The Cooler Master CH331 Gaming Headset is for budget gamers and novice streamers looking for affordable, understated RGB style. The CH331 delivers surround sound quality and comfort.
designed to compete with best gaming headset At that price point, the $49 CH331 will definitely rock you with an epic blast. But you can also tickle your senses with the crackling of a campfire behind you, or the chomping and chomping of a monster just behind a tree-lined avenue.
The headset works great out of the box, but you need Cool Master’s Master Plus software to unlock the equalizer and virtual speaker placement app.
Cooler Master CH331 specs
| Driver type | 50mm |
| impedance | 16Ω |
| frequency response | 20-20,000Hz |
| design style | circumaural (over ear) |
| Type of microphone | Omnidirectional, 100-8,000 Hz |
| connectivity | USB type A |
| weight | 13 ounces/371 grams |
| cord length | 7ft/2.2m |
| battery life | NAMore |
| lighting | RGB |
| software | cooler master, master plus |
Cooler Master CH331 design and comfort
The CH331 is a basic corded headset that comes in solid black. The Y-yoke frame is dark gray aluminum and the headband is steel wrapped in buttery soft PU leather. The black-on-black vibe is accented with subtle pulsing RGB lights on the earpieces that switch from the cord.
The earpieces are super soft, covered with PU leather and have oval cups that fully cover your ears. The earpieces rotate outward on the Y-yoke, but are otherwise fixed in place. The headband is adjustable and can be 1 inch longer on each side.
A cloth-wrapped cord is permanently attached to the left earbud, with a 3-inch long, narrow, in-line control panel about 20 inches below the cord. This put the in-line controls on your lap while you were sitting, but on taller people they might hang over your belly button. seems not.
Another 61 inch cord from the in-line control panel to the USB Type A plug, for a total of 84 inches (7 feet) between your left ear and your PC. My PC sits on the right side of my desk so I can stay arm’s length from the tower without having to stretch the cord.
At 13 ounces, the headset is very close to strapping an extra pound of weight on your head. It’s pretty comfortable, but you’ll notice it. The headband is wrapped in smooth leather, so it’s smooth and a little slippery, especially when you’re dancing on a chair.
The in-line control panel measures a solid 3.25 x 1.25 x 0.5 inches and has volume and mute buttons for the mic and audio, plus easy on/off for the lights. Lights are not programmable.
Between the USB cord and the huge inline control panel, this is strictly a headphone set for your computer desk, not for walking around.
Performance of Cooler Master CH331
The CH331 headset performs exceptionally well for such an affordable accessory. Provides immersive virtual 7.1 surround sound. For example, while playing The Outer Worlds, I stopped and cleared a campsite to complete a small cooking fire. I slowly rotated the character and could hear the quiet crackling of fire moving from my left side behind me and then to my right ear. In the Raptidons were lurking above and on the cliffs to the left. I could hear them before I saw them.
Unsurprisingly, the CH331 focuses heavily on bone-rattling, explosive bass. But there’s a fair amount of range and separation, and you can clearly hear footsteps and chirping birds while the game’s soundtrack hovers somewhere overhead.
I had the same experience when I switched to streaming music. The bass was impressive and loud, but you could hear Billie Eilish blowing in his ear during Bad Guy.
These aren’t noise canceling headphones and you can hear muffled background noise in the room, especially if you’re listening to a conversation. People can definitely creep up on you if rock music is pounding.
Cooler Master CH331 microphone
The CH331 has a detachable omnidirectional microphone that plugs into the left earbud with a standard 3.5mm stereo jack. It’s attached to a long flexible wire so you can place it where you want it. The mic can be muted with the in-line control.
Cooler Master CH331 features and software
Cooler Master CH331 headphones are designed for plug-and-play use. If you download the optional Master Plus software from the Cooler Master website, you can use the equalizer to adjust your surround sound. Free for Windows 10 and 11.
The equalizer didn’t do much for tweaking the midrange, and the sound profiles for pop music, movies, and games all seemed very similar and bass-heavy.
The software doesn’t have an option for RGB lights, so I’m sticking with the default pattern that cycles through a rainbow of soft colors.
Conclusion
All in all, the CH331 is comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions, and the black-on-black color scheme is a no-brainer for streamers. However, the huge control panel and USB cord mean you’ll want to keep these headphones on your desk rather than outside the real world.
This headset is a bit bass-heavy, but has very decent quality for an entry-level device.With a retail price of $49.99, the CH331 is a budget option for new streamers and gamers looking for cheap surround sound. It will be an easy purchase.
