EKSA Air Joy Pro 7.1 Gaming Headset Review

I’ve managed to get away with not needing to upgrade any of my peripherals in quite a long time. But as lockdown hit us hard and I began using my computer more than ever, my equipment reached its breaking point, including my headphones. So, after batting my eyelashes at my superiors and discovering that we were recently contacted regarding a brand new pair of headphones, I was eager to take a look at them.

EKSA has a long history in developing and manufacturing headphones, so I knew what I was getting was going to be good quality. One of the major selling points of the Eksa Air Joy Pro, and one I was interested in, was its weight. The Air Joy Pro prides itself on the EKSA website as being less than half the weight of most gaming headsets on the market, and that really is no joke. As soon as I took them out of the box, the weight (or lack thereof) was instantly noticeable. When wearing, you can barely feel the Air Joy Pro, ringing true to their claim of comfort even after hours of use. Over gamescom weekend, I had to sit with the headphones on for 7-8 hours straight per day, and even on the final day, I wasn’t experiencing any discomfort due to the headphones. The lightweight frame and sleek design make it so you can really keep these on for hours and hours at a time and not even feel it.

The headset is connected via a detachable USB-C cable, and the box comes with phono and USB adapter cables, which allows you to use the Air Joy Pro with almost any device. Whether having a leisurely stroll and listening to music on your phone, or enjoying an intense gaming session on your computer, the Air Joy Pro has you covered. Its portable and lightweight design makes using it when out and travelling not only a viable option, but a convenient one; a rarity among gaming headphones.

Speaking of sound, how does the Air Joy Pro hold up in that regard? You’ll be pleased to know, incredibly well. I was previously using the Hyper X Cloud Revolver S, and while they’re definitely good, I’ve noticed my awareness in games in regards to sound has been a lot better since using the Air Joy Pro. From the sounds of a HAVOC revving up from the other side of the street in Apex Legends, to the sound of people running in the vents above me in Team Fortress 2, the Air Joy Pro has enabled me greater awareness of with what I can only describe as a flawless sound system. Coupled with how well the headset blocks out any sounds going on in the real world, there really is nothing but praise in this department.

There is one issue I do have, however; the microphone leaves much to be desired. Whilst incredibly easy to set up, the microphone is not of the best quality. It feels flimsy, like it could snap at any given moment. As well as this, my friends reported my voice sounding distant and tinny, a detail I didn’t believe until I heard my own voice in recordings I was making of my gameplay. Finally, the microphone is described as ‘noise-cancelling’, but this didn’t ring as true as I was hoping. For the first time in roughly a year and a half, I had to increase my input sensitivity for voice activation on Discord because my microphone was picking up private conversations that were happening in the room; an issue that my previous microphones would not have. This detail isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for me, however, as the microphone can just be removed and I usually use a desk-clamp microphone, but the microphone issues may be enough to put some gamers off.

Overall, the EKSA Air Joy Pro is a solid headset. Its sound quality makes it great for both casual and competitive use. The lightweight design makes it a comfort to wear and carry no matter where you are; whether that be on the couch enjoying Xbox, playing Nintendo Switch on the bus, or watching YouTube videos on your phone in the comfort of your own bed. If you can supply your own microphone, the Air Joy Pro is a great pair of headphones at an affordable price and no skimps in quality.

You can buy them for £32/$39.99 direct from the EKSA website and $34.99 on Amazon.com