Additionally, both the Zero and One from Sennheiser have a 50-ohm impedance. Due to their low impedance, they can be connected directly to your phone, laptop, desktop, or gaming console without the use of a preamp, DAC, or headphone amplifier.

It's worth noting that while they do come with an in-built microphone, this only works when you’re connected through Bluetooth - not the USB-C dongle. That’s because the dongle is focused on providing low-latency audio, so there is minimal disruption between what’s happening in your game and what you’re hearing. However, it does mean that you won’t be able to communicate with team-mates online.and, thus, ideal for extended hours of gameplay as well. EPOS achieved the perfect balance in terms of the device’s Some of the Game Zero’s predecessors, with fairly high impedance, required an amp for the audio to be brought up to an ideal level. But with fairly high sensitivity and impedance as low as 50-ohms on the Zero, it is good to go with the on-board audio of pretty much any motherboard. Not having to use any third-party software, equalizer or device to enjoy the sound of your liking is a relief. Next are the comfort features. The over-the-ear cans are oversized and well-padded with a soft leatherette material.

While the build leaves a bit to be desired, the Game Ones are still a pair of headphones that looks good and is comfortable to wear. I would’ve liked to see more considering the price, but, overall, I can’t complain. Features Once upon a time, Sennheiser made excellent headsets for gaming that looked more sophisticated than their RGB-daubed cousins and sounded like they’d been made by a long-established pro audio company - funny, that. Then EPOS took over those lines and refreshed them with an eye on repositioning them juuust slightly more towards the lifestyle market. In terms of soundstage, the Game Zero has focused and directional sound. Some headphones leave the soundstage feeling clustered and it sounds as if the instruments aren’t given their own place within the stage. Upon listening to Nobody by Mitski, I realized that, on the Zero, every instrument has its very own defined place, as if a special slot is reserved just for it. The audio is clear, crisp and sharp and every little detail of the song is delivered on a separate layer. The precise sound that I experienced is expected of studio headphones and for a stereo headset to offer it is highly praise-worthy.Unfortunately, there is little to no difference in sound quality. The Game Ones and Game Zeros are likely built using the exact same internals and, if there’s a difference between the two in terms of sound, I certainly can’t tell. As far as adding virtual 7.1 to a pair of stereo headphones? The GSX1000 is pretty decent. It’s a lot more subtle than the virtual 7.1 implemented by Razer and Logitech—subtle enough you can even leave it on while listening to music, without getting that awful echo-chamber effect I associate with a lot of virtual 7.1. EPOS Sennheiser has been in the audio industry for a long time. In fact, the brand has acquired a position in most audiophiles’ top favorite brands list. EPOS gaming headsets, especially their well-renowned GSP series, maintain a reputation for brilliant engineering in terms of ergonomics, along with delivering impressive, balanced and focused audio. Finally, the audio properties of the Game Zero are tuned with a flatter response curve than headphones intended for pure audio use. This provides a better definition for the broad range of sounds and sound levels typically incorporated in a modern game. Specifications Color Options In terms of earcups, Game One features plush velvet earcups that wrap comfortably around your ears. These oval-shaped earcups make listening to music for extended periods of time more comfortable, as they do not press against your ears.

The audio performance of the Game Zero is outstanding right out of the box. The flat response curve tuning of the drivers provides the sense of a wide audio-scape, allowing the player to discern subtle audio parts like distant sounds or voices. The only true change is that these headphones are collapsible. The metal bracing on top of the ear cups allows them to fold down completely whereas the Game Ones could not. Sennheiser includes a pretty nice carrying case, too. Game Zero comes in at a mid to high priced gaming headset and in a crowded competitive field needs to be Which brings us to audio. After all, we want to know if a gaming headset from a reputable, audio-first brand a safe buy.

Summary

Now to the weird part. You know how epic the dialogues in Mass Effect 3 are. The way Commander Shepard speaks has the conviction that will get you hyped up. When I used GAME ZERO during gameplay, voices sounded distant. After all, you are supposed to be hearing them from right in front of you for the sake of those fiery motivational speeches. Additionally, the ear cups are actually larger. The Game Ones could clamp down on the edge of your ear depending on how you wear them. Such is not the case here, though. The Game Zeros have larger earcups to accommodate, completely sealing off the sound.

The design is similar to the 300s, sure, but the build quality is also great and worthy of the price tag; it's excellently solid, robust, and clamps to your head and ears incredibly comfortably. Even the suede-y ear cups are lovely. And on top of that, you of course get premium Sennheiser audio quality to go with it. One cost issue that bears mentioning is that these are 2.1 stereo headphones, whereas competing headphones in this price range often advertise 7.1 stereo. The metal components of the Game Zero are limited to the hinge that allows the earcups to rotate and to the joint that connects the headband to the earcups. Still, both headphones reproduce all bass elements from your gaming sound very accurately. It is only the bass emphasis that varies. For portability, the Game Zero includes two unique metal pivot joints between the cans and the headband. These joints allow the headphones to be folded flat and stored in the exceptionally thin carrying case – included – for easy transport or storage.The dual TRS connection is intended for use with older laptops, desktop computers, and other systems that utilize two TRS ports for the microphone and headphones. The can mounted audio control is straightforward to locate and adjust with one hand and no eyes, which is an excellent feature when you need to keep your eyes on the game. In a way, yes. But in another way, no. There's a little bit of history between the brand names and how it's all come to be under just the EPOS name now, but the bottom line is that Sennheiser's gaming audio has been folded into EPOS now - and the pedigree remains there. I have very few quibbles overall, and the few that exist also apply to many other (lesser) headsets. This is a damn nice bit of engineering overall, in a no-frills, takes-few-risks sort of way. All on its lonesome The Game Zero earns a wholehearted recommendation for competitive games, or single-player ones where dialogue plays a secondary role. If you’re mostly a role-playing game aficionado, though, you might have to invest in a device that handles voices better — and honestly, just about every headset on our Best Headsets list can do so. Music Performance