Is the PC37X open-back or closed-back? The PC37X is an open-back headset.
This means that there is no physical structure that envelops the back of the drivers. In general, open-back headphones have a superior soundstage when compared with closed-back headphones. This is because a closed ear cup produces reflections in the sound. This means the perceived location of a sound is more precise, which is specifically important in gaming (think CS:GO).
What are the drivers in the PC37X? How is the sound quality?
The Massdrop x Sennheiser PC37X uses the same drivers as the Sennheiser PC 373D.
Regarding sound quality, the PC37X is very comparable (if not superior to) audiophile headphones in the same price point, and it sounds better than the vast majority of gaming headsets.
How is the mic quality?
The PC37X has one of the best mics among headsets that we’ve tested. Most complaints for gaming headset mics are a result of either hardware issues (manufacturers using cheaper parts or making suboptimal design decisions) or software issues (manufacturers adding an on-board soundcard or proprietary software that performs poorly). On the hardware side, the PC37X contains a mic that is designed specifically by Sennheiser (which has extensive experience as a microphone developer and manufacturer) for high-volume, low-distance recording. On the software side, the PC37X has no signal processing and outputs straight into the mic jack on your motherboard or soundcard, therefore avoiding any potential issues.
Is the cable removable?
Yes, the cable is removable and replaceable.
I plugged in the PC37X and the sound or mic doesn’t sound right/good?
Most issues that users have experienced are due to problems with their computer hardware or software setups. Unfortunately, it can be hard to diagnose the specific reason or root cause. @acey for example has written a reply to help solve one user’s problems (*1).
One thing to mention is that, it’s generally recommended to plug the headset directly into the sound card (as opposed to using front panel audio ports) in order to minimize interference.
Does the PC37X work for console gaming (PS4, Xbox One, etc.) or mobile or mac?
Yes, however, you will need an adapter or a separate cable. The included cable ends in two jacks (headphone & microphone) whereas most consoles/phones have one port that takes a TRRS (4 pole) AHJ/CTIA standard 3.5mm jack.
If you want an adapter, something similar to this one (*2) should work. For Macs, something similar to this one (*3) should work.
If you want something more sleek, you can get a cable that plugs straight into the headset and ends with a TRRS jack. Something similar to this one (*4) would work.
Is there a limited amount of units available?
Yes, for the second production run, we are limited to 600 units. We are currently working with Sennheiser to increase the limit.
Will this drop be available internationally? What will be the shipping price internationally?
Yes, the drop will be available to all international countries that Massdrop ships to. International shipping will be around $15.
We will continue to add to the FAQ as more questions arise.
*1: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-pc37x-gaming-headset/talk/1618390*2: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/pcv-05*3: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/pcv07*4: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/accessories--unp-console-cable--game-one--game-zero
If you look at the frequency response stat and compare it to that family of drivers you'll see it matches the HD555. A little disappointing to be honest.
I wanted to chime in on this drop. I own a pair of the Sennheiser GAME ONEs, and this pair looks almost identical in structure and specs.
First, the GAME ONEs are exceedingly comfortable. At the time I bought them I had never (and probably still haven't) worn a more comfortable pair of headphones. I now use my HD 650s and the Antlion ModMic 5 together as my primary headset, but I'm not going to be getting rid of the GAME ONEs yet, because the GAME ONEs are slightly more comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Another thing I like about these gaming headsets from Sennheiser is the hardware mute function. Flicking the mic up out of your way engages the hardware mic mute, preventing noise in your room (like mom or a significant other) from getting broadcast to your teammates (or, preventing Cortana from analysing all of the talk going on in your home).
Because they use 50ohm drivers, your average motherboard soundcard is not generally going to be powerful enough to generate the power to really give you the full frequency response and volume you expect. This is generally from where bad reviews of sound quality come. I would recommend that these headphones be paired with a quality USB DAC and headphone amp. I have been using the Sound Blaster E5, but even something relatively cheap like the Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 sounds far better than onboard sound from the motherboard (I used this for a few months before I got the E5).
The detachable cable is awesome to have. I've almost yanked the headphones off my head more times than I can count, but instead, the cable just gets disconnected from the headphones. If they had used a permanently-attached cable (especially if it didn't have the braided sheath for protection) I might have already ruined my headset.
I'll also do a quick expression of gratitude for the hardware volume knob. I've saved my hearing a couple of times when I had forgotten that I was listening to music loud the night before and the music player volume had been low, while the volume was adjusted using the main Windows "master" volume. Then I open a game or a Youtube video with its volume maxed and reach in reflex for the headphones, finding the volume knob. If it had used software sound control, the volume adjustment would wait for the computer to register the adjustment, then lower the volume one step at a time. With the hardware control it is instantaneous.
Finally, my main recommendation when it comes to gaming headsets is that you choose a [pair] of headphones/headset with two high quality drivers and use virtual surround over a headset with 6-10 smaller, cheap drivers to create a "real" (this is arguable, anyway) surround effect. If you spend the money on a couple of high quality drivers, you will get the frequency response, soundstage, and power you need to make efficient use of virtual surround and if you ever listen to music with the headset it will sound much more realistic. I was blown away by how easy it was to close my eyes and be able to spin and shoot sound sources (I was always close, but I could actually hit things with my eyes closed about half the time) when using the GAME ONEs and either Razer Synapse Virtual 7.1 Surround or the hardware DSP virtual surround built into the Sound Blaster E5. In addition to the gaming sound quality, I was blown away by how much better music sounded... even better than my Bose headohones. The GAME ONEs were my first real audiophile experience, and these look like they are pretty close in design. The only drawback is that I then had to go buy my Sennheiser HD 650s and later the Noble 3 universal IEMs. My wallet now lives in fear.
FEAR!!!
I hope to directly compare this to a GAME ONE someday (not the G4ME ONE), but for now I agree Sennheiser knows their stuff, and the PC37X is way more musical than it has any right to be.
I have the Omni and the E5 as well (people really liked my mic quality on Twitch stream when I used the E5 as an ADC), fine units. I upgraded to a Soundblaster X7, but I still use the E5 as a portable or as the missing link to connect my phone to other gear (like a DAC with optical input). Recently had been testing out Sennheiser's new GSX 1000, which had very impressive headphone surround processing on PC.
The G4ME Zero was at 150, but the One has always been 50. The G4ME series didn't have a removable cable, so that is probably the main difference. Also the name was dumb so maybe they caught on.
Yea your right. The zero are the only ones that lost 100 OHM with the name change. I have the G4me zeros so I just assumed both were 150 with the g4me name. I forgot about the removable cable. The cable is ginormous so thats not really an issue or shouldnt be. Alot of people were complaining thay actually bought these for a console or a pc and couldnt drive them is why i would assume the zero went to fifty. The zero sound great thats all I know for a fact @ 150 OHM!
Frank,
I have a higher-Ω headphone, and it's much more resistant to background noise from tube amps! In most respects though, driver design is so good these days that often we can get low Ω & high sensitivity headphones (great for "meek" amps, but the amps still have to be high quality and have low distortion for best results) with very little performance trade-offs.
Hey guys, those of you that have used these a bit, how is the directionality? I am having trouble with distinguishing the difference between sounds coming from directly ahead and behind with my current headset (Kingston HX Cloud 2) and am hoping to upgrade to these and looking for a little input
Distinguishing between Ahead and behind requires a DSP (and that the game's audio engine was designed well). Some games have software DSP included that give you headphone surround for free (DICE's Battlefield games come to mind), but hardware dedicated to audio processing (a soundcard, or an external DSP like the Sennheiser GSX1000 or Turtle Beach DSS) does a better job of precision and placing the sounds.
@richardgao Between rounds one and two, how many of these are there total? I see it says round two is limited to 600 but I see 4191 have been purchased total?
Hi there @Evshrug! You seem way more knowledgable than myself, so I figured that I'd ask the following.
Do you think these headphones will be compatible with the Sennheiser GSX 1000? I joined this drop earlier today, and just got a bit scared that they'll only be USB-connectable (which would suck, as I've also recently invested in the GSX 1000). Thanks in advance :)
This headset will match your GSX 1000 perfectly. The savings vs the PC373D are thanks to the missing USB attachment that allows for the virtual surround sound functionality which I didn't want anyway. I have two sets of this headset, btw. You'll get the headset and the cable will have one jack that goes into the headset and will plug into your GSX 1000 via 2 x 3.5mm jacks. You'll be good to go.
@BejconTrue Story, about a month after getting the PC37X, I got a loaner GSX 1000 from Sennheiser. Pairs very well, the amp was plenty for the moderately easy to drive PC37X, and the binaural processing from Sennheiser was second to only one other DSP I've ever heard that literally costs thousands of dollars (find my username on Head-Fi.org, and look up my "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" thread). When your GSX 1000 arrives, read the instructions: you don't need to install any drivers, BUT you do have to follow a few setup steps or everything will sound WRONG.
The PC37X has a cable terminated in a 3.5mm headphone plug and a 3.5mm microphone plug (there's a y-split at the end). Meanwhile, the GSX has separate headphone and microphone jacks, and it was designed/voiced with the PC373D (substituting the cable included with the PC37X).
Personally, I need something for consoles as well as PC, but for PC the GSX was an ideal pairing (unless you're willing to drastically increase your budget).
@Evshrug Thanks a lot for the extensive and very informative answer. Can't wait to get my hands on these bad boys now! And I heard so many great things about the GSX1000!
Richard, Thank you for posting that group of questions and answers about the 37X Headset. Is it possible we will see a closed back headset (with mic) design on massdrop in the future? Thanks
Can you guys do a drop for the cables please? Sennheiser is out of them and they never come back.
Edit: it's back on Sennheiser. Can't tell if it's braided or not though. Ordered one anyway. If it isn't braided, cough can we get some kind of collaboration? :)
Hi Richard, I'm a true Sennheiser Connoisseur. I love the sound that the headphones provide and I want to know if this is a true Sennheiser product or not?? I own many of the premium Sennheiser products to include a couple pairs of HD 800s with HDVD 800 amps, 2 pairs of IE 800 earbuds, the PXC 550s. I plan on buying the Dior Homme X package soon. I enjoy all of the sets, but is this just a Massdrop only product.
You do indeed have an impressive quiver of Sennheiser headphones to draw from! Just like our Dior Homme collaboration, this PC37X is a genuine Sennheiser product with a custom colorway and accessories, although not the high-end luxury cases and bags included in the Dior Homme editions.
How do I get on the list to get the Orpheus?? I haven't really perused the Sennheiser site. I was just reading an old copy of the Robb Report and saw that you made this gem of perfection and I would like to find out how to get a set...
Well, the HE-1 Orpheus is a whole different class of product. We have a dedicated concierge service for those who wish to own our best effort ever. The phone number is (+ 49 69 89 91 47 95). Are you in the US? Alternatively, the US website and form to register your interest is here:
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/sennheiser-he-1
Of course, surely everyone here would LOVE to see a photo of somebody gaming with the Orpheus.
Ok then, excellent, I will check this out...in the mean while, if someone was to game with this masterpiece, what sort of microphone would you recommend? Preferably with an external amp, nothing too massive (I don't need a rack for amps and tuners), probably with a boom and that doesn't interfere with my monitor setup and that I can pass thru to my computer, I don't live stream like Twitch. I do play games with a clan gaming group when I can.
The PC37X has a microphone capsule that is very good for gaming and telecommunications, though of course Sennheiser (and Neumann) make great lavalier and unidirectional microphones too. If you are using the HE-1 or any other full-sized open headphone, a lavalier microphone (also known as a lapel mic, commonly seen with news anchors and talk shows) can pick up your voice while keeping wires from tangling around your head.
A good number to call about product inquiries in general, like our microphones, is 1-(877)-736-6434. See if you can ask for microphone suggestions as well, they may have just the suggestion for your type of application.
Try upping the input volume to 100% with +10dB in the recording device properties under the levels tab (Windows 10, search "audio" -> manage audio devices -> recording tab), mine defaulted to 50% with no boost and after changing that, it works great.
It could be, but also could still be something environmental. Do you have any other devices to try connecting to? Phone, tablet, game console, etc?
If there is a usable volume at all, then it's probably not the headset. Could be the mic plug isn't all the way in and it's bridging between two contact points, or it could be that there is some other setting hidden somewhere. The reason to check for this before mailing out your headset and waiting till it gets mailed back is so you aren't left to discover that you still have an issue.
Both Sennheiser and Massdrop have customer support options, maybe they would have some configuration suggestions or if the headset really is faulty they can replace it.
Yeah I know but some people in other drops don't need to pay and some do, and this item is pretty cheap since the hd6xx have cost 30$ and sometimes more in customs fee. A price that wouldn't be too fancy as an add on on this item since it's 1/3 of the price. And I've been scrolling through comments but found no one mentioning it. So maybe there is none hopefully
Hi is there a way you could get me one of these https://en-us.sennheiser.com/accessories--unp-console-cable--game-one--game-zero I live in the Philippines and your online store doesn't ship in our country amazon doesn't have this on their listing and non in our audiophile stores offers this product, so it would be great if I could get one of these I wouldn't be able to use my pc37x since my laptop only has a single port of headset and mic combo
Will you please update the sticky with new recommendations for cable adapters since Sennheiser has discontinued both of the products you recommend? And I think it would be quite fair to mention in the product description that the headset does not have a standard 3.5mm cable port. Even with a 2-to-1 red-pink/green adapter, the PS4 controller doesn't recognize the mic. It doesn't work on my phone, laptop, or external USB sound card adapter either (Roccat Juke).
To be perfectly honest, and with all due respect, I think you guys could have done a better job of shipping this headset ready-to-use. It is a gaming headset after all...and using it while plugged into the PS4 controller is about as predictable a scenario as I can imagine. If you would like to know more about the experience I have had since receiving the headset, please see the detailed comment I wrote a few minutes ago.
Great sound, extremely comfortable, and I thought the price was very good. Thank you for the work you, Will, and the rest of the team have put into this project but I think it's time to update the product and the product listing.
,
My PC37X works with my sound cards and adapter to my PS4; it sounds like your headset needs in-warranty repair. If you are in the US, try this website: https://service.sennheiserusa.com
So far. They have the PC37X actually in-stock, so you don’t have to wait for Sennheiser to manufacture each “drop” before distribution. I still use mine almost daily.
So I’m still trying to figure what’s the difference between these and the Game One? I have the Game One and trying to decide on getting these as a back up.
Fyi I bought their GSX 1000 DAC to pair and it’s freaking awesome!
I think the difference is down to color, and maybe included accessories. I think this Massdrop edition is quite a value.
I hear you on the GSX 1000! A very convincing binaural “surround” result, with low reverb it often makes me double check its actually playing through my headphones and not my speakers. I wish they made a version for game consoles.
the game one are $137 on amazon. and they come with 2 cables. a shorter single 3.5mm cable to use with a controller (ps4/xbox) and a longer dual 3.5mm cable to use with a desktop pc.
so these make more sense if you want to save $20, like all black and dont mind having to get a dual 3.5mm to single 3.5mm adapter for a few bucks? that makes sense. (sorry if that sounded sarcastic. it really makes sense to save $20, as long as you dont mind waiting a bit longer to get them compared to prime, and to having to buy a 3rd party adapter or 1st party short single 3.5mm cable).
You're implying it doesn't make sense to save $20 on a better looking (all black) headset when a smaller portion of the people who get one will need to spend less than $3 on an adapter?
oh no. sorry if it sounded sarcastic. i really meant it makes sense to save $20. i always try to save when i can. the only reason it doesnt make sense is if you want both cables and need it in a hurry. since a good adapter or extra cable will be closer to $10 and we all know ordering on massdrop means you are waiting a while.
if i didnt already have the game one, and didnt need them in a hurry, i would jump on these.
only other note, "better looking" is opinion since i happen to like the few red external accents on the game one. personally all black is a little to plain for me. but again, neither color option would be a deal breaker for me.
You replied to a post I wrote when the GAME ONE was much more expensive than it is now. I wrote my original PC37X review Feburary 2017.
Amazon is very competitive and have dropped the price since then. I know the GAME ZERO comes with both cables and a case, but I think the GAME ONE originally just came with the same one cable as this one. Furthermore, the white GAME ONE is still $149... so I’m looking at the current Amazon price for a black one as more of a back to school sale, or maybe even an end-of-life sale.
Sennheiser has also released the GSP 500 this year, which seems intended to be a replacement for the GAME ONE. So, this PC37X still seems like a lower priced option than that, while still being priced above the entry level GSP 300.
As abstract as design and opinions about it can be, I think we can agree the PC37X is more subdued and “stealth,” while the GAME ONE‘s contrast is more attention-grabbing. I got a pair of black and red GAME ZERO, I like them both for different reasons.
yeah, i bought my game ones a few months ago for $150 on amazon. no tax and free 2 day shipping. so depending on the seller on amazon (if they charge tax), you will pretty much stay around $20 difference in price.
i know the latest version does come with 2 cables. not sure your point in comparing to the older model that does not exist anymore. and yeah, if you want white, you only have 1 option, i agree with that.
i did buy the GSP 500 as well, along with like 3 other sets. i returned them all for the game one. the only thing better on the GSP was the material of the pads, its like a neoprene. i wish i could find ones with the same material for the game one's.
Very interesting what you’re saying about the pads... I don’t need new headphones now or the foreseeable future, but it would be cool to see what new things are being tried.
My point in mentioning the original package for the Game One (with just one cable) was that was the other option available when I wrote my review, and I assumed it was a similar situation two months ago (which is why I said “I think the difference is...”) when the other guy asked. I usually don’t talk too much about price because things fluctuate all the time, but it was definitely worth mentioning at the time because it was great option at any price, and Massdrop had managed to secure a really good deal compared to what was out at the time.
Even now, $20 savings is still nice, and Amazon 2-day shipping isn’t really free if you pay $120 or whatever per year to get the luxury, especially since Massdrop has these on hand and 5 days free shipping is a negligible difference compared to $120 2-day shipping year round unless you forgot to plan ahead for gifts or can’t do without Amazon Prime’s other benefits (of which there are many... but I can do without). In PA, I’m always charged sales tax on electronics, so...
Depends on what you're going to do with it, but I've been using the Sennheiser GSX1000 and it's pretty good for games and some light music/movies (Using virtual 7.1 for the former and Stereo HD for the latter).
I‘ll second @Cyrillus00 ‘s GSX 1000 recommendation. It’s specs are perfectly rated for the PC37X (It’s almost like... they were made for each other), it’s driverless software means there’s less that can go wonky or make setup complicated, sounds good with music, and I find it has the best surround DSP I’ve tried to date, other than the Smyth Realizer A16 (which costs over $4000).
I am also on my second Creative G5, but I just have the worst luck with this model, and the Katana is working better for me when I want some surround with my game consoles.
I have had a lot of fun with the Creative Sound Blaster E5. Its DSP virtual surround and supporting software are pretty amazing compared to Razer Synapse virtual surround and one other software virtual surround product I tried that has skipped my mind at this time. It is capable of being used on the go, supporting USB host connection to an Android or Apple phone, analog stereo 3.5mm aux cable, and if you are ok with the sound quality of wireless its Bluetooth AptX support is probably as good as it gets (I prefer it to the Noble bluetooth converter that I bought for my Noble 3 universal IEMs). It also supports optical input if you want to use it with a game system that outputs surround that way.
It is top-notch for PC gaming purposes, but it also makes a good showing for audiophiles. Reviewers claim that it performs better than the Fiio products in its class (I read reviews for days when trying to decide on a portable DAC/Amp to use with my Sennheiser One and HD 650). You can probably easily find something better in a desktop stack/unit if you throw another $150 at it, but I don't think you could find many portable competitors without a couple hundred extra in your wallet.
The Sound Blaster G5 was exciting to me when I first saw it, but it appears to be very sub-par in comparison reviews with its elder sibling.
I don't have the luxury of having been able to AB-compare the E5 to other DAC/Amp combos, so I am only really a heresay source having read many reviews for things in the $200-300 portable market from 2 years ago. Depending on your budget, whether you care about mobile use, and what new products are now available I could be wrong. It is also possible Google led me astray. If you can find a way of listening to it and/or other DAC/Amp products, your ears will be a much better judge than any of us (audio is so subjective that you might be happier with a product that other people bash in reviews).
In the end, though, I am happy with my purchase.
Hello. I'm wondering if I may ask a question here. I've had many cheaper headsets in the past. Each of them broke where the headband is attached to the ear-cup. Where the two small screw's bring the assembly of the two parts together. Can anyone please tell me, if I would have to worry about those areas that I mentioned before, would break after some early use? Sorry for being so long-winded. Thanks!
Long winded?! You write less than me!
Short version: anything can break, but at least the PC37X comes with a two year warranty.
Additional info: These aren’t the brittle plastic headphones from Monster Beats days. Sennheiser’s own plastic has even improved since the HD 598 days, and that was still a very popular headphone. I’ve had my PC37X since launch two years ago, it’s showing no signs of cracking. Leave it in the sun for many days, throw off the headphone, and you run the risk of a shorter lifespan.
@TipsyMacScotchslurpen
The G5 sounds the same as the E5. It’s the same DAC/Amp, Creative just removed the built-in beamforming mics (3x), Smartphone “USB HOST” function, Bluetooth, and the battery, all so they could offer it at a lower price. They added a red LED behind the volume knob and “X” logo that brightens in correlation to how loud your volume is set.
The G6 is essentially the G5 + Dolby Digital decoding.
For the price, the E5 is a do-all Swiss Army knife of an audio device (check out my full review on Head-Fi, though it is over 2 years old) that will keep you happy for a long time. It has practically every function EXCEPT Dolby decoding, and therefore you don’t get the option of positional headphone surround from game consoles or other optical-output sources (movies). That’s where the G6 shines, because it has Dolby decoding (and apparently an upgraded amp/DAC, I haven’t tested this one), and despite its lower cost it is pretty much all gamers “need” for PC and console (but you give up portable support). The G5 is cheaper still, totally a PC/Mac only focused product. It works on consoles, but stereo only (or stereo + reverb/crossfade) and the price gap between the G6 and G5 is small enough for me to always recommend the G6 first.
Where does the GSX 1000 fit into this? Well, it has the features of the G5, a slightly weaker amp (good enough for an HD 58X Jubilee though, at 150 Ω), BUT the GSX 1000’s Surround is more realistic, general sound quality is warmer and more “full” sounding, mic monitoring is good and all functions can be adjusted without installing drivers, your computer will see it as two separate “devices” (one for game audio, one for chat, plus a physical volume wheel to adjust the balance between game/chat on the fly), subjectively it’s more aesthetically pleasing, and overall it gives the impression that it was more thought-out. Whether what is functionally a more refined G5 in almost every function is worth the extra money is up to each shopper, but I’m a fan (and would love to see a console compatible version!).
I wanted to just throw a thanks out there. I've never owned real quality headphones before. And I was nervous about spending$120.00 and have them brake on me, after just a short time of wearing them! LoL So, thanks for the reply Evshrug!
I have the console cable from Sennheiser, and a super cheap adapter. If your Xbox (or a peripheral) is processing and outputting surround, then the cable won’t affect that. Just make sure you have the Xbox’s Dolby Atmos Headphone mode turned on, or use one of the external surround processors like a Creative G6 or Astro Mixamp. The headphone itself doesn’t process surround sound, but it does a great job of presenting a surround mix, and I really feel surround processing is worth the effort.
How do these compare to the Razer Kraken Pro v2s? I've been using them for a while but they're getting too bulky and I feel the directional sound is not the best on them... I also don't love the fact that the base is so heavy because it really overpowers sounds like footsteps or whatnot in games like Fortnite. Is this headset going to completely demolish my once love for the Kraken v2?
Any pair of Sennheisers is going to have superior driver quality, and even if the sound signature is less colorful (overly expressed) in certain frequencies that reveal footsteps, the drastic difference in accuracy and subtly makes up for better imaging (more directional and true to life) and significantly lower harmonic distortion will allow you to hear great distinction between everything you’re hearing at even louder listening levels than you are used to. You will likely find that for general use, Sennheisers have much less of that harshness you get from listening at loud levels. This can also be resulting from your amplification source. It is heavily recommended that you get and amp/DAC to replace your computer output. I would personally not recommend sound cards, as they are usually inferior for price to performance and overall quality as opposed to external equipment. Most gaming headphones between having inferior drivers and low complexity in design have gaps, peaks and sporadic frequency responses that you will not get out of Sennheisers. This also produces more natural sound as well as accurate, giving you a better feel of consistency in the sounds that you hear. Razer, HyperX and Corsair for example, do not and have not ever specialized in quality audio products. They do well at making aesthetically pleasing, quality peripherals for computers, especially keyboards and mice. I have owned Razer and HyperX keyboards and Logitech mice among other peripherals, and the worst purchase I’ve made was anything Razer audio, because aside from looking nice and being well branded together, Razer has absolutely nothing going for them in terms of audio itself. Sennheiser has been making audiophile, competitive studio products for more than two decades, and they rank among the top for Headphones, Microphones and engineering quality of their components.
Thanks for the insight, but I'm not going to be able to afford any external equipment... I only have my sound card to hook these headphones up to and I'm sure as hell not going to jack it into my motherboard, so is it going to have a major/drastic difference if I don't get external amp or DAC? I'm not very well-versed when it comes to producing beautiful audio, I'm quite unfamiliar with audio, I work with video production and graphic design significantly more. I also have a friend who uses my Razer Kraken Pro v2 when recording his music, do you think that the well balanced audio of these Sennheiser's is also ideal for his recording sessions in my home studio? I'd like it to have a dual-purpose, not just for the better of my gaming experience. If you could email me more details about equipment I should get my hands on for a decent price then that would be much appreciated...
brayden.d.duncan@gmail.com
Hey GameSling,
Its been awhile since I was in this thread!
The short answer to all your questions is that DACs, Amps, Microphones, as well as other audio-related things (like ADCs and DSPs) all are part of a quality spectrum.
I would say motherboard audio is slightly behind a flagship smartphone (LG V40, Apple iPhone 6S or 4S, Samsung, etc), and about equal to a piece of gear combining a DAC/Amp/ADC retailing for around $20-$50. Most soundcards are an upgrade over motherboard “integrated audio” (like integrated vs discrete graphics cards). To get an appreciable improvement, you would have to spend more than that, and a bigger jump in price (of well-regarded gear) will yield a bigger improvement over your motherboard... so consider your budget. Buying too cheap might leave you wanting to upgrade again soon (mfrs love that), so a short period of research and saving might get you something you’ll be more happy with in the long run.
DAC: Digital to Analog Converter. Upgrades improve detail, realism in tone.
ADC: Analog to Digital Converter. This is your mic input... similar upgrade effect as a DAC, and will make recordings from your mic sound better.
Amplifier: Upgrades tighten the control over the headphone driver’s movements, providing more “snap” to impacts and often supporting a more full-bodied sound. A poor amp might sound as loud, but weak, with a collapsed sense of distance and separation.
DSP: Digital Signal Processing. This can be EQ or noise cancelling, but for gamers this usually means Surround Processing. Better Processing is more convincing that you are “in” the middle of the game environment, or at least listening to speakers surrounding you instead of just headphones.
All these components serve to enhance each other and your final experience. I didn’t realize it till later, but my quest to improve my gaming audio and add Surround brought back quality I had enjoyed on my dad’s HiFi in my youth, letting me enjoy music instead of it just being a background mood-setting thing. If you have a Creative ZxR soundcard or something at that level, you wouldn’t hear much improvement unless you bought pieces that at least cost $100 or more each (Cavalli Liquid Spark, Schiit Modi Multibit, etc). An iFi Nano Black Label, iFi Micro Black Label, Chord Mojo, or Cavalli Liquid Carbon (and others at that level) would all trounce any mainstream soundcard on the market, but then you wouldn’t have a mic input (ADC) other than what is in your soundcard or motherboard.
Anecdotally, I found the ADC, DAC, DSP, and Amp of the Creative G5 to be quite good for the price, and I liked the idea that it (or the successor G6) could be upgraded later by using the optical output. I also liked the Sennheiser GSX1000 with the Sennheiser PXC37X, finding the DSP to be an improvement and the interface to be a nice touch, but it doesn’t have an optical output.
Thanks so much for putting in the time to tell me all about this. I currently use a pretty cheap soundcard and after what you said I might invest that $300 or so into a Creative ZxR! I still have a great excitement for my headset to be delivered because regardless of what sound card it is, it's going to sound better than my Kraken Pro v2s hopefully. Also, I'm not too worried about having a microphone port at all, I use a Blue Yeti microphone, so it's a USB port anyway. I won't be using the Sennheiser's built-in mic at all...
Glad to help! If I kept it to myself, I would just be a nerd, but if I share and help others, at least I can put the time I spent learning to good use ;)
If you have just a cheap soundcard right now, might I suggest the Creative G6 instead? Still a good soundcard, isolated from the noise inside of a PC, also compatible with a Mac or game console, still a solid starting point with more than enough power for the PC37X... however, if you ever want to upgrade to discrete DACs or Amps, the G6 can send a line-level analog signal or a digital Optical signal out to let you upgrade the quality. Plus, it’s cheaper! I’d recommend getting the G6 and saving up for a sweet amp down the road.
Also, you never know when the headset mic might come in handy. I bought and enjoyed a Blue Snowball (works great plugged into a PS4 with USB!), but when doing voiceovers for videos (or when my wife records audiobooks), I found that the boom arm does a great job of keeping the mic to mouth distance consistent between takes and not sound too different if I need to splice two recordings together.
I heard and helped measure a Razer Kraken recently... its not bad, but by comparison the PC37X is really good. You will immediately be able to tell a difference in a blind test ;)
To paraphrase Mad Lust Envy from Head-Fi, the Game One (and PC37X) have excellent soundstage and separation, easily distinguished, only topped by the most elite soundstage headphones (which he classified the Q701 as, and I would also add the HD 800, HD 800 S, and HD 820 to that).
Both will impress you. Side by side, the Q701 has a wider soundstage, and will get more crisp and detailed (almost feeling like a planar) than the PC37X with an upgraded amp (my Cavalli liquid carbon cost more than both headphones combined, but I am very happy with the purchase!), however the PC37X is also impressive and has a bit more of a weighty presentation that in my experience (YMMV) has a better balance of treble brightness and presence to smoothness for longer term listening. Sometimes I think the AKG represents some tracks as more airy and light than they were intended, which would be where the Sennheiser would win, but overall the Q701 and K7XX perform on the refinement level of the HD 650/6XX.
So, soundstage size = HD 800/800 S > K712/K7XX > Q701, K612 > PC37X > HD 650/6XX > grado/philipps/closed headphones/etc.
Airy vs Weighty vs Phat/Thicc = K712/Q701/HD 800 > HD 800 S > PC37X > HD 650/6XX > Fostex TH X00 > Sony Z1R
All benefit from surround DSPs while gaming, and the airier AKGs and Sennheiser’s are particularly good at creating that “holographic” transparency that can sometimes make you have to check behind you that you didn’t just hear a “real” sound.
Thanks for the reply. I used to have the Q701 so its been hard to find a can that can produce a soundstage as well as the AKG.
I havent heard the HD800/800S/820 but have read that those have the biggest sound stage so far.
Thanks again I really appreciate the reply you made.
Glad you appreciate it... even though I’ve been making replies like that since 2009, there’s always that doubt that it’s not the right info, too much, or misleading and makes people miss out on an experience they may otherwise have loved or preferred. I went the way of PC37X instead of the AKG, but I kept my K612 and use it sometimes.
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First, the GAME ONEs are exceedingly comfortable. At the time I bought them I had never (and probably still haven't) worn a more comfortable pair of headphones. I now use my HD 650s and the Antlion ModMic 5 together as my primary headset, but I'm not going to be getting rid of the GAME ONEs yet, because the GAME ONEs are slightly more comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Another thing I like about these gaming headsets from Sennheiser is the hardware mute function. Flicking the mic up out of your way engages the hardware mic mute, preventing noise in your room (like mom or a significant other) from getting broadcast to your teammates (or, preventing Cortana from analysing all of the talk going on in your home).
Because they use 50ohm drivers, your average motherboard soundcard is not generally going to be powerful enough to generate the power to really give you the full frequency response and volume you expect. This is generally from where bad reviews of sound quality come. I would recommend that these headphones be paired with a quality USB DAC and headphone amp. I have been using the Sound Blaster E5, but even something relatively cheap like the Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 sounds far better than onboard sound from the motherboard (I used this for a few months before I got the E5).
The detachable cable is awesome to have. I've almost yanked the headphones off my head more times than I can count, but instead, the cable just gets disconnected from the headphones. If they had used a permanently-attached cable (especially if it didn't have the braided sheath for protection) I might have already ruined my headset.
I'll also do a quick expression of gratitude for the hardware volume knob. I've saved my hearing a couple of times when I had forgotten that I was listening to music loud the night before and the music player volume had been low, while the volume was adjusted using the main Windows "master" volume. Then I open a game or a Youtube video with its volume maxed and reach in reflex for the headphones, finding the volume knob. If it had used software sound control, the volume adjustment would wait for the computer to register the adjustment, then lower the volume one step at a time. With the hardware control it is instantaneous.
Finally, my main recommendation when it comes to gaming headsets is that you choose a [pair] of headphones/headset with two high quality drivers and use virtual surround over a headset with 6-10 smaller, cheap drivers to create a "real" (this is arguable, anyway) surround effect. If you spend the money on a couple of high quality drivers, you will get the frequency response, soundstage, and power you need to make efficient use of virtual surround and if you ever listen to music with the headset it will sound much more realistic. I was blown away by how easy it was to close my eyes and be able to spin and shoot sound sources (I was always close, but I could actually hit things with my eyes closed about half the time) when using the GAME ONEs and either Razer Synapse Virtual 7.1 Surround or the hardware DSP virtual surround built into the Sound Blaster E5. In addition to the gaming sound quality, I was blown away by how much better music sounded... even better than my Bose headohones. The GAME ONEs were my first real audiophile experience, and these look like they are pretty close in design. The only drawback is that I then had to go buy my Sennheiser HD 650s and later the Noble 3 universal IEMs. My wallet now lives in fear.
The PC37X has a cable terminated in a 3.5mm headphone plug and a 3.5mm microphone plug (there's a y-split at the end). Meanwhile, the GSX has separate headphone and microphone jacks, and it was designed/voiced with the PC373D (substituting the cable included with the PC37X).
Personally, I need something for consoles as well as PC, but for PC the GSX was an ideal pairing (unless you're willing to drastically increase your budget).
Edit: it's back on Sennheiser. Can't tell if it's braided or not though. Ordered one anyway. If it isn't braided, cough can we get some kind of collaboration? :)
Of course, surely everyone here would LOVE to see a photo of somebody gaming with the Orpheus.
A good number to call about product inquiries in general, like our microphones, is 1-(877)-736-6434. See if you can ask for microphone suggestions as well, they may have just the suggestion for your type of application.
If there is a usable volume at all, then it's probably not the headset. Could be the mic plug isn't all the way in and it's bridging between two contact points, or it could be that there is some other setting hidden somewhere. The reason to check for this before mailing out your headset and waiting till it gets mailed back is so you aren't left to discover that you still have an issue.
Both Sennheiser and Massdrop have customer support options, maybe they would have some configuration suggestions or if the headset really is faulty they can replace it.
To be perfectly honest, and with all due respect, I think you guys could have done a better job of shipping this headset ready-to-use. It is a gaming headset after all...and using it while plugged into the PS4 controller is about as predictable a scenario as I can imagine. If you would like to know more about the experience I have had since receiving the headset, please see the detailed comment I wrote a few minutes ago.
Great sound, extremely comfortable, and I thought the price was very good. Thank you for the work you, Will, and the rest of the team have put into this project but I think it's time to update the product and the product listing.
Fyi I bought their GSX 1000 DAC to pair and it’s freaking awesome!
I hear you on the GSX 1000! A very convincing binaural “surround” result, with low reverb it often makes me double check its actually playing through my headphones and not my speakers. I wish they made a version for game consoles.
so these make more sense if you want to save $20, like all black and dont mind having to get a dual 3.5mm to single 3.5mm adapter for a few bucks? that makes sense. (sorry if that sounded sarcastic. it really makes sense to save $20, as long as you dont mind waiting a bit longer to get them compared to prime, and to having to buy a 3rd party adapter or 1st party short single 3.5mm cable).
if i didnt already have the game one, and didnt need them in a hurry, i would jump on these.
only other note, "better looking" is opinion since i happen to like the few red external accents on the game one. personally all black is a little to plain for me. but again, neither color option would be a deal breaker for me.
Amazon is very competitive and have dropped the price since then. I know the GAME ZERO comes with both cables and a case, but I think the GAME ONE originally just came with the same one cable as this one. Furthermore, the white GAME ONE is still $149... so I’m looking at the current Amazon price for a black one as more of a back to school sale, or maybe even an end-of-life sale.
Sennheiser has also released the GSP 500 this year, which seems intended to be a replacement for the GAME ONE. So, this PC37X still seems like a lower priced option than that, while still being priced above the entry level GSP 300.
i know the latest version does come with 2 cables. not sure your point in comparing to the older model that does not exist anymore. and yeah, if you want white, you only have 1 option, i agree with that.
i did buy the GSP 500 as well, along with like 3 other sets. i returned them all for the game one. the only thing better on the GSP was the material of the pads, its like a neoprene. i wish i could find ones with the same material for the game one's.
My point in mentioning the original package for the Game One (with just one cable) was that was the other option available when I wrote my review, and I assumed it was a similar situation two months ago (which is why I said “I think the difference is...”) when the other guy asked. I usually don’t talk too much about price because things fluctuate all the time, but it was definitely worth mentioning at the time because it was great option at any price, and Massdrop had managed to secure a really good deal compared to what was out at the time.
Even now, $20 savings is still nice, and Amazon 2-day shipping isn’t really free if you pay $120 or whatever per year to get the luxury, especially since Massdrop has these on hand and 5 days free shipping is a negligible difference compared to $120 2-day shipping year round unless you forgot to plan ahead for gifts or can’t do without Amazon Prime’s other benefits (of which there are many... but I can do without). In PA, I’m always charged sales tax on electronics, so...
I am also on my second Creative G5, but I just have the worst luck with this model, and the Katana is working better for me when I want some surround with my game consoles.
It is top-notch for PC gaming purposes, but it also makes a good showing for audiophiles. Reviewers claim that it performs better than the Fiio products in its class (I read reviews for days when trying to decide on a portable DAC/Amp to use with my Sennheiser One and HD 650). You can probably easily find something better in a desktop stack/unit if you throw another $150 at it, but I don't think you could find many portable competitors without a couple hundred extra in your wallet.
The Sound Blaster G5 was exciting to me when I first saw it, but it appears to be very sub-par in comparison reviews with its elder sibling.
I don't have the luxury of having been able to AB-compare the E5 to other DAC/Amp combos, so I am only really a heresay source having read many reviews for things in the $200-300 portable market from 2 years ago. Depending on your budget, whether you care about mobile use, and what new products are now available I could be wrong. It is also possible Google led me astray. If you can find a way of listening to it and/or other DAC/Amp products, your ears will be a much better judge than any of us (audio is so subjective that you might be happier with a product that other people bash in reviews).
In the end, though, I am happy with my purchase.