On Our Desk - 17

Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset

Manufacturer: Plantronics
UK Price (as reviewed): £54.99 (inc. VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): $56.99 (exc. Tax)

Decent headsets and headphones are a commodity in high demand in the bit-tech and Custom PC offices and, even though a bunch of us got specially-moulded headphones, we’re still endlessly chasing something better.

And, to save you having to read any further than you absolutely have to, we think we may have just sound the very best in gaming headsets. The Plantronics GameCom 777 headset is utterly fantastic. We love it.

Initial impressions for the GameCom 77 were admittedly a bit sceptical and we thought the chunky, almost over-exaggerated curve of the headpiece was indicative of a simplistic and cheap approach to ergonomics. After trying the GameCom 777 on though we quickly realised how wrong we were, as the headset is supremely comfortable.


Putting these ear-cans on feels like settling in to your usual seat on your couch, slotting right into your worn-in groove, with a can of your favoured tipple and your favourite show on TV. It really doesn’t get better than sipping crème de menthe and watching Blake 7 re-runs, does it?

The curve of the headset may look over-sized and cheap, but when you hold it in your hands it’s clear that it’s anything but. The construction is as solid as a film about Alcatraz and the fit snug, with just the right amount of give in the plastic so that it neither crushes the sides of your head, nor tumbles off when you start moshing.

Even the design of the ear-cups is fantastic, with enough depth in each cup to accommodate even the most tasty-looking cauliflower ears and the surrounding material a sweat-resistant plush felt not even the most determined sideburn can chafe against. There’s a surprising lack of movement in each ear-cup when compared to previous office favourite, the Sennheiser 215 HDs, but in-use it isn’t much of an issue and the 777s are still comfy for anyone wearing glasses.


Getting down the details, the GameCom 777 has a seven foot cable that’s been braided with a quick plastic coating to make it easy to untangle. The wire is punctuated by both a collar-clip and an over-sized volume dongle with a recessed wheel and a microphone mute switch. The microphone itself hides almost invisibly in the headband and can be bent forth and back a few degrees.

The 777 also comes with a Dolby 5.1 surround sound adapter which turns the 3.5mm plugs into a USB connection, but to be honest we couldn’t get much appreciable advantage from using it. The sound quality is fine as it is with just the 3.5mm connection, even if the 777 does have a little less bass than we’d really like.

The microphone is a little disappointing considering how excellent the rest of the 777 is, but it’s sufficient for the task. It’s just a shame that the mike isn’t a little longer and a little more bendy – but maybe we’re just nit-picking.

Verdict: Very much recommended, the GameCom 777 is now our headset of choice and is great for listening to music too. It’s a tad pricey, but offers solid construction and is backed up by a one-year warranty.