The EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro is a mid-range gaming headset that hits home with some really decent features. Despite the EKSA brand carrying little renown versus the big names of gaming hardware, the headset features large and comfortable earpads that help to create an immersive experience, integrated 7.1 surround sound, and custom tuned 50mm drivers.

Plus, there are a few flourishes of color to bring the headset to life—in alien green, no less. How else would you know it was a gaming headset?!

The EKSA E5000 Pro has quite a few things going for it, but it isn't all clear sailing. Find out what we liked and what irked us in our hands-on EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro review—and at the end of this review, you can enter to win your own!

EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro Style and Comfort

Starting with two of the most important features for any gaming headset: style and comfort. If you're not comfortable when gaming, what good is that?

Thankfully, the EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro's oversized memory-foam stuffed earcups deliver in abundance. I don't have the largest ears, so for me at least, this is a complete over-ear gaming headset, which really helps with passive noise cancellation (more on this in a moment). The cushioning extends to the adjustable headband, which like the earcups, is covered in a soft, leatherette material. The headband doesn't exert undue pressure, but the headset feels secure when you move your head. In fairness, you're not moving your head all that much while gaming, but it's nice to feel that your headset isn't about to go walkabout at an inopportune moment.

The E5000 Pro is slightly heavier than I'd like, weighing in at 325g/11.46oz. It's not outrageously heavy by any means, but you're always ever so slightly aware of their presence rather than them blending into the background. Still, you can absolutely wear them for hours at a time without fatigue, and the padded earcups are no small part of that.

Now, perhaps adding to the weight, the EKSA E5000 Pro are chunky boys. The width from the earcup to the exterior of the frame measures around 2.5-inches, meaning they protrude from your head a decent whack. These are definitely made for sitting down and playing games rather than heading out into town for a stroll. You absolutely could do that, of course, but slimmer alternatives exist.

At the rear of the earcups, you'll find a circular metal mesh covering the EKSA logo, around which is the headset's alien green LED ring. The lighting ring isn't customizable but does pulse a steady, unearthly green glow once you plug the headset into your computer (using the USB-C cable—it doesn't work with the 3.5mm jack cable). Is some of the chunk down to the LED lights? Or is it just extra housing for the E5000 Pro's 7.1 surround sound, drivers, and other bits of tech? Who knows. Either way, the oversized look is an interesting decision and one that somewhat sets the E5000 Pro apart from other gaming headsets.

As is tradition, you'll find integrated controls around the bottom of the earcups (the left earcup specifically). There's a button to switch between stereo and 7.1 surround sound, mute the microphone, and change the volume. The proximity of the buttons does mean you're liable to adjust the volume while switching between audio modes, but it's not a huge issue. As this is a wired headset, the USB-C input is also located here, and the detachable boom microphone input.

EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro Connectivity

The E5000 Pro is a wired gaming headset, which many people prefer. In the box, you'll find a few different wired connection options, handy for connecting to various gaming devices. The options are:

• USB-C to USB-C
• USB-A to USB-C female extension
• 3.5mm jack

It's a good array of connection options, so you can use the EKSA E5000 Pro with any gaming hardware, including your PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or even smartphone.

EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro Sound Quality

Now, onto the main concern: how does the Star Engine E5000 Pro gaming headset sound?

If you want the TL;DR, it's a mixed bag. At times, the E5000 Pro sounds decent enough, the custom-tuned 50mm drivers working well to push audio with good quality. The out-of-the-box high-end tuning is pushed way too high, making certain tracks sound awful; while at times, the bass is also lacking. However, you can adjust the EQ using the EKSA desktop companion app. After creating a flat EQ, the E5000 Pro sound much cleaner, doing away with the additional tuning that EKSA has heaped onto the listening experience. There is still some missing bass and issues with treble, but the E5000 Pro sound is overall of decent quality.

That's when you're in stereo mode, listening to music. You can switch between stereo and 7.1 surround sound using the button on the earcup, or you can plug the headset into your computer and adjust the sound using the companion app. One thing to note is that the surround sound and customizable EQ are only available using the USB cable and not with the 3.5mm cable. Furthermore, at the time of review, the EKSA desktop app is only available for Windows users, meaning macOS (or Linux) users have no option for customization of any kind, which is a definite limitation of the E5000 Pro.

Back to the 7.1 surround sound. Like the overall sound quality, the E5000 Pro surround sound also works well. As we've come to expect, switching to 7.1 surround sound while gaming should deliver greater immersion and help you pick out additional sounds around you, placing them more spatially within the headset. Creating an amazing, immersive surround sound experience within an earcup spanning 1.5-inches by 2.5-inches is never easy (and it's not a feature I would recommend focusing on when buying a new gaming headset!), but the E5000 Pro surround sound works and does give you some indication of where you are in the world, where gunshots are coming from, and where someone might be moving nearby.

Now, while the EKSA E5000 Pro headset doesn't have active noise cancellation, its oversized earcups provide a decent amount of passive noise cancellation. It won't block everything out (not that ANC does that anyway), but at the very least, it'll stop some background noise from leaking into your gaming experience. Things like doorbells, phones, and so on are muted, but you'll probably still hear people talking nearby unless you crank your volume up to intolerable levels (which you absolutely shouldn't do).

EKSA Desktop App

You can customize the EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro sound using the desktop app.

Download: EKSA 7.1 Surround Sound Drivers for Windows (Free)

Once downloaded and installed, connect your E5000 Pro using one of the USB cables. It should recognize the headset instantly. From here, you have options to customize the surround sound or the stereo audio options. With each audio option, you can adjust ten different channels to create a custom EQ, and you can create several different EQs depending on your preferences.

The EKSA desktop app is a handy addition and is recommended if you buy the EKSA EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro.

Should You Buy the EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro Gaming Headset?

The EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro retails for $99.99. Now, I'd never heard of EKSA before the Star Engine E5000 Pro landed on my doorstep, but have been pleasantly surprised with a couple of key features.

First up, comfort. While the oversized earpads are a little stuff on a warm day (and we've just had a 104°F heatwave in the UK), overall, these are a really comfortable set of gaming cans that you'll wear for hours while gaming. And when it comes to long gaming sessions, comfort is paramount.

Second, the sound quality of the E5000 Pro is decent, especially when you make a few adjustments using the EKSA desktop app. The out-of-box audio profile will appeal to some, and you have the option to switch things up if it isn't. Having the option to adjust your EQ makes a big difference to your experience.

So, these might not be mind-blowing gaming headphones, but they certainly deliver enough that you won't feel shortchanged, especially if you can pick them up on a deal or sale.