Viper Gaming V380 7.1 RGB Gaming Headset Review
by Peter Donnell
Patriot may be best known for its high-end storage and memory products. However, in recent years they’ve really grown into the gaming market. Their gaming division, Viper Gaming, continues to deliver great peripherals and accessories, while still being really competitive on price. They look set to do it again too, as their new Viper Gaming V380 comes with plenty of premium features, but for a very reasonable price.
Viper Gaming V380
The Viper Gaming V380 certainly comes well equipped. It features slightly larger drivers than most, with their Hi-Fi 53mm modules, which operate at 20Hz – 20kHz. Everything is USB powered, allowing you to use the built-in USB soundcard and amp, as well as the virtual 7.1 surround processing, built-in RGB lighting, and amazingly, an ENC microphone. It seems then, that the Viper Gaming V380 has a little bit of everything!
Features
- Ergonomic closed-ear design for passive noise cancellation
- 7.1 Virtual surround sound
- Hi-Fi 53mm Neodymium Drivers
- USB Interface
- Durable braided 2.1 m cable
- Convenient on-ear sound controls
- Full-spectrum RGB illumination
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 64Ω at 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 106 + 3dB at 1kHz
- Detachable Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) Microphone
- Frequency Response: 100Hz-10kHz
- Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): 60 dB
- Sensitivity : -42±3dB
- Pick-up pattern: Omnidirectional
- Viper Software
What Does Patriot Viper Have to Say?
“Patriot Viper Gaming’s V380 7.1 virtual surround sound gaming headset is engineered for better comfort and functionality all around with a 53mm driver, hinged over-sized ear cups, protein-leather headband, and full-spectrum RGB that’s customizable through the Viper Software to match your set up. Game stress-free without worrying about your teammates background noise as the V380 features an omnidirectional, detachable, noise-cancelling microphone. Take in-game communication and sound cues to the next level with crystal clear audio and
zero feedback.
Be in the game longer when comfort and quality are combined with optimal functionality. Backed by a two-year warranty, the V380 headset is compatible with nearly every Windows® operating system, including Windows® 10, or higher.”
A Closer Look & Performance
The Viper Gaming V380 comes hard-wired with a really nice quality black braided cable. There’s a gold-plated USB header too, and overall, the whole thing looks great. I do prefer a detachable cable, but at this price range, it’s not a deal-breaker.
The design is really cool, and a little bit unique too compared to the more rounded designs we’re used to seeing from other brands. The ear cups are pretty much rectangular in design, but also quite large so that they can fit around your whole ear easily enough.
The back of the ear cups has this hard mesh design as well as a really stylish two-tone metal and plastic finish that really gives them a premium-quality look. However, the design still sits fairly firmly on the “gamer” side of the spectrum, which is fine. The mesh looks like it’s an open-back headset, but it’s not and actually is closed back, which helps lock in the sound quite a lot. On the flip side, it’ll help block out ambient noise too.
The drivers are quite deep though, and they would need to be, given that they house massive 53mm drivers. There’s also the built-in RGB, built-in USB sound card, and deep ear cup padding too. The design doesn’t look bloated though, I think they look really cool and modern, but I know that’s pretty subjective.
Down the side of the ear cup, you’ll find a volume wheel, as well as a microphone mute button and master RGB lighting control. It’s not the most comprehensive control system, but it gives you everything you need within easy reach. Viper Gaming wants this to be plug and play friendly, so they’ve avoided bloating it with software and complex features.
The ear cup mounts are really nice, with a durable metal fork design and adjustable metal slider throughout the headband. Not only does it look great, but it feels great too, it’s pretty durable.
This mounting allows for a huge range of pivot for each ear cup, allowing a good and comfortable fit around your ears.
What’s more, despite the durable design, the headband has quite a good amount of flex to it. It flexes and bends confidently, so it’s unlikely to snap and break any time soon.
As you can see, there’s a rather thick layer of soft leather padding here too, which combined with the closed-back design will help provide quite a lot of passive noise isolation.
The headset is really lightweight too, surprisingly so actually given it looks kinda blocky and robust. Amazingly it strikes that balance of a good size, durable build quality and a comfortable weight, which is superb.
As you connect the USB cable, the RGB lighting sparks into life. It looks amazing too, with a lovely edge light on each ear cup as well as the Viper logo just off to the side. As you saw earlier, there is a button on the headset allowing to tinker with the colours, plus, you can turn them off too if you so desire.
The 53mm drivers are the main focus here though, and they pack quite a bit of punch. There’s plenty of top-end volume too, so if you do need to crank the headset, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Because the ear cups are enclosed, and the leather padding is huge, it fits perfectly around your ears, rather than on your ears. It creates a seal that locks in the sound and blocks out the world around you. The end result? A more punchy sound, deep and heavier bass, and it sounds fantastic.
Is it a completely flat and accurate sound? I wouldn’t say so, it’s slightly tuned for the wow factor and for a gaming headset, I think that’s absolutely fine. More bass, brighter and more detailed treble, and it gives you clear vocals and footsteps with the satisfying whomp to explosions.
For movies, music and gaming, I really can’t fault it. It sounds punchy and exciting all the time. For throwing on a few albums while you’re working, it’ll leave you with a smile on your face. The USB soundcard is pretty decent, allowing for plug and play usability and the 7.1 surround is dealt with on-board too, keeping things really simple.
What really stands out though is the microphone. It features a nice quality flexible boom, but also noise cancellation. That means if you’re mashing away at a mechanical keyboard, it’s less likely to annoy your teammates. What’s really cool is that the ANC processing is built into the headset, rather than additional desktop software.
How Much Does it Cost?
The Patriot Viper Gaming V380 RGB Virtual 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset is available now from most major retailers. It’s on Amazon in the UK for a very reasonable £49.99. That’s an amazing price for a headset with all these features, such as ANC, RGB, surround etc. It’s available on Amazon US for $89.99, which seems a little too high, so it may be better to see how that changes as more stock becomes available there.
Overview
Over the last few years, I’ve tested (I think) every peripheral from Viper Gaming. The V551 mouse, the V730 keyboard, the V370 headset, and about a dozen or so others. They were all pretty decent and all came in at really great prices too. However, it’s the Viper Gaming V360 that I really want to focus on. That review was four years ago now, and it was their first gaming product. It was pretty average, and it had its flaws, but it was alright for around £40. What stands out is just how much more refined, better made, better looking, how many more features, and how much better performance you get today from the V380.
Build Quality
The only issue I have with this headset is the hard-wired USB cable. That’s more just my preference, as I like to swap out for longer and shorter cables, and they’re easily replaced if they become worn or damaged. It’s not a deal-breaker on a £50 headset though. The flexible yet surprisingly strong headband is a nice addition though, as is the luxurious padding on the ear cups. The added RGB lighting effects, built-in headset controls, and detachable microphone do push the quality that bit higher though, you do get a lot for your money here.
Progress
The new headset is easily their best to date. To give us a headset with such powerful drivers and combine it with a fantastic microphone with built-in ANC for just £50 is quite an achievement. That being said, the competition at this price range is bloody fierce, but that doesn’t make the Viper Gaming V380 any less competitive.
