A wireless gaming headset with 40 mm drivers, RGB lighting and dual wireless connection via 2.4 GHz radio band and Bluetooth. And all this for only around 80 euros? That sounds extremely attractive. We’ll find out what the Rapoo VH800 is really capable of in this test.
Technical data
| The product | VH800 |
| Design | Over-ear |
| Driver | 40 mm (Graphene) |
| Connectivity | Wireless (USB dongle / Bluetooth); Wired (USB-C) |
| Microphone type | omnidirectional, with AI noise reduction |
| Range (wireless) | Approx. 10 meters |
| Battery life | Up to 46 hours |
| Charging time | 1.5 hours |
| Weight | 340 g |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet |
| Special functions | RGB lighting; dual connection |
| Price | € 79.99 * |
Rapoo VH800 review: Gray mouse with RGB
- very appealing, stylish design
- RGB lighting in two zones
- good workmanship; but stiff controls
even at first glance, it is noticeable that the Rapoo VH800 uses very large ear pads, which makes the entire headset look very bulky. However, with a weight of 333 grams, it is within the normal range for a wireless gaming headset.
The two ear cups come in an anodized, grey design and have a V in the middle, which, like the ring running around the outside, features RGB lighting. The Rapoo VH800 certainly looks good.
The microphone can be connected to the left side of the headset. It has a 3.5 mm jack input and is simply plugged into the appropriate port and then screwed in slightly. However, this is a little awkward, as the connection and the controls are all a little stiff.
Although the construction is dominated by plastic, there is not much to complain about in terms of build quality. I have tested much more expensive headsets that felt far more wobbly. Only the metal headband, which is a little too sharp-edged, has to be criticized. It’s probably not really dangerous, but rounded edges would have been better.
The headband can be adjusted to the desired size in a total of ten steps. In combination with the really huge, three-centimetre-high ear pads, the Rapoo VH800 is very comfortable to wear.
Especially as there is also enough space for large ears on the inside at 68 mm x 48 mm. However, it quickly gets uncomfortably warm under the artificial leather, especially now in summer.
Clear operation, decent battery life
- intuitive operation
- RGB lighting can be deactivated
- decent battery life; but no use when charging
All of the Rapoo VH800’s controls are located on the left ear cup and are easy to reach after a short period of familiarization, even during a game. The power button is located above the microphone and can be pressed and held for 5 seconds to switch the headset on and off.
Below this, we find the USB-C port for charging, which unfortunately cannot be used to power the headset. Unfortunately, it is also not possible to use the VH800 while it is charging. Very annoying, as even inexpensive gaming headsets can now do this. Oh well.
Below the charging port is a switch that can be used to turn the RGB lighting on or off. The final touches are a pleasantly ribbed volume dial and the mode switch, which can be used to switch between wireless and Bluetooth operation.
Operation is therefore largely self-explanatory and works flawlessly. The only drawback is that all the controls are somewhat stiff and stiff, making it almost impossible to operate with just one hand.
However, the battery life of the Rapoo VH800 is once again impressive. Around 45 hours of runtime are possible via the 2.4 GHz dongle, even if only with the RGB lighting deactivated. However, it is not possible to say exactly, as there is neither a companion app nor a battery status indicator. Only the status LED below the USB-C port flashes red to indicate that it is time to recharge the headset.
On the positive side, the wireless and Bluetooth connection works quickly and easily in both cases. The wireless range of 10 meters to the source is also absolutely fine.
Audio and microphone quality of the Rapoo VH800
- powerful bass… but lacking in detail
- noticeably reduced mids and highs
- quite suitable for listening to music in some genres
The Rapoo VH800 uses 40 mm Graphene drivers like those found in the Logitech G Pro X 2 (even though they are 50 mm there). However, the manufacturer does not reveal any details about the specifications of the drivers, but promises an “immersive, precise sound”, which I can only subscribe to to a limited extent after the Rapoo VH800 test.
There’s no question that the sound coming out of the speakers is quite good. It’s just that there are a whole range of headsets that sound far better. Even in the price range of less than 100 euros – such as the Corsair HS 55 Wireless Core (our test), which delivers a much more spatial and detailed sound.
I really like the bass response of the VH800, which is pleasantly powerful but lacks a little precision. This is not a problem when listening to music or watching videos, movies and series, as the bass is pleasantly reproduced here. Unfortunately, details are noticeably lost when playing games.
The mids are unfortunately somewhat in the background in the sound image, although this is also less noticeable when listening to music, but rather results in a somewhat flat sound in particularly dialog-heavy games such as RPGs. The treble is also noticeably reduced – especially in shooters, important acoustic cues are barely perceptible, which is not necessarily helped by the comparatively low maximum volume.
In general, the sound stage seems too unbalanced. The bass is clearly in the foreground, which is extremely gimmicky: at first glance, everything sounds pleasantly powerful, but on closer listening there is simply a noticeable lack of detail.
That’s a shame, because the Rapoo VH800 sounds perfectly fine. And in various genres such as racing and sports games and strategy titles, the sound is absolutely sufficient. However, in shooters and other games where details in the mids and highs are particularly important, the sound is hardly sufficient. Here, other gaming headsets simply deliver a much better sound for the money.
Microphone quality at in-ear headphone level
- omni-directional recording pattern
- Ambient noise suppression
- tinny, less natural sound
Unfortunately, the detachable microphone, which has an omni-directional characteristic, is very similar. It has a mute switch on the front that can be used to quickly mute it. The manufacturer has also integrated ambient noise suppression, which is designed to largely eliminate loud noises such as typing on the keyboard or similar.
And this works wonderfully in practice. However, the sound quality of the microphone is not so wonderful. This is on a par with average in-ear headphones and does not reproduce your own voice with much detail and reveals problems with sharp sibilants and plosives.
Microphone test recording Rapoo VH800 gaming headset:
Microphone test recording Cherry XTRFY Ngale R USB microphone Reference recording:
Rather, the voice sounds as if you are somewhere in the water. Nevertheless, the intelligibility is quite good and the maximum volume of the microphone is absolutely fine.
Rapoo VH800 test: Conclusion
The Rapoo VH800 is a decent wireless gaming headset that scores with an appealing design including RGB lighting, good battery life and convincing wearing comfort. Another positive feature is the dual connectivity, which allows a wireless and Bluetooth connection that can be switched quickly and easily.
When it comes to the most important features of a gaming headset, first and foremost the sound, the VH800 has a few flaws. The rich bass is clearly in the foreground, but lacks definition. The mids and especially the highs are clearly in the background, resulting in a narrow, somewhat lacking in detail sound.
The quality of the built-in microphone is also below average in the price range up to 100 euros and I can’t understand why you can’t continue using the headset when charging.
Rapoo VH800
Wormanship
Wearing Comfort
Sound Quality
Microphone Quality
Features
Value For Money
78/100
Stylish wireless gaming headset with RGB lighting, excellent wearing comfort and good battery life, but below-average performance, especially in terms of sound and microphone quality.
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