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This is less directly about the PC38X and more about high-end gaming headphones as a whole. I already made a post but decided it'd be better here. My question is: Why do Sennheiser and other high-end headphone producers create gaming headphones with subpar microphones? I'll be honest; if you really want bang for your buck, get a pair of these Xiberia V22 Gaming Headphones off of Amazon. Sound quality isn't perfect by any means, but it is certainly more than acceptable, they're very comfortable, and the best part: their microphone is excellent. This is all for a 30$ price point, and I've had 25$ headphones that have all the same features just with less comfort and build quality. Why is it that top-notch headphone manufacturers can't match the presumably incredibly cheap microphones of these most basic gaming headphones? I understand it's not easy to compare Chinese manufacturing to that of western manufacturing, but hell when the price is 6x times that of these cheapos (like with the PC38X), I'd expect at least something of real mic quality. I can pull up side by side videos and it's immediately clear that Sennheiser microphones can not compare at all. So the real question is; what's the limiting factor for Sennheiser? Is it that the limited manufacture quantity makes them outright more expensive, even if certain features are ignored? Does the audiophile community not care for at least simple higher quality audio from their mics? I mean, of course I understand you don't need it, but I got compliments for having a high quality mic when in calls with people, only to tell them it's my cheap headphones; the same can't be said about Sennheisers.
DanielSparten
15
Oct 7, 2020
StuffyMcStuffinsIf you think Sennheiser's gaming headset mics are subpar, you should listen as to what Logitech's G Pro X wireless sound like. I think Sennheiser's mic quality are still passable today. Sure, some are a tad bit better than Sennheiser's, but I don't think the difference is huge to make you sway into buying a different headset unless you're super picky on mic quality or comparing with Logitech's G Pro X wireless. But most people buy Sennheiser because its Sennheiser. Their sound signature is liked by many, not necessarily their mics. People buy Sennheiser's gaming headsets, because they probably just need a mic. One that is acceptable to them. These people are likely just typically consumers who just need a way to chat with friends and family through messaging apps without requiring additional setup or hardware, while still obtaining Sennheiser's audio signature. If you're so concerned with mic quality, you should not be buying $25 headsets or Sennheiser gaming headsets. Get yourself headphones to your liking, and buy a good quality mic like from Blue or Shure.
(Edited)
DanielSpartenI gave you two examples, neither of which were name brand, both of which had far better mic quality than namebrand headphones like Logitech. You evade my point entirely; if a 30$ headset can do it, why can't a 160$? Listen to the audio quality from them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSyyRDS3TK8 I couldn't care less that the mic isn't what people are looking for, but the fact that people tout it as an excellent gaming mic is rather ridiculous. The mic probably cost Xiberia a maximum of 5$, and I bet that would be a high estimate, I'm stunned that Sennheiser, a company that has been dedicated to sound (including microphones), can't produce something that compares, especially when the microphone looks so big and of quality. As for your "tad bit better" comment, this is day and night quality difference that you can tell when wearing earbuds. The quality just isn't there, and I don't see why you'd include such a clunky thing if it's not that great.
DanielSpartenMind you, I have a good pair of headphones and a good microphone. The Xiberia headphones simply outperform the Sennheiser headphones for gaming, there's no way around it. The sound quality just does not provide anything if it does not at least come with a good mic.
DanielSparten
15
Oct 8, 2020
StuffyMcStuffinsI was just giving you a bigger picture and landscape of the quality of mics in gaming headsets, and gave the Logitech as an example. It was never intended to evade the point. Ever thought of exploring and opening up to the bigger world? Go see this for yourself: https://youtu.be/faCeLIoAlRM. If you really think majority of headset's mic quality are subpar, then you're probably super picky on a certain mic signature, a streamer, or an actual audiophile who is in the professional audio side of things. Many (except the Logitech G Pro X wireless, which sounds like you're talking from the Moon) of the headsets in the video are very passable for daily communication with friends and family in apps like Discord and Facetime. Your Xiberia headset doesn't have "day and night quality difference" from many of these headsets. So I don't know what you're hyping about Xiberia's mic quality. It's average and still passable in 2020 at best and there are better mics than this $30 headset comes with. But that's just my opinion. If you feel like a $30 headset fit your needs, then feel free to appreciate your purchase. I've seen the video you linked, even before you linked it here, because you practically posted it everywhere on your profile and seem to really like your headset and its similar counterpart. That's great and it seems like a good valued headset. Nobody, as far as I know, touted the Sennheiser's gaming headsets to have an excellent gaming mic. It's nowhere near excellent. It's just good for 2020 standards in general. People have pointed out that the mic is slowly lacking behind because its pretty much the same mic from the PC37X and the old Game One, which released nearly 6 years ago. But I've said already, Sennheiser headsets like such here, its not primarily focused on mic quality, its the Sennheiser audio signature. I guarantee that's what most of the $170 cost went to, not to the mic. Its the drivers and the sound, the development and engineering to them. That's why people buy them and why they're willing to put that much down. They're familiar with Sennheiser, and the sound of their headphones. And if Sennheiser owners are looking into a gaming headset...Well there's this, the PC38X, which has similar drivers to the GSP line, which people praised for the sound quality but bulky and gamery build. This is practically why this product was made, to be a less bulky, in your face GSP headset. To some people, just as sound quality, the mic quality is, and I quote from your earlier statement on the Xiperia's sound quality, "is certainly more than acceptable." Maybe to you it doesn't, but to some, it does. That's their opinion. To them, $170 of this feels worth to them. And to some, $170 still doesn't cut it. If that's so, then heck, go ahead and spend only $5 bucks on a used headset. Or a extreme $1K headphone with a $1k Boom Mic. Everyone has their preference. Everyone has their standards. Some set standards higher than other, some lower. There's a whole bunch of options to choose from, it doesn't have to be a Sennheiser or a $30 headset. There's a reason why the audiophile community is so sensitive but yet diverse in their own right. Sound preference just vary different from person to person. Budget also varies to others too. But always know, there's always something better in the horizon and nothing is perfect.
DanielSpartenI would agree that the Xiberia headphones don't have some absolutely astounding microphone. My point here isn't to say Sennheiser is bad at whatever, it's simply a question. My point is that the Sennheiser microphone doesn't record sound all too well; it has a rather lackluster low and meh highs. As far as reviews are concerned, the literal first review for the headset states "Audio quality with this microphone is superb", and even he comments on how "it's a little thin on the low end". Yes, there is a matter of taste, but you think you could at least not make the microphone sound like it's out of an Xbox lobby from 5 years ago. When we compare the Sennheiser to the lineup in that video, it's honestly just sad, and though I don't consider it abysmal I doubt anyone genuinely prefers it over most of the rest of the lineup. Yes yes, I agree it's more than acceptable. It's not like you sound like you strapped a piece of tinfoil in the middle of a coil and made a custom microphone setup. It's certainly clear and you can understand anyone who speaks through it, but it's not a flattering microphone at the very least. It's just not clear why they made it the way they did. Acceptable isn't the target for Sennheiser. That's the only part that perplexes me. It's not that these headphones are bad, they're FAR from that. It's merely I would like to know, at the very least, what their thinking was in using this microphone. As for posting that headphone everywhere on my profile, I found that a tad funny, it merely ended up being the point in the first of the two posts I made. I apologize if I inundated you with a cheap Chinese headset.
(Edited)
Nonzilla
94
Oct 11, 2020
StuffyMcStuffinseh, idk. You're paying for the headphone's sound quality. I get what you're saying however IMO the sennheiser's mic's are actually really good. The lows could use a bit more, but otherwise they do a really good job.
StuffyMcStuffins
20
Oct 11, 2020
NonzillaI mean, it's not atrocious, but the very fact that the low is missing is what makes it sound so bad to me. Perhaps as a deeper voiced guy that makes more of a difference to me, but the point still stands, I don't get why they did it.
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