The latest CRISP. list of the best products to create the Ultimate Isolation Station, with a gaming twist.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of months, you know that unfortunately, we are currently living in extraordinary times. We are forced to stay at home with only a memory of what it was like to have a social life. While for those accustomed to working from home it may just be another day at ‘the office’, others may feel less prepared. This can be seen as a great opportunity to read that book, get some DIY done, organise your wardrobe, or watch every episode of ‘It’s only Sunny in Philadelphia’ – again. All great ways to live that lockdown life. This is also a great time to pick up those sticks and jump into your favourite video game.
Now whether you want to headshot some zombies or dive headfirst into some spreadsheets your workspace is a key factor for comfort and success. So during this time of isolation, we have put together a CRISP list of the best products to create the Ultimate Isolation Station, with a gaming twist.
SAMSUNG 49” CRG9 CURVED QLED GAMING MONITOR
Measuring in at an impressive 49” this super ultra-wide curved display wouldn’t look out of place inside a museum, safely behind a velvet rope. It’s a true testament to quality, innovation and excess. With screen space, the equivalent of two 27”- inch displays side by side, this display beast delivers a much wider view then us muggles are used too.
The Super Ultra-wide 32:9 aspect ratio with a curved screen to fully immerse you into your gaming action, or your spreadsheets if that’s your thing. Being so wide it works just fine for a dual-screen user running various windows or programs at once.
Its picture by picture offers the convenience of PC gaming whilst surfing the web and watching a movie all at once with little to no latency. With an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, and dual WQHD 5120 x 1440, gaming comes out smooth and sharp with no noticeable lag. An eye saving option can be employed to help reduce eye fatigue allowing you to look at it longer with less strain. Not everybody will have the space for something like this but if you do this could be the ultimate window to another world. Don’t just take our word for it, this 2019 CES Innovations award-winning product can speak for itself. Just look at it.
SONOS ONE
Meeting up with friends to see Weird Al Yankovic in concert is NOT an option, so many people will be listening to a lot more music, radio, and podcasts at home meaning that good speakers are a must. The Sonos One offers brilliant sound quality for every room in the house, presented in a neat and portable package.
Sonos One works perfectly with all your favourite services. Stream Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Play and YouTube Music plus many more straight to the Sonos One from all your devices. With an easy setup via Wi-Fi (or Bluetooth) you have full control over this speaker with the handy phone app, AirPlay2 or if you prefer the voice commands, and with Google Assistant and Alexa built-in you’ll always have someone to talk to.
Get adventurous and connect multiple speakers or even a soundbar and create your own surround sound options. In our opinion, this is a nice bit of kit that can fit nicely into any room in any home.
RAZER KRAKEN X HEADSET
Big speakers aren’t always going to be the most appropriate way to hear your music, or immerse yourself into whatever video game has taken your fancy. If you’re sharing space with anyone or just don’t want to annoy the neighbours, good headphones are mandatory so you can game right into the wee hours without offending anybody.
The Razer Kraken X is a great set of headphones seen as a cult classic in the gaming community. Equipped with 7.1 surround sound software so you can experience clean, accurate positional audio when gaming, and engineered with a lightweight form factor for a nearly weightless feel on your head. Plush memory foam cushions, soft headband padding, a cool gel layer, and heat-transfer technology, all lend themselves perfectly to extended gaming sessions.
With a comfortable build and crisp sharp sound, this headset is the way to go. Importantly it has cross-platform capabilities so whatever your preferred system may be, Razer has got you covered.
BELKIN THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCK
Now that you have added a few nice peripherals to your isolation station there are sure to be some stray wires floating about. Smart cable management is not only good practice but it’s safe. Don’t embrace the chaos; add in a docking solution to get all your ports and wires organised.
The Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a single docking station solution. Compatible with Mac and Windows, simply connect your Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C and your laptop to instantly create a powerful work station. Enjoy Ultra-High Definition monitor support, up to 40 Gbps transfer rates, power to your laptop, and support for multiple peripherals via Thunderbolt, USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, SD and Audio ports, all through a single cable keeping everything neat, tidy and easily accessible.
The durable aluminium casing protects the delicate circuitry while presenting a stylish, minimal exterior designed to suit any workspace. Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro supports multiple high-definition monitors just in case one monitor isn’t enough for you.
A nice little addition to keep things organised.
NOBLECHAIRS: HERO SERIES
It’s fair to say that any isolation station ‘wouldn’t be complete if you don’t have a seat’. There are some benefits to swapping out your old dining room chair for something a little more comfortable. It might not seem like the most important purchase in your station but a good gaming chair can last you for many years and importantly offer lumbar support and help maintain good posture.
We like the Noble Chairs Hero series. Featuring a steel frame and aluminium base the foundations are strong but still light at around 30kg, however it can to hold up to 150kg no problem.
The customisable lumbar support feature allows the HERO to adhere to the natural curvature of the lower back resulting in a more natural seating position; making it ideal for long sessions of sitting. It comes in a variety of colours and materials including vinyl, PU leather and real leather with breathable micro-pores keeping it cool and comfortable. The enlarged 4D armrests, memory headrest and premium finish all ooze that German precision associated with quality and excellent craftsmanship. This chair not only looks wonderful but feels resilient and hard-wearing.
CHILLQUIET 17L MINI FRIDGE
Now that your Isolation Station is set up and ready there are only two reasons you should have to leave it now, consumption and expulsion. You’re on your own with the later, but how about setting up a mini-fridge in your station? This way you can stay hydrated and fed without having to get up (walking to get things is overrated anyway).
The ChillQuiet Mini Fridge offers a convenient and stylish way to cool down your favourite beverages. Perfect if you need some extra cooling capacity, this 17-litre fridge is ideal for living rooms, guest bedrooms and offices.
With a wide temperature range of 5°C to 18°C, this compact fridge is ideal for chilling a range of cans and bottles as it features a removable inner shelf and additional shelf unit in the door. This quiet running fridge features a lock and thermoelectric cooling technology for energy-efficient design. Its tiny dimensions 330mm(H) x 384mm (W) x 405mm (D) and 7kg weight make it ideal for complimenting your work/game station. But it is available in multiple sizes so you can go bigger if you have space.
NANO LEAF LIGHT PANELS
To finish off our ideal working/gaming environment, we need a light source. Desktop lamps will never go out of style and will always be practical but the Nanoleaf light panels offer something a bit different.
Add up to 30 panels to this Wi-Fi smart lighting product and bathe any room in gorgeous, colourful light. Achieve the exact ambience you want with its remote control, your phone or voice commands, via Amazon Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It’s designed with mechanical linkers that allow you to create nearly any shape or pattern you can think of.
High-efficiency, integrated audio sensors make your lights react to sound—creating a whole new level of music or gaming immersion if the mood takes. Build your designs to stand out or blend in. Simulate a log fire or go for clean light colours to perk up your mind when you need to concentrate.
These are really cool lighting options not just for your work station but can easily complement any area of the house. You are only limited by your imagination and we love that.
Don’t let these hard times get the best of you. Stay strong, stay positive. For some great reading on how to stay mindful and mentally strong check out this piece by Eloise Martin on ‘why the mind and body don’t get along during quarantine’
