Pros
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Comfortable fit
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Clear comms
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Good sound quality
The NZXT Relay doesn’t take many risks.
About the NZXT Relay
Credit:
Reviewed / Christopher Coke
The headset comes with a detachable cable and a USB-A adapter.
- Price: $100
- Drivers: 40mm drivers
- Colors: Black, white
- Materials: Metal yokes, plastic earcups, faux leather earcups and headband padding
- Weight: 9.25 ounces (262 grams)
- Connectivity: 3.5mm to USB-A, 3.5mm combo jack, 3.5mm combo to headphone/audio
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and 4, Nintendo Switch
- Noise cancellation: None
- Microphone: Detachable boom microphone
- Other special features: Removable and customizable side plates
The NZXT Relay doesn’t take many risks with its design. Available in black or white, it continues the company’s iconic minimalism with a simple aesthetic that could easily double as a pair of music headphones.
It features plastic earcups with glossy NZXT branding on each side and faux leather on the ear cups and headband. Both the cable and flexible boom microphone are detachable for easy storage, though I wish the cable were a bit longer than six feet to wrap around to the back of my PC.
Virtually every major brand has a competing wired headset at this price and, on its own, the Relay doesn’t manage to stand out in most ways. The build quality feels cheaper and more “plasticky” than the Razer Blackshark V2 or HyperX Cloud Alpha, and though it uses metal for the yokes, the plastic earcups and headband are concerning for long-term durability.
Their light weight pays off in comfort, however. I usually prefer the suspension band design of the SteelSeries Arctis 5 or Nova 4 Wireless, but the thickly padded headband distributes its 9.25 ounces well. The ear cushions are plush and comfy, and do a good job of blocking outside noise, though the tend to build up heat over time.
Credit:
Reviewed / Christopher Coke
The comfort provided by the ear cushions are top quality.
Where the Relay really impresses is sound quality. The headset boasts 40mm dynamic drivers with exceptionally low distortion and wide dynamic range. That’s enhanced with DTS surround sound if connected through the included 3.5mm to USB Type-A adapter. Unlike most gaming headsets, it doesn’t lean into bloated bass that crowds out the other frequencies. It’s still punchy and full, but the more balanced tuning makes it easier to hear small details in music and games, like enemy footsteps in the middle of intense gunfights. The microphone is also very clear and has an impressive amount of body. It picks up a small amount of background noise but sounds good overall.
The Relay is only one piece of a whole ecosystem of sound products that NZXT is releasing. That includes a combination headphone stand and audio mixer called the SwitchMix, and a pair of desktop speakers and subwoofer, also called the Relay.
The SwitchMix adds a high-quality DAC, volume wheel, game-chat balance fader, and even a pressure-sensitive lever to automatically switch to the speakers when you hang the headset. It’s a neat and well-integrated collection that together makes this headset feel much more interesting and “complete,” but is also very expensive at $630 for the entire set. Even picking up the Relay headset and SwitchMix together will run you $230 to unlock the full functionality of a wired gaming headset.
Should you buy the NZXT Relay?
Maybe, if you plan to buy more than just the headset
The NZXT Relay sounds surprisingly good. For the money, it’s one of the more balanced gaming headsets we’ve heard, making it a good fit for music as well as gaming. And, with its minimalist design, detachable microphone arm, and exceptional comfort, you could reasonably use these as everyday headphones (as long as you don’t mind the NZXT branding on the earcups).
But while they sound great, it’s hard to shake the feeling that they’re a bit too basic and plasticky to justify without also buying into the expensive extras. The SteelSeries Arctis 5, Razer Blackshark V2, and Logitech G Pro are all more robust picks for the money, and each sound good in their own right. The Blackshark V2 even adds THX Spatial Audio for more immersive sound. For another $20, you can upgrade to the comfier (and wireless) SteelSeries Arctis Nova 4 Wireless.
The NZXT Relay gets the basics right, and in sheer sound quality, could be a compelling buy at its current price but it doesn’t really begin to feel complete without buying the expensive extras like the SwitchMix. That alone will cost another $130 and without it, the Relay feels too barebones to compete. If you have an NZXT gaming PC or monitor and are interested in perfectly matching your peripherals, or if you plan to buy the speakers and headset stand, it’s much more worthwhile, but otherwise, it’s best to look elsewhere.
NZXT Relay Gaming Headset
An analog headset (or digital with the USB dongle) designed to compete with the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and Razer Blackshark V2.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Meet the tester
Chris has been specializing in PC and audio-related tech since 2015. Find him at IGN, Tom’s Hardware, PC Perspective, MMORPG.com, and more.
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