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Fractal Design, known as a representative of Scandinavian design, is a PC hardware manufacturer established in 2007 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Over the past 17 years, the company has been loved by gamers worldwide for its PC cases, cooling solutions, and power supplies, successfully integrating a minimalist yet functional Nordic design philosophy into PC gaming hardware.
Previously, they showcased PC cases and cooling solutions, but this time they have launched their first wireless gaming headset. Despite being a first-time gaming headset release, it has received high praise with scores in the 9s from numerous international communities and webzines. Let’s take a closer look at the Fractal Design Scape, a hi-fi wireless gaming headset that combines Fractal Design’s signature design sensibility with convenience and sound quality.
Specifications and Components
The Fractal Design Scape is a premium wireless headset that supports various connection methods and wireless charging. The main specifications are as follows:
Key Features
Drivers : 40mm Neodymium Custom-Tuned Drivers
Connection Methods : 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C Wired
Battery : Up to 40 hours of continuous use (with LED off)
Charging : Wireless Induction Charging + USB-C Charging
Weight : 338g
Frequency Response : 20Hz – 20,000Hz
Wireless Range : Up to 40 meters
The package includes the headset itself, a dedicated wireless charging station, a USB wireless dongle, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a detachable boom microphone, and a user manual.
The most impressive component is the wireless charging station, which is not just a stand but offers magnetic wireless charging. It also has a dedicated port at the bottom to house the USB wireless dongle. The entire station is designed as an integrated solution to maintain a tidy desktop environment.
Appearance and Features
The Fractal Design Scape comes in two colors: dark and light. The dark model, with its matte black color, exudes a sophisticated design and finish, giving it a luxurious feel.
Weighing 338g, it is designed to be comfortable for long periods of wear. The design considers weight distribution to minimize stress on the top of the head and ears.
The 40mm neodymium custom-tuned drivers cover a frequency response from 20Hz to 20,000Hz, with a particular focus on the clarity of high frequencies. The default balanced EQ provides sound that satisfies most users without additional adjustments.
The adjustable yoke and slider rail of the housing use metal alloy materials to prevent scratches. Although the length adjustment feels quite firm compared to other headphones, this ensures that the length set to fit the user’s physique does not change easily, maintaining a stable fit.
The headband and ear cushions use lightweight and soft memory foam material, providing excellent comfort and sound isolation.
The housing features more control buttons than typical headsets. Volume control, connection method selection, and EQ preset settings can be changed directly on the headset, allowing for direct adjustments without going through a program, which is very convenient.
The volume knob, known as the control crown, not only adjusts the volume but also performs media control functions such as play, skip track, and previous track selection depending on the number of clicks. This crown method, seen in smartwatches, is applied to the headset for intuitive and convenient operation.
The microphone is a detachable boom mic with a flip-to-mute function that automatically mutes when lifted. It features noise-canceling capabilities to effectively control ambient noise, and can also be muted with a physical button. The microphone has an LED to indicate mute status.
Inside the headset housing, there are LEDs for ambient lighting. These allow you to check the headset’s status and create a luxurious feel due to their moderate brightness and placement inside the housing. This restrained lighting effect differentiates it from the flashy RGB of typical gaming headsets.
The most significant feature of the Fractal Design Scape is its dedicated stand capable of induction charging. It can be easily docked with a magnetic method, and charging starts automatically upon docking. This makes charging management much easier than the traditional method of connecting a USB cable for headphone charging, and there’s no need to purchase a separate stand.
The charging part is finished with fabric to prevent scratches on the ear cups, and the bottom of the stand has a port for connecting a USB cable and space to house the USB wireless dongle.
The dongle can be connected to the bottom of the stand or directly to a computer or laptop, allowing for flexible use in various environments.
The battery can last up to 40 hours of continuous use with the LED off and about 20 hours with the LED on. It also supports fast charging, allowing up to 4 hours of use with just a 15-minute charge, ensuring sufficient battery during short breaks in gaming.
Connection and Software
The connection methods supported are 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB-C wired connection. Through the built-in switch, users can connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth or enjoy ultra-low latency 24bit/96kHz wireless audio. It boasts high compatibility, being usable with almost all devices except Xbox.
Fractal Design offers a dedicated application called Adjust Pro. Adjust Pro is available in both a standard desktop software version and a web browser version, allowing device management, lighting effects, and audio EQ settings without installing a program.
In the lighting menu, users can create their own LED effects in addition to dedicated themes, and in the audio menu, they can set custom equalizers. Up to three equalizers can be saved and managed, and these EQs can be changed in real-time via the EQ select button on the housing.
Detailed settings such as sidetone and microphone noise canceling are also possible, and it supports various languages, including Korean.
The web-based Adjust Pro saves system resources as it does not require separate software installation. It can be accessed anywhere with a web browser, making it easy to configure not only on Windows but also on Mac. The configured profiles are stored in the headset, so settings are maintained when used on other computers.
Sound Test
The custom drivers of the Fractal Design Scape exhibit a neutral yet warm sound characteristic. The three preset settings provide balanced sound across the entire frequency range, with impressive clarity in the high frequencies and overall full sound.
Although it’s a gaming headset, it also provides satisfying sound quality for music listening. By selecting the third EQ preset, Depth, users can enjoy enhanced mid-bass sound as shown in the video.
As a gaming headset, it excels in soundstage, allowing precise identification of sound direction and distance in games. In games like Valorant or PUBG, users can accurately determine the direction and distance of enemy movements or footsteps.
The video above records actual Valorant gameplay sound with the balance EQ preset. Important sound details in FPS games, such as explosion sounds and gunfire effects, are reproduced without distortion.
User Experience
After using the Fractal Design Scape for two weeks, the comfort of wearing it for extended periods was most impressive. The weight of 338g is not burdensome, and stress on the top of the head and ears is minimized. The fabric material does not heat up like leather, making it suitable for summer use, and even during long gaming sessions, there was no discomfort or heat on the ears.
Personally, I was highly satisfied with the wireless charging stand. Unlike traditional port charging products, simply placing the headset on the stand automatically aligns it with the magnet and starts wireless charging, which was quite attractive.
For a company making its first wireless headset, it shows excellent build quality. The control crown is very satisfying to operate and is much more intuitive and easier to use than buttons or dials on other headsets. The RGB lighting is not excessive and can be easily turned on and off, which may appeal to those tired of RGB.
Conclusion
When purchasing gaming gear like keyboards, mice, and headsets, I prioritize the brand’s expertise. Initially, I didn’t have high expectations for the Fractal Design Scape due to the low reliability associated with a debut product.
However, as I proceeded with the review, I realized that the articles from international webzines were not just lip service. The product is attractive with Fractal Design’s signature Scandinavian minimalist design, comfortable fit, and well-tuned drivers that deliver excellent sound.
Of course, since it’s equipped with a physically smaller 40mm driver compared to a 50mm driver, the bass range may feel somewhat lacking, but it can be sufficiently tuned by applying the Depth preset or through EQ customization.
If you’re looking for a sophisticated gaming headset and want convenience, compatibility, and comfortable fit, I think it would be worth keeping an eye on the FRACTAL DESIGN SCAPE.
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