Sennheiser GAME ONE EPOS I Gaming Headset, Open Acoustic, Noise Canceling Mic, Flip-To-Mute, XXL Plush Velvet Ear Pads, Compatible with PC, Mac, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Smartphone - Black (506080)
I wanted to write a review, not just about these headphones, but comparing them to the G4ME ZERO. I originally bought the G4ME ONE, and upon waking up the next day I realized I had bought the wrong ones. I wanted the closed version. So I ordered the ZEROs right away, and within days I had $400 worth of headphones on my desk. First of all both sound absolutely fantastic paired with a proper amplifier I gave the ZEROs a good test with a few long gaming sessions and listening to music I was impressed with the sound quality they sounded great. Gaming is where I ran into trouble. I usually use closed-back headphones, but I've always used cheaper ones, which don't isolate sound as well as headphones from better quality. Matches sounded good, but talking to teammates was very awkward. They're so well isolated that I can't hear myself talking. At all. Cover your ears with your fingers and try to hold a conversation with someone , exactly like that. Even turning on the stereo mix setting that lets you hear yourself quietly through the mic, it wasn't enough. I just couldn't stand it. Step into the G4ME ONE. I finally unboxed my G4ME ONEs today and plugged them in. The sound quality is close to both, but these seem to be a little cleaner, especially in the low end. On the ZEROs the bass was very slightly "detached" from the mids, if that makes sense. frequencies seem to blend better. They are exceptional. The mids and highs are crystal clear, the bass is clean and punchy but not thunderous in the extreme lows. They sound very natural all around. A small downside on both headsets is that the volume wheel on the right earcup doesn't go to 0 volume it only goes down to about 25% volume which is a bit irritating if you want to do quickly silence your headphones. A few other differences between the two are that the ONEs are all plastic, while the ZEROs have a connecting metal rod. the earcups to the headband. How much that actually adds to the structural integrity, I don't know. The ZEROs also come in a carrying case (which no one in their right mind would use) and so the earcups rotate 90 degrees to fit the case. The ONEs only rotate a few degrees, which is fine with me. The ZEROs win hands down in comfort; they're like soft, leather-wrapped pillows around your ears, and they are large, but my ears got very hot very quickly (and I wore them in a ~55-60 degree house). The ONEs have slightly smaller felt cups and are a little denser but no temperature issues .Other than that, they are very similar. In summary, the ZEROs would be ideal if you're just listening to music (but then why are you buying headphones?), and heat isn't an issue for you. For all-purpose use, the ONEs are the clear winner here , at least in my opinion. The sound is amazing and slightly better than the ZERO, they are very comfortable, and if you need to talk or hear a fire alarm go off, you can. They don't suffer from the problems warmth and feel reasonably durable. Overall very, very happy. ZERO Advantages: - The most comfortable helmet I have ever put on. - Excellent sound insulation. ZERO cons: - Excellent sound insulation. So good it becomes a problem to talk. - They get VERY hot, very fast.. no breathability. Pros: - Ever richer, smoother sound. - I can hear myself talking. - Ears stay nice and coolONE Cons: - Due to the open design, you can hear the outside world quite clearly. - Slightly larger ear cups firm and slightly smaller. Fabric (microfiber?) instead of the amazing leather-wrapped celestial marshmallows in the ZEROs. Still very comfortable though. The two advantages: - Incredible sound quality. - High quality braided cord, tangle-free. - Mic turns off/on when you flip it up/down. The two downsides: - The volume wheel only goes from ~25% to 100%, not 0%. I have mine paired with a Sound Blaster Z sound card. Don't try, I repeat, *DO NOT* try to run them without a spare sound card, they will sound terrible. The onboard audio controller on motherboards doesn't provide enough power to drive them properly and is often accompanied by a good amount of electrical interference. And don't buy a $20 sound card either, those usually don't offer more amplification than on-board audio.UPDATE (9/2017): After approximately 2.5 years (warranty is 2 years), the fabric on one of the ear cups split at the seam.See photo below -attached. Pity. Sennheiser sells spares (model HPZ 26) but I have no idea how you're supposed to put them on. Unlike other headphones, these seem to be permanently attached.