The ALPHYN AH10 is a 2.4GHz wireless gaming headset with 7.1 surround sound and a well-padded design to create a studio-grade experience for gamers. Powercolor is a well-known company within the PC gaming community for creating bespoke graphics cards. We’ve covered various designs, such as the mighty ‘Red Devil’ and the stunning ‘Spectral White Hellhound’. However, PowerColor is now looking to diversify its portfolio with the ALPHYN AH10, a wireless gaming headset. But can the ALPHYN AH10 see the same success as Powercolor’s range of graphics cards?
In this review, we’ll delve into the ALPHYN AH10’s design, performance, and features. Throughout the testing process, we’ll compare the ALPHYN AH10 to other wireless gaming headsets we’ve tested to determine whether Powercolor’s first foray into peripherals can compete with mainstays like Logitech, Corsair, and ASUS.
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Specification
In terms of performance, the PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 can compete with most wireless gaming headsets. To start, the 50mm drivers are powered by a discrete AMP chip, which provides plenty of bass and treble for rich, immersive sound. On top of this, the 20Hz – 20GHz frequency range on the speakers matches the standard for modern gaming headsets.
Another strong point for the ALPHYN AH10 is connectivity, as this headset offers wired and wireless connectivity. Along with a traditional wired 3.5mm audio jack, this headset can also be connected to a range of devices wirelessly via the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle. A USB-C dongle, in particular, is helpful for phones and handheld gaming devices as they are often restricted to a single USB-C port.
| Key Specs | Powercolor ALPHYN AH10 |
|---|---|
| Driver Unit | 50mm |
| Speaker Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20000Hz |
| Microphone Pattern | Bi-Directional |
| Connectivity | 2.4GHz Wireless 3.5mm Wired |
| Battery Life | Up to 30 Hours |
| Compatibility | PC Mac PS5 Switch |
| Weight | 326g |
The only questionable element of the specifications is the microphone pattern. Powercolor has opted for a bidirectional microphone instead of the typical cardioid pattern on most gaming headsets. As a result, the ALPHYN AH10 is more likely to pick up more than just your voice. However, this headset does include noise-cancellation technology to combat this, which might explain why they’ve opted for this particular pattern.
PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 Design
Similar to the specs on this headset, the Powercolor ALPHYN AH10’s design is very conventional. Aesthetically, the ALPHYN AH10s resemble headsets you’d find in a recording studio, mainly due to the aluminium alloy frame and thick padding surrounding it. However, the comparisons to the studio-grade offering slowly fade when getting hands-on with this headset.
I’m not a fan of thick leather padding on a headset, as it usually feels heavier and traps a lot of heat, causing discomfort after a few hours of use. Because of this, the leather padding on the earcups and headband faced a bit of an uphill battle.
To Powercolor’s credit, the memory foam padding inside the earcups and headband did make the ALPHYN AH10 feel plush and comfortable to use initially. But after a couple of hours, my concerns with heat and fatigue started to show. Though it didn’t get to the point of discomfort where I had to remove them, this headset failed to provide the weightless feel that many gaming headsets on the market can.
In terms of build quality, the ALPHYN AH10 feels very durable. The aluminium alloy used for the headband keeps the headphones in place, making this headset feel sturdy when not in use. In addition, the memory foam padding is quite comfortable. Although, I’d be concerned about how well this padding will hold up over time, as leather is susceptible to wear and tear.
The ALPHYN AH10 weighs in at roughly 326g, which is heavier than most gaming headsets we’ve tested. However, it is lighter than the Corsair HS80 MAX Wireless headset I use daily. That being said, the ALPHYN AH10 is a much tighter fit, resulting in them feeling heavier than the HS80 MAX, which alleviates much of the weight via a floating headband design.
One element of the design that I like is the retractable microphone. As someone who generally plays more single-player titles, I find it nice to be able to hide the microphone away to prevent damage and restricted viewing. Plus, the media controls on the same earcup protrude and are uniquely shaped, making it easy to adjust the volume, toggle the microphone on or off, and switch between connectivity modes.
Overall, the PowerColor ALPHYN AH10’s design failed to impress. The aluminium headband and memory foam padding provide a good first impression, feeling comfortable and looking similar to studio-grade headsets. However, after some time with the headset, the rigidity and leather exterior hindered the ergonomics, making this headset feel less comfortable than most gaming headsets.
Features We Like
Strong Battery Life
With up to 30 hours of battery life, the PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 will easily handle a day-long gaming session. Battery life is an often underestimated consideration with wireless gaming headsets. Though most gaming headsets have minimal issues lasting the duration of a single gaming session, a longer-lasting battery can reduce the likelihood of your headset dying mid-game and allow you to charge it once a week rather than every few days.
PowerColor Keystone Software
The integrated software was the feature that surprised me the most about this headset. After a fiddly installation process, the warning signs went off in my head. However, the Keystone software was pretty straightforward after the initial setup, with a simple dashboard that provides users with the settings needed to enhance their experience with this headset.
With preset gaming, music, theatre, and voice modes, this software allows you to quickly enhance your audio to suit the activities the ALPHYN AH10 is being used for. It also includes designated slots for custom EQ configurations. Though the navigation isn’t as seamless as other software we’ve tested, like Corsair iCUE or NZXT CAM, it competes from a UI (user interface) perspective.
Features We Don’t Like
Rigid Design
While using the PowerColor ALPHYN AH10, I felt its design was fairly rigid. The earcups don’t have a rotatable design, which means the headset is fairly inflexible. Everyone has different head shapes and sizes, so not providing rotating earcups makes wearing this headset an uncomfortable experience over a prolonged period.
Additionally, the headset felt quite tight on the ears and along the headband. It’s imperative that your gaming headset gets a good seal on the ears, as a bad seal can lead to sound leakage or discomfort, which is what I experienced with the ALPHYN AH10. Some tolerances are a bit too tight, making wearing the headset hard to get used to.
Simple Aesthetic
PowerColor has taken a minimalist approach to design and aesthetics. The result is that the ALPHYN AH10 has a relatively simple look that I feel won’t be cohesive with most gaming setups. I can imagine some prospective buyers will appreciate the design, but I’m not a fan of the plain, studio-style aesthetic that the ALPHYN AH10 offers.
PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 Microphone Test
The microphone of the PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 is what you’d expect from a gaming headset microphone. The sound quality is pretty standard and doesn’t offer anything impressive. My voice comes out relatively clear in the recording, albeit quiet. Your friends (or enemies) should be able to hear you in-game or on Discord with no problems.
Discord’s noise suppression or something like NVIDIA Broadcast will also minimise any background noise, ensuring that it’s just your voice coming from the mic. I am slightly disappointed that there isn’t any way to add filters or increase the volume using the Keystone software. But because this is more of a budget headset, we can understand that this likely wasn’t a feature that was included to save on costs.
Conclusion
PowerColor ALPHYN AH10
Product Name: ALPHYN AH10
Brand: PowerColor
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Features
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Design
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Performance
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Value for Money
Summary
The PowerColor ALPHYN AH10 is a plush wireless headset that offers great sound quality and performance. While using it, I felt that the more prominent focus across the design was sound quality. Audio played through the headset is precise and crisp and can be customised through an EQ system with the PowerColor software. The 2.4GHz wireless offers ultra-low latency, which means your in-game immersion isn’t hindered by lag, and for the most part, the headset is relatively comfortable upon initial use.
However, it’s clear that ergonomics and comfortability have had to take a bit of a backseat. Over time, using the ALPHYN AH10 wasn’t the most fun experience. The earcups and headband are very tight, there’s also no rotation of the earcups, which makes the headset feel rigid and stiff. If there was a larger focus on providing an enjoyable wearing experience, the ALPHYN AH10 is a headset we’d be heavily recommending. However, looking at the ALPHYN AH10 holistically, some elements could definitely do with improvement. I think if you’re looking to buy a decent-budget gaming headset, it doesn’t get much better than this. But if you’re willing to spend more, there are stronger options on the market.
Pros
✅ Plush leather padding
✅ Software easy to use
✅ Affordable
Cons
❌ Uncomfortable over prolonged sessions
❌ Somewhat cheap feel and look
❌ More of a budget studio headset
