What You Get

Look & Feel

The Pulse Elite takes on the aesthetic of the PS5, while the Maxwell has a chunkier, heavy-duty build. With the Maxwell, you get a sturdier design, with high-grade materials that appear more durable compared to the Elite. Both headphones give off a cool look, and I particularly like how they implement their boom mics. Wearing the Pulse Elite gives off a lighter feel compared to the Maxwell, but I prefer the isolation Audeze’s headphones give you. The Elite is comfortable, but sometimes the fit can feel a bit loose. I have one bit of gripe with the Maxwell though, and it’s the headband. The three-hole design is not one that I favor, especially compared to the Elite’s headband, which adjusts automatically.

Design

Sony’s Pulse Elite headphones adapt Audeze’s planar design principle, but information on the driver’s exact size is not made specific. However, we do know that the Maxwell has a 90mm driver, which is pretty sizable. I’ve heard some complaints about the Maxwell’s loudness quality, but after some firmware updates it’s gotten better. This is not a problem for the headphones when used over PlayStation, as they both output the same amount of volume. EQ controls can also be used through the PlayStation, but Audeze also has its own app called Audeze HQ.

Microphone Quality

This is one of the few areas where one headphone is outright better than the other and it would be hard to say otherwise. The Pulse Elite’s mic quality is very disappointing compared to the Maxwell. When I was testing the Pulse Elite for my review, I noted that my voice came across as boxy when chatting with my friends over Discord on the PlayStation. The Maxwell doesn’t have this issue, and while the voice quality still isn’t perfect, it’s way more clear than the Elite.

Bluetooth & Battery Life

There is a clear winner for battery life and that’s the Maxwell. It offers 80 hours of playtime compared to the Pulse Elite’s 30 hours. Both are appropriate for their price points though, and I never had a problem with the charge time of either of them. In terms of their wireless connection, both headphones are on a similar level. They both offer dongles that give you low-latency wireless connections that you can use with Bluetooth simultaneously.

Soundstage

I thought it would be fitting to directly compare the PlayStation version of the Maxwell to the Pulse Elite for obvious reasons and to see how they handle Tempest 3D audio with the PS5. Testing was also done on PC, but only the XBOX version allows you to use Dolby Atmos. Listening to the Maxwell in Dolby Atmos wields better results in terms of spatial performance. Still, since we’re comparing it with the Pulse Elite, it’s fairer to judge the soundstage based on how it functions with the PlayStation.

Even with these parameters set, the Maxwell still impresses me more with its soundstage than the Pulse Elite. While Sony’s headphone showcases better pure stereo dynamics than most of its other efforts, the Maxwell still outclasses it. No matter how it acts in 3D, you can still tell which headphone has the better soundstage based on stereo accuracy and depth. The Maxwell shows a better identity with specific effects and music through the left and right channels, enwrapping your head in an immersive sonic environment before you even activate spatial audio. The Pulse Elite should get some credit though for exercising breathability in the soundstage. It allows for sounds to also feel more localized in a specific place, but the Maxwell is more elegant with its imaging overall.

Listening to sounds whirl around you like wind or flames over the Maxwell has more movement behind it than the Pulse Elite. However, switching to 3D makes them more similar in terms of spaciousness. The Maxwell still retains its superior accuracy and width over the Pulse Elite, but the Pulse Elite has more of a hovering effect. In this case, the 3D audio might be more fun with the Pulse Elite as sounds are propelled into a more forward headspace. The Maxwell still has the better height and depth though, featuring a better scale to singular sound elements than the Pulse Elite.

Low End

I respect the level of balance that the Pulse Elite exhibits with its lows like the bass has restraint to it. This might not be what you’re looking for in a pair of gaming headphones, but it can make a difference in terms of clearer sound fidelity. Thankfully, you can boost the bass to your liking with the PlayStation’s EQ, which adds more presence and texture to the bass frequencies. With the Maxwell, the bass features greater impact and rumble throughout its sound signature. It slams down with a quick, thunderous vibration of tone. Surprisingly, the bass never gets out of control with this response. The Maxwell presents a sub-bass that makes all the difference, giving a pointed buzz to bass-heavy sound effects and instruments.

Mids

Both headphones exhibit a V-shaped sound profile. This is common for a lot of gaming headphones, but that doesn’t stop the Maxwell and Pulse Elite from showcasing better properties. This is thanks to their planar drivers, which make the mids come across a bit more transparently, but the Maxwell ends up with better balance than the Elite. You can hear a dip in energy when dialogue occurs over both headphones, but neither push sounds toward the background. I think the Pulse Elite just comes across as a hollower timbre overall compared to the Maxwell. When it’s time for both headphones to show excitement in the upper-mids, the Maxwell feels a lot more detailed. The Pulse Elite has some good energy to it here, but the resolution isn’t as clear.

Highs

While the Maxwell outdoes a lot of what the Pulse Elite can do in terms of fidelity, the highs appear surprisingly more lifelike. The Maxwell has solid crispness in its treble, but the timbre is more veiled than the Pulse Elite. It appears less believable than the Pulse Elite, which is more expressive in comparison. There’s more brightness to it, but the response rings out more and takes on a clearer shape than the Maxwell. It can be a bit peaky and forward, but I prefer its coloration over the colder high frequencies that the Maxwell presents.

Summary

Sony’s future gaming headsets have the opportunity to take more of what the Maxwell does right, but for now, both headphones still have their pros and cons. The Maxwell sounds like a great headphone in general, while it’s hard to find much use for the Pulse Elite outside of gaming on your PS5. The Elite does surprise me though, with its expressive highs, easy adjustability, and generous price point.

The Audeze Maxwell is available at Audio46, and the Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite is available from Sony here.

The post Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite Vs Audeze Maxwell Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

Look & Feel

These headphones have completely different designs. The Pulse Elite is meant to resemble the PS5, while the MMX 300 Pro resembles Beyerdynamic’s Pro line of headphones like the DT 770 and DT 990. This brings different impressions of value, as the MMX 300 Pro looks and feels like a higher-grade build compared to the Pulse Elite. It definitely has a sturdier frame thanks to the aluminum yokes. With the Pulse Elite, you have mainly plastic parts but the design is still practical and comfortable. The Elite is smaller and lighter than the MMX 300 Pro which has a clamping fit that most Beyerdynamic headphones have. I find them both comfortable, with the MMX 300 Pro having the best seal.

Design 

It’s the MMX 300 Pro’s dynamic driver versus the Pulse Elite’s planar driver. All the differences between these designs stem from one being exclusively wired, and the other being exclusively wireless. They both technically provide lossless audio, the Elite through the PlayStation Link dongle, and the MMX 300 Pro with its standard headphone jack. You get more features using the Pulse Elite, including spatial audio.

Microphone Quality

The MMX 300 Pro has superior voice clarity compared to the Pulse Elite. This comes down to having a better microphone that captures your voice’s natural qualities more directly. The Pulse Elite relies on its AI-enhanced noise rejection, but the actual transparency of your voice is messier.

Soundstage

There are a lot of differences between these two headphone soundstages that aren’t just 3D audio related. The Pulse Elite and the MMX 300 Pro have good stereo imaging without spatial features, with the MMX 300 Pro being the most accurate and precise of the two. With the Pulse Elite, the natural stereo field is breathable, but spatial positioning is not as articulate as the MMX 300 Pro. Sound effects appear more exact during games on the MMX 300 Pro, even if the Pule Elite does a better job communicating distance, especially in 3D. I preferred to keep the Pulse Elite in 3D during most of my playtime to hear the better soundstage and imaging, but with the MMX 300 Pro, I didn’t wish it to have spatial features. The Pulse Elite kind of needs it for game audio to feel immersive, while the MMX 300 Pro is more naturally layered.

Low End

With gaming headphones, you expect an eventful bass no matter what, and both headphones deliver on that. Through the PS5 you can access an EQ that helps boost the bass of the Pulse Elite, which elevates its response more than the MMX 300 Pro. However, the Pro contains more thunderous qualities compared to what you usually get from the brand. It rivals the Pulse Elite with its realistic, smooth detail. The Elite has great texture and even has a tighter grip on its tone, but the MMX 300 Pro feels more naturally engrossing. Both headphones are similarly engaged in their low frequencies, but the Elite relies more on color than pure character.

Mids

Neither the Pulse Elite nor the MMX 300 Pro has the most transparent midrange, but one certainly comes across more elegantly than the other. It’s the MMX 300 Pro that has a greater range of articulation than the Pulse Elite, with effects and musical instruments taking a clearer shape in the mix. Each sound feels more specific to its intended space, but both sound signatures have a solid impact. The Pulse Elite has an emphasized upper-midrange that tries to make up for some of its more hollow features that the MMX 300 Pro treats with more fullness. I found it refreshing to hear the more neutral timbre of Beyerdynamic’s sound profile in a pair of gaming headphones, as it does a better job providing evenness and cohesion in the mids compared to the Pulse Elite.

Highs

You might be surprised by the role reversal the treble plays in these headphones. This time it’s the Sony headphones that have the brighter timbre. Usually, Beyerdynamic’s headphones are very cutting in their highs, but the MMX 300 Pro is considerably dryer than the Pulse Elite. Sony’s headphones have a consistent sizzle that feels biting. There’s a sharpness to it that accentuates certain effects in games, especially ones with a distinguishable reverb tail. The MMX 300 Pro is similarly sharp in places, but it never lets it loose. Instead, the MMX 300 Pro tries to have it both ways and ends up veiling a lot of high-frequency detail that doesn’t provide as much flavor.

Summary

Comparing these two gaming headphones together has some mixed results. The Pulse Elite and the MMX 300 Pro have similar amounts of pros and cons. Sound-wise, they share similarities in their base and stereo imaging but diverge in the mids and highs. I prefer the MMX 300 Pro’s more natural sound qualities, but the Elite’s spatial audio and extended highs are very immersive to me. If you’re looking for the best mic quality, then the MMX 300 Pro is the clearest winner.

The Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite is available here, and you can find the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro at Audio46.

The post Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite Vs Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro
• Quick Start Guide
• 1/8″ TRRRS to 1/8″ TRRS cable (for console)
• 1/8″ TRRRS to computer audio mic Y-splitter 1/8″ TRS (PC cable)
• 1/4″ to 1/8″ adapter
• Hard case
• Warranty paper

Look & Feel

You can expect the same standard for build quality in the MMX 300 that Beyerdynamic exhibits in all of its headphones. If you’re familiar with headphones like the DT 770, the MMX 300 will feature similar materials, like its aluminum yokes and velour ear cushions. Some people dislike Beyerdynamic’s clamping style, which exists for the MMX 300. I already find this design comfortable, so this works as a positive for me. What isn’t a positive for me is the headphone’s boom arm, which you can not detach. It’s not exactly the most flexible mic arm either, which can be a bit distracting. This isn’t the only distracting aspect of the headphone’s design. Its cable is very thick and long, which feels cumbersome if it’s just going to be plugged into a controller.

Design

For the next generation of their gaming headsets, Beyerdynamic implements a new version of the 45mm STELLAR.45 driver to ensure studio-quality sound for your game audio. Compared to most gaming headphones, the MMX 300 Pro might sound a little low if you’re just plugging it into your controller via a 3.5mm connector. The volume settings on my PS5 were boosted pretty high throughout my testing. Using the MMX 300 Pro on PC yields better results in terms of having more headroom to play with.

Voice Clarity

Making sure your headphones can deliver clear chat audio can be as much of a dealbreaker as game sound for gaming headphones. Luckily, the MMX 300 Pro has the cleanest I’ve heard recently thanks to its cardioid condenser microphone. Talking with friends over Discord was a breeze, as everyone could hear me very clearly. The cardioid polar pattern makes my voice very direct without much obstruction.

Soundstage

Unlike a lot of newer gaming headphones, the MMX 300 relies on its natural stereo field to communicate immersive game audio. There are no spatial features, acting like any ordinary pair of wired closed-back headphones. Fortunately, the presentation of the soundstage here won’t make you wish for it. If you prefer natural spatial imaging and realistic positioning of sound elements, the MMX 300 will deliver that to you. With games, the MMX 300 is able to showcase movement and depth within its closed headspace, making the sound feel intimate but layered.

When the MMX 300 has trouble with communicating distance, it makes up for it with how articulately it stacks its layers. This results in a clean separation of effects, music, and dialogue which blend together to reproduce a cohesive sonic environment around your head. Even when I can’t immediately tell how far away something is, I’m still able to tell where it’s coming from in the mix. You’ll find a use for this in competitive shooters, but it was also helpful for me traversing open-world environments with enemies chasing after me like in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Nothing is taken away from the atmospheric qualities of the environment, even with its closed headspace.

Low End

Beyerdynamic headphones usually carry an accurate bass response, and that’s true for the MMX 300 as well. What’s interesting about this response is how it combines their usual balanced bass tuning with a more theatrical tone that is common with gaming headphones. In effect, the bass is a lot more thunderous than what I’m used to hearing with their headphones, but it still has the same essence. There’s a ton of heft to these bass frequencies, which gives the timbre an enhanced scale for games. You get more of a rise from the extra rumble it gives you, which feels smooth and textured without being boomy.

Mids

There are a lot of gaming headphones out there with v-shaped sound signatures that hollow out the midrange. This is not true for the MMX 300. This is one of the clearest mid-ranges I’ve listened to over gaming headphones recently. It expresses a neutral timbre while featuring very punctual tones that enhance certain sound effects while gaming. Stings and elements with harsher attacks feel sharp and specific in their own space. These elements have plenty of room to breathe, and that’s not even accounting for music which does a good job staying out of the background. The only aspect of its sound that isn’t as elegant is the voices. There’s some notable recession in dialogue that put it on a much flatter plain than the sound effects and music.

Highs

It’s common for Beyerdynamic headphones to have a bit of a peak in the highs, but the MMX 300 doesn’t have that. This might convince you to give the MMX 300 a try, as the treble can be quite a deterrent for some when it comes to Beyerdynamic headphones. Even with the more subdued high frequencies, the MMX 300 still finds areas to cut through. What it results in is this veiled shimmer that isn’t exactly pleasant to listen to. It feels artificial like it’s trying to make up for some of the lack of detail in the high frequencies.

Summary

If you’re looking for a simple pair of gaming headphones for your console or PC that you can just plug and play, I would highly recommend the MMX 300 Pro. While it may lack some of its competitors’ new cutting-edge features, like spatial audio, Bluetooth capabilities, and a downloadable hub, the MMX 300 Pro makes up for everything with its sound quality and mic clarity. The build quality makes the MMX 300 Pro feel different from most gaming headphones. Its higher-grade materials will increase durability, and overall make it seem like more of a professional product.

The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 PRO is available here.

The post Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

Look & Feel

The Quantum Air and INZONE Buds are wireless earbuds that have a simple style and fit. With the INZONE Buds, the design is bigger and is closer to sports earbuds while the Air is a more traditional shell. The white INZONE Buds are the most aesthetically pleasing of the two, and they fit with the design of the PS5 too. In terms of comfort though, you shouldn’t have an issue with either.

Design & Functionality

The INZONE Buds have an 8.4mm dynamic driver, while the Quantum Air has a 6mm driver. Both of these earbuds have similar features like noise canceling and spatial audio, but only the Quantum Air uses multipoint Bluetooth. The INZONE Buds only offer wireless connection through its USB-C dongle. Noise-canceling and general voice quality are going to be better with the INZONE Buds though, so they’re better for chatting with your friends. You can get more out of both earbuds by downloading their respective apps, which offer personalization features like EQ. Sony’s is the INZONE Hub, and JBL’s is the QuantumEngine app.

Battery Life

For these earbuds, the battery life is pretty night and day. The INZONE comes out on top, offering 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. It will last you throughout long gaming sessions, while the Quantum Air can only support a total of 24 hours in its charging case.

Soundstage

Your impressions of the soundstage are mostly going to come down to how these earbuds respond to spatial audio. Both the Quantum Air and INZONE Buds feature 3D Audio that helps enhance the immersion of games and music. These earbuds are still effective in standard stereo though, and in the case of the Quantum Air, it might even be better. Both the INZONE and Quantum Air are surprisingly wide and contain a good balance between the left and right channels. However, only the INZONE Buds feel like they’re being enhanced by spatial audio compared to the Air.

Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is way more effective at reproducing immersive environments with its object-based imaging. JBL’s spatial audio is not as advanced and comes off as a weird reverb effect. The INZONE’s 3D function isn’t perfect either, but I would still prefer it to listen in standard stereo with most games. With the Quantum Air, it’s the other way around.

Low End

Both Sony and JBL are known for having prominent bass in their sound signatures. These earbuds have plenty of similarities with each other and should offer you a satisfying, thumpy bass. Of course, the bass will be a factor in many different gaming earbuds, especially with Sony and JBL products. What separates them is how these thick tones are presented. The INZONE has a very prominent warmth that is pushed forward, while the Quantum Air feels like it has more layers to it that separate the sub-bass from the mid-bass. I prefer JBL’s bass here, as the frequency response just appears more organized and clear compared to the INZONE Buds. It has more rumble and has a smoother timbre than the INZONE’s foggier tone.

Mids

The midrange is not a major focus on the INZONE Buds or the Quantum Air, but neither makes it too distracting. In comparison, the INZONE Buds feel a bit messier than the Quantum Air, but they both ultimately come together in important ranges where most dialogue is. The Quantum Air adds a bit more crispness in the upper mids, which heightens certain sounds over the INZONE Buds. Using EQ can even clean up some of these frequencies, but you still won’t get much expression out of most sound elements in the mids.

Highs

If you like a bit of brightness to your sound profile, then both the INZONE Buds and Quantum Air don’t disappoint. There’s still a more persistent crispness to the Air though, and the INZONE Buds in comparison feature a slightly more aggressive ring. You should not feel any fatigue from either set of earbuds though, and should both help fulfill different sounds with defined details.

Summary

The Sony INZONE Buds and JBL Quantum Air have very specific advantages and disadvantages. There are many areas of the Air’s sound profile that I prefer, but the spatial audio is notably weaker than the INZONE’s. The battery life, noise-canceling, and voice chat are all better on the INZONE Buds, but they also don’t use Bluetooth. It might come down to price, and having a simple pair of $99 earbuds that have a fun, quality sound for gaming is all you might need. However, that Sony noise-canceling, voice clarity, and 3D sound might be enough to get you to pay a bit more.

The Sony INZONE Buds and JBL Quantum TWS Air are available at Audio46.

The post JBL Quantum TWS Air Vs Sony INZONE Buds Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• 1 x Quantum TWS Air earbuds
• 1 x USB Wireless Dongle
• 1 x Charging Case
• 1 x 3 sizes of ear tips
• 1 x Type-C USB charging cable
• 1 x Warranty / Warning (W / !)
• 1 x Product Quick Start Guide / Safety Sheet (S / i)

Look & Feel

The over-ear Quantum’s separates itself stylistically from JBL’s other over-ear headphones with a specific design on their ear cups. This design is carried over to the Quantum Air, sporting the same pattern. It’s a good visual signifier of what product it is, but unfortunately, it only comes in one color. The earbuds themselves are very small, and they’re very comfortable. You barely feel any kind of pressure, and most of the time it doesn’t even feel like anything is in our ears at all.

Design & Functionality

Inside the Quantum Air is a 6mm dynamic driver with four microphones for both its smart ambient technology and voice chat. The ambient features do their job well, but when using the Quantum Air for in-game voice chat or Discord, my voice never feels loud enough. Functionally, the Quantum Air is very responsive through its touch sensors, giving you good control over a lot of its features. Most of these features, like EQ and spatial audio, can be accessed through the JBL headphones app, and the Quantum PC software that you can download for free.

Bluetooth

Using the Quantum Air Wirelessly is only one of the ways to connect these earbuds, but it pairs easily with most devices. Without the Type C dongle, you won’t be getting low-latency or lossless audio, but thankfully these earbuds work both ways. You can use the Quantum Air as a dual source, which works like multipoint Bluetooth. This allows you to connect to your preferred gaming console with the USB-C stick, as well as your phone through Bluetooth.

Battery Life

The Quantum Air has a pretty short battery life, capping at a maximum of 24 hours including the charging case. This isn’t too bad considering the price, and thankfully the earbuds charge quickly.

Soundstage

While JBL earbuds usually don’t carry the widest soundstage or the deepest imaging, gaming earbuds almost demand that. The Quantum Air needs to be able to portray detailed environments, sound effects, music, and dialogue with balance and clarity to do most modern games justice. Without any spatial features, the Quantum Air does an average job of communicating layered environments. A conventional stereo field has good width and directionality without the need for spatial audio. Dialogue is in your face, with other effects surrounding your game’s setting realistically. If music plays, it doesn’t spread nearly as wide as ambient effects, but I wouldn’t say it feels buried in the mix.

I’ve used JBL’s QuantumSURROUND before, but I’ve never been a huge fan of it. Unfortunately, my feelings about it haven’t changed with the Quantum Air. The way it’s implemented here coats the whole sound signature in an effect that only mimics an immersive spatial environment. It feels like a reverb was added to most music, effects, and dialogue, which did not help communicate soundscapes with much grace. My negative impression of its sound caused me to ignore it during my testing mostly. I felt much more immersed in my games listening to the Quantum Air in stereo.

Low End

Being that this is a JBL product, you are sure to hear a full bass response. The Quantum TWS doesn’t let you down here, as it constantly engages you with an ever-present rumble. This rumble has a big bloom, and it rattles you with a growl that crawls underneath most effects and music. The only place where it feels less energetic is in its mid-bass where the kick is not as emphasized. This keeps most elements from bleeding into the midrange, but it makes gunshots appear less thunderous than musical elements or environmental effects. Overall, the bass is very gripping, but it could use a cleaner balance.

Mids

It’s not surprising hearing the recessed mids of the Quantum Air, but with EQ there isn’t much damage to note. Most of the midrange appears roomy but underemphasized. It lacks transparency, but there’s a surface to the frequencies that give the sound signature a neutral timbre. Nothing ever comes across as dull, especially when you have EQ to add enough excitement to certain sounds in a way that doesn’t feel artificial. The upper-mids are the most expressive part of the region, which is good for crisper voices and clicking effects.

Highs

The Quantum Air evens itself out with its treble response. It helps underline many different effects and voices, as well as extends the height of ambiance with a defined tail. Even with its pronounced frequencies, you never have to worry about the highs being too bright and harsh. Everything is brought under control, and only accentuates the texture of the frequencies.

Summary

There isn’t much out there in the way of true wireless gaming earbuds that are this inexpensive. For that, the JBL Quantum Air will be very worthwhile. Its sound has some nice qualities, including its natural stereo soundstage, bass, and treble. However, the mix quality is a letdown, and that can be a pretty big deciding factor on whether to go for the Quantum Air or not.

The JBL Quantum Air is available at Audio46.

The post JBL Quantum TWS Air Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• VR2000 Earbuds
• 4 extra pairs of ear tips
• Ear Hooks
• Carrying Pouch

Look and Feel

The VR2000 is an affordable IEM coming in at around $60. And for that price point, you really can’t complain about the build of this ear bud. The chassis is made entirely from plastic and feels pretty light in the hand. Weighing in at 20g, these will not cause ear fatigue. Final also says they designed the chassis to realize the “low oppression feeling of a customized fit.”

The IEM sports a rubbery feeling 1.2 meter cable with an attached microphone. The microphone housing also includes music and call control buttons. There is a color uniformity across the IEM with the chassis, tips, and cable all coming in the same dark olive color scheme.

In practice, I do find these to be quite comfortable with minimal microphonics. My one gripe would be that the cable does feel prone to tangling. Final Audio does provide a velcro loop to help keep the cable from fluttering around too freely, but that isn’t necessarily the most convenient solution here. 

Design

Final says they’ve “re-envisioned everything, from the diaphragm, voice coil, magnet, magnetic circuit, and various driver components’ adhesives, to even the production equipment.” This culminates in a single dynamic driver. The VR2000 also uses binaural sound technology to create a 3D sense of space and “‘sense of direction’ of sound.”

At 18 ohms with a sensitivity of 102 dB/mW, these will be quite easy to drive. This is great so you can plug them right into your phone, tablet, gaming computer, or controller to get top notch sound from whichever form of media you want to consume. 

Gaming Impressions

As stated before, the main purpose of the IEMs is gaming, so naturally the first thing I tested out was video gameplay. Using Call of Duty Modern Warfare III as a subject, I literally and metaphorically dove right in. The campaign starts with an underwater scene and immediately, I felt like I really was submerged under water. But it was when I started moving around that I really noticed the imaging capabilities of the VR2000’s. 

When turning right to left, I really got a sense of what sound was supposed to be the main subject, as well as the other layers of sound design built around it. In that opening level, there’s a helicopter that’s the centerpiece of the scene. When moving around, the direction of the helicopter changed too, allowing me to maintain a sense of space as I moved around. 

When shootouts started, separation of layers became apparent. But with the cacophony of sound, some detail started to go by the wayside. The layers started to feel thinner and less separated and the sound design became a little bit sloppy. That said, I was really impressed with the speech intelligibility of this IEM. No matter what was going on in the scene, I could always hear the other voices clearly and effectively. 

Music Impressions

If you’re spending the money on these IEMs, you may also expect to be able to use them for music. If that’s the case, you’re in luck. I was immediately impressed by the VR2000’s ability to resolve and reproduce music. The earbud presents a nice and neutral response with a gentle but impactful low end, a slightly recessed but still present midrange, and a clear and airy top end. 

In Radiohead’s “Nude,” there was a delicate handling of Colin Greenwood’s bass playing. Rather than an enlarged and in-your-face presentation, the VR2000 presented the bassline as soft and deliberate. While not the fastest bass response in the world, I was impressed with the tact it showed at this price range. 

The midrange is good but not perfect on this IEM. Vocals sound clear, but a little bit thin. While I felt like I was getting all the important information, it was in the microdetails and finesse where I found the midrange to be lacking. But again, at this price point, the response is really solid. A good example of what I’m talking about is Weezer’s “Only In Dreams.” I was impressed by how the VR2000 handled the guitar distortion without getting overwhelmed. But at the same time, I found the vocals to lack some dynamics, coming off as a little dry and dull. 

The top end is where I seem to always be impressed by Final Audio. While their general sound signature skews warm and musical, the treble regions of its products always come out remarkably airy and clear. This is the case with the VR2000 as well. Going back to Radiohead, the slow but constant hi-hat is resolving and crisp showing no signs of sibilance. 

To test out soundstage, I went for Adrianne Lenker’s binaural recording of “come” from the album “songs.” The song starts off with the ambient sound of rain, and I have to tell you, I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a rainstorm. The soundstage isn’t earth-shatteringly wide, but it is natural and effective, and not just for gaming. 

Summary

The VR2000 is an impressive little IEM. I have to say that I wasn’t expecting so much at this price point, but the VR2000 offers great sound quality and value. At $70, I think the VR2000 should be on the shortlist for any gamer looking to start playing with in-ears rather than clunky over-ears. 

The Final Audio VR2000 is available now at Audio46.com.

The post Final Audio VR2000 – Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• PULSE Elite wireless headset
• PlayStation Link USB adapter
• PULSE Elite charging hanger
• Mounting plate*
• USB cable
• Printed materials

Look & Feel

There’s been a lot of talk about what’s changed on the inside of the Elite, but the outside has its fair share of upgrades too. Everything about its frame still tries to resemble the shell of the PS5, with its yokes cutting across the earcups this time around. This works as a cool aesthetic difference, and also a way to better access the on-board microphone. It also makes the button controls feel natural to use, and I found myself using them a lot. It’s a strange design for a headphone, but the Elite uses its unique features to be more practical.

Wearing the Elite for a few hours never wares on you, as the ear pads secure your ears comfortably, while the suspension headband relieves some of the pressure on your head. It’s a light fit that I had no issue with, aside from the fact that I found myself readjusting their position on my head a few times.

Design & Functionality

One of the most advertised features of the Pulse Elite is its new planar driver. It was implemented well with the Explore, but more refined here as expanded on in the sound analysis section of this review. Otherwise, the main features of the Pulse Elite will be found when paired with the PS5. You have your standard volume control, but the main power button is multi-functional. You use it to link the headphones to your PlayStation, but if you press it three times it brings up your sound settings. I used EQ controls with the Elite regularly, so having this action came in handy.

Microphone Quality

Like the Pulse Explore, the Elite uses Sony’s AI-enhanced noise rejection when you’re using voice chat. Unfortunately, also like the Pulse Explore the Elite has issues when it comes to mic quality. For the Elite, hearing outside noise is no issue. The real problem is how others hear you through it. When chatting with my friends through PS5 and Discord, the sound of the mic came across as boxy. Others even claimed the mic had a crunch to it that made my voice a bit unclear at times. 

Bluetooth

When I reviewed the Pulse Explore, I liked the fact that you can use it with PlayStation Link and Bluetooth at the same time. The Elite has the same multipoint functionality, which I used quite a bit throughout my testing. It should be noted that Bluetooth can only work with the Pulse Elite when it’s connected to the PlayStation Link first. When connected through Bluetooth, you also don’t get access to low latency and lossless audio. 

Battery Life

With a full charge of the battery, you should be able to enjoy the Pulse Elite for up to 30 hours. It has fast charging too, with only 10 minutes of charge time translating to 2 hours of use. Thanks to the included charging hanger, there are two ways to charge the headset.

Soundstage

Most of my time with the Pulse Elite I was using 3D audio through the PS5. I had a short time listening to Apple Music through the PS5 in standard stereo, and it was not unlike what other Sony wireless headphones can handle, at least in terms of accuracy and spaciousness. I get the same impression of the width and imaging here as I do with the 1000x series. Musicality can vary, but the planar drivers do make the sound feel more breathable and organized. Everything is more coherently stacked instead of fighting for the middle with forward bass.

Using 3D audio with games is what the Pulse Elite is designed for, and brings out the best characteristics of the soundstage and imaging. If you’re listening to the Pulse Elite in standard stereo with most games, you’ll be missing out on getting the most immersion out of your games. How well does the Pulse Elite perform with 3D audio though? In most cases, the positioning of sound elements was not exact but stood out more in front of you. Ambiances wrap around you and encase your head in a dome, while other effects aim for specific directions past the right and left channels. I didn’t find the Pulse Elite very wide, but the headspace it presents through spatial audio makes soundscapes still come across without boundaries.

I became very impressed by the Elite’s spatial capabilities while playing Silent Hill: The Short Message. Upon starting the game I began to notice the very realistic outside wind sounds. These sounds were surprisingly direct through the Elite and effectively highlighted the game’s atmospheric sound design. Playing this game also showcased the positioning of specific effects as well. Certain sequences have you running away from a monster, and the Pulse Elite did a great job communicating where exactly the monster was coming from, and it helped me make decisions on where to go.

Low End 

I usually find Sony’s headphones, gaming or not, to be very bass-heavy. Sometimes this works for and against its sound signature, as the lows tend to cause some fogginess. With the Pulse Elite, the bass has a tighter performance, like the sound signature has more of a grip on its frequency response. Everything feels a bit more stationary and less loose.

You still get a very weighty response that supplies shape and texture to the bass, but the Elite provides a lot more balance than other Sony gaming headphones. I actually felt compelled to boost the bass using the PS5’s EQ. Their bass boost preset came in handy while playing Silent Hill: The Short Message, as it helped elevate the general room tone. The Elite was able to bring out the presence, adding a layer of intended discomfort.

Mids

While I was able to adjust the bass in a way that complimented the games I was playing, doing the same for the mids showed me a bit of frustration. No matter what I just couldn’t get the mids to sit in a place where they felt even. I kept trying to boost the mids to not feel as empty, but to no avail. The planar driver helps widen the range of details that can be heard, but their timbre still lacks complete transparency. Only in some games is the hollowness of the mids distracting. While playing Elden Ring, the Pulse Elite was able to capture the weight and scale of the music and sound design, but tonally, some of the sounds were a bit empty.

Everything is given its space though, as the Pulse Elite can properly communicate music and sound design with relative ease and organization. Nothing is relegated to the background too much, which is very impressive for a set of gaming headphones in this price range. During boss fights in Elden Ring, the Elite can portray both the bombastic music and the impactful sound design of the boss and your attacks in a way that appears more punctual. There’s an accentuated upper midrange that gives effects like sword slashes an extra sheen of texture. This also affects other sounds like the crunch of grass underneath your feet, as well as Torrent’s.

Highs

I found the highs on the Elite to be surprisingly expressive, and not afraid to show a bit of brightness. It never feels like the Elite is holding back anything with its highs even without EQ. That emphasized texture from the upper-mids expands into a glisten that accentuates the tail of certain sounds. Parrying attacks in Ghosts of Tsushima has a crisp ring to it through the Elite, showcasing its ability to provide sparkle and definition throughout its sound signature. The treble expands the height of the response quite a bit, giving these fine details plenty of room to take shape. These frequencies can get pretty aggressive at some points too, but it’s always brought under control to not become too peaky or distorted. 

Summary

There’s a bright future for more premium gaming headphones from Sony, and it starts with the Pulse Elite. Its implementation of planar drivers grants more opportunities for the sound to flourish, even if parts of the sound signature still stumble a bit. It’s only just short of sounding premium and audiophile though. Most games sound fantastic with the Elite anyway, with spatial audio playing an integral role in its immersion. The Elite responds great with it, mimicking all the right aspects about the dome like imaging of formats like DTS and Dolby Atmos. What Sony needs to work on the most is its microphone quality. While the AI noise rejection technology works, the actual timbre of the microphone still has some problems. If voice chat isn’t too much of a dealbreaker, then the Pulse Elite is a great gaming headphone that’s surprisingly affordable.

The Sony Pulse Elite is available here.

The post Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• Hybrid silicone rubber earbuds
• Warranty card
• Charging Case
• USB Cable
• Reference Guide
• USB transceiver

Look & Feel

The structure of these earbuds are reminiscent of Sony’s WF-1000XM3, except way smaller. The INZONE Buds are a way more refined and modern design, with a sleeker look and ergonomic shape. There’s not much else to their design, but the INZONE Buds are very comfortable, although, the charging case is quite big.

Design & Functionality

The INZONE Earbuds carry an 8.4mm dynamic driver, providing a sufficient output with okay headroom. Volume control can be raised by using the touch sensors on the eabuds, which also operate a few other controls like noise-canceling and mic togling. These actions come out with short delay and is mostly very responsive. Of course, with any pair of noise-canceling headphones or earbuds from Sony, you’re going to get incredibly effective isolation. These mics are also used for voice chat, which interprets your voice with average clarity. All of these settings can be accessed using the INZONE Hub, which you can download if you’re using these earbuds with your PC. This app gives you a ton of sound personalization options as well with EQ and spatial sound. It’s a graphic EQ with ten faders you can use to boost or attenuate those frequencies. You also have dynamic range control that makes certain sounds easier to hear. For spatial audio, the INZONE Buds use Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, which measures your hearing profile for a more effective spatial audio performance.

Bluetooth

You might be a bit confused if you’re planing to use the INZONE Buds with your smartphone using standard Bluetooth. The INZONE Buds come with a USB Type C transciever, which is the only way to get these buds to pair unless you have a device compatible with LE Audio. This dongle offers low latency and enhanced precision over wireless.

Battery Life

Because of the USB-C dongle, the INZONE Buds are able to provide a larger battery life than what you’re used to seeing for true wireless earphones. These buds give you a whole 12 hours of playtime, extending to 24 hours using the charging case. This is a fantastic amount of charge, especially if you’re using the INZONE Buds for long gaming sessions.

Soundstage

There are a few ways you can enjoy the INZONE’s soundstage. You have your standard stereo option, and spatial audio supported by Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. If you’re using the PS5, the 3D soundstage will be more effective with games then using the hub on PC in my experience. The soundstage will feel more optimized for 3D, and the earbuds will respond more naturally.

Using 360 Reality Audio through PC still feels immersive with games, but you don’t get the depth that Dolby Atmos or DTS gives you on the PS5. However, the INZONE Buds offer surprisingly good imaging through standard stereo. It does a fantastic job making the sound elements feel distinct and easy to localize through great channel  separation. This creates a soundstage with a large wingspan that fits both games and music so perfectly. With 360 Audio turned on, these elements come out in front of you more, but the stage becomes narrower. It’s not quite the bubble around your head you might like from other spatial audio earbuds, but in terms of natural stereo imaging, the INZONE Buds respond well in any scenario.

Low End

Without using the EQ in the INZONE hub, the bass has a consistent thump in the mid-bass that brings a good presence to most effects and instruments. You don’t get a lot of depth in the sub-bass though, which gives you less rumble with certain effects like explosions or other cinematic stingers in games. Bass drops in music also lack a bottom layer, but with EQ you’re able to add a semblance of foundation to the lows. The bass imaging also expands significantly, inflating the tone with fullness and warmth.

Mids

While some of the mids feel bloated by the mid-bass, the frequency response still comes together quite elegantly. This comes with the more natural response of the upper-midrange, which gives some nice detail to instruments and some dialogue. This is where the mids gain a surprising amount of musicality, sticking out from the foggier low-mids for a more enticing response from instruments and effects. It doesn’t quite get all of the in-game score from being relegated to the background, but it’s still an intelligible response.

Highs

The treble is totally present, and provides a good balance of frequencies. While there’s a bit of brightness in the highs, they are never harsh, and work to preserve the character of the sounds that come through the Buds. There’s a crisp tail to a lot of different effects, increasing the height and direct placement of the sound. With its brightness, the treble still feels completely accurate and realistic with a majority of sound elements.

Summary

Sony’s new true wireless gaming earbuds are very impressive for both music and gaming. I liked how detailed some of its response felt in comparison to other earbuds in this price range, especially ones that a geared toward gaming. There are definitely parts of its sound that I thought were lacking, but everything comes together nicely, and brings a higly enjoyable listening experience for your games.

The Sony INZONE Buds are available at Audio46.

The post Sony INZONE Buds Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• PULSE Explore wireless earbuds
• PlayStation Link USB adapter
• Charging case
• 6 Earbud tips
• USB cable
• Printed materials

Look & Feel

Everything from the charging case to the shell of the earbuds is meant to resemble the shape of the PS5. This makes for quite an odd-looking pair of true wireless earbuds, but it matches the futuristic aesthetic of the PS5. Just looking at the Pulse Explore for the first time, you might second guess how they could possibly fit in your ears. Their large wings that stick out don’t exactly look the most appealing to insert into your ear, but those concerns start to disappear when worn. While using the Pulse Explore, I never really thought about how strange they look in comparison to other true wireless earbuds on the market. The Pulse Explore is perfectly comfortable for long gaming sessions, and never gave me any significant ear fatigue.

Design & Functionality

One of the Pulse Explore’s biggest changes from Sony’s main driver configuration for their wireless headphones is the switch to planar instead of dynamic. This brings the Pulse Explore closer to higher-end headphones like the ones made by the company that PlayStation now owns. These drivers bring ultra-low distortion and other properties closely tied to higher-fidelity sound. Planar doesn’t mean automatically great sound, but its inclusion here does assume a focus on detailed sound reproduction. That doesn’t stop Sony from including other features like noise reduction though.

With help from AI, the Pulse Explore automatically rejects obstruction noise while in use. This aims to help clarity while using the earbud’s interior mics for voice chat as well. Regarding voice chat though, the actual quality of my voice while talking to friends is lacking quite a bit. You get that industry-leading isolation from Sony, but my voice isn’t even as clear when compared to the built-in mic inside of the PS5 controller.

Other features like Sony’s Tempest 3D audio are fully compatible with the Pulse Explore, giving you access to spatial audio through the PS5 under formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS. You can manually adjust these settings using the PS5 menu, but you won’t have to do the same with volume control thanks to the dedicated volume buttons on each earbud.

Bluetooth

There are a few interesting facts about the Pulse Explore’s Bluetooth capabilities. When I first started mentioning them, I was mostly interested in the earbuds supporting lossless audio over wireless. This is not over Bluetooth though, as the Pulse Explore uses a USB dongle called the PlayStation Link to be able to enjoy uncompressed sound using these earbuds. If you’re using a PC or the new PlayStation Portal, you will also be able to use this dongle. So using Bluetooth on your phone will still only give you the resolution of whatever Bluetooth CODEC you’re limited to. The PlayStation Link also gives you access to a much quicker connection, as well as ultra-low latency.

A major upside to the Pulse Explore’s Bluetooth is its multipoint capabilities which lets you connect the earbud with two separate devices. This came in handy when playing games on my P55 and needing to take a phone call without needing to switch out my earbuds. Multipoint also lets me do things like listen to my game audio while also listening to a podcast or audiobook in the background.

Battery Life

With a full charge, the Pulse Explore will last about 5 hours before you need to put them back in the charging case. The charging case will give you 10 hours of additional battery life, which is average for the price.

Soundstage

All of the limitations we associate with the soundstage over true wireless aren’t a factor with the Pulse Explore. When connected to the PS5, these earbuds are wider and more articulate than many other Bluetooth earbuds. The imaging is always organized and conveys accurate spatial positioning, with or without Tempest 3D audio. Using the PS5’s 3D sound will give you a different experience, but the Pulse Explore also does justice to the soundscapes of games in standard stereo.

Booting up Apple Music on the PS5 also shows how well the Pulse Explore communicates the soundstage through its large wingspan and separation with music. This audio is completely lossless through the USB stick, which is how I prefer to test most of my experience with the Pulse Explore. I felt like I was able to get a full picture of the sound through the earbuds, as just listening over standard AAC made the sound feel more boxed in by comparison.

So how do the Pulse Explore earbuds best present the sonic environments of your games? I played a few different games using Sony’s Tempest 3D audio to get the best representation of the Pulse Explore’s soundstage. Whether I was playing Demon’s Souls or Fortnite, one of the Pulse Explore’s most impressive characteristics was its localization. You could always tell the exact direction sounds were coming from. It could be left, right, up, down, forward, or behind. It feels like every sound emanates from a specific origin from just outside of your head, rather than from a left/right channel. This is useful for identifying enemy positions in competitive games, as well as a way to immerse yourself in a fictional world.

Using the Pulse Explore earbuds in Fortnite made me super aware of distant firefights happening, while the layered environments in Demon’s Souls encapsulated my head. It lets the sound design breathe, but if I can have one gripe with the soundstage, it’s that musical scores can sometimes get relegated to the background in bombastic moments. The sound design and dialogue seem to always get the focus, rather than finding a balance for all of the elements to work together.

Low End

Gaming headphones have a tendency to overdo it with the bass response, but I think the Pulse Explore finds the perfect median. Of course, you’ll want a sufficient impact for certain moments in games to grip you, and the Pulse Explore has no problem with that. Games like Demon’s Souls or Grand Turismo 7 do a good job of conveying the growl of the timbre while keeping everything tight. Cutting into an enemy in Demon’s Souls feels meaty, and always feels like it has an extra punch to it. You get a subtle foundation of sub-bass texture that makes the roaring engine of a variety of cars in Grand Turismo 7 all feel distinct and equally satisfying to drive. The tone portrays these sounds with realism rather than theatricality, but depth is not sacrificed.

Mids

Although the midrange possesses more detail than a lot of gaming earbuds, some of the sound elements come off as a bit thin. The Pulse Explore can showcase accentuated sound effects with good room and identity. Listening to music alone through the PS5 also wields some fine instrumental quality, but their timbre doesn’t elicit the fullest response. Some effects come through with crisply, but the timbre of these frequencies doesn’t have the same fidelity and musicality that the lows do. Something feels scooped out, but there’s still texture in the region. Most of that texture is located in the upper mids, where dialogue shines, but some sound effects, like the smacking of a baseball in MLB The Show, have a satisfying crack to it.

Highs

There’s good energy in the highs, and it compliments the immersion when Tempest 3D is enabled. Both effects and music have distinguishable tails that feature a very prominent glint. It’s not too aggressive, but there’s significant volume associated with this tone. Some of its timbre comes across as synthetic, but it never feels too unrealistic. Sound effects that have a scrape to them extend well into the upper highs with a shimmery response. A sword hitting a wall and echoing through a tunnel gives you specific artifacts and details you can envelope yourself with.

Summary

When it comes to pure sound quality, the Pulse Explore isn’t perfect but is still immensely satisfying for gaming. This is especially true while using the PS5’s spatial audio features and PlayStation Link dongle. With its new planar design, this might be the best audio you can hear across true wireless gaming earbuds made for gaming.

It’s certainly one of the most entertaining ones, with a tuning meant to complement the soundscapes of your games. Mic quality and some instances of music fidelity can be improved though, and I think being able to use some form of EQ with the Pulse Explore might help that. $199 is still a very generous price point for what these earbuds are, and all the features it brings. I think the Pulse Explore is worth it well enough, but I’m more excited to see how Sony and PlayStation further develop this design in the future.

The Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore is available here.

The post Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

H6Pro

• GSA 30 PC Cable
• GSA 30 Console Cable
• 2 X H6PRO Cover
• Safety Guide
• Quick start guide

GSX300

• USB type C cable

Look and Feel

Every EPOS headphone more or less has the same design. I’m a fan of its structure so I guess this is a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The aesthetic is very elegant and when they come over your ears, they sit comfortably. I think people with smaller ears will find them more fitting than people with bigger ears, but even then, the H6Pro still feels cozy.

Design

Inside the H6Pro is a 42mm dynamic driver with a frequency response of 20-20kHz. There are two cables it comes with, but to connect the H6Pro to the GSX300, you’ll need to use the cable with two 3.5mm headphone jacks. With the GSX300, not only will your computer audio be upgraded, but you’ll be able to use the EPOS Gaming suite. This downloadable app offers an EQ and 7.1 surround sound, which is what I used for a lot of my testing. Pairing the headphones with the GSX300 is easy, but make sure you have the latest drivers installed.

Mic Quality

Testing the chat quality through discord, the mic ended up sounding decent, but nothing special. Other players can hear you clearly, but there is still some fuzz to the sound. I’m not expecting high-resolution audio from this mic, but some stronger resolution would be appreciated especially going for this price.

Soundstage

The primary focus of this review will be on how well the H6Pro performs in its soundstage. With the GSX300 and EPOS Gaming Suite desktop app, the experience of the H6Pro can be dramatically different. There isn’t just one way to listen, as the GSX300 offers an in-app EQ, and most importantly 7.1 surround sound in your headphones. Starting in standard stereo though, the H6Pro will deliver a wide area of sound to your games, music, or movies. Its spatial imaging operates naturally as your standard open-back headphones, giving you clear separation and layers between each individual element. I was actually impressed by how wide the H6Pro can go, with its ability becoming most apparent with music. Whether it’s the soundtrack to a game/film, or you’re just listening to music on your desktop, the H6Pro will fill out the left and right channels to the fullest extent it can.

However, the headphones aren’t as naturally dimensional as it is wide. Its front-to-back imaging isn’t as complex in stereo mode. This leaves a flat plain of sound in the middle that doesn’t communicate the scale of the environment all that well. With music, this might not be as much of a criticism, but in games, some effects can appear a little thin. When you switch on surround sound mode though, this issue is all but eliminated.

This is where you’re going to get that extra dimension for your games, and with the EPOS Gaming Suite, it is completely adjustable. There is a reverberation feature that helps expand the spatial properties of your audio even further. I should note though that doing this won’t always translate the fidelity of the sounds in the same way. EQ helps this in many ways, but it can’t always fix issues with the resolution of certain frequency bands. However, on a pure enjoyment factor, the effect is really cool. After playing a few games with it, going back to stereo mode almost felt wrong.

With the H6Pro and GSX300 I played a lot of Warhammer 40K: Darktide, which gave me a fantastic idea of its spatial potential. Just standing in the main lobby area waiting to start a match, the organ-heavy soundtrack, and background ambiance immediately sucks you into the world. The headphones provide balance to the sound placement, with music establishing the foundation of the stage and environmental sound effects heightening the scale of the setting.

Here, I boosted the reverberation quite a bit, as it made the sound design appear properly distant and airy. When you finally get into the action, the soundstage really shows its strengths. The music is heavier, and the effects take up much more space in the mix. It impresses me that the H6Pro was able to stack these elements on top of each other without any major compromise. Everything appears realistic and never too busy, even when you have hordes of heretics rushing at you.

Low End

In its standard flat response, the bass offers good punch, but you really need to give it a major boost if you want it to respond the way most games intend. For most of my time testing the H6Pro, I had the EQ boosted the most in the lows, adding a subtle reduction in the midbass for a smoother transition. With this adage of gain, the bass delivers a more prominent sub-bass, adding texture and rumble to many different sound design elements of games. Playing some Modern Warfare 2, I found the bass really came into its own on the H6Pro. Shotguns, grenades, and many other hard effects will give you that meaty impact you’re looking for, as long as you set your EQ in the right place.

Mids

Something never sat quite right with me in the midrange. The bands of frequency that get the most spotlight still come off a little hollow, while other regions just don’t feel like they have any considerable drive to them. I spent a significant amount of time trying to EQ the midrange and set it in a comfortable place where I can get the most detail from instruments and sound effects. The best I could get was more transparent voices for dialogue and more clickiness to the upper-midrange effects. This might have something to do with just how little volume you actually get overall on the H6Pro. The GSX300 isn’t an amp, and I was surprised by how high you had to turn up the volume on the headphones to reach a comfortable gain. There could gave been a lot more headroom utilized here, and I think the midrange would have benefited the most from it.

Highs

These highs are very well maintained. They have a natural surface that executes a blissful and engaging tone. Its response doesn’t require brightness to express a lively timbre, so you won’t have to worry about harsh frequency content. Overall, the highs are inoffensive and should offer plenty of height and air.

Summary

I had some great fun with the H6Pro and GSX300. The 7.1 surround sound is definitely the biggest highlight, but it has other great qualities too, like its bass, EQ, and comfort. It has some shortcomings such as its midrange timbre and mic quality but as an experience, it never hinders my enjoyment as much. These are perfect if you’re looking to add spatial audio to your gaming set-up, and the price isn’t bad for this combo.

The EPOS H6Pro and GSX300 are available directly from EPOS.

The post EPOS H6Pro Open-Back With GSX300 Review appeared first on Major HiFi.