Free Me = The Bluetooth Headache Solution / Gaming Headsets Vs Headphones Guide

[Mr Latte]

This thread will be used to review a new product compatible with PS4 & PC
Additionally look into the varied options available in Headsets/Headphones and their PROS/CONS.

Feel free if you want to discuss your own opinion/experiences, questions or general ideas regards the whole enclosed audio options. What you have, why you got it or how good you think it is?

Blue MADNESS PS4 & Bluetooth Audio
Major issue that often arises with many owners of "Bluetooth headphones or speakers" discovering that when trying to connect to their PS4 it is not possible.

Pair With Any Bluetooth Headset For Wireless PS4 Game Audio​

Finally it is now possible!
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PS4 & PC Compatibility

Lets have a look to shine some light on one of the first product in UK/Europe to offer this.
Unlike many PC based Bluetooth dongles this can work directly from the PS4 alone.

You do not have to route audio in through a PC/Laptop etc.
Freeme is totally compatible with PC and can be used with all your media/games content if you desire.

Superspot freeme

For the past week I have spent time testing this and been surprised with how simple/well it operates. The product itself comprises of just two components. A USB dongle only 1.5" tall and a rather small 3.5mm microphone.

I will share my thoughts on the experience with a brief review and comment on how good it performs.

Amazon Link
Amazon.com Link
Superspot Facebook Page

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Unboxing

Contents & Instructions
Packaging is simple and comes with very well documented instructions showing in simple steps how to get it all configured. This includes the actual screens/menus on your PS4 you need to navigate.

A rubber based holder secures the dongle and mic within the cardboard box.

Ready To Go?
Getting ready with my Sony MDR-1RBT
My current favourite headphones used for testing/comparing.
These are so comfortable, neutral sounding, versatile too being Bluetooth / NFC but also working as a traditional wired headphones.

Plug in & Sync

Something to point out that I had an issue with the process at the start.
The USB dongle blue light flashes slow and you have to wait to it starts flashing fast.

On my unit this took approx 30 seconds, not just 10 seconds.
So be patient if you have to wait a little longer for it to start indicating the "Pairing Mode".

My MDR-1RBT usually sync pretty easy but I had forgotten that the process with them is different between connecting an "already paired device" and pairing "a new device". A mistake on my part (partly by using mostly NFC with my phone/tablets).

This may be something others could come across so do check with your products manual beforehand.

In my case I needed to hold the pairing button on my headphones for approx 7 seconds, it then bleeps and enters into a Blue/Red flashing mode to indicate it is searching for new devices. Having realised this the Freeme paired no problems and the light on the dongle sustained a constant blue to confirm pairing.

The mic simply connects with your controllers 3.5mm jack and does not extrude in the way to effect grip or comfort with holding the controller.

Here lies the first potential issue for steering wheel players. How do you connect this if using most steering wheels? Compared to a proper "Gaming Headset" obviously it will have it's own mic and avoid this potential issue.

The biggest appeal and benefit with the "Freeme" is rather obvious.

One Bluetooth Wireless Headphone compatible with PS4 / PC / Android / Apple / Televisions / Speakers indeed other components utilising Bluetooth. Ahhh the simplicity...

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[Mr Latte]

Examples:

My daughters GTK X1BT had no problems pairing with the Freeme working perfect when connected to PC

I recently sold/upgraded my Samsung Tab S for the new Xperia Z4. Having that Bluetooth freedom is a nice bonus to finally be able to use across all devices.

If you have not ventured yet into going wireless now is a good time to start looking.
Sony have also started supporting LDAC for increased music quality via Bluetooth. Additionally what I liked about the MDR-1RBT is that they can offer up-to 30 hours from a single charge which is excellent for Bluetooth headphones.

 

[Mr Latte]

Freeme Review & Conclusion!​

Specifications?
I was not able to find technical data on how the PS4 may compress or degrade the source using the "Game Audio" feature via either PS4 Bluetooth controllers or USB RF output devices such as Sony's own 2.0 Headset.


Sound Quality
First point I would raise is that yes I am aware that those seeking the very best or most pure audio quality in headphones would rely not specifically on the "Game Audio" feature supported by the PS4 controller but using the "Optical" or "HDMI" outputs. This does not mean though that the quality from USB RF or Bluetooth methods has an issue with the quality it produces.

Quality in fact did not come across as being bad at all. Bass response was good, detail wasn't muddled or subdued. Volume was not an issue neither and stereo separation was totally accurate. I was finding it hard to hear much to fault and while this by no means was my first foray into wireless audio in the aspect of sound quality I do not see many people going to be having an issue with it.

By no means am I an expert on the subject, my own hearing is age limited (lol) to @ 15KHz while many can hear up to 20Khz. Thankfully for me while I am not a BASS-HEAD I enjoy a quality deep bass but do like my treble to be controlled and not too bright. All in all the experience I had with my own Bluetooth headphones was very acceptable and enjoyable.

I did try several frequency tests on Youtube and can report that with my own headphones I could hear bass right down to the lowest audible frequencies. I cannot confirm how accurate the tests are but certainly worth mentioning that "wireless" does not seem to limit frequency range for good low bass that some may enjoy.

Such was my curiosity in fact that I went out and bought Sony 2.0 headset which in general has had constructive reviews to ascertain a comparison.

I found in trying to do a comparison it was more about the abilities in the headpieces themselves rather than the dongles source derived from PS4. Both use 2.4 Hz range with the Sony also offering the 5Hz band as well but really essentially they work in the same way. The major difference in Freeme offering the Bluetooth compatibility.

Double Dongles!
I discovered that it is possible to switch between these, simply by "pairing" again. Having both plugged into PS4 caused no issues so it was only a matter of selecting the appropriate device on the PS4 menu to switch between after it was paired.


Signal Interruptions & Dropouts
With over 15 hours testing done I have not encountered a single drop out or interference issue.
Some may have more issues in their own area/home but I had various phones/tablets and other wireless wifi devices all operating with no issues.


Cable Free
The Freeme product really is all about convenience...
Having no leads to trip over or dragging seems like a small factor but in usage is a joy. Of course some may say that it's not such a big deal to have a normal headset plugged into the PS4 controller but once you get used to the freedom of wireless having leads dangling gets rather annoying.


Weighing In Factors
What was very apparent in comparing was how much better my own headphones felt for comfort to the Sony 2.0. Not a great deal lighter on the head to be fair but the smaller size, less head sweating are important factors but often a bit of an afterthought/oversight with many bulkier "Gaming Headsets" not just these Sony 2.0.

Of course different headphones will have various sound signatures and varied performance in the quality of their audio and comfort too. It would be unfair to try and compare the Sony 2.0 to a mid priced quality headphone costing much more. Unfortunately I do not have a set of Astros or other best of "Gaming Headsets" to compare too for comfort or sound quality.

What is sensible is considering options depending on your budget and your preferences. I do believe it possible to obtain a performance that would easily match what the Sony 2.0 offer or better with all the benefits attributed to "Bluetooth Headphones" within a similar budget.


Stereo Vs Multichannel
The "Gaming Headset" market very much has adopted 5.1 or greater surround audio expansion. I will cover this more in the 2nd part but really some will see it as essential thing to have and others perhaps will see partly as a gimmick enhancement.

My personal opinion is that it can enhance "Multichannel Sources DTS/DD" giving more impact to the effects within the encoding. However with normal stereo sources it can sound a little unnatural or artificial. Similar DSP technologies have been available on sound-cards for PC's all offering sound enhancement. You also have Dolby and others supporting similar technologies in which really their have been numerous over the last 20 years. Some people really enjoy the impact these can produce but it is different to what great quality stereo can do or sound like.

Those that do prefer normal stereo fidelity, better transparency and large sound-stage the Freeme really opens the doors for achieving such compared to the multichannel gaming options.

Try This Stereo Test:
If you have a pair of stereo headphones/headset, please do try this demo as an example of what normal headphones can achieve in virtual positioning and how our brain works.

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Conclusion​

Cutting to the chase what we have here is a simple product that costs under £20 with delivery.
It works, does what you expect it to do and for me had no issues with quality or drop-outs. Even if you have a "Gaming Headset" you may also own a set of "Bluetooth Headphones" which could give you the option to perhaps have more comfort or other benefits.

I really like how it works so easily with PS4, no need to route through anything else.
I did notice that the volume/quality was better through PS4 using Freeme than when comparing Bluetooth being transmitted direct from my Bluetooth enabled TV, even with the (Phillips 40PFT6550) output set to max and my headphones at max volume. So I would certainly prefer to use the Freeme instead.

If looking hard to find faults my main concern would be two possible issues with the mic.
Quality was not such a problem but with it being attached to the controller it does pick up triggers and heavy button pushes. Perhaps in a positive this maybe makes a change from the heavy breathers with typical boom mics, (caaaaapaaaahhhhhh).

Of course though, if this was an issue for a few, Amazon/Ebay sell clip on microphones which are not expensive and I know their are other attachable boom type mics available now for standard wired headphones that could also be used to connect to the controller.

My other niggle, may be in losing the mic with it being so small. I suggest a case/stand or safe place that might help owners to be careful when not using. The packaging does have its own holder but well think it could be improved on.


I am impressed however and would by all means recommend this product for me the mic is not so much the big factor, being able to go wireless and use Bluetooth Headphones is very much welcomed.

 

[Mr Latte]

Part 2 (Work In Progress)

I searched the forums beforehand and found little on the topic of combining all options or discussions available. I assume few want to spend upto £200+ / $300 on a "Gaming Headset" and then similar money again on "Headphones" for their mobile devices. The £100 / $100 options particularly for "Gaming Headsets" do seem to be less than ideal in all aspects yet offering acceptable/decent quality with limited build.

Out of own self interest and sharing I want to cover a guide of types regards the following...



Options to consider for headset or headphones:

1. 
   
   
   • Gaming Wireless Headsets
   • Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
   • Wired Vs Wireless

Points to factor:

• 
  
  
  • Quality Build
  • Styling
  • Cost
  • Compatibility
  • Functionality

Wired Stereo, is it just old hat?

Headsets Vs Headphones, 2 different markets?

Sony Digital Surround 7.1 / 9.1 RF Headphones

Size, weight, comfort, important to some?

Sound Quality concious users / Wired Option & Headphone DAC/Amplifiers





The Dilema
Wanted to start this thread on a situation I found myself in recently and discovering that the Bluetooth dilemma has caught quite a few people out including myself in recent years.

General public opinion seems to have the assumption that Bluetooth is a wireless standard and that any device that advertises Bluetooth functionality is compatible with the other. Of course in reality this is not always the case as the technology has various uses and profiles.

If you look up Wikipedia for the full low-down on the technical standards and uses for Bluetooth and if your bored enough, sure go right ahead here

Additional relevant info links:
PS4 Bluetooth Devices
In-depth Bluetooth audio tech guide
Sony Hi-Res Audio (LDAC)

For me the annoyance is, you have a massive market full of Apple/Android phones and tablets. Music/Entertainment has become more portable now than ever. Sales of Bluetooth speakers/headphones are greatly on the increase for these products. If you want to enjoy wireless music with your favourite branded hardware using Bluetooth headphones they generally will work with different brands and products.

The sound quality, build, comfort and design of "Headphones" be they traditional wired or new Bluetooth designs seems to be potentially superior to the "Gaming Headset" products. Is this really the case?

Houston We Have A Problem
The situation seems to be that the industry is split into different sectors/markets. For a PS4 or gaming console and cable-less functionality you need a "Wireless Headset" but you also need a separate set of "Bluetooth Headphones" for your fave brand tablet or phone.

Gaming Headsets
This is a market that has really taken off in the last few years and some of the leading brands charging quite a hefty whack for their top model products. I totally get those that want the best quality/features and are willing to spend £250 / $300 on the top line hardware.

Here for me is an issue.
While I am not an audio snob I do appreciate:

• Quality Sound
• Comfort & fit
• Build & asthetics

The issue I have is that how many"Gaming Headsets" will work with your fave Apple/Android device and secondly the vast majority of gaming headsets are a bit geeky looking, perhaps to grab the intention of younger teens. I guess its like "Beats" culture but for gamers.

This does not mean that all "Headsets" fall into this category or that none can offer good quality experiences.

Currently two models that are getting alot of attention are the Astro 50 and Turtle Beach S800


Gaming Headsets:
Astro
Turtle Beach
Logitech
Sennheisser


Bluetooth Headphones
Sennheisser Bluetooth (Urbanite XL)


Reviews & Comparisons
Popular headsets

(Much more to follow)

 

[K1LLD0z3R]

If you wanted to keep your nice headphones and add a mic there are options. One is ModMic. Their site claims they are working on XBox One and PS4 support.

 

[Mr Latte]

If you wanted to keep your nice headphones and add a mic there are options. One is ModMic. Their site claims they are working on XBox One and PS4 support.

Oh indeed yes I am aware of Modmic and others, these were briefly mentioned in the conclusion and will be covered as one of the options available. Different people will of course have their own requirements/preferences but I intend to accumulate much of those within this thread and highlight the various aspects of different options.

Peoples own comments are welcomed, detailing their own experiences and discussing the whole wired/wireless or stereo vs multichannel possibilities.

 

[Mr Latte]

Looking to get more done to this thread later in the week and finally getting to play FM6 (18th) to do more comparisons...

Curious if anyone reading this has purchased or tried Sony's 9.1 channel headphones?
I have an older 7.1 set but kinda eager to try These

While they have been released for some time and price continues to drop.
Reviews in general seem to be positive for multichannel sources (movies/games) as one of the best headphones available.

 

[Mr Latte]

Had so much more planned for this thread but bit surprised in the lack of interest, geeeessss.
Hours of work for 1 reply, that is a total bummer!!!

I did want to look deeper into the "Gaming Headset" aspect of things and get peoples reactions/experiences.

Looking to compare normal Gaming 7.1 sets to Sonys 9.1 to comparing standard headphones from consoles with audio routed via USB soundcards and using PC software like "Dolby Headphones Virtual Surround" or "Creative EAX". Also the newest upcoming technologies like "DTS Headphone X" or "Dolby Atmos". So many possible variables to investigate to determine differences/best performances and those perhaps not really worth the money/outlay.

Just feel little point spending so much time/own money researching (out of own interest too) but doing a thread on such to seemingly amuse myself with so little input or interest from others, heck I might as well walk the dog more often!

Thanks anyways to those that added to the poll or read the review, Freeme is a great wee product...