EPOS Sennheiser Game Zero Review. Sennheiser game zero black • BOVISKOALA.COM

EPOS Sennheiser Game Zero Review

April 23, 2021
Dua Rashid

EPOS Sennheiser has been in the audio industry for a long time. In fact, the brand has acquired a position in most audiophiles’ top favorite brands list. EPOS gaming headsets, especially their well-renowned GSP series, maintain a reputation for brilliant engineering in terms of ergonomics, along with delivering impressive, balanced and focused audio.

We were sent the Game Zero, EPOS’ closed-back acoustic gaming headset, marketed as a robust addition to your gaming setup that promises extreme audio clarity with positional accuracy. Priced at 180, the Game Zero isn’t a small investment. It needs to be stellar in every department to be recommended as a worthy purchase. We took our time testing it for flaws or inadequacies and it’s safe to say that we were pleasantly surprised.

Unboxing

Unboxing the Game Zero was, undoubtedly, an experience more enjoyable than any other EPOS product I’ve unboxed to date. The company went an extra mile to send the headset safely in a semi-solid zippered carry case. Even the recently-reviewed EPOS Game One, Game Zero’s almost-identical twin, didn’t include such a case in its packaging. The headset is already portable thanks to its ability to be folded and stowed away. Its sturdy carry case makes portability even easier and provides shell-like protection against any external threats. It has a well-built body that is reliable, robust and has pretty high endurance.

Made of expensive material and exuding sophistication, the carry case is fairly minimal. It has just the brand name stamped on one of its faces. It also features a to store your cables and other related items, thus scoring full points in utility as well. All in all, the case is one of those accessories that are too good to be given away complimentarily.

Accessories

While EPOS was fairly generous with additional accessories such as the carry case and an abundance of protective packaging to ensure safety, I wish they would’ve given an instruction manual. The only instructions we are given are found on the back of the box. While an effort has been made to make the information inclusive by incorporating seven different languages, it’s still very brief and the absence of a user’s guide feels strange.

The unboxing process will also introduce you to a detachable audio cable. With a total length of 118 inches, it’s a relief that it comes with the option of being detached from the headset. Unlike most audio cables these days that feature rubber and are exceptionally prone to damage, Game Zero offers a premium-quality braided cable that is manufactured with woven nylon. It gives off a high-end vibe that ensures protection.

Design and Build

As compared to its predecessors, the Game Zero makes a little progress in terms of beautification with its plain black body being decked out in shiny red accents. a. The cans also sport two shiny metal hinges marked ‘L’ and ‘R’ that connect the headband to the earcups. Silver metal pins along with the red highlights create a striking contrast against the dull black chassis of the headset. The exterior of the earcups features a ridged design with horizontal cutouts and the Sennheiser logo emblazoned on it. Ridges lend the body some textural detail and improve your grip on it.

The Game Zero flaunts a thick fine plastic finish that manages to be robust and lightweight at the same time. With everything from the headband to the earcups made out of plastic, there isn’t a single part of the Game Zero that feels cheap or flimsy. Since the cans have negligible weight, they’re ideal for extended hours of gameplay as well. EPOS really managed to achieve the perfect balance in terms of the device’s build, and that’s pretty commendable.

Fit

The Game Zero features large over-ear XXL cups that provide guaranteed comfort. Regardless of the size of your ears, the generous oval cups on these cans have approximately an extra centimeter to spare in every direction. Hence, even the hugest of ears won’t feel pressure on their cartilage area. Plus, the earcups are deep in addition to being big; this makes sure that the outer edges of your ears aren’t touching the interior walls of the earcup.

The plush faux leather earcups offer quite generous cushioning and literally treat your ears like a baby. However, while the triple-layered leatherette makes sure to offer a premium experience, it also generates quite a lot of warmth. I could feel my cranial area getting sweaty after a while of wearing the Game Zero.

Ergonomics-wise, this stereo headset is pretty impressive. It’s foldable, rotatable and adjustable with plenty of give. I have a relatively smaller head compared to the usual size and not all headphones sit on my ears comfortably. The Game Zero tightly hugged my noggin providing a very snug fit. Its adjustable metal headband is especially designed to fit a wide range of head sizes and endure a little head bopping as well. Lastly, since the headband is sufficiently wide, it divided the device’s weight on a larger area. Thus, it reduces the force applied by it on the top of my skull.

Controls

Very minimal in its design, the Game Zero sports just two controls: an embedded volume wheel on one of its cups and a lift-to-mute retractable boom mic on the other. The volume wheel is a flat disk and that isn’t tactile. Though it hosts small markings that play their part in giving you some knowledge about your volume level. The boom mic is, however, tactile and produces a quite satisfying click when moved to its active position. The click is audible and confirms that the mic’s switch has been toggled and it’s ready to pick up audio.

Voice chat quality on the Game Zero is brilliant. In fact, coming across a headset with a mic as sharp as this one is rare. It keeps unwanted background noise out and supports a crystal-clear transfer of your voice. I asked my friend if he could hear the exceptionally loud buzz of the fan in my room and, to my surprise, he couldn’t. His voice was also clear, picked up within milliseconds and free of distortions.

A quibble I have with the mic is that it’s not detachable. I understand that the Game Zero is primarily meant for gaming purposes, but it would’ve been great if the mic wasn’t so firmly affixed, strictly reserving the device for its main function. It’s also pretty large and very obvious, even when retracted. Had it been subtle, I probably could have considered using the headset elsewhere. But the way it is tightly bolted on makes sure that I don’t extend its utility.

Noise Isolation

Some of the Game Zero’s predecessors, with fairly high impedance, required an amp for the audio to be brought up to an ideal level. But with impedance as low as 50-ohms on the Zero, it is good to go with the on-board audio of pretty much any motherboard. Not having to use any third-party software, equalizer or device to enjoy the sound of your liking is a relief.

An impressive feature of the Game Zero is its passive noise isolation. The thick padding on the earcups of the headset coupled with its closed-back design lends it a high degree of sound isolation. Around 80% of all my background noise was muted as soon as I wore them, without even putting music on, which is a better score than what some Active Noise Cancellation headphones manage to achieve. It turned my sister’s conversation on the phone, which I could hear quite clearly earlier on, into a mumble after I donned the headset.

I put on some music and asked my sister if she could hear what I’m listening to. All thanks to the triple-layer cushioning, there was absolutely no sound leakage. Not being able to listen to the outside world and the world not being able to listen to my music was a wonderful experience that made me feel it’s managed to separate me from everybody else.

Audio

In terms of soundstage, the Game Zero has focused and directional sound. Upon listening to Nobody by Mitski, I realized that, on the Zero, every instrument has its very own defined place, as if a special slot is reserved just for it. The audio is clear, crisp and sharp and every little detail of the song is delivered on a separate layer. The kind of precise sound that I experienced is expected of studio headphones and for a stereo headset to offer it is highly praise-worthy.

In addition to the sound being detailed, focused and clear, it has a 3D pseudo-surround quality to it. The Game Zero gives the audio some volume, so it doesn’t end up sounding flat. It has a warm sound profile, hence, the instruments don’t sound tinny or cold. It delivers high frequencies pretty well, with zero distortions or cracks. I put on Chandelier by Sia on it, a song with a high-frequency chorus. It’s safe to say that I was thoroughly impressed. The treble was great and the highs retained that clarity and detail. Sound remained sharp without the sharpness sounding fatiguing at any given point.

Gaming

I played a couple of FPS games on the headset and I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a gaming session this much in a while. Finely-tuned to suit a mid-range, but capable enough to deliver a wide variety of ranges, the Game Zero is a great companion for shooting games. With its impressively extensive soundstage, I could hear every reload, gunshot and bomb blast with brilliant clarity and power. The sound of stepping on dried leaves or the water tap running sounded so real that it felt as if it’s all happening in the room I am in. The Game Zero came through with absolute precision; I could accurately pinpoint to where a certain sound is coming from.

Here are the parts that I believe can use a little improvement. The bass on the headset is disappointing. For the test, I put on one of the most bass-heavy songs, Low Life by Future, to feel a little low-end thump, and even then, that oomph was missing. It felt as if the manufacturers decided to compromise a little on the bass to retain the kind of tightness and crispness the audio holds. over, the volume on the Game Zero could have been a little better. Even when my PC and the headset’s volume was cranked all the way up, I still found it a little underwhelming. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t blow me away or push me out of my seat. I remember wishing I had the option to raise it just a little more.

Final Verdict

All in all, the EPOS Sennheiser Game Zero is a machine that took very few risks. It didn’t experiment too much with design, controls or ergonomics, and didn’t need to either. Some may find it a little pricey but EPOS is a trusted name that is guaranteed to impress you. The Game Zero is reassuringly expensive and worth it.

Is It Hardcore?

Absolutely. Apart from a few minor flaws, the EPOS Sennheiser Game Zero is a brilliant headset to invest in. Offering a comfortable fit, easy navigation, an excellent mic and great audio, it’s nothing less than a steal.

Sennheiser GAME ONE review

As far as gaming headsets go, this is a good one. However, a quiet mic can cause problems in popular chat services, so ultra bassy-voiced gamers might want to look elsewhere. Additionally, as these are open-backed headphones: audiophiles will love them, but loud neighbors will mess with your games if you’re in a noisy environment.

Sennheiser GAME ONE

Lightweight and comfortable

PC cable and standard 3.5mm cable

If you’re looking to up your game from a cheapo headset and crappy mic, you might be looking to more expensive headsets like the Sennheiser GAME ONE. But will it be a trusted item in your inventory, or will it let you down? We spent two weeks with the Sennheiser GAME ONE to find out.

Editor’s note: this Sennheiser GAME ONE review was updated on April 29, 2022, to include in-line FAQs, expand the list of buying options, and update the score based on results from our reader poll.

Gamers who listen to lots of music will find a capable ally in the Sennheiser GAME ONE. The sound quality is a cut above, and the flat frequency response lends itself well to rhythm games, RPGs, and any game where you need to be able to pick out subtle sounds.
Gamers who wear glasses will also find a capable ally in the Sennheiser GAME ONE, as the velour earpads don’t catch acrylic or metal glasses.

What’s it like to use the Sennheiser GAME ONE?

Like many other gaming headsets, the Sennheiser GAME ONE has a very specific aesthetic, meant to appeal to those about to quest at the computer for a few hours. Thankfully, this headset isn’t clad in RGB lighting or extreme branding, but for Sennheiser the red accents are a little out of place. That’s not to say that it looks bad (it doesn’t), but it’s very apparent who this was made for.

The headset itself is a little utilitarian, with a few nods to the casual user. For example, the padding is all matte black velour: great for those wearing glasses. Additionally, the matte black plastic—fingerprint prone—does not get scuffed or schmutzed up quickly.

Where the Sennheiser GAME ONE is different than most gaming headsets is that it is of the open-back variety, so it won’t offer any isolation to speak of. If you’re gaming at home, this is a good thing. However, at LAN parties and events: you’re going to want to leave this guy at home because you’ll be able to hear everything around you. The upside here is that this type of headphone design lends itself better to the reproduction of 3D space, and that can give you an edge in deathmatch, RPG, and FPS games.

What does the Sennheiser GAME ONE use for connection?

Dual 3.5mm plugs can be a pain for gamers if their source has only one dedicated port. Get an adapter.

The Sennheiser GAME ONE uses a split TRS cable with one termination for the microphone and another for the headphones themselves. If you want to use this for the Nintendo Switch or a PC with only a headphone/headset jack: you’re probably going to want to grab a TRRS adapter to combine the microphone and audio signals. It’s inconvenient to be sure, but it isn’t the only headset we’ve run across with this design. Check to see if you can connect these to your source before buying.

If your computer has both a microphone port and an audio out (pink and green, respectively), you can forgo the adapter and just plug in. However, you’ll probably find that you want more gain on the microphone than a motherboard will usually provide—but more on that later.

How does the Sennheiser GAME ONE sound?

A volume knob on the right earcup allows you to quickly turn the tunes down in the middle of a firefight.

As one of the best gaming headsets out there, the Sennheiser GAME ONE naturally sounds great. A neutral frequency response means that the headphones themselves are going to give you the sound that each game intends. The headphones won’t make anything sound louder or quieter than it should. This is great because it allows you to equalize your music any way you wish without much trouble.

If you’re used to HyperX or Razer headsets, you may feel like the Sennheiser GAME ONE lacks bass, but that’s not really true. Sure, there’s a slight de-emphasis—but it’s much more reasonable than the models most people experience with cheaper headsets. It’s just one of those things that you’ll get used to, especially given the fact that your audio will sound a whole lot “clearer” than it does on other headsets.

This type of sound is really good for RPGs, first-person shooters, and any game where music plays a pivotal role.

How good is the microphone of the Sennheiser GAME ONE?

I’ll be honest, the microphone of the Sennheiser GAME ONE leaves a bit to be desired and isn’t among the best gaming headsets with good mics. The problem is that it requires a fair bit of power—which isn’t really ideal when you consider that entry-level gaming headsets are meant for as little futzing as possible. If you don’t know how to boost gain in software, or if you’re soft-spoken, you may find yourself yelling a lot at the computer with the Sennheiser GAME ONE.

Additionally, bassy-voiced gamers like yours truly will seem a little hollow over the mic because of a under-emphasis in the low ranges. It’s not uncommon for microphones on gaming headsets to do this because it’s so very hard to get good mic quality from units so small. Depending on what headphones you have already, you may instead want to look for a standalone gaming mic to pair with your current headphones.

Here’s a sample to illustrate what I mean.

Sennheiser Game Zero headset review: Unrivaled comfort comes at a cost

The latest version of Sennheiser’s premium gaming headset brings unparalleled comfort, but not without some considerable drawbacks.

Headsets are becoming an increasingly more vital component of every gamer’s setup – not only offering an immersive experience but also providing a competitive edge in multiplayer titles. With this increased appeal, more audio hardware manufacturers are starting to offer a range of headsets tailored to gamers. One of the more recent additions to this lineup is the reworked Game Zero headset from Sennheiser; a well-established veteran in the audio space.

Among Sennheiser’s gaming offerings sit two premium headsets: the Game One and Game Zero. Both of these are marketed as higher-end devices, touting their comfort and general immersive capabilities. We’ve managed to spend a few weeks with the better of these headsets, the Game Zero, to see how it fairs with the ever-growing competition.

The Sennheiser Game Zero is presented as a luxury piece of hardware, stored inside a protective fabric carrying case from the outset. This case houses the headset itself, alongside the two supplied cables.

At first glance, each of the included components exhibits high quality, from the leatherette padding, strong hinges, and braided cabling. Sennheiser has gone out of its way to display the Game Zero in a presentable fashion, focusing on an overall sleek presentation which stands out from the crowd.

Design

Sennheiser Game Zero specifications

Compatible with Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4
1.2m 3.5mm cable / 3m 3.5mm Y splitter cable
2.1 Stereo
15–28,000 Hz frequency response
Adjustable microphone
Premium hard fabric carrying case
Retails for 279.95

Digging deeper into the headset’s design, the Game Zero’s greatest strengths lie with its general comfort. The core frame of the headset is made from a strong but flexible plastic, making for a lightweight but sturdy design. Although this results in cheaper feel in-hand, the structure makes for a truly ergonomic device which comfortably molds itself around the player. This design choice also helps the headset withstand bumps and drops you might expect from daily use.

My only gripe with the Game Zero’s design is the reliance on light plastic on the outer casing, which leaves a cheaper feel than most headsets at this price point. Our review unit had a glossy white finish that diverged from the premium Sennheiser feel. A matte black finish is also available, which offers a more professional, first-class style.

Performance

During my play sessions, I found the performance of the Game Zero wasn’t consistent; there was often a noticeable lack of clarity in certain scenarios. Although scenes with prominent bass sounded rich and accurate, those with vocals and ambient noises usually sounded hollow and weak. This left lower tones feeling much less defined, leading to a generally tinny output from the headset. Although the Game Zero headset performed well in some environments, the required consistency just isn’t present in today’s model. Despite these issues, the headset’s microphone records satisfactorily, with the added bonus of efficient noise cancellation.

Retailing for 279.95 from Sennheiser, the performance offered by the Game Zero headset just doesn’t live up to the high price tag. Sennheiser’s attempt to create a premium headset hasn’t gone unnoticed, but with such an ever-growing competition, higher-performing headphones are available at this price point and even lower.

After testing the headset’s capabilities on both Xbox One and PC, the Sennheiser Game Zero headset has emerged with some great features that stand out against today’s lineup of premium headsets. However, while Sennheiser has gone the extra mile to present the Game Zero has a premium headset, several unfortunate shortcomings hold back its potential. Even with attractive hardware and unrivaled ergonomic design, the Game Zero’s internals don’t stack up to the expectations set by the high price tag.

Cons:

This review was conducted using a review unit provided by Sennheiser

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Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central’s Senior Editor, Xbox PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft’s gaming efforts. You can follow him on @mattjbrown.

The Sennheiser Game Zero feels great, looks great and sounds great for the most part, but an overemphasis on voices holds it back.

Early Verdict

The Sennheiser Game Zero feels great, looks great and sounds great for the most part, but an overemphasis on voices holds it back.

Pros

Supremely comfortable
Easily portable
Great competitive soundscape
Good microphone

Cons

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Sennheiser’s gaming headsets generally sound good, but not great. This is unusual, given the old-school German manufacturer’s pedigree for top-quality sound. Of the company’s three gaming headsets, the Sennheiser Game Zero (270) comes closest to delivering all-around aural excellence, and while it’s not perfect, there’s an awful lot to like. The Game Zero feels great, looks great and sounds great — most of the time. Competitive gamers will adore its high-quality microphone and immersive in-game sound, but audiophiles and single-player adventurers might not appreciate the way it handles voices.

Design

Unlike Sennheiser’s bulky, difficult-to-transport GSP 300 and Game One headsets, the Game Zero has portability in mind. The headset is either white or black with shiny red highlights, but unlike the Game One, the Game Zero also sports a thin, flexible headband and foldable ear cups. A small, handsome carrying case comes with the headset, making it incredibly easy to transport it. While the boom mic on the left ear cup isn’t detachable, the carrying case and foldable design make it feasible to bring the Game Zero along on your everyday trips.

When a co-worker tested the Game Zero, he said that the headset was comfortable overall, and he especially appreciated that the ear cups make a good seal around the bottom of the ears. He didn’t find the ear cups and headband to be quite as soft as I did, though.

Gaming Performance

When I tested the Game Zero, I was expecting perfect performance across the board. What I got instead was a little unsettling. The headset positively excelled when it came to Overwatch, letting me hear my opponents’ movements and my allies’ calls for help with crystal clarity as I floated around the battlefield as Mercy. Likewise, the headset struck a rich balance between mission dialogue, sound effects and music when I took control of Terran forces in StarCraft II and Captain America in Marvel Heroes.

However, I encountered an oddity when I played The Witcher 3. While the music and sound effects reverberated across the rich soundscape, the voices sounded like they were coming from the bottom of a well. With other headsets that using immersive equalizations, I’ve noticed that they sometimes produce a funny, hollowing effect with voices, but since the Game Zero has no software, there’s no option to change things. I won’t say Witcher 3 was unplayable, but listening to quest dialogue was annoying instead of endearing, and I imagine that the same could hold true for other story-driven, dialogue-heavy adventures.

The Game Zero earns a wholehearted recommendation for competitive games, or single-player ones where dialogue plays a secondary role. If you’re mostly a role-playing game aficionado, though, you might have to invest in a device that handles voices better — and honestly, just about every headset on our Best Headsets list can do so.

Music Performance

As it does with games, the Game Zero tends to do funny things to voices in music and media. While instruments sound gorgeous and balanced, they also felt a bit muted and distant. Bass and drums are especially hard to pick up, as I learned when I listened to “The Hand of John L. Sullivan” by Flogging Molly and “Carry Me Back” by Old Crow Medicine Show.

The vocals, on the other hand, were front and center, but not in a very satisfying way. Each singer’s voice had a dull, straightforward quality that didn’t blend well with the rest of the ensemble. I felt as though I were listening to a soundscape optimized for chat rather than music or movies. At least I didn’t have any trouble understanding dialogue when I watched Black Mirror on Netflix.

The Game Zero is easily the most comfortable gaming headset Sennheiser has ever made.

I had a more mixed experience with baroque music. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos (instrumental) sounded rich and balanced, but Handel’s “Messiah” (choral) somehow managed to be both heavy and muddled on vocals. As the owner of a pair of Sennheiser’s 150 HD25-1 II headphones, I was surprised that my much cheaper peripheral from the same company produced much better sound; there is no way that the microphone alone is worth an extra 100.

Features

Since the Game Zero has no software, the only outstanding features are the volume control knob and its foldable nature, both discussed above. The microphone is a good one; it picked up my voice and blocked out almost all background sound when I tested it in Windows Voice Recorder. Unlike other Sennheiser mics, it even picked up my voice when it was situated above or below my mouth, rather than right next to it.

While the recording of my voice was a little too distorted for me to make a podcast or deliver a presentation online, the Game Zero’s mic more than gets the job done for in-game conversations, Skype calls and the like.

Bottom Line

I liked the Sennheiser Game Zero, but I wanted to love it. There’s no denying that the headset is extremely comfortable and portable, and that it provides spectacular sound for competitive games. On the other hand, there’s also no denying that it overemphasizes (and sometimes distorts) voices, and its microphone alone is not worth the huge price spike over a comparable set of music headphones.

The Sennheiser Game Zero is currently the best gaming headset that the company produces, and if you’re an online gamer with a little money to burn, that’s enough. However, I believe that, given the company’s pedigree, it can create something even better in the future.

Sources:

https://www.hardcoredroid.com/epos-sennheiser-game-zero-review/
https://www.soundguys.com/sennheiser-game-one-review-22449/
https://www.windowscentral.com/sennheiser-game-zero-review
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/sennheiser-game-zero,review-4005.html