Page 2 – Physical Look – Hardware
If you step back from the Func HS-260, you can see why I would call this a more casual approach to gaming headphones. It does not try to show off with func-y flashing lights and neon colors, but rather, it emanates impressiveness through subtle design choices. These are a lot more of a conservative compared to the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 I reviewed, but in this case it is a good thing. The headset is covered in a matte finish, with some shiny parts on the outside of the earcups. The whole headset is primarily plastic, with two metallic blocks near the headband, which is cool to the touch. The top headband is a dimpled material, much like the backing of the recently released Samsung Galaxy S5. The entire headset is also very clean, with only two markings of “Func” located on each side by the ears. On the bottom these earcups are two audio plugins connecting the included cable and the microphone, but I will expand on this later. Behind the plugs is also a volume dial to allow the user to adjust the volume with ease. The earcups are also covered with a bit more of a soft-grippy layer. While it does attract a few more fingerprints than I would like, the material feels really good in the hands when you put the HS-260 on and when you take it off. But seriously, with a design like this, would you really want to be seen taking this headset off? While the design is pretty good, the build quality does suffer a bit. The headset is completely plastic, and even though it feels solid, there is a bit of creaking when adjusting the headset. Either way, Func still has me impressed in the design of the headset, and should be extremely proud of what they have built.
Starting at the bottom and working up, the first thing we have are the two 3.5mm audio and microphone plugs. Both of these are gold-plated, which serves for both looks and function. To tell the plugs apart, you need to take a closer look, as the two bands on the plug are either green or pink, for audio out or microphone in, respectively. While it is not necessarily the best way to tell the two apart, it works, and keeps the endings clean. The plugs are black and rubbery, with an orange band to match the Func’s brand logo. Before I continue, imagine an inverse tiger with a thick black coat and orange stripes down its side. That is the first impression I had when I saw the removable cable. This braided cable measures approximately 3.18m in length from plug to plug. A Velcro strap is also included to wrap excess headset cable in the case where you are not playing ten feet away from your computer. The cable splits for the audio and microphone connection near the bottom, which means for the most part you are only dealing with one cable rather than two, which is a good thing. I should mention the cable after the split feels a bit more rigid than the rest of the wires. The other end connects directly into the headset via another 3.5mm plug. Of course you may ask, “Aaron, where do I plug it in, the left side or the right side?” While this would be a perfect moment to plug in some Beyonce and say, “To the left, to the left,” this headset is actually modular with the plugs. You can put it in either side, as with the microphone. This is definitely a plus feature, as each person has different setups, which can make it more or less convenient than if the wire is permanently connected to the left or the right. On a side note, make sure you push the plug into the headphones until you hear a clicking noise.
Continuing our journey up the Func HS-260, we get to the microphone. Again, this can be plugged into either side of the headset, or can be completely removed if you do not use it. The microphone is omnidirectional and fully flexible, but it takes a while to hold its shape. One of the quips I had with the CM Storm Ceres 500 was with the microphone, and how it would go back to a “default” shape even after bending for a while. Unfortunately, this is similar to the HS-260's mic, as it defaults to a previous state and takes a bit of coaxing to keep its position. It is quite a bit smaller though and does not get in the way because of its lack of size. In fact, it looks quite a bit like those pop singer microphones they have on stage for performers. Finally, I should mention the microphone, while fully flexible, does not rotate. There is only one practical position that the microphone is in when it sticks into the headset, as there is a notch to stop it from rotating. The whole module is also lined with the same soft rubber touch found on the ears of the headphones. Near the connector is a mute switch, which can be used in case you need to say some sensitive information without the NSA listening to you. The mute switch is a bit confusing to see if it is actually muted or not, as there is no color or indicator to tell you when it actually is muted. While this is meant to match with the rest of the headset as being clean, it does take some time to get used to it, and should be noted.
Next on the list are the earcups. These are probably the plushiest earmuffs I have felt in a very long time, resulting in one of the most comfortable headsets. In the picture above, I have the velour earmuffs. Of course to swap them is quite easy, as there is a small notch underneath where you can slide the earmuffs around. It is definitely a plus to see Func provide both leather and velour earcups, as I have often lamented in my past audio headphone reviews. Even though I personally prefer the velour, there are definitely other people preferring the opposite, so Func went the extra mile to appreciate all fans alike. Both are very comfortable nonetheless, and I only personally prefer the felt muffs because they are more breathable than the leather. As you can see, the Func HS-260 is an over-the-ear style of headphones, and so it is kind of odd to see more circular earcup, rather than one that is more oval-like and closer to the shame of an ear. Of course, they still fit quite well and this fact does not take away any from the comfort. If you remove the earcups of course you will be greeted by 50 mm drivers with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20000Hz. Rated impedance of the Func HS-260 is 32 ohms.
We started from the bottom and now we are here, at the headband. As you can see the top headband is a leather-like material with small dimples. The band on the Func HS-260 is very plushy, and very soft. The material here is also quite sweat resistant, as I have noticed after some intense gaming of Solitaire and Freecell, as well as some first-person shooters. As I have mentioned before, the two metal clamps are located on the side of the headset, and add a nice cool touch every time to adjust your headset. The headband is quite flexible, and produces next to zero noise when adjusting and bending the HS-260s around. Of course, I would not recommend people trying to leave them in a fully flexed position, as prolonged usage like this would probably lead to the headset breaking.
Weighing in at 320g, the Func HS-260 are no lightweights. The real downside to having a more solidly built headset is probably the fact that it will be undoubtedly heavier. In comparison, the Cooler Master Storm Ceres 500 was around 280g, and the SteelSeries H Wireless was closer to 293g. Even though the actual weight difference is small in terms of numbers, it is noticeable but does not take away from the overall comfort. As well, with the plushy headset and earmuffs, I never actually noticed the extra weight that my neck had to support.
As you can see, the Func HS-260s are very well built and crafted, with many small features and additions to make the overall wearing experience a satisfactory one. However, great design must be backed up by something far more important: Audio reproduction. Is this Func HS-260 all bark and no bite, or have we just unveiled the biggest strength of the headset? I guess it is time to finally plug it in and hear how it sounds like.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
