When it comes to gaming, immersion is one of the hardest things to tackle for developers - and since all gamers crave it, high-quality headsets which can aid this experience have become a thriving business. Whether producers are trying to utilize electric currents or wireless capabilities, the creators of the headsets are always trying to put themselves ahead of abundant competition. We've been sitting down with the Sennheiser G4me Zero headset, which hosts some equally-premium qualities at a likewise price. Is it worth it? Read on to find out.
The G4Me Zero - available in white or black - arrives in a sleek black portable shell, a hard carrying case similar to that of Astro's A30 line, which is perfect for those who bring their headsets on the go and don't want to worry about damage and messy wires. The headset itself embraces a clean and simple white-and-black design with hints of red, and fits comfortably over the head via an adjustable headband and 90-degree tiltable ear pads. The entire headset folds in on itself to fit the carrying case, a rare example of flexibility in premium headsets.
The headset comes wired with the standard 3.5mm mic and headset adapters, with more than enough wired length to make it usable in most situations. It's not available in wireless so for mobile usefs, make sure your tablet or laptop device has both a mic and sound jack for 3.5mm if you plan on communicating on the go.
The large ear pads fit very comfortably over the ears - we can't stress that enough - and even after hours of continuous use, do not irritate the user thanks to the light weight (312g) of the unit and this being the first ever gaming headset - according to Sennheiser - with multiple layers of padding in the ear pieces. The G4me Zero does a fantastic job of eliminating background noises in crowded environments, allowing the sound of games, media - and other players - to come through clearly even in a a relatively noisy environment. Similarly, sound doesn't escape to bother those around you. Some of this sound success is due to what Sennheiser dubs "Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement" - a design concept which directs incoming sound right towards your ears.
As for the mic, it is unusually thick compared to other gaming headsets, attached by a highly bendable rubber piece which, as far as we were willing to test, is very durable and sturdy even though the extension is ordinary plastic. When the microphone is tilted upwards, the piece makes a neat click which signals that the microphone is automatically muted like the Astro A50s, a welcome touch to the design, and one we wish more headset producers would use. The incoming volume can easily be controlled from the right ear pad.
Sennheiser boasts about professional microphone quality with their devices and after using it both in-game and just with audio recording, we have to agree that it delivers good audio fidelity. We had perfect sounds on one test, but while recording audio for a podcast, had issues with it blowing out. It'll come down to users playing with their levels and positioning of the mic - and of course, having a top notch sound card to take full advantage
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Sennheiser has built a sterling reputation when it comes to audio equipment, so the G4me Zero has a lot to live up to - and this unit does when it comes to comfort, portability and sound. Whether playing Counter-Strike or listening to iTunes, the headset delivers a crystal clear surround sound experience with virtually no signs of distortion. Even playing at larger volumes, the Sennheiser G4me Zero was able to cope with hectic in-game audio to deliver immersive experiences, even at extremely high volumes.
The Specs
- Frequency Response (Microphone): 50 Hz - 16,000 Hz
- Frequency Response (Headphones): 10 Hz — 26.000 Hz
- Microphone Sensitivity: -38 dBV at 94 dBSPL
- Sound Pressure Level: 108 dB
- Cable Length: 3 m
- Weight: 312 g
- Impedance (Headphones): 150 Ω
In short, the Sennheiser G4me Zero is a good headset. The audio quality meets the needs of gamers and audiophiles and while the design may look bulky, the headset is lightweight, adaptable and extremely comfortable. While we wish there were a wireless option, the $280 price tag might scare away those on a budget, especially given the array of premium alternatives that may offer more features. If the price isn't an issue, the G4me Zero may be for you.
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Follow John Jacques on Twitter @Makelevi.