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  • EPOS I Sennheiser GAME ONE 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)

EPOS I Sennheiser GAME ONE 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 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 off, both sound absolutely fantastic paired with the right amplifier. I tested the ZEROs well with a few long gaming sessions and listening to music. I was impressed with the sound quality, they sounded great. The game 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 higher quality headphones. Games sounded good, but talking to teammates was very awkward. They are so well isolated that I cannot hear myself speak. At all. Block your ears with your fingers and try to hold a conversation with someone, just like that. Even turning on the stereo mix setting that lets you hear yourself quietly through the mic wasn't enough. I just couldn't bear it. Enter 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 midrange, if that makes sense. On the ONEs, the frequencies seem to blend better. They are exceptional. Mids and highs are crystal clear, bass is clean and punchy but not thunderous in the low end. 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 around 25 per cent volume, which is a little irritating if you want to 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 earbuds to the headband. How much that actually adds to 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 ear cups rotate 90 degrees to fit the case. The ONEs only turn a few degrees, which is fine with me. The ZERO win hands down in comfort; it's like soft, leather-wrapped pillows around your ears, and they're big, 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 just listen to music (but then why are you buying headphones?), and heat isn't an issue for you. For all-around use, the ONEs are the clear winner here, at least in my opinion. The sound is amazing and slightly better than the ZERO, they're very comfortable, and if you need to talk or hear a fire alarm go off, you can. They don't suffer from heat issues and feel reasonably durable. Overall very, very happy. ZERO Pros: - The most comfortable helmet I've ever put on my head. - Excellent sound insulation. ZERO Disadvantages: - Excellent sound insulation. So good that it becomes a problem to speak. - They become VERY hot, very quickly.. no breathability. Pros: - An ever richer and more fluid sound. - I can hear myself talking. - The ears stay nice and coolONE Cons: - Due to the open design, you can hear the outside world quite clearly. - Slightly firmer and slightly smaller ear cups. Cloth (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. - The 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. Do not, I repeat, *DO NOT* try to run them without a spare sound card, they will sound terrible. The onboard audio controller on motherboards does not provide enough power to drive them properly and often comes with a fair amount of electrical interference. And don't buy a $20 sound card either, these usually don't offer any more amplification than on-board audio.UPDATE (9/2017): After about 2.5 years (the warranty is 2 years old), the fabric on one of the ear flaps split at the seam. See attached photo. Shame. Sennheiser sells spares (model HPZ 26) but I have no idea how you're supposed to put them. Unlike other headphones, these appear to be permanently attached.