Alienware is mostly known for PCs, but it’s making an admirable charge into the wireless gaming headset space with models like the 720H ($159.99). This headset features optional wired connectivity, a comfortable design with Alienware-branded flair, powerful sound, and strong directional imaging thanks to Dolby Atmos, though it lacks Bluetooth and a customizable EQ. So while there's a lot to like about the 720H, the $99.99 Razer Barracuda X offers similar sound quality, a better mic, Bluetooth support, and the option to add spatial audio for a modest fee, making it a better buy.

All-Alienware Aesthetics

The 720H is unmistakably Alienware, and not just because of the light-up alien logos on the headset's sides. The unit is available in black or white, with both versions’ circular earcups sporting a flat, glossy black front edge that evokes the company’s Aurora desktop PC line. The boom microphone slightly juts from the left earcup’s front edge and pulls out to reveal a flexible stem. That earcup also holds a 3.5mm headset jack, a game/chat rocker, and a mic mute button along the curved bottom edge. The USB-C charging port sits on the right earcup’s front edge, with a power button, volume wheel, and indicator LED along the bottom edge.

The circular earpads feature dense, soft memory foam covered in breathable fabric, and they feel pleasant against the sides of your head. The headband uses a ski-goggle-like suspension instead of padding, with a wide elastic strap along the bottom. You can adjust the strap to create as much or as little space between your head and the headband. 

Primarily for PCs

The Alienware 720H is designed to wirelessly work with Windows PCs through its USB-C transmitter (a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter is included). The headset also works in wired fashion with the included five-foot, 3.5mm headset cable. That same cable has an inline microphone since the boom mic doesn’t work without power (the headphones work passively through the 3.5mm wire). A five-foot, USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable is also included. Unfortunately, the 720H lacks Bluetooth, a wireless technology you'd expect to see in a $159.99 headset.

The Alienware Command Center app lets you enable the 720H’s Dolby Atmos spatial audio (by authorizing the feature on the separate Dolby Access app) and customize the headset's RGB lighting. In terms of customization, there's not much else. You can tweak the glowing Alienware logos using a variety of colors and effects, but not audio. Instead, you can select a few EQ presets using the Dolby Access app, but that isn’t much compared with other headsets’ software. Razer Synapse and SteelSeries GG offer many more features, for example (the latter provides a full parametric EQ that you can extensively adjust).

Excellent Sound Quality and a Modest Microphone

The 720H pumps out a strong low-end sound. In our bass test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the deep bass drum hits sounded palpably head-rattling. We didn’t detect a trace of distortion at maximum (and unsafe) volume, either.

The opening acoustic guitar plucks of Yes’ “Roundabout” features plenty of low-frequency resonance and crisp string texture. When the track properly kicks in, the bassline stands near the front of the mix with the drums and vocals. The guitar strums, however, sit further back, indicating a scooped out sound signature that sculpts the lows and highs to make up for modest mids.

Dolby Atmos simulated surround works well with the headset’s punchy sound. For example, I easily picked out the direction from which distant gunfire came while playing Fortnite. Crunchy sounds, such as footsteps on grass or snow, sounded clear, as did the high, shimmery whine of nearby chests.

Monster Hunter Rise also sounded great in our tests. The Dolby Atmos imaging provided a good sense of directionality as growling monsters surrounded me. However, my hunter's vocal quips sounded a bit soft due to the headset’s audio sculpting.

The boom mic produces a clear signal, but one with little dynamic range. Our test recordings lacked depth and sounded slightly thin. Still, they were free of fuzziness. This is certainly a capable microphone for voice communication, though you should consider a separate USB mic for serious recording or streaming (or a Razer headset with a superior mic, like the Barracuda X).

The Alienware 720H Is a Good, But Limited, Headset

The Alienware 720H is a solid wireless gaming headset with powerful, sculpted sound and strong surround imaging thanks to Dolby Atmos. The sculpted sound is quite scooped out, though, and the headset lacks many audio customization options found in rivals from Razer and SteelSeries. This is a good headset if you like the Alienware aesthetics and want loud, rumbling surround sound on your head, but we prefer the much cheaper Razer Barracuda X ($99.99) for its USB and Bluetooth support and superior mic. If you're willing to spend more, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless ($349.99) offers USB and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, active noise cancellation, and hot-swappable batteries, while the SteelSeries GG app delivers the most powerful audio customization we’ve seen in a gaming headset.