Even tough it’s pretty big and weights 11.9 oz (340 g), the Ear Force HPA-2 is very comfortable. It has a leather-covered adjustable headband and velvet-covered earcups that cover the whole ears. Inside them there is a 40-mm front, a 40-mm surround, and a 30-mm center driver, and a discrete sub-woofer. The bendable mic can reach the user’s mouth or be put aside. Our only gripe is with the excessive long wiring and the need of table space for the amplifier.

After overviewing the headset, let’s go the best part of our review: actually putting the product through test by playing games, listening to music and watching movies. Call of Duty 4 became true to its title thanks to the immersive experience of playing in a 5.1 sound channel environment. Shots coming from behind actually felt like there were enemies behind us, and the grenades exploding really made us jump in your seats. We also tested it by watching the opening battle scene from Gladiator, and the surround effect was amazing: arrows whistling past us, and the booming soundtrack and effects just got that extra boom. But for that to happen you have to remember to set your media player software to 5.1 channels. Finally we listened to a eclectic music selection raging from the dance pop of the Black Eyed Peas, the hard rock of Metallica and some classic Sinatra. Sound response and fidelity were great, and the bass got center spot once more.

Despite its awkward size, long cables and the need for some table space for the small amplifier, the Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA-2 have replaced the excellent Razer Piranha which we have been using as our main headset since it was reviewed.