X Rocker Monsoon RGB 4.1 Audio Console LED gaming chair review
Who needs a sofa in your gaming room when you’ve got an X Rocker Monsoon gaming chair? My cat, for a start, but this LED and audio-equipped chair is a cool way to complement your existing console setup, giving it a serious arcade vibe.
Unlike X Rocker’s Sparta gaming chair, the Monsoon is not meant for use with a desk; instead, it’s geared towards console gaming. There’s no gas-lift, so you’re meant to perch it in front of your TV, though of course there’s nothing to stop you running your PC through your big-screen television.
The X Rocker Monsoon gaming chair is a breeze to set up. The seat comes in one piece, so you simply unfold it, hook it open, mount it onto the base, then add in the armrests. The consequence of this otherwise convenient arrangement means that there are slight fold marks on the lower back of the chair.
Fortunately, once you fire up the Monsoon, you’ll be too taken with its impressive raft of RGB effects to notice. While the chair spins 360 degrees, there are no wheels to catch the power cable. I did, however, trip over the lead twice before I dug out an additional lead, and I’d have appreciated it being another metre or so in length.
However, the bells and whistles don’t stop there. The Monsoon’s biggest selling point is the built-in speaker system; a pair of left and right speakers and one massive one situated behind you. Yes, you’re literally sitting on a speaker, and that’s the entire point of this chair.
The speaker is so powerful that, not unlike the Woojer 3 Vest, the vibrations go right through your body, especially if you crank the chair’s bass and vibration dials to max. Results vary per game; also like the Woojer, I had impressive results with Robocop: Rogue City, feeling every stomping footstep and exploding head.
The X Rocker Monsoon connects via Bluetooth or audio-in, and for an extra boost you can output the sound to headphones or to another speaker system. But the X Rocker has serious audio chops on its own, and not just when it comes to action games. Horror, too, gets an unsettling boost.
Because of the way the speakers are positioned, sound effects are close and personal. Playing Captured, it felt as if every creak was happening right behind me or, worse still, in my ear. I’d set the chair’s LED effects to react to sound, which absolutely didn’t help. I’d stop short of describing it as surround sound, but it’s effective enough.
The chair’s sound-range isn’t super-expansive when it comes to music and movies, which isn’t surprising since this is built for bass. Switching between game music and movie mode offered some improvement but, outside of games, its sound performance was edged out by the similarly priced Creative Labs Sound Blaster Katana V2X.
Could this have been further improved by tweaking the Monsoon’s sound setup? Possibly, but while the NeoMotion app offers serious control over the chair’s display, there’s zero audio control. The physical controls, mounted on the right-hand side of the chair, are fine when you get used to each button’s location. But it seems odd to offer so much in the way of LED-customisation (30+ patterns and the option to create your own) but neglect any audio options.
The X Rocker Monsoon is very comfortable, with an appropriately positioned neck cushion and just a little lumbar support. It remained comfortable throughout several extended gaming sessions, too. That said, if you have specific back needs, you might find the inability to recline or adjust the chair a deal-breaker.
With its flashy, super-customisable LED effects and powerful speakers, the X Rocker Monsoon RGB 4.1 Audio Console LED gaming chair is amazing and ridiculous in equal measure. It puts me in mind of those hydraulic-assisted arcade machines, where the chair flails beneath you. It’s a shame Afterburner Climax has been delisted because I’d love to have played that with my spine shaking every time a missile hit.
With its £299.99 price tag, you’re paying a premium for its flashy features, compared to more ergonomically flexible chairs. But if you’re looking to enhance your gaming room, and like your gear loud and luminous, the X Rocker Monsoon RGB 4.1 Audio Console LED gaming chair is well worth investigating.
Thanks to X Rocker for supplying a unit for the purposes of this review. The X Rocker Monsoon RGB 4.1 Audio Console LED gaming chair is available to purchase from X Rocker in the UK and other retailers overseas.
