Requiring no software at all, the headset is pre-tuned to offer the best audio accuracy possible. This means you can be up and running in seconds, the only setup choice you have to make is whether you’re using the 4-pole 3.5mm or 2x 3-pole 3.5mm cable.
At this point it’s almost a tradition to use a black and red theme for your gamer products but EPOS have managed to pull it off in a subtle enough way that it actually looks really good. The metallic red contrasts against the dull plastic and shiny metal hinges nicely.
We’ll start with comfort. It’s all well and good if a headset sounds great but if it’s not comfortable, it’s going to tarnish the experience somewhat. But thankfully, it’s very good news on this front; the tension provided from the headband isn’t overbearing but also keeps the headset largely in place. Obviously, if you’re a bit too enthusiastic with your head bopping, it’s going to shift about, but Sennheiser seem to have this tweaked to perfection. Adding to the comfort is the triple-layer memory foam, shaped to provide a good seal to isolate your ears from any external noises while ensuring you hear every last wave of audio that the drivers have to offer. Personally, these fit my head and ears very well, with a tight and equal seal right around, but my girlfriend, who’s a bit thinner than me, found that there was a gap that opened up behind her jawbone and under her ear. The sound was still isolated to a good degree but not perfectly. This was partly due to the oval shape of the ear cups extending too far down her head, as well as her anatomy. I happily wore this headset for an entire day, taking them off only briefly for food and other essential breaks, and found they caused no fatigue or other issues, in all honesty I totally forgot I was wearing them. The deep earcups are ample to accommodate all but the largest of ears without applying pressure to the outer edges like some smaller headsets.
EPOS/Sennheiser claim that the GAME ZERO offers the ultimate audio accuracy and clarity. That’s one hell of a claim but we fully believe that Sennheiser are capable of producing such a headset. Obviously, at this price point, it’s not literally going to be the ultimate audio accuracy when compared to studio headphones, but we’re certainly impressed. Being a gaming headset, the focus has been put on gaming performance rather than music or films, so we tested it out on a few games that we know have a solid soundscape. Battlefield 3 multiplayer being one of those, there’s loads going on in all directions, helicopters flying overhead, tanks rolling down the streets, opposing forces swapping rounds, it was all so much more apparent and noticeable. The stereo layout was no issue for the game’s engine either, it portrayed the location of the sound without any problems. Hearing your team mates calls, ricocheting rounds and tanks zooming by, all at the same time, was surprisingly easy thanks to the balanced sound EQ that EPOS have tuned into the drivers.
We obviously didn’t just test games; we also had a go listening to some of our favourite tracks. Bass and treble were somewhat lacking with music tending to feel flat and uninspiring, it wasn’t extreme but you could tell that EPOS have worked to tweak the headset’s audio profile in such a way that it’s primarily designed for gaming. What they did do, however, is increase the imaginary size of the music; it felt like it was being played further away than it really was, we’re a little indifferent as to whether that’s a positive or not, but it sounded good non-the-less. Volume was impressive, with more than enough oomph for any purpose, it didn’t distort at the top end at all either, which was nice.
Moving onto build quality, something that we’ve praised Sennheiser strongly for in the past, the GAME ZERO lives up to expectations. The thick plastic headband, metal hinges, adjustment straps, leatherette ear cups, memory foam cushioning and thick plastic enclosure. One thing we didn’t like, however, is the braided cable. Sure, braiding the cable will likely extend its life and give it some additional resistance against wear and tear or if you run it over with your chair wheels, but we noticed the scratching of the braid against our clothing constantly. With the cables being interchangeable it really would’ve been nice of Sennheiser to include a rubber cable as well, or at the very least, sell one as an option on their website.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a gaming headset without the microphone. Implemented directly into the hinge mechanism is a tactile switch, when the microphone is in the upright position it’s completely muted, only activating as you swing the boom down to around 45°. In doing so, there’s a noticeable click within the left earcup, confirming the switch has activated and audio will be picked up. In terms of positioning the boom, the flexible rubber section in the middle does an adequate job but it’s quite difficult to get it to stay exactly where you want it, but it does pick up sounds clearly from its standard position, to the side of your mouth. Below is a brief demo of the quality so you can have a listen for yourself.
At this point it’s almost a tradition to use a black and red theme for your gamer products but EPOS have managed to pull it off in a subtle enough way that it actually looks really good. The metallic red contrasts against the dull plastic and shiny metal hinges nicely.
We’ll start with comfort. It’s all well and good if a headset sounds great but if it’s not comfortable, it’s going to tarnish the experience somewhat. But thankfully, it’s very good news on this front; the tension provided from the headband isn’t overbearing but also keeps the headset largely in place. Obviously, if you’re a bit too enthusiastic with your head bopping, it’s going to shift about, but Sennheiser seem to have this tweaked to perfection. Adding to the comfort is the triple-layer memory foam, shaped to provide a good seal to isolate your ears from any external noises while ensuring you hear every last wave of audio that the drivers have to offer. Personally, these fit my head and ears very well, with a tight and equal seal right around, but my girlfriend, who’s a bit thinner than me, found that there was a gap that opened up behind her jawbone and under her ear. The sound was still isolated to a good degree but not perfectly. This was partly due to the oval shape of the ear cups extending too far down her head, as well as her anatomy. I happily wore this headset for an entire day, taking them off only briefly for food and other essential breaks, and found they caused no fatigue or other issues, in all honesty I totally forgot I was wearing them. The deep earcups are ample to accommodate all but the largest of ears without applying pressure to the outer edges like some smaller headsets.
EPOS/Sennheiser claim that the GAME ZERO offers the ultimate audio accuracy and clarity. That’s one hell of a claim but we fully believe that Sennheiser are capable of producing such a headset. Obviously, at this price point, it’s not literally going to be the ultimate audio accuracy when compared to studio headphones, but we’re certainly impressed. Being a gaming headset, the focus has been put on gaming performance rather than music or films, so we tested it out on a few games that we know have a solid soundscape. Battlefield 3 multiplayer being one of those, there’s loads going on in all directions, helicopters flying overhead, tanks rolling down the streets, opposing forces swapping rounds, it was all so much more apparent and noticeable. The stereo layout was no issue for the game’s engine either, it portrayed the location of the sound without any problems. Hearing your team mates calls, ricocheting rounds and tanks zooming by, all at the same time, was surprisingly easy thanks to the balanced sound EQ that EPOS have tuned into the drivers.
We obviously didn’t just test games; we also had a go listening to some of our favourite tracks. Bass and treble were somewhat lacking with music tending to feel flat and uninspiring, it wasn’t extreme but you could tell that EPOS have worked to tweak the headset’s audio profile in such a way that it’s primarily designed for gaming. What they did do, however, is increase the imaginary size of the music; it felt like it was being played further away than it really was, we’re a little indifferent as to whether that’s a positive or not, but it sounded good non-the-less. Volume was impressive, with more than enough oomph for any purpose, it didn’t distort at the top end at all either, which was nice.
Moving onto build quality, something that we’ve praised Sennheiser strongly for in the past, the GAME ZERO lives up to expectations. The thick plastic headband, metal hinges, adjustment straps, leatherette ear cups, memory foam cushioning and thick plastic enclosure. One thing we didn’t like, however, is the braided cable. Sure, braiding the cable will likely extend its life and give it some additional resistance against wear and tear or if you run it over with your chair wheels, but we noticed the scratching of the braid against our clothing constantly. With the cables being interchangeable it really would’ve been nice of Sennheiser to include a rubber cable as well, or at the very least, sell one as an option on their website.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a gaming headset without the microphone. Implemented directly into the hinge mechanism is a tactile switch, when the microphone is in the upright position it’s completely muted, only activating as you swing the boom down to around 45°. In doing so, there’s a noticeable click within the left earcup, confirming the switch has activated and audio will be picked up. In terms of positioning the boom, the flexible rubber section in the middle does an adequate job but it’s quite difficult to get it to stay exactly where you want it, but it does pick up sounds clearly from its standard position, to the side of your mouth. Below is a brief demo of the quality so you can have a listen for yourself.
