Our rating
By
- high wearing comfort, even for people who wear glasses
- balanced, good sound (surround)
- Docking station with fast charging function included
- various connection options
against
- expensive
- The microphone reacts strongly to sibilance
- Volume wheel does not work in Bluetooth mode
conclusion
The Roccat Syn Max Air is a true upgrade from last year’s Roccat Syn Pro Air, and not just because it has more features. It also has better wearing comfort, better sound quality and more diverse connection options. The fast charging station in particular increases convenience significantly. However, it is also significantly more expensive, currently around 250 euros. But if you don’t want to do without the dock, you won’t find anything cheaper among the competition. Without a charging station, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives, some of which even sound better.
IDG
With the Roccat Syn Max Air we are testing the latest addition to the Syn-Air line. It is less the successor to the Roccat Syn Pro Air from 2021 (to our test) than the new top model. And as such, it’s packed with more features than the Syn Pro Air.
Test: Wireless gaming headsets in comparison: the best gaming sound without tangled wires
Very comfortable to wear, even for people who wear glasses.
In terms of design, the Roccat Syn Max Air only differ in details, which makes them clearly recognizable as gaming headphones. The manufacturer also integrates RGB honeycomb lighting on the outside. Otherwise, thanks to memory foam padding with a cooling gel layer, the Syn Max Air not only sits comfortably on your head, but is also pleasantly cool.
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The details not to be scoffed at are the “Prospecs” technique, which is a recess in the padding so that the temples don’t press against the skull of those who wear glasses. In addition, there is a breathable cover on top of the padding so that the player does not sweat too quickly underneath. It brings us the aluminum frame of the headphones, which guarantees robustness and a noble touch. The bulky earbuds aren’t exactly light at 326 grams, but the Syn Max Air never feels too heavy thanks to the well thought-out construction.
Charging station with RGB lighting
Another highlight of the Roccat Syn Max Air is the included docking station, which charges the headset wirelessly while magnets hold it upright; It couldn’t be more convenient, because there is no longer any need to plug in annoying charging cables, just like the fact that the earphone is simply thrown away. In addition, a fast charging technology is used, which means that the Syn Max Air is ready to use again after a short period of time. The base itself also acts as a USB receiver for the Stellar wireless connectivity and is illuminated with RGB at the bottom.
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bluetooth support
In addition to the extremely stable and virtually lag-free 2.4 GHz wireless technology Stellar Wireless, which we can wholeheartedly recommend for gaming, the Roccat Syn Max Air also dominates Bluetooth. This means that the gaming headset can also be used on the Nintendo Switch, smartphone or Playstation 5, even if you can detect slight latencies with particularly fast action, but you have to listen carefully. Useful Feature: Smartphone can be integrated via Bluetooth while gaming via Stellar Wireless. Incoming calls can be accepted and routed through the headset.
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The only thing that is very strange is that the volume wheel on the headphones cannot be used in Bluetooth mode, which makes the operation a bit more cumbersome. In addition, there are three other controls available: the power button, a rotary knob to control microphone monitoring, and the Bluetooth switch. The microphone itself can be muted by folding the arm up.
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improved sound
The sound of the Roccat Syn Pro Air was good, but not outstanding. That is why we are even more satisfied that the manufacturer has improved the Roccat Syn Max Air. For example, new audio drivers are used in the form of 50-millimeter Nanoclear variants, previously only reserved for Turtle Beach models. In practice, they ensure a wide sound image and accurate, balanced representation that allows us to clearly perceive fine details in games.
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Additionally, the Roccat Syn Max Air’s drivers are located slightly deeper in the ear cups than on the predecessor. In combination with the well-protecting upholstery, the sound reproduction appears more spacious, which has a positive effect on immersion. Let’s activate the software function “Superhuman Hearing”, which reinforces especially important details, such as steps for better localization. In addition, 3D Audio surround sound technology is available, which continues to offer very good surround sound. However, we found that the mids and lows could be a bit more present. Fortunately, this can be adjusted with the software’s 10-band equalizer.
Great mic, but only moderate battery life
We’re a bit disappointed with the Roccat Syn Max Air’s battery life, which lasts just under 16 hours, below the average for a current wireless gaming headset. But in our opinion, that doesn’t matter too much: because if you take a break or stop playing, you put the headphones in the docking station anyway, which will quickly supply them with new energy. After all, it can also be charged and used with a USB-C cable during operation.
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The microphone does a good job and our team has no problem hearing us. However, the voice transmission is slightly compressed and the sibilance sounds too pronounced for our liking. By the way, the microphone can also be completely removed.
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