LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED Review: A Budget Gamer’s Double-Edged Sword

There’s a familiar ritual for any gamer on a budget. You’ve just spent the bulk of your cash on a new console or a graphics card upgrade, but your old, crackly headset is holding you back. You can barely hear your teammates over the static, the on-ear cups feel like a vice after 30 minutes, and the microphone makes you sound like you’re broadcasting from the bottom of a well. The search begins for that elusive sweet spot: a headset that offers immersive sound, clear communication, and long-session comfort without demanding a premium price tag. It’s a frustrating quest, filled with products that over-promise and under-deliver. Neglecting this crucial piece of gear means missed callouts, a diminished gameplay experience, and the constant, nagging discomfort that pulls you right out of the game. We’ve been there, and it’s why we were so eager to get our hands on a headset that claims to tick all the right boxes for an entry-level price.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Headset

A gaming headset is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for immersion and communication, transforming a solitary pastime into a connected, strategic, and exhilarating experience. It bridges the gap between you and your virtual world, delivering the subtle audio cues—like distant footsteps or the reload of an enemy’s weapon—that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Beyond that, it’s your lifeline to your team, allowing for crystal-clear coordination that is impossible with standard speakers and a built-in laptop mic. The main benefits are twofold: heightened situational awareness through detailed audio and improved teamwork through coherent voice chat.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the classic gamer’s dilemma: the need for functional, comfortable audio gear without a hefty budget. This includes new gamers, students, or parents buying for their kids. It’s for the player who needs a reliable, multi-platform solution for their PC, PS4, Xbox One, or Switch. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who are audio purists, competitive esports professionals, or streamers who require studio-grade microphone quality and flawless sound reproduction. For those users, investing in higher-end models from brands specializing in pro-level gear would be a more appropriate choice, as they offer features like wireless connectivity, virtual 7.1 surround sound, and advanced noise cancellation.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Comfort & Design: A headset’s weight, clamping force, and earcup material are paramount. Over-ear designs, like the one offered by the LYCANDER, are generally preferred for gaming as they enclose the ear completely, providing better passive sound isolation and comfort during long sessions. Look for plush padding on the earcups and an adjustable, cushioned headband to avoid pressure points and fatigue.
• Audio Performance: The heart of any headset is its drivers. Driver size, typically measured in millimeters, can influence the audio profile; larger drivers, like the 50mm ones in this model, are often capable of producing more powerful bass. However, it’s the tuning that matters most. A good gaming headset should offer a clear soundscape where you can easily distinguish between game audio, environmental effects, and voice chat without one overpowering the others.
• Microphone Quality & Features: Your team needs to hear you clearly. A good microphone should offer clear voice capture with minimal background noise. Features to look for include flexibility for optimal positioning, and ideally, a physical mute button for quick privacy. The absence of a mute function can be a significant drawback in team-based games.
• Compatibility & Connectivity: Ensure the headset works with your system(s) of choice. A 3.5mm jack offers near-universal compatibility with consoles like PS4, Xbox One (newer controllers), and Nintendo Switch. For PC use, a splitter cable that separates the audio and microphone into two 3.5mm plugs is often required and is a welcome inclusion.

Keeping these factors in mind, the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED stands out in several areas, particularly its broad compatibility and focus on comfort. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED is an excellent choice for its price point, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, especially if your needs extend to a professional setting, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing and First Impressions: A Lightweight Contender with a Flash of Rainbow

Pulling the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED from its box, the first thing we noticed was its surprising lightness. The all-plastic construction, while not feeling premium, contributes to a headset that doesn’t weigh you down. The design is unapologetically “gamer-centric,” with angular earcups and the standout “Black/Rainbow” LED lighting. The padding on the earcups and under the headband is generous and soft to the touch, hinting at the comfort-focused design mentioned in its specs. The flexible, non-detachable microphone feels sturdy enough for frequent adjustments.

In the box, we found the essential PC splitter cable—a Y-adapter that splits the single 3.5mm jack into separate headphone and microphone plugs. This is a crucial and thoughtful inclusion for PC gamers. The cable itself is a generous 2.2 meters, providing plenty of slack, and it’s a dual-headed beast: a standard 3.5mm jack for audio and mic, and a separate USB-A plug exclusively to power the vibrant LED lights. This dual-cable design is common in budget headsets but can add to cable clutter. Our initial impression is of a product that knows its audience: it prioritizes flashy aesthetics and foundational comfort, which are often the top two considerations for an entry-level purchase.

A Deep Dive into the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED’s Performance

A gaming headset lives or dies in the heat of the moment. It’s not about how it looks on a stand, but how it performs during a frantic firefight, a tense stealth mission, or a marathon raiding session. We put the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED through its paces across multiple platforms and genres to see if its performance could match its ambitious promises. Our findings reveal a headset of stark contrasts—excelling in some areas while showing significant weaknesses in others.

Uncompromised Comfort for Marathon Gaming Sessions

Lycander wasn’t kidding when they named this style “Comfort.” This is, without a doubt, the headset’s single greatest strength. From the moment we put it on, the difference from other budget headsets was palpable. The large, over-ear cups are spacious and feature thick, plush cushioning that completely envelops the ears rather than pressing down on them. This design, confirmed by one user who praised them for being “super comfy” and not crushing their ears, is a godsend for extended gameplay. We wore the headset for a continuous three-hour session of raiding in an MMO and experienced none of the typical pressure points or ear fatigue that often set in with heavier or poorly designed sets. The adjustable headband has a firm, satisfying slide and holds its position well, accommodating a wide range of head sizes. The overall lightweight plastic construction, which initially felt like a potential durability issue, pays dividends here by preventing any neck strain. For players who frequently get lost in their games for hours on end, or for younger gamers sensitive to heavy gear, the exceptional comfort offered by the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED is a feature that punches well above its weight class and is its most compelling selling point.

Audio Experience: Serviceable for Gaming, But Not for Audiophiles

Equipped with 50mm dynamic drivers, the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED aims to deliver an immersive audio experience. In practice, its performance is a mixed bag that heavily depends on user expectations. For core gaming tasks, it’s perfectly serviceable. In titles like Call of Duty, we could clearly distinguish the direction of footsteps and gunfire, providing a decent level of spatial awareness. In-game dialogue and team chat came through without issue. However, the overall sound profile lacks depth and richness. Several users noted that the sound quality is poor and that the bass is virtually non-existent, and our testing confirms this. The low-end frequencies lack punch, meaning explosions and epic orchestral scores feel flat and underwhelming. Furthermore, the maximum volume, controlled by a somewhat awkwardly placed scroll wheel on the back of the left earcup, feels limited. As one user aptly put it, “the volume doesn’t get high enough.” The sound isolation is also modest; we could still hear conversations in the room, though game audio did a decent job of masking them. This isn’t a headset for enjoying music or cinematic single-player games. It is a utility-focused device designed to deliver essential in-game sounds and voice chat, and for that purpose, it performs adequately for its price.

Microphone Quality and a Critical Missing Feature

Here we find another area of surprising strength. In the budget headset market, microphone quality is often the first corner to be cut, resulting in muffled, distant, or static-filled audio for your teammates. The LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED defies this trend. During our online matches on both PC and PS4, we consistently received positive feedback on our voice clarity. Teammates reported our callouts were “loud and clear,” a sentiment echoed by a user review whose son was told by other players “how clear his mic was.” The flexible silicone-based microphone boom is fantastic, allowing for precise positioning to avoid popping sounds or heavy breathing. The small LED on the tip is a nice visual touch, lighting up when the USB is plugged in.

However, this leads to the headset’s most glaring and inexplicable design flaw: there is no mute button. Not on the cable, not on the earcup, nowhere. This is a massive oversight for any multiplayer gaming headset. The inability to quickly mute yourself to have a private conversation, cough, or deal with a background interruption is incredibly inconvenient. It forces players to either unplug the headset or dig through software settings to mute their mic, neither of which is practical in a fast-paced game. This single omission is so significant that it could easily be a deal-breaker for serious team players and is the primary reason we cannot give the headset a stronger recommendation.

The Elephant in the Room: Build Quality and Long-Term Durability

While the headset excels in comfort, its long-term viability is a major concern, a point hammered home by a significant number of user reports. The all-plastic build feels brittle, and we can see how it might not survive an accidental drop. The most frequent and alarming point of failure, however, appears to be the cable. Throughout our testing, we noted the wire’s tendency to twist and kink on its own, which puts undue stress on the connection points. This aligns perfectly with numerous user experiences. We saw reports of the wire fraying after just a few months, the jack plug snapping off (sometimes damaging the controller it was plugged into), and one earphone losing sound completely. One user stated it “lasted 2 months” before the wire pulled away, while another noted that after less than a year of moderate use, the “wire started to fray” and the right side went silent.

This is the harsh reality of a product at this price point. The cost savings have to come from somewhere, and in the case of the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED, it seems to be from the quality of the cabling and internal wiring. While our unit survived the testing period, the sheer volume of consistent user feedback on this issue suggests a high probability of failure over time. Buyers must weigh the excellent initial comfort and low price against the very real risk that the headset may not last a full year, even with careful use.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across a wide range of feedback, a clear and consistent picture of the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED emerges. The sentiment is sharply divided between initial satisfaction and long-term disappointment. On the positive side, users frequently celebrate the product’s incredible value and comfort. One happy customer noted it was “very good value with this price. Very light and comfortable to wear.” Another stated, “They are big enough to go over ear… So they are really comfy!” These comments confirm our findings that for the price, the comfort level is truly exceptional.

However, this praise is often followed by a wave of negative reviews centered squarely on the headset’s poor durability. The common thread is product failure after a relatively short period. One frustrated user wrote, “After about 5/6months wire started to fray and now not even a year on I can’t even hear out of the right side.” Another was even more direct: “Lasted 2 months, wire started to pull away from device. One ear stopped working. Cheap rubbish.” This feedback is crucial for potential buyers; it highlights that while the initial experience might be positive, the headset’s lifespan is a significant gamble.

How Does the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED Compare to the Competition?

In the crowded field of gaming audio, the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED occupies the ultra-budget, entry-level space. While it offers a compelling price, stepping up just slightly in budget can yield significant improvements in features and reliability. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. Ozeino Wireless Gaming Headset 7.1 Surround Sound Bluetooth

The Ozeino headset represents a major leap in features for a modest increase in price. It cuts the cord entirely, offering both 2.4 GHz lossless wireless for gaming and Bluetooth for mobile devices. It also boasts virtual 7.1 surround sound, providing a more immersive and spatially accurate audio experience than the Lycander’s basic stereo. With a detachable noise-canceling mic and an impressive 45-hour battery life, the Ozeino is the clear choice for gamers who want to escape the durability concerns of a wired connection and gain superior audio features without entering the premium price bracket.

2. Razer Kaira Pro Wireless Headset Mercury White

The Razer Kaira Pro is in a different league altogether, aimed at serious Xbox and mobile gamers. It features Razer’s high-end TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers for rich, detailed, and powerful audio that far surpasses the Lycander. As a wireless headset with direct Xbox connectivity and Bluetooth, it offers seamless switching between console and phone. The HyperClear Supercardioid Mic is designed for tournament-grade voice clarity. A gamer who prioritizes audio fidelity, premium build quality, and the convenience of a top-tier wireless ecosystem would choose the Razer Kaira Pro and see it as a worthy long-term investment.

3. Razer Kraken V3 X Gaming Headset 7.1 Surround Sound RGB

The Razer Kraken V3 X is perhaps the most direct “step-up” competitor to the Lycander. It remains a wired headset but brings the trusted Razer brand quality, superior Triforce 40mm drivers, and 7.1 surround sound software for PC gamers. While its drivers are technically smaller, Razer’s tuning provides a much more balanced and impressive audio experience. It also features a bendable cardioid mic for clear communication and Chroma RGB lighting. This headset is ideal for the PC gamer who is willing to spend a little more than the Lycander to get significantly better audio, software features, and more reliable build quality from a well-established brand.

Final Verdict: A Comfortable Starter Headset with a Ticking Clock

The LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED is a product of extreme trade-offs. On one hand, it delivers an outstanding level of comfort that is rare to find at this rock-bottom price point. The microphone is surprisingly clear, and its wide compatibility makes it a versatile plug-and-play option for almost any system. For a young gamer’s first headset or as a temporary, budget-friendly stopgap, it makes a compelling case for itself. The flashy LEDs and lightweight design are sure to be a hit with its target audience.

However, we cannot ignore the significant and widely reported durability issues, particularly with the cable, and the baffling omission of a mute button. These are not minor flaws; they are fundamental problems that impact usability and long-term value. Therefore, we recommend this headset with a heavy dose of caution. It is best suited for the casual gamer on the tightest of budgets who values immediate comfort over longevity. If you can accept the risk that it may need replacing within a year, then it offers a decent initial experience. For anyone else, spending a little more on a more reliable model from an established brand would be a wiser investment.

If you’ve decided the LYCANDER Gaming Headset with Mic LED is the right fit for your needs and budget, you can check its current price and purchase it here.