I recently had the pleasure of checking out some of ICON's Rock Series product line - specifically the ICON Wireless Microphone, the ICON Rock Throne Drum Stool and the ICON Mic Stand. Read on for the full scoop.
First off, let me say I was extremely impressed with the build quality of all three products. Considering the retail price of the accessories, I was expecting a level of quality far below what I actually received. The products are solid, and feel like expensive "real" musical accessories. I will dip into each of the products in detail over the next few paragraphs.
The first accessory I checked out was the ICON Wireless Microphone. After working my way through the blister packaging I found myself with the mic in hand. The microphone itself has a very solid feel to it, much more so than the USB microphones bundled with the popular band/singing games. Part of its weight is obviously due to the fact that it's wireless, but it adds to the feel of a quality piece of hardware in your hand. It comes bundled with a USB receiver that has a switch to select Xbox 360/Wii or PS3/PS2/PC. This is the portion of the device that plugs into the console. The microphone itself has a detachable bottom where you either attach the (long) USB charging cable, or the little rubber antenna. After a 15 hour initial charge I was on my way.
The microphone was instantly recognized by my Xbox 360, and sounded as good as the wired Rock Band microphone which I had been using previously. The microphone and USB receiver have "auto-scan" buttons on them to change the channel if you are receiving interference from other wireless devices in your home, but even in my tech-heavy home, it sounded crisp and clean without having to channel scan. The microphone has a power switch that allows you to turn on or off the microphone, as well as mute it. The packaging claims 15 hours of play time, or 25 hours of standby time (where the microphone is on, but not actively being sung into). I did not test the full charge time, but after over 6 hours of playtime the microphone sounded as good as it did after the initial charge.
If you are looking to replace the USB microphone you already have, or are just looking for a quality wireless alternative, the ICON Wireless Microphone is definitely a solid performer and worth much more than its retail price.
The second accessory I tried was the ICON Rock Throne Drum Stool. Previously my Rock Band sessions involved the drummer sitting on a conventional chair, and certain pain was always felt in the calf after a long session. After trying the Rock Throne I know why drummers use this type of seating.
After opening the packaging, there are 3 components to the stool. There is high-quality chrome tripod folding stand which makes up the base. It has a heavy build quality, and comes with rubber feet on each of the legs. There is then a 3 position shaft which attaches to the base, from which you can select the height which the seat should be at. Finally you attach the seat itself to the top of the shaft, and you have a complete throne.
The seat itself is quite well cushioned, and is covered with either leather or leather-esque material (if it's not real leather, I was unable to tell the difference). The seat has the option of being locked into position, or can be left unlocked to allow you to spin a bit in the seat. I preferred it spinning, but both methods were comfortable. The first thing I noticed is that it allowed me a more natural spread leg position on the Rock Band kick-pedal, which made it feel like less of a chore to repeatedly kick. That, combined with being at the correct height for drumming, left my calf feeling fine, even after hours of continuous playing, something which wasn't possible with a "normal" chair. If you are currently playing on a chair and are feeling discomfort, or are just looking for a more realistic drumming experience, the ICON Rock Throne Drum Stool is sure to please. Similar to the microphone, it feels like you are getting a tremendous value for your dollar considering the high quality of the device.
The final accessory I checked out was the ICON Mic Stand. I often find myself doing both the guitar and singing parts on Rock Band, and have previously had to tuck the microphone into the collar of my shirt for an uncomfortable, and clearly stupid looking, method of doing the two simultaneously.
Like the other ICON products in this review, the stand has a solid build quality to it. It comes bundled with a 10 foot USB extension cable, in case you are using a wired microphone, and has cable management on the shaft of the stand.
The base of the stand is a wide tripod with rubber feet, allowing for really solid footing. The stand then has two thumbscrews that allow you to telescope it to the correct height. At the top of the stand sits the "universal" microphone holder which was easily able to hold the wireless mic, the Rock Band mic, as well as a couple other mics I had lying around the house.
For guitar playing it was perfect. I was able to adjust the height to be right at mouth level, and was easily able to sing and play the guitar at the same time. The only downside I saw is when it came to the drums. I adjusted the mic to the appropriate height for drumming, and put it as close to my left side as possible. Thanks to the long legs it was easy to fit it between the stool and drums, but even then I had to lean my head slightly to the left to sing into the mic. It would have been nice if the bottom thumbscrew controller telescoping, and the top one acted like a boom, to swing the microphone in front of your face on drums, but even with its current design it's still usable for drumming and singing simultaneously.
For anyone that wants to multitask, and sing along with playing an instrument, the ICON Mic Stand is a high-quality, cost-effective solution. Although not perfect for drums, it is flawless for using along with the guitar. Oh, and did I mention you can still use it even if you are just singing. :)
Overall I was quite pleased with the three ICON Rock Series peripherals I had a chance to play with. I was really impressed with the value you receive for the quality of the products. All three exceeded my expectations on build quality, and I see all three holding up well under constant use. Aside from the minor inconvenience of using the mic stand while drumming, I would definitely recommend all three of these products.
You can see the rest of the ICON product line at http://www.i-con-products.com .
Derek
