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FPSLabs Home: Plantronics .Audio 370 Review

By: Jason Krueger - Published July 11, 2007 at 2:16 AM EDT - Writer Archive
Plantronics is back with the latest in their .Audio line. The 370 is the replacement for the now removed .Audio 110. Is this a headset your gaming dollars should buy in to? Lets take a look.


Category: Headset
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Product: .Audio 370
Gallery: Click Here
Price: $27.00

Introduction
Plantronics has been a staple in the headset and communications world for over 40 years now. The company has a long and honored CV, including supplying NASA with their in-suit astronaut headsets. In the past ten years or so, as gaming has exploded on to the scene, they started producing more headsets for computer and gaming related uses like the DSP-500 and the .Audio 90, among others. These two headsets were arguably some of the most popular and top selling audio peripherals during the time that gaming accessories were coming in to their own. There was a time back when Counter-Strike first started becoming competitive that it seemed everyone you talked to owned either the DSPs or the .Audio 90. They became a standard in the competitive gaming world well before the market started booming into what it has become today. Aside from computer and commercial audio solutions, Plantronics also offers excellent audio solutions. Their headsets are known for solid performance and superb value as they are always priced reasonably. Some of the newer competitors may be more popular, but we should never discount the old guard with so much experience in the headset market. Hence our reasoning for today's review of the .Audio 370 from Plantronics.

A little under two years ago Plantronics released the .Audio 110, which was very similar to Icemat’s Siberia line. While initial rumors of “copying” were seemingly unfounded, it was more of an issue with the company TOONG IN selling similar designs to both companies. Regardless, Plantronics went back to the drawing board and did a redesign on the headset with a few tweaks here and there, and has ushered them out into the marketplace as the .Audio 370s.

Package and Features
The .Audio 370 is Plantronics' new standard in analog gaming headsets, featuring an open-ear design with over-sized ear cups to provide excellent comfort.



Specifications
  • Ample ear cushions provide hours-long comfort
  • Open-ear design fuels the excitement of team gaming
  • Noise-canceling mic cuts through background clamor
  • 40mm speakers dish up maximum bass response
  • QuickAdjust™ boom assures precise mic positioning
  • Inline volume and mute controls put you in the driver’s seat
  • Compatible with most PC sound cards for plug-and-play ease


This headset features the over-the-head binaural open design. The majority of the 370 is plastic, minus the ear cups of course. Unlike some of the competition however, this headset seems quite solid and I haven’t had any issues with durability or damage. I have owned these cans for more than 6 months and put them through the day to day rigors of being dropped to the floor, cords being run over by my chair, accidentally kicked, etc.

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User Comments

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the enlarged pics don't work :(
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There is a typo on the 2nd page where you say "symbols" instead of cymbals. Other than that good review!
e6600 - 8800gts - 2GB Platinum OCZ - HD650 w/ X-Fi - DeathAdder - NOIDpad - MS Comfort Curve 2000
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both problems fixed! thanks for pointing them out guys!
FPSLabs - Managing Editor - http://www.fpslabs.com - #fpslabs @ gamesurge
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Wow, both a good overall and price...hmmm.
6
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Probably the best headphones < $30, I dunno how much dsp 500's go for anymore
7
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looks kinda ugly, but better than these iPod earphones O.o

This comment was edited at 07/11/2007 3:04 AM
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I currently own Platronics gamecom pro 1 and i <3 them (is that considered a HIGH END headset).. im a huge platronics fan though and wanted to know if the audio 370 is > Gamecom Pro 1?

Open-ear design fuels the excitement of team gaming

err
10
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Hrrmm, i have Icemat Siberia's, their starting to only work on one side now, and the crackling comes to me every once in a while, the icemat soundcard is still good. i wonder if it would be a good idea to plug the plantronics into my soundcard.
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Link to the Gallery on the first page doesn't work!
12
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#11 fixed, thanks.
Senior Editor - http://www.fpslabs.com
13
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I personally wouldn't buy a Plantronics product unless I didn't have the money. Its like getting Walmart cloths. You know its not the best but atleast it works. btw you guys should doa review on energy drinks.

This comment was edited at 07/11/2007 4:47 AM
14
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looks like icemat with internal mic..
15
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Hah #13 that's so true. As long as it has good quality and a nice blend of Bass and Treble... who gives a flying pirate ship what brand it is. It's usually the cheaper products that end up lasting longer than those "high quality gaming gear" placebo-effect marketed products. =)
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Erm... can't find a site with spec's on these puppies, like Freq. Range and such.
17
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I had the Audio .110s and they were definitely the best bang for your buck. I'm assuming they didn't change much other than the look of them because of the lawsuit, and if so, these are a great set.
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They look kinda fugly with the square earpads and the robotic looking mic but GotFrag doesn't normally let down on good reviews, might be worth a look.

This comment was edited at 07/13/2007 3:24 PM
19
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Wow, a real good review considering the price of them :o
The best headset when you're on a budget? ;)
:)
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Look pretty nice, cheap, and Plantronics knows their **** when it comes to headphones
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They break very easily.
22
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#16 I couldnt either. Hence why I didnt include it. I looked everywhere and found nothing.
Senior Editor - http://www.fpslabs.com
23
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meh, it will break in a few months.

Plantronics = cheap quality.
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Sound like a good option on the low end. Ive always felt the 5hv2s and siberias are overpriced. I myself own hd555s and the difference was so negligable in price Im a little suprised people dont just spring for the better ones. you know, sort of like if you are looking for an aston when you could get a better ferrari (ie will not break down and is faster, more comfortable and better looking) for a small percentage more.

But not everyone has 100-150 dollars to spend on headphones, not to mention if you have to spring for a seperate mic, so good, low price products make it so younger gamers especially can have decent gear.

If I were you Id get these unless you are willing to buy into the high end. I try to avoid mid-range products in all areas, either I buy high end with the intention of keeping them for a long time, or I buy a cheap holdover or test unit with the intention of upgrading later.

30 bucks is a STEAL for these things.
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square? So the wrong century.
26
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Siberia knock offs
lewl
27
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4. HD555's are NOT and I must repeat NOT high-end headphones. You compare luxury cars to headphones and then cite the HD555's. Nice.
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LOOKS OK
|STACKER 832|Q6600@3.6|ASUS P5KD|4x1CRUCIAL 1066|RAPTOR 2X150 RAID0,500GB|EVGA GTX|OCZ 850W|
29
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Plantronics always makes pretty good and cheap headphones, my biggest grief with them is the durability of their products which, on average lasts anywhere from 2-4 months.
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what a bad verson of a icemat siberia plantronics can D_E IN A FIRE
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Please ignore the ignorance of #26 and #30.
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looks like good value
i'm going to be real, the different headphones aren't going to give you real edge
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Looks like i could break them in half with my pinky
Dont let the spiders crawl up beside us, they want to bite us.. inject a virus.
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plantronics is teh best!
hEHE
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people are retarded. "they break fast" stupid idoit i bet youve never used them. and "siberia knock offs" it looks nothing like siberia stupid kids.
i fire before i aim. except in the bathroom

are these the same as these:

http://www.techonweb.com/products/product..

btw this one looks just like the siberias but w/ a mic attached
37
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Looks like the cheaper version of the Steel Series Siberia
Server : za.shadowfire.org | channel: #saints
38
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but they are better than siberia i have both headsets.Although i use siberia since 2005 now i switch to those.they are better and they last long from hits etc :)

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