ROG Vulcan PRO Gaming Headset Unboxed!

I'm a big headphone guy. Have always been a headphone guy. Especially for gaming. After all, not everyone enjoys hearing the staccato of gunfire and the constant chatter of your MP teammates ("Here's a medkit!" or "Come get your ammo!" can be quite grating to the uninitiated after several hours). Whatever your genre, a good gamer is a considerate gamer, and I personally believe that headphones are something any digital entertainment consumer must use. I don't just game on headphones, I also listen to music on headphones, and watch movies on headphones. Even TV, depending on who's around. The thing is, my headphones are of the generic disposition. The ROG Vulcan PRO set is about as anti-generic as they come. Successor to the Vulcan ANC, the PRO edition has to be the most impressive gaming headset I've ever gotten my hands on. No bragging, no agenda. It's really awesome. This product is a pure case of  "The R & D Team Thought of Everything", with so many features I'll probably confuse myself if I try listing them quickly. The two main things to remember are that Vulcan PRO offers battery-powered active noise cancellation that's about 85% effective in blocking high-pitched and piercing noises. That's very handy for tourneys and LAN parties, where the deranged screams of fellow gamers and ear-blasting pronouncements from overly-zealous emcees can be an issue. By the way, as ROG reminds us, this is the first instance of active noise cancellation that was designed specifically for games, with extensive testing in different genres - though the emphasis is on FPSs. Even in passive noise cancellation mode, Vulcan PRO sits so tight, you can barely hear anything. And by passive cancellation mode I mean simply putting the thing on your head, like this: Another thing to keep up front and center is the new ROG Spitfire USB device, which is basically a driver and install-free external digital audio processor (or sound card) that plugs in to your PC and boosts sound output. We'll talk about it in more detail soon, but suffice it to say it does a better job than most onboard audio, and for gaming events the quick setup and lack of install mean you get better sound by simply hooking up a USB connector. Alrighty, let's move on with the quick unboxing, shall we? The box has a very nice look to it, with strong ROG colors and a very faithful render of the product and its accompanying ROG Spitfire DAC.  On the back we get some info on the main features: Once open, the fun really begins, and you can feel the quality oozing off the entire package. They really did go all out on the Vulcan PRO, I have to say. Just like its Vulcan ANC ancestor, Vulcan PRO ships with a rugged touring case that can see it arriving safely wherever your travels take you. No more throwing that headset in a backpack and hoping for the best. The touring case uses nice materials that feel great, and while it may not be bullet-proof it certainly is tough. Here's looking at it from two angles: The touring case unzips open, unveiling all the goodness within: Let's clear some of the mess first...and when I say mess I'm really overstating it. Vulcan PRO uses an all-detachable design. The audio cable unplugs, and has that auto-disconnect if you pull on it accidentally so that it doesn't drag your desktop or notebook to the floor with it. It's also braided - which means that even if you're one of those people who insist on scrunching up their headphone wires, it won't tangle, crimp, or otherwise get bent out of shape. This is one tough cable, let me tell you. Of course, mic and volume controls are on there. ROG gives us a neat rubber cable organizer: And now to the headset proper. First thing to note: the foldable design, fits beautifully in the touring case, and saves space in any situation. A quick and smooth snap-to, and Vulcan PRO is fully deployed: Speaking of comfort, the headband is highly pliable so it doesn't leave those imprints on your dome, and the ear cups employ soft cushions with Japan-made protein leather and memory foam. All fancy terms, but they basically boil down to this thing being freakishly comfortable to wear. You won't feel it even on one of those game till dawn binges, which may or may not be a good thing... We now turn to the ROG Spitfire add-on. Like I said before, this is a USB-based external and very portable digital audio processor. It improves on the performance of plain vanilla onboard audio, and doesn't need any setup at all. It also comes with three modes: FPS mode for better sound positioning in shooters, so those sneaky opponents will have a harder time getting the drop on you, 7.1 virtual surround in case you want to simulate immersive audio, and amp mode. That last one instantly adds oomph to your headphones whenever needed. ROG Spitfire would stand quite nicely as a product on its own, and to think ROG bundles it with Vulcan PRO is quite impressive. This is what ROG Spitfire looks like overall, with the USB cable and all: Even the microphone is detachable, and has a flexible build that feels solid at the same time. It's definitely one of the better booms I've ever encountered on any gaming headset, and keeps the ROG color scheme in place. Plugging it into Vulcan PRO is simple: Inside the ear cups are capable 40mm neodymium drivers, and the powered one has these connectors on the bottom, as well as the ANC on/off switch. Remember, you need an extra battery for active noise cancellation to work. Another neat touch we should mention are the ROG-themed ear cup side plates, which are now made of durable metal, unlike the Vulcan ANC's plastic finish. Like I said earlier, they really did think of everything here. To illustrate the go-anywhere approach of Vulcan PRO, it comes with a nice airplane adapter. And with its superior insulation, you won't disturb your fellow travelers even if you're on your G75 playing at full volume. OK, this has turned into a rather lengthy "quick" unboxing, so I'll just stop by saying this is a categorically spectacular audio product for gamers. It allows you to do the right thing and consider the comfort of others, while never compromising your own enjoyment. If you're serious about personal gaming audio, and personal audio in general (it's not like Vulcan PRO will refuse to play your music or movies or anything), then procrastinate no more!