OXS Thunder Pro review: Built for immersion

Sound is one of the most important aspects of any gaming hardware setup - from the engulfing immersion of your favourite single-player experiences to the critical placement of enemy footsteps and gunshots in the biggest multiplayer titles.

While headphones and headsets are often the preferred choice, bringing an immediacy of sound to the player, soundbars and sound systems can sometimes provide a better experience with the right products.

OXS' Thunder Pro 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos gaming sound system certainly provides that experience, offering both precision and immersion that is not just limited to gaming but works wonderfully for films and music too.

Breaking down the numbers

Much of evaluating the value of a sound system comes from the intangibles - the weight of the bass, the warmth of the midrange, and the precision of the treble - alongside the feel of the soundstage as it envelops you.

However, there are still plenty of aspects that you can tangibly point towards that indicate the strength and effectiveness of the OXS Thunder Pro. In terms of drivers, it has two 0.75" tweeters, two 2.5" full-range drivers, four 1.5" full-range drivers, and four passive radiators that are situated all across the soundbar's design.

This leads to a system, thanks to the Dolby Atmos design, that is capable of emulating the 5.1.2 surround sound profile in one small device, and while it certainly won't be as effective as a fully separated build would be - it certainly punches far above what you would expect from a device this size.

I would say that it's most effective from a soundstage perspective when used on a desk as part of a PC setup, as being closer to the distanced drivers allows them to give a more immediately wide range of sound - emulating the feel of speakers all around you.

However, that's certainly not to say that it isn't effective as part of a living room or home cinema setup either, as that's frankly where I found myself using the Thunder Pro more often than not. Sitting around six feet away from the device certainly didn't diminish its effectiveness, and I was still able to feel the sound around me, instead of it simply coming from the speakers underneath my TV.

What also helps is the fantastic output power from the device, which combines standard soundbar output power of 80 watts (stretching up to 160 watts peak), with a 40 watts bass output power to create something that certainly has room to manoeuvre in the volume department.

While living in a flat on the middle floor certainly restricts my ability to extend too much when it comes to louder volumes, I never felt like I was compromising on anything when turning it down, as clarity always remained, no matter the volume I set it to.

Furthermore, the bass remained punchy and full, giving so much depth to both games and films which I certainly appreciated. There's a tonne of flexibility when it comes to the bass too if you're finding it too much or too little either way, with an equalizer that goes far both ways beyond the default setting.

Putting it to the test

The numbers do certainly speak for themselves, but the Thunder Pro continued to shine when I actually dove into many of my favourite games. Starting off on the multiplayer side of things, I tested the sound system out in both Counter-Strike 2 and Escape from Tarkov - two of my two most played FPS titles.

Setting the in-built EQ to the 'FPS' setting gave me a clear and precise reproduction of the key sounds I needed to succeed in a game like CS2, and thus it was only my own mechanical skill that let me down this time! Aspects like footsteps were easy to make out, and the fantastic sound staging allowed me to accurately pinpoint where they were coming from.

Something like Escape from Tarkov is also a fantastic test too, as it's as much about the competitive side of things as it is about immersion. I switched between the FPS and Standard EQ settings when playing this and found them both to be fantastic, and it really helped me feel immersed and in the zone whenever I loaded into a raid.

After that I moved over to the single-player side of things, testing out Dragon's Dogma 2 and Elden Ring in my living room setup. Both definitely benefitted from the volume of sound that the Thunder Pro can produce, as the scale of DD2's grand monster fights was elevated even further, and the magnificent boss themes in Elden Ring came to life even more and only heightened the tension of a tough fight.

It also proved to be fantastic when paired with films, TV, and even sports like football. You can really feel the energy of a fired-up crowd with the range this soundbar can create, and films - much like games - benefit hugely from the heightened immersion.

Additionally, I often found myself having to switch on specific dialogue boosting settings with my previous sound systems as the balance always felt a bit off, but I never felt that when listening with the Thunder Pro on the 'Standard' EQ, which was a huge plus for me.

Looking fantastic

While it doesn't affect the sound at all, it certainly helps that the OXS Thunder Pro also looks fantastic both in front of my TV and underneath my monitor. It can almost be treated as a piece of furniture after all, so having something that either looks out of place or simply not up to scratch can make you feel like you don't want to use it.

It certainly feels premium too in addition to looking the part, featuring a mostly metal construction in a dark grey semi-gloss finish that looks sleek and professional. The metal also ensures that it's properly built too, and you can also adjust the height of the detachable legs if the default setting either doesn't look or fits right.

As this is a gaming-oriented product, there are a number of RBG lighting options that surround most of soundbar's the drivers. These can be switched between a wide range of colours and brightness levels -  but thankfully they can also be completely turned off with ease, which I certainly appreciated as someone who isn't exactly a fan of the RBG look.

What also helps the overall presentation of the product - alongside being a brilliant functional standpoint - is the number of different connection options that you can choose from. It boasts Bluetooth 5.0 for that clean, cable-free look, while also offering AUX-in, HDMI-in, HDMI-eARC (which I opted for and was seamless), and also USB-A. There's even the option to connect your microphone, making this perfect for multiplayer when you want to jump on with your friends.

Finally, the device couldn't be easier to control - with two primary methods that suit both a desk and living room setup. It comes with a standard remote that allows you to adjust everything on the fly with ease, but there's also an auxiliary volume dial that you can connect if you're using this at your desk, allowing you to quickly adjust the volume with precision.

The Verdict

The OXS Thunder Pro is certainly on the more expensive end of gaming sound system solutions, but in my eyes (or ears), it's more than worth the price of admission - offering a top-quality experience that excels across a number of different genres and mediums.

It manages to recreate the feeling of true surround sound within the shell of a standard soundbar, and it offers numerous adjustment options to ensure that you reach your very own ideal sound profile.

It can stretch to staggering volume levels without sacrificing anything, but it also excels when you turn it all the way down, sacrificing no clarity and precision in those moments when you can't push it to 11.

Furthermore, it helps massively that it also comes in an appealing visual package, as you'll definitely want something at this price point to look the part at the heart of your living room or desk space.

5/5

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