Alienware AW720H: Two-minute review
The Alienware AW720H finally put Alienware on the peripheral map. The gaming brand may not be a newcomer to the world of gaming headsets, but while it has already established itself as a major player in the gaming PC and gaming laptop game, it often sits on the sidelines of peripherals. that market.
Its new wireless gaming headset changes that, with powerful hi-res audio that instantly elevates your listening experience, whether it’s a new PC game you’re immersing yourself in or the latest blockbuster to come out on streaming. And, while that crisp and detailed audio was enough to convince me, the addition of Dolby Audio support rounds it out beautifully, making it one of the best audio pumps to my ears.
Naturally, it comes with the coveted-but-not-replicated Alienware design stamp. If you’ve ever owned or seen an Alienware laptop or PC, then you’ll know what I mean when I say the Alienware AW720H fits the bill. cool if you’re as big a fan as I am of the brand.
It has the same sleek and rounded space-age vibe, the same RGB-lit alien logo, the same Lunar Light colorway (though it also comes in Dark Side of the Moon). The ear cups have a unique shape to them, which I appreciate and look like the K-2SO from A Rogue and one of the battle droids from The Phantom Menace there are kids, and the memory foam ear pads with breathable fabric cover keep things cool and comfortable during intense gaming sessions.
If you tend to sweat while gaming, you’ll appreciate that fabric cover, even if you’re missing out on the luxurious leatherette finish that comes with many high-end gaming headsets.
That comfort extends to the headband with its own adjustable suspension band, which I find effective at keeping pressure off your head and keeping things nice and breezy.
However, I wish the design would suit those with small heads like mine better. In an effort to make the Alienware AW720H fit most gamers, Alienware has also inadvertently made it too small. Since there was a lot of space where my head was, I found that I had to drag the suspension band down, which put more space between my head and the headband, which in turn made it look weird. to me.
Still, there’s enough here to make me like the headset enough to risk looking like I’m cosplaying as Princess Leia. I like the voice prompts that tell you things like when your microphone is on or when the headset is off. And I appreciate at least some app support that allows you to (1) customize the alien logo’s RGB lighting, and (2) customize the audio and toggle surround sound.
Surround sound customizations are made with the Dolby Access app, which you need to enable and access in the Alienware Command Center. It gives you five surround sound presets for different media types, each with its own finetuning like EQ preset options (ie you can select a game preset then choose between “detailed,” ” balance,” “warm,” or “off. “EQ). There are also three customizable options where you can use the surround sound, level the volume, and adjust a 10-band EQ.
The app’s preset EQ options are so subtle that some listeners may have trouble distinguishing between them. But, it’s still useful if you like your audio with a little more clarity or less mids.
Dolby Atmos surround sound is well implemented. When there is, I can feel everything expanding, looking wider and more three-dimensional. While the sound quality isn’t as sharp or detailed, the good news is that it’s not as loud as most virtual surround sound.
By default, though, the Alienware AW720H looks great. on Hogwarts: Legacy, I got a good sense of space due to the nice wide soundstage even without Dolby Atmos enabled. There is also very accurate imaging; I can feel the various elements of the environment and where they relate to my own movements.
on Kena: Bridge of Spirits, there’s a lot of bass and I can hear all the little elements – each of the corrupt spirits, for example – individually. The audio is very detailed and crisp, adding to my immersion.
There is something strange going on with the bass. To see Wakanda Forever: Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion: A Knife Mystery, I find that any deep sub-bass just isn’t there and any unreal bass doesn’t artificially pump the bottom end. However, those in the low frequencies above the sub-bass are quite prominent. This means that your bass experience will vary depending not just on the media itself but on the different frequencies used in individual titles.
The mid-range has a slight boost, which makes it sound a little richer. Some may wish it was less crowded, but the way it is on the AW720H is fine. The volume is well controlled. There is a lot of volume available, but you have to turn it up all the way.
There’s also plenty of battery on tap – 30 hours, to be exact. And, fast charging is on hand if you forget to charge, giving you about six hours of play after 15 minutes of charging. In fact, I haven’t charged my test unit once in my time with it after the first full charge.
And, finally, the mic… This boom mic that cleverly retracts into the left ear cup when not in use sounds loud and clear, although a little compressed and mid-range heavy, which is typical of many boom mics. While there is a bit of sibilance, it is very good at reducing plosives.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have background noise rejection so the louder sounds around you will be clearly heard by the people on the other end of the call. Although the background noise becomes quieter when the user is speaking, it is prominent enough to be distracting.
Alienware AW720H: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235)
- When will it be available? Available now
- Where do you get it? Available in US, UK, and Australia
At $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235), the Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset may not be cheap, but it’s reasonably priced, sitting in the same price range as other top-quality wireless gaming headsets and cheaper than in some higher. – endings.
Its price is comparable to the highly rated SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, which has solid neutral sound quality and many customizations through the Sonar app, while being slightly pricier than the Corsair HS65 Wireless, which has a unique immersive soundstage and long-range connectivity. .
Alienware AW720H: Specifications
| Interface: | 2.4GHz wireless, 3.5mm wired |
| Platforms: | Windows OS |
| Mic: | Unidirectional retractable mic |
| Surround sound: | Dolby Atmos |
| Weight: | 12.3oz (348g) |
Should you buy the Alienware AW720H?
| bought | The Alienware AW720H is reasonably priced for hi-res audio and immersive Dolby Atmos support. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Design | It features Alienware’s beautiful design, a retractable microphone, and a comfortable fit. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Manifesting | The immersive soundstage and detailed, hi-res audio elevate your gaming and multimedia experience. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Average rating | The Alienware AW720H is a comfortable, great-sounding gaming headset worth every cent. | 4.5 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Alienware AW720H: Think again
| Alienware AW720H | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless | Corsair HS65 Wireless | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price: | $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235) | $179 / £174 (about AU$310) | $119.99 / £119.99 / $229 |
| Interface: | 2.4GHz wireless, 3.5mm wired | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, 3.5mm | 2.4Ghz wireless, Bluetooth |
| Platforms: | Windows | Windows, Mac, PS4/5, Meta Quest 2, mobile devices | PlayStation, PC/Mac |
| Mic: | Unidirectional retractable mic | Bidirectional noise cancellation | Omnidirectional boom mic |
| Surround sound: | Dolby Atmos | Microsoft Spatial Sound / Tempest 3D audio for PS5 | Dolby Audio 7.1 |
| Weight: | 12.3oz (348g) | 11.45oz (325g) | 9.7oz (275g) |
How I tested the Alienware AW720H
- One week trial
- Tested for PC gaming and streaming
I put the Alienware AW720H through rigorous testing of playing PC games and streaming blockbusters in what really is surround sound and hi-res audio. I chose, for example, Kena: Bridge of Spirits to see how detailed the high frequencies are on the headset because the game has a lot of environmental noises that usually shine on hi-res audio devices, and Hogwarts: Legacy to check how wide its soundstage is and how accurate its imaging is, especially when Dolby Atmos is enabled. I wear it too Wakanda Forever and Glass onion to test its bass frequencies.
I also played with the Alienware Command Center and the Dolby Atmos app to gauge the level of customizations available to users and the differences in sound profiles and handheld modes. Naturally, since they are important for sound quality, I also pay special attention to their fit, comfort, and battery life.
I’ve tested gaming headsets, headphones, and other audio devices for years, writing reviews for several tech publications, including TechRadar, before I joined the team as a TechRadar Editor.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed in March 2023