You can find this review in full at GBAtemp.net:
https://gbatemp.net/review/roccat-syn-pro-air.1897/

I’ve reviewed my fair share of headphones while writing for GBAtemp. Ever in search of comfort and versatility, I’ve used sound-enhancing ones, ones that can connect to two things at once, bulky but undeniably comfy ones, and some really high end ones for the audiophiles in the room. Coming now for my first look at Roccat’s musical affairs, I try out the Syn Pro Air gaming headset to see if it can earn a coveted long-term spot atop my peanut-shaped dome.

When it comes to the Syn Pro Air’s design, it fits right in alongside the other Roccat peripherals I’ve recently reviewed. It’s sleek, it’s lightweight, and it has the same funky hexagonal lighting as the Kone Pro Air; maybe the term “Pro Air” is just Roccat’s way of branding honeycomb RGBs? Either way, it’s a headset that looks the part. Outside of the lighting you have some luscious memory foam padding lining both the headband and the inside of the ear cups. Pair this with the same oblong-shaped cups I adored in EPOS’ H3 headset and you have something that ticks all my boxes right out of the gate.

Much like the H3, they are brilliantly comfortable. I can’t express how much nicer an oblong-shaped cup is around the ear, and how well it blocks out external sounds for you to focus on whatever you’re trying to listen to. It’s the strangest kind of vacuum, albeit somewhat less airtight here thanks to Roccat’s more breathable material choice. I’ve worn this headset for hours at a time with absolutely no kinds of aches or strains, and I have no doubt I could wear them for hours more. Though still working from home, they unfortunately weren’t a fantastic fit for me to be wearing throughout my eight hour day, and it’s probably not for the reason you’re thinking. Turning up to a meeting with flashing RGB headphones might not seem the most professional to you, but it’s perhaps what many of my colleagues expect of me at this point. Where the Syn Pro Air fall short for me is actually in its connectivity options. While working, I have a wired set of headphones plugged into a mixer via a 3.5mm jack. This allows me to have my work audio for meetings and other workly affairs, as well as some quaint background music from another source to reach my ears in an unobtrusive way for others. It’s a setup I enjoy, but because the Syn Pro Air only supports connections via its USB dongle, there’s just no way to fit them into the equation. While my setup is quite unique, the problems of an exclusively USB headset are not. In terms of compatibility, it means you’re largely stuck with PC gaming, or consoles that support generic USB headsets. That limits you to the Switch, PS4, and PS5. 

When using the headset on PC though, the experience is really quite good. Much to my delight after many reviews of complaining about it, Roccat are moving on from the driver software of my nightmares, Swarm. In its place a new and modern program rises in the form of Roccat Neon. It’s not perfect; my biggest issue is that only a handful of devices are currently supported by it, so you’ll have to have both Neon and Swarm installed should you have older devices. Having said that, it’s incredibly easy to use and has a great assortment of settings to finetune your experience. I’ve played with a lot of the settings, the 3D audio standing out when playing games, but for general use, I’ve found the default configuration best. For those with a finer ear than mine, you can spend time tweaking the EQ exactly to your liking. Powered by the 50mm Nanoclear drivers from Turtle Beach, it feels like Roccat has leveraged the wealth of headphone experience from its parent company. Having not owned a Turtle Beach headset before, I now feel a little closer to truly understanding the praise the Recon 500 headset got when we covered it a few months back.

As an exclusively-wireless headset, battery life is an incredibly important factor. You want it to survive a long gaming session, or just a long day at your desk. In this regard, the Syn Pro Air meets expectations. Advertising a 24 hour battery life, it’s built to support the longest sessions, even if it isn’t required quite to the extent you’d think. A larger battery means not having to charge the headset as much, which is always a bonus. Having said that, this is also a headset you’ll exclusively be using at a desk due to its connectivity options, where charging them is hardly an issue. While I appreciate just how long modern headsets last, I wish this one in particular gave me more ways to utilise that lifespan. It’s also probably worth noting here that I did experience some issues with charging the device at first, with Neon reporting low battery levels even after a full day of charging. A few updates later, this seems to be fixed. If you are considering this headset, make sure to get everything up to date before going any further. 

Now a headset is more than just the headphones. Featuring a detachable microphone with such fancy features as being able to mute itself when moved to the upward position, the Syn Pro Air is fully kitted out for all your gaming needs. You can check out the video above for a recording of myself using the headset microphone while streaming Luck be a Landlord. In blunt terms, it sounds really clear for a headset microphone. Naturally, you’ll have the odd boom and the quality doesn’t quite stand up to standalone microphones, but for those starting out in streaming or just those wanting to talk to friends, it’ll more than do the job. There is an elephant in the room here though. You may notice I don’t have a single picture of the headset with the microphone attached. Why is this? Because I’ve already lost it. I really wish I were joking.

The Syn Pro Air is somewhat no frills when it comes to extras. Of note, there’s no case for it, and nowhere to store the microphone when not in use. Sure you can keep it on the headset itself, but then where do you put the rubber stopper that goes in the slot while you’re not using that? Of the two components, I figured the rubber stopper would be the smaller and therefore easier to lose part, and kept it safely stowed in the headset. Roll on a week or two and I have absolutely no idea where the microphone is. I can’t put too much blame on the headset for my own idiocy, but I would like to see more of these headsets come with basic storage solutions, or even just a more noticeable way to store an entirely black microphone. For all I know, it could be lurking atop my cable-infested all-black desk, just out of sight.

All things considered though, the Syn Pro Air is a great headset if all you care about is PC gaming. At £129.99 it’s hardly a budget option, but the price does reflect in the larger build quality and design. If you’re happy with using it exclusively via its USB dongle, it’s one to check out. Otherwise, it’s likely worth looking elsewhere for a better degree of versatility, or even holding out for an improved model from Roccat down the line.