There comes a moment in every reviewer’s journey when a product makes them question what they’ve been settling for. That moment arrived for me with the Fractal Design Scape — a wireless headset that doesn’t just impress as a debut effort from a brand better known for its PC cases and cooling solutions, but redefines what a first-generation headset can be.
Scape isn’t flashy, and it doesn’t try to be. There’s no excessive RGB, no overblown bass tuning masquerading as “cinematic.” Instead, Fractal offers a headset that delivers superb audio balance, minimalist Scandinavian aesthetics, and clever design choices — all wrapped in a mature, refined package that performs far beyond expectations.
Design & Comfort: Understated but Intentional
Available in two tones — Dark and Light — Scape embraces a subdued matte finish that resists fingerprints and skips the overused “gamer” aesthetic. The subtle RGB accent lighting, hidden around the base of each earcup, complements the clean design without shouting for attention. It’s there if you want it, but easily disabled for power savings or a sleeker look.
Comfort-wise, Scape fits snugly but comfortably. The memory foam band and fabric earcups create a seal that avoids pressure points, even over long sessions. After a few minutes, it becomes easy to forget you’re wearing them — even after eight-hour gaming marathons. There’s no active noise cancellation (ANC), which may disappoint fans of ambient transparency modes, but excellent passive isolation compensates admirably, turning background noise into a distant murmur.
Controls & Connectivity: Thoughtful but Room to Refine
Controls are split across both earcups and generally well-executed. The left cup houses a multifunction volume dial (tap once to pause, twice to skip, thrice to rewind), along with Bluetooth and power toggles, and mic mute. On the right, EQ and RGB controls offer quick access to presets — all without needing software, a welcome touch for plug-and-play users.
One nitpick: the RGB toggle could easily be merged with the EQ button to save space. Still, for a first outing, the overall design feels impressively complete and ergonomic.
The magnetic 2.4GHz charging cradle is both stylish and practical. It removes the friction of fiddling with cables while doubling as a sleek desk accessory. A USB-C port is also included for charging on the go. The only major omission is a 3.5mm audio jack, which would’ve been a welcome addition for users integrating with external mixers — a niche, but increasingly relevant, use case.
Audio Quality: Rich, Expansive, and Surprisingly Audiophile
This is where Scape earns its keep. The headset delivers an expansive, immersive soundstage — especially notable for closed-back headphones. Playing Rainbow Six Siege X, I could pinpoint enemy movement and environmental cues with uncanny precision. There’s no artificial reverb or bloated bass; just clean, directional sound.
Music playback is equally impressive. In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, orchestral highs and electronic lows seamlessly dance across the drivers. The 2025 remaster of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge revealed new detail in familiar tracks, highlighting how well Scape handles both mids and lows without muddying the mix. Bass hits with authority, but never overwhelms. Vocals stay focused and present. It’s an honest tuning — not designed to impress in a showroom, but to perform across genres and applications.
Most impressively, all of this comes via 2.4GHz wireless. The signal is stable, low-latency, and free of compression artifacts. Bluetooth 5.3 is also supported and performs admirably, though older devices may bottleneck the experience.
Microphone Quality: Clear, Reliable, and Versatile
Wireless headset mics are often the Achilles’ heel of an otherwise premium device. Scape avoids this trap with a clear, detachable superwide microphone that mutes with a simple flip. It’s malleable, sturdy, and provides consistent voice clarity without digital harshness. It won’t rival a desktop XLR setup, but it’s head and shoulders above most gaming headset mics.
A secondary omnidirectional mic is built in for on-the-go use, but there’s a noticeable drop in fidelity. Still, it’s serviceable for quick calls or mobile sessions.
Related topics: