AOpen HP-590 Vibration Headphones

Review by Harry Lam on 07.22.03
Product provided by AOpen, MSRP: $24.95

Impressions:

I personally did not have too many expectations before receiving this product, dismissing the "vibration" feature as a marketing gimmick.  I was surprised to find that the vibration really does add another level to gaming, enhancing the overall experience.  The HP-590s really shine for FPS games allowing you to enjoy FPS games even more with the additional degree of tactile feedback.  I also found the HP-590s extremely strong in flight simulation and space combat style games.  However for real time strategy or role playing games, the headphones do not make as much of an impact, but they still create an unique experience for the gamer.

Audio Quality:

Music:  Personally, I am used to the quality and crispness of higher end headphones, as my current pair of headphones are the Steinheisser HD-590's, whose $200+ price tag is miles away from the $24.95 MSRP of the AOpen HP-590.  However, compared to other headphones in the sub-$30 price range, the sound quality of the HP-590s is roughly on par.  The bass is fairly strong and relatively clean (with the vibration unit set to reasonable levels).  I did find the higher tones and mid range to be a bit too muddled for my taste.

Gaming:  Given the relative lack of quality and definition of audio in most computer games, the AOpen HP-590's are a reasonable choice for a gamer.  Even for games with relatively high-quality, immersive audio (Morrowind immediately comes to mind), the AOpen HP-590s are capable of creating a believable gaming environment.  Again, I cannot stress enough the improvement in the overall gaming experience that the vibration brings to the computer.

Vibration:

Basically the vibration unit is a inexpensive crossover unit/amplifier for the secondary drivers.  It's definitely an innovative design, and the quality without the vibration unit enabled is still competitive with other similarly priced headphones.  I would recommend a light vibration level for audio, and a moderate vibration level for gaming.  At the higher settings, the bass becomes distorted and the vibration an annoyance.  At low to moderate levels, however, the vibration is very complimentary.

Comfort:

Personally, I did not like the tightness of the AOpen HP-590's.  The headpieces were a bit too constrictive, in my opinion, and would likely become uncomfortable during LAN parties.  Conversely, others who have used this pair of headphones experienced no problems at all, and even enjoyed the secure fit of the headphones.  Apropos their firm fit, the AOpen HP-590's never found their way off of my head, even during exercise.  I did notice that the vibration unit was a bit inconvenient while working out, though, due to the fact that it weighs down the headphones and even interferes with the workout itself at some points.

Dislikes:

My primary gripe with the AOpen HP-590 headphones is a relatively minor problem, which is that the unit lacks an auto-off feature for the vibration unit.  Throughout my testing, I drained several AA batteries by accidentally leaving the unit in the on position after I was done using it.  My other complaint about the headphones, as I addressed before, is the uncomfortable fit of the headphones.