Pichau has a slew of releases starting in 2022, and you can bet we’ll review them all.
They released two successors to the famous P851, the P852-ATRIA and the P852-VEGA. In today’s review, we will analyze the ATRIA, its external structure, sound, microphone and wearing comfort. In the end, we will come to a quick conclusion: is this headset worth the investment?
External structure
The P852 ATRIA is an over-ear headphone (over-ear) with closed ear cups. My first impression is that it is a big, strong and powerful product – a feeling that is common when I use it. I’ve used several headphones and few seem to be as powerful as the P852 ATRIA.
When it comes to design, functionality is part of style. Only the part in direct contact with the user is lined, the rest is raw and cold.
The form factor is very similar to its predecessors, the P851 and the HyperX Cloud Alpha S Blackout – so similar, I dare say, they likely share the same machine on the production line.
The top of the headset contains foam lined with fabric at the head contact part. The outer lining is made of a material that imitates leather, and the name “Pichau” is written in plastic letters.
The frame that supports the headphones is made of plastic and lined with a matte rubber material. No part of the headset is made of shiny plastic, which gives the product a very premium look. On the sides of the headphones we have the dove detail, symbol of Pichau, in a black finish without relief.
It’s worth noting that this phone will blend in perfectly with the company’s virtual meeting environment as it doesn’t have any exaggerated “gamer” details. cool.
Cable and connections
We have good news. The P852-ATRIA cable is detachable. In my opinion, this feature should be standard on all headphones over R$200, but it’s not. To quote Pichau’s marketing message: “Ensure comfort and safety […] Adrenaline will never let you accidentally break a headphone cord again.” Pichau’s second headphone, the P852-VEGA, is its brother, the P852-VEGA, although the price is higher than the ATRIA, but without the detachable cable function.
The headphone main line is inserted into P3. The box comes with an extension splitter for connecting to a desktop, and the microphone and headphones are on separate cables (green and pink). This is a great feature as it adds greater portability to the headset. For example, on the go, you will only use a short P3 cable on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. It can also be connected to a console controller if it is P3 compatible. On the computer, you add an extension, the cable becomes longer, and the input is divided into headphone and microphone. Versatility not present in the RGB P852-VEGA version.
This model does not have a built-in DAC, and if it were used in a conventional way, it would be subject to the audio structure of the motherboard of a smartphone, notebook, PC, etc. If you want to use it in another way, like with an external DAC, Vitor has written several articles to help you with this task.
The exposed wires connecting one earphone to the other are paracord type, which makes me happy. It is a necessary booster for one of the most vulnerable parts of the headset, prolonging its lifespan.
On the wire there is a small volume control and a switch to mute and unmute the microphone. This switch is very hard and uncomfortable plastic. If you need to mute the microphone, it’s better to have a hotkey on your keyboard and not rely on that external button. But there was an emergency, and he was there.
I am very happy with the external structure. Of course, only time will tell how durable it really is, but judging by its build, I’d say this headset has been pretty much abused. Of course, it depends on personal opinion, but I personally think he’s handsome. It’s perfect for “all black” player setups without RGB – a growing trend.
comfortable
The pad is made of cloth and there is no discomfort after prolonged use. There’s another pair of pads in the box, but these are made from a synthetic material that mimics leather, not as good as the fabrics that come pre-installed on the product. Still, fabric pads tend to last longer, so you’re less likely to change them.
Sound
I’m going to do a sound test by connecting to the notebook’s P3 input. I warn you, my ears aren’t the best and I can’t identify the bass mids and highs – but I’m used to playing games and listening to music on the Edifier audio monitor so this is based on what I’ll be rating this headphone for sound quality.
Gaming
In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, I was able to hear enemy footsteps and locate them. Now I don’t know if I’m giving credit to the phone or to CS:GO itself, who improved their audio architecture in a recent update, but the problem I’m having is that the footage is too loud and the order is no longer present. Shots are still impactful, but you can turn up the volume to hear footsteps without being deafened when the shot starts.
In Apex Legends, your phone does a great job of helping you figure out which direction the shot is coming from. In GTA V, I didn’t notice any difference. The phone is good and works well. In terms of gameplay, it didn’t disappoint, but it wasn’t a surprise either.
Music
Sound leaks easily through the fabric pad, so if you’re using it in an office environment or around other people, it’s best to keep the sound very low to avoid awkward expressions from colleagues (hehe). I haven’t watched any movies or series with him, but musically I think he’s good. The bass was a little metallic and bland – it wasn’t as full as I’d like it to be. The vocals are very crisp compared to other instruments, and you can hear the detail and richness of the mix, but not as well as high-end audio monitors and headphones. Overall, the phone is very capable and doesn’t lose sound quality at higher volumes, which is typical of budget headphones.
MIC
The audio from the ATRIA microphone is satisfactory and works well. For example, you can use the entire headset to answer calls on your phone because it uses the P3 jack. Also useful for answering important calls at home, for example. But the main function of this headset is gaming, and I can guarantee that your friends will hear your calls clearly.
worth to buy?
I’m not going to buy an ATRIA P852 right now. This is an excellent headset, but the launch price is too high. Instead, Pichau might try to get rid of what’s in stock, the predecessor model P851.
The main difference between them is the upholstery and the detachable cable. Instead of fabric, the P851’s earcups are leather – their cables are permanently attached to the earcups. Other than that, the P851 looks the same, has RGB and currently costs R$329.00 in cash. ATRIA launched it for 449.90 reais.
At this price, the ATRIA is very competitive, especially from HyperX. We have models like the Cloud Core and Cloud II – for sale and I would say well worth the investment.
