This review of the Cougar E-Star 140 gaming desk is going to be a bit unconventional. Why? Because nearly half of the information I’ll share will focus not on the Cougar E-Star 140 itself but on camera work and my personal rules for video production.
However, I believe this is important. As a full-cycle video editor, I handle everything myself—from scripting to creating title sequences. Certain gaming-oriented components, like the ASUS ROG Scar 15 or the Cougar Dualblader, do assist in this process. But two months ago, I never would have guessed that a height-adjustable gaming desk could actually help me earn a living.
Technical characteristics
- Tabletop size: 1400×600×15 mm
- Monitor stand size: 700×220×15 mm
- Height from the table top to the monitor stand: 80 mm
- Height range: 720-1170 mm
- Mouse pad according to the size of the table: present
- Removable monitor stand: present
- Covers for transmission shaft and motor: present
- Cable management tray: present
- Hook for headset: present
- Total load capacity: 60 kg
- Load capacity of the monitor stand (included in the total): 15 kg
- Weight: 24 kg
Video review of Cougar E-Star 140
Market position
I initially planned to start by saying that the Cougar E-Star 140 is just an average height-adjustable gaming desk. But then I realized that’s not entirely accurate. It’s actually quite surprising, considering that for $220 or €210, finding an electric height-adjustable desk with a 140 cm tabletop is quite a challenge.
Assembly process
Assembling the desk comes with its pros and cons. On the positive side, the packaging is impressive, the instructions are detailed, everything you need is included, and the necessary tools are provided. However, I didn’t like that some screws have a non-standard hexagonal size, making it challenging to use a power drill or an electronic screwdriver for assembly.
What saved the day for me was that these screws could almost be fully tightened using a rounded 1/4-inch-to-4mm bit adapter. Essentially, I got lucky and rolled a Nat20 on my skill check, managing to tighten the hex screws with a rounded bit.
Specifications
The specifications of the table are most satisfactory:
- The width is 140 cm and is achieved by two modules of 1.5 mm carbon fiber laminated MDF
- Depth – 60 cm
- Weight – 24 kg
- The lifting height ranges from 72 to 116 cm, which means that it is a full-fledged table for working either sitting or standing.
The control module is quite decent. It not only allows you to save two height presets on M1 and M2 but also features a reminder function that prompts you every 30, 45, or 60 minutes to stand up, take a break, and stretch. The reminder is executed by abruptly adjusting the desk height by 5 mm.
Yes, the Cougar E-Star 140 lacks RGB lighting and doesn’t feature a cutout for cable management, which some might see as a drawback. However, for my specific needs, this omission is almost a requirement. The maximum load capacity is only 60 kg, so standing on the desk like a ladder is out of the question. Additionally, the power supply for the lifting mechanism is a rare 29V1A DC 5525/5521 type. Thankfully, it’s not proprietary, but finding a replacement would likely mean turning to AliExpress. This isn’t a major issue—just something to keep in mind.
In my opinion, the value of the Cougar E-Star 140 is well-compensated, especially considering its price. First, it includes a 140 cm desk mat that covers the entire width of the desk. Second, the package comes with not only a headphone mount but also a monitor stand. While the stand is relatively simple in design, it is sturdy and can be positioned anywhere—centered or shifted to the left or right—depending on your needs.
Part of the assembly
It’s also worth mentioning that I received additional Cougar accessories for this desk. Well, not specifically for the desk, but rather for a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2-themed setup. Specifically, I’m talking about the Bloody X5 Pro, Bloody B820R, and the Bloody B-088S mouse pad.
Let me remind you: the mouse is balanced for casual gamers—not overly complicated, not too expensive, but still high-quality and functional. The keyboard is a full-sized mechanical model featuring proprietary Red switches. Personally, I adore Red switches, and when it comes to budget-friendly mechanical keyboards, they’re my top choice.
Even my wife liked them, which is great because these components ended up with her, not me. Unlike the desk, of course… that’s what I’m using for work.
Why the table is useful
There are a few reasons for this, and the first one relates to the fact that I shoot videos with the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX camera. You might not have noticed, but my shooting style is quite simple. It usually consists of two or three camera angles. The first one is a man-made dolly shot from left to right, which I call a “pan.” I don’t even do this in post-production. It’s done directly in-camera, and it’s called “Live Cropping.” Yes, you need to switch to manual focus because autofocus tends to mess up in this mode, but it really saves me a lot of time.
The second angle is a real-time shot where I test things like the keyboard or the fan noise. In this case, I don’t even move the camera because, as long as there’s movement or action within the frame, there’s no need to adjust the shot.
Another shot is the orbit. This involves holding the camera, tilting it at a specific angle, and circling around the object. While the previous shots mainly required proper lighting and the right angle, the orbit is more of a physical challenge because you need to keep the camera steady. This is where different cameras start to face issues, but I have theories rather than clear answers on why that happens. Nonetheless, the main theory is as follows.
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When Panasonic states that their camera features 5-axis IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), they mean that the camera is designed to minimize vibrations along certain axes. However, even the 5-axis stabilization doesn’t account for forward-backward movement. It compensates for tilts and jumps, but not for simple shifts in the forward direction. The issue arises when I’m performing an orbit shot around, for example, a mouse— I need to move away from it and toward it. This type of movement isn’t compensated for by the stabilization.
What can compensate for this? It’s a tricky question because different sources provide varying answers, and there isn’t a clear consensus. It may even depend on the camera, as I’ve experienced with the Canon EOS R6, which handled micro-forward-backward movements much better than my Panasonic. However, theoretically, a lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) could help mitigate this issue.
OR! Changing your grip on the camera. If you’re holding the camera with your arm even slightly extended, without a strap or anything, you’ll experience micro-shakes much more frequently than if you keep the camera pressed against your body. This isn’t always feasible, as monitoring the screen becomes more difficult. However, this is where an adjustable-height desk can actually help.
When the desk is at a standard height of 77 cm, the camera will be positioned in a way that forces you to twist your arms awkwardly. But when the desk is at 116 cm, you can hold the camera in a more natural position, without leaning your torso or putting strain on your back. The less strain you have, the less likely you are to experience natural tremors. It’s not a coincidence that it’s said a relaxed stance is more stable.
So, the higher the desk, the easier it becomes to shoot a flyby. Of course, this depends on the device and the background, but that’s where the Cougar E-Star 140 comes in, offering an adjustable height range from 72 to 116 cm. You can choose whichever height suits you. PLUS, I’ve added a fourth angle to the three main ones I use.
Changing the height
If you press the “up” or “down” button, the motor will run until you stop it, meaning you don’t need to hold the button. The desk moves smoothly enough that you can raise or lower not just the camera or object, but the desk along with the object.
Shooting with vertical axis displacement is probably the most challenging of all. The Cougar E-Star 140 allows you to do this almost effortlessly.
Conclusions
As a gaming desk, the Cougar E-Star 140 is an excellent option. If you don’t need RGB but require a wide desk for both standing and sitting, along with a monitor stand and additional features, this desk is fantastic for its price. It even comes with a full-length mouse pad.
However, if you’re an operator working in a small studio, consider this option. Yes, you’ll need to remove the monitor stand. Yes, you’ll need to take off the mouse pad and seal the gap in the desk with vinyl wood-effect film – fortunately, they cost around $5. But this desk can not only simplify your shooting process, it can also change your approach to video creation in general. I recommend it.