disassemble it and use the innards of a Jabra.
Some one will do it.
Ariel_Wollinger
Ariel_Wollinger
Posted 8:31 AM 6/8/08
PURE
AWESOMENESS
Ariel_Wollinger
Fuzi Lojak
Posted 8:25 AM 6/8/08
SNAAAKE....AAAKE...AAKE...AKE...
Fuzi Lojak
daftrok
Posted 8:23 AM 6/8/08
Who manufactured the headset?
daftrok
SeattleTed
Posted 8:20 AM 6/8/08
Cool, still rocking my $20 Jabra BT 125 (I think that's what it is) I found on the net. It's simple, cheap, and pairs with my ps3 no problemo (hence it was given away with Warhawk). I feel most BT headsets are sold by former Monster Cable wholesalers. Even at big box retailers, I've yet to see many BT's for less than $35
SeattleTed
Blades
Posted 9:00 AM 6/8/08
I pre-ordered this before became available thinking how coolit looked, but when I got it from the get-go it sucked. The loop thing around your ear sucks as it's very uncomfortable and the quality with a cell phone (Palm 750w) lots of static noise.
Scale of 1-10 this thing gets a -1
I know use the new jawbone and it's not bad.
Blades
arcanedark
Posted 8:56 AM 6/8/08
these type of headset are complete crap.
the design is awful.
they never stay on your ear. if you try to move your head at all, most likely it will come flying off your ear. it just flaps around.
oh but they come with small, medium, and large!...
...still doesn't help. the size difference is a joke and doesn't help the problem.
and no... my ear is not deformed like a lot of you jokers are saying in your heads, lol.
arcanedark
kathartik
Posted 8:54 AM 6/8/08
mine's comfortable as hell, I can wear it for hours... and I've never had any issues with sound quality on the PS3 or with a phone
@daftrok: it was made by a company called PDP
kathartik
Accordion
Posted 9:23 AM 6/8/08
But…
…
Still worth buying so you can drill a hole through it and super glue it to your eye then?
[yes i know that the solid eye has a strap, but why would anyone want to take it off?]
Accordion
Rabid Penguin
Posted 9:08 AM 6/8/08
@lpranal: Oh... Thanks for clearing that up.
Rabid Penguin
mikail511
Posted 10:30 AM 6/8/08
reminds me so much of the 360 headset too
mikail511
mikail511
Posted 10:29 AM 6/8/08
@Rabid Penguin: no, it was a video hosted by another site
mikail511
Skeldanqua
Posted 10:17 AM 6/8/08
I'm not sure solid snake wear an headset with his name on it,..
Skeldanqua
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:12 PM 6/8/08
I guess it took this long for Jason to get it from Matt.
strider_mt2k
zed0
Posted 4:59 PM 6/8/08
Sweet! This headset will be the perfect piece for completing the costume.
zed0
karmakid
Posted 7:22 PM 6/8/08
rubbish, i thought snakes didnt have ears o.0?
karmakid
Parapraxis
Posted 9:10 AM 7/8/08
href="#c7067165">Accordion:
[yes i know that the solid eye has a strap, but why would anyone want to take it off?]
Depth Perception, maybe?
Parapraxis