Review: LucidSound brings their A-game with the LS30 wireless gaming headset

The LucidSound LS30 wireless gaming headset scores well across the board, providing excellent comfort, sound quality, and thoughtful design. And perhaps more importantly, the LS30 manages to do it all for a very affordable price.

Who the heck is LucidSound?

It’s a good thing newcomer LucidSound is off to a great start. In an arena dominated by tech and audio heavyweights like Razer, Sony, Sennheiser, Logitech, and many others, you can’t afford to drop your sword.

But LucidSound appears to be off to a good start, and in capable hands. Founded by audio veterans Chris Von Huben, the founder of Tritton Technologies, and Aaron Smith, a former product manager and developer for Tritton, LucidSound was created a single mission: deliver a great headset for an affordable price.

And with the LS30, they’ve certainly succeeded.

LucidSound LS30 feature highlights

The LucidSound LS30 is a wireless multi-platform headset for PC, PS4, XBoxOne, and mobile devices. It can pretty much ‘do it all’ and provides the necessary connectors and cables (USB, 3.5mm, and Optical)  for virtually every platform.

More importantly, the LS30 is smartly-designed, with easy-to-reach and well-placed ear cup controls, and additional features that set it apart from many competitors.

For one, the LucidSound LS30 is an amplified headset, so its 50mm drivers can get exceptionally loud by PC headset standards. If you’re using it as a mobile headset (attached via the included 3.5mm mobile connector), the LS30 functions as a standard (i.e. passive, without amplification) mobile headset.

The LS30 also boasts exceptionally well-designed ear cup controls, akin to the Astro Gaming A50. Each ear cup features a large volume dial. There is no fumbling for tiny “+” and “-“ buttons (which amazingly enough I still see on many headsets). The left ear cup dial adjusts game volume, and the right ear cup dial adjusts chat volume. You can also press the right ear-cup to mute the microphone, or press the left ear cup to mute the game audio.

Last, but certainly not least, there’s the LS30 microphones—yes, it has two microphones. The LS30 includes a detachable, flexible boom mic for gaming, and when it’s not connected the LS30 uses a built-in mic for mobile. The tip of the boom mic also lights when muted.

LS30 Technical Specifications

AUDIO SPECS

• Speaker Size: 50mm
• Sound Space: Amplified Stereo Sound
• 3 EQ Modes: Normal, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost
• Power Output: 70mW 32ohm per channel
• Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
• Characteristic SPL: 97 +/-3dB
• Transducer Principle: Dynamic, Open

CONNECTIVITY

• Console Game Audio: Optical
• Console Chat Audio: PS4™ / PS3™ = USB
• XBOX™ ONE* / 360 = Wired to Controller
• Mobile: 3.5mm
• Inputs [Headset]: 3.5mm Analog, USB Charging (micro USB)
• Inputs [Base Station]: 3.5mm Optical in, USB Power/ Voice (USB)

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY

• PS4, PS3
• XBOX ONE* XBOX 360*
• MOBILE

*Depending on which XBOX ONE controller is used, the XBOX ONE audio adapter may be required and sold separately. Requires XBOX 360 with optical port.

HEADSET POWER

• Battery: Rechargeable Battery with Micro USB Charge Port
• Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
• Base Station Power: USB

PHYSICAL SPECS

• Weight: 355 grams
• Ear Coupling: Over-Ear (circumaural)

Microphone

• Removable boom mic with LED mute indicator + built-in mic

Comfort

Comfort is a tricky thing to get right for any headset. You must balance weight, cushioning, pressure, and noise isolation properties. There is no perfect formula.

That said, the LucidSound LS30 scores well in overall comfort. Although I find the earcups a tad cramped, the thick faux-leather, memory foam cushioning provides a solid balance between noise isolation and long-term comfort. I played a few extended Overwatch sessions in the LS30’s and only detected very modest ‘ear/head sweat’ after a couple hours, and neither my head or neck ever felt uncomfortable.

The LS30’s ear cups also fold down 90 degrees for to rest comfortably on your shoulders/neck.

LS30 Audio quality

The LucidSound LS30 isn’t just loud. Its unique technology also enables you to enjoy lossless audio wirelessly.

Truthfully this probably isn’t something your average gamer is going to need or care about. Games are largely about good directional audio (to identify threats) and/or big bass (for beautiful, rumbling explosions).

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And many (if not most) of us listening to music are doing it via .MP3 (myself included). But I really wanted to test some lossless audio.

That may have been a mistake. 

I managed to get a hold of some lossless music files and listen to an album that I already owned (via MP3 files through Amazon).

And the LS30 sounded fantastic.

I think I just took a step towards becoming more of an audio snob. Now I’m trying to hunt down lossless versions of all the .MP3 songs I have. (I guess lossless audio is a bit like a good keyboard, gaming mouse, or HD/4K/etc. — once you experience the “good stuff” you don’t want to go back.)

Suffice to say the LS30 is an excellent set of stereo gaming headphones. They provide 3 EQ settings available at the press of a button on the right ear cup (except in mobile mode), basically favoring treble (chat), balanced, or  bass. There is no software to install, so they don’t have all the features a good set of drivers can provide, but neither does the LS30 really need those features.

Overall: 9/10 – Highly Recommended

The LucidSound LS30 is soundly designed and delivers outstanding audio quality—a feat all the more impressive when you consider it retails for around $150, which is equal to or considerably less than many of its competitors.

Mission accomplished, LucidSound.