Page 2 - Physical Look - Hardware
The Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 is what I would call a blend between the stereotypical gaming enthusiast headset and the casual, everyday headphones. While it is not as conservative as the SteelSeries H Wireless, it definitely does not try to attract attention. On the left side the glossy microphone protrudes out, and the right side has another glossy surface with the CM Storm logo placed on it. Both of the sides have a white rim, with black mesh inside, creating a real nice effect with the contrasting colors on each ear. Speaking of which, there is a lack of any colors overall, with just white and black all over. This makes for a Star Wars Storm Trooper-esque look, and matches up quite well with a desktop chassis I reviewed last year around this time, the Cooler Master Storm Stryker. While some may see this as uninspiring, I would argue that it keeps the entire device clean and casual. Other small cues like wrapping the entire top in pleather or making dimples to mark how far the headset has been extended make the device seem quite a bit more refined. All in all, I really like the design of the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500, as it takes cues from both the gamer and the conservative book.
Looking at the entire headset, I guess I will start from the bottom, and look at the two connectors at the very end. One is a male USB 2.0 plug, and the other is a 3.5mm auxiliary input. Ask me which one I would first try plugging into a computer, and I would say the 3.5mm cable. However, I am wrong -- the USB plug is actually used for daily operation on the computer. In fact, the 3.5mm plug does not come into play until the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 is used with an Xbox 360 or PS3. Both of these plugs are connected via a thin rubber-coated wire that I can see will be easily prone to breaking. For the unit we received, both of these thinner wires were very stiff and I was almost more afraid of cracking them than ripping them. After about two weeks of usage, the cable holding the 3.5mm plug is still extremely stiff. I hope this is an isolated case, and other Ceres 500 headsets are not affected by this. Heading up the wires, they both meet together at a Y-connection. The wire past the Y-connector is much more substantial and durable. This cord is spans approximately three meters in length.
Continuing our way up, we reach the inline remote. On the remote are several switches, knobs, plus a single LED. The first knob we can talk about is the Chat Volume, which changes how much of the other people you hear in the headset. This however only works in the console mode. The next is the volume knob, and this should be self-explanatory. Beside it is a switch to allow users to change between Console and PC mode. While the headset works regardless of what the switch position is in, the two knobs will not if the switch is in the incorrect position corresponding to actual usage. Finally, the top switch is Mute, which allows users to silence their microphone. When muted, the LED below glows bright red, while in regular operation, the LED glows white. On the bottom of the remote is the 2.5mm plug connecting to the controller, and is only needed when operating the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 with an Xbox 360. Finally, on the back is a clip to allow users to clip the remote to clothing so that it does not dangle during usage. Overall, I think the remote is a bit too chunky to be an inline remote, but it is still light enough to be unnoticeable during headphone usage. As for functionality, it has everything I would want on the remote, plus a few extras. This remote does its job as it makes quick changes quite easy, especially when using the Ceres 500 with a console.
Above is another angle of the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500; looking at the top headband. As prior mentioned, this is a pleather wrapped top with foam in between. It is both plushy and firm as it is nice to the touch, but holds its shape. In the Ceres 400, the only part that was lined with foam was where the headset rested on the head. I found this foam, because it was not wrapped, easily removable by accident. However, with the Ceres 500, the entire top is a single foam-wrapped, plastic-spine piece. This increases durability and feels premium compared to other headsets, as it is a single piece on the top. The overall headband has quite a bit of flex and bendability, which is not good for a keyboard, but great for a headset. This means the headset will be less likely to snap since it is flexible. Of course, I would not recommend leaving the headsets in fully flexed positions, as this will still weaken the material, and prolonged usage like this will probably lead to the headset breaking.
The next thing we can look into is the detachable microphone. The microphone unit is specified with a frequency response of 100Hz to 10000Hz with a sensitivity of approximately -54dB. This omnidirectional microphone, as aforementioned, connects to the left ear cup via a 3.5mm input. While there is only one way to actually plug the microphone in for usage, it is attached to the headset via a bendy but firm wire, which allows for the user to change how they want to position the mic. Unlike the Ceres 400, which had a swinging arm for a microphone, this allows for full flexibility when the mic is attached, and to detach it when unused. However, if the microphone is removed, there is nothing to cover the 3.5mm plug, so it will be left open. Normally, this would not matter too much, but it should be noted.
The next thing to look at is the ear pads. Unlike the Ceres 400, this headset actually has removable earmuffs. This means the user can remove the ear cups and replace them with other materials such as leather, which offer better sound isolation for some users. The padding is a fabric covering, with a pleather-like lining around the edges. Inside the pads are CM Storm labels, which make for a nice effect, especially since the word Storm is more pronounced than CM. As for the cups, they are able to fold flat, albeit in only one direction. They also allow for tilting to accommodate different sizes of heads and ears. The cups can also be extended within a range of 40mm for each side, and can be folded into the headband to allow for a more compact traveling headset. For your information, the CM Storm Ceres 500 utilize 40mm drivers, with a frequency response rating of 20Hz to 20000Hz. Rated impedance is 32 ohms, and the headset has a sensitivity of approximately 116dB at 1 kHz.
Tipping the scales at 280g, the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 is not very heavy, and felt good during my testing. While they are not exactly unnoticeable, the Ceres 500 headset is comfortable, as I have no problem wearing this for an extended period of time. I do sometimes need to readjust the headset, as I find it pushes against my glasses. For the record, these are over-the-ear headsets, rather than on-ear, so my ears were entirely covered by the headset. This passive noise cancellation, rather than active, is pretty good, as I could not hear a whole lot of external noise while wearing the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500.
Overall, the CM Storm Ceres 500 is improved in many areas for build and design, and deserves recognition for righting the wrongs of the Ceres 400. But does this all come with great sound, or just another empty promise? I guess it is time to see what this headset actually sounds like.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
