The Nyko SpeakerCom may seem like a weird idea, but it’s one that comes with a whole host of benefits for a wide range of people. We liked the idea of the device so much that we selected it as part of our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide. And because of that Nyko decided to send us over a unit to take a look at.
The SpeakerCom is a headset alternative, and while many may scoff at the idea, there is a large market that this device addresses. Online gaming is the way of the world, but I’m not someone who really partakes in the activity all that often, or at least not on consoles. I know that there is a sizable part of the gaming community in that same boat, of only being a casual online gamer.
Over the ear headsets are great, but I have yet to find a pair that doesn’t eventually hurt my ears after only a small amount of play time. Couple this with not being heavily involved with the online console scene there was simply no way to justify the purchase of an expensive gaming headset that is limited to only my Xbox One.
There is also the issue of kids playing online. Look, we know that kids are online screaming their heads off, but one issue with that is that their parents never hear just what is going on because of those same kids wearing headsets. The online space can be a very adult place and if I were a parent I’d definitely want to be able to hear what my kids is listening to.
The SpeakerCom solves both of the above problems in a simple and lovely way. The unit connects to the bottom of an Xbox One or PS4 controller and serves as both a microphone and speaker. The price is also just right at just under $25 bucks, so you won’t have to shell out tons of money for something you only use from time to time. The built-in speaker also means parents will be able to listen in on what their kids are doing/hearing.
The unit also features two small paddles on the underside that serve as “push-to-talk” so that your microphone wont be on at all times while you play. When you press a paddle the audio coming through the SpearkCom will cut out so that you know the microphones is active. Both underside paddles serve the same purpose and make it easy for those that favor one hand over the other.
The speaker itself is pretty loud, but don’t expect super high-end sound quality. It gets the job done and should give parents the peace of mind while their kids are gaming online. Streaming online also seemed just fine and nobody said anything or even noticed us using the device. Another neat thing from this Xbox One version is that it’s compatible with Cortana so you can use it to control your Xbox One. It also has a volume wheel tucked away on the bottom lip so you can adjust things on the fly to your liking.
There are also no batteries to fiddle with as the unit chargers via mico-USB with the included cable. And if you have an Xbox One Elite controller fear not, as the SpeakerCom is compatible with those as well. One thing that you should note is that early model Xbox One controllers aren’t compatible with the device becasue of their input. You will need one of the later Xbox One controller with the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Nyko SpeakerCom is a great device for parents with kids that play online, for those that simply can’t justify spending tons money on a gaming headset, or for those, like me, that can’t wear head-sets for long periods of time while streaming. And for $25 this makes for a great stocking stuffer.
Xbox One Version: http://amzn.to/2hxi1al
PS4 Version: http://amzn.to/2gtUOR2
A unit was provided for review
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