Sennheiser Game One Review (An Expensive Headset for 2020)

I have found that many novice gamers opt to purchase PC gaming speakers instead of headsets/headphones. Maybe it’s because headsets are commonly associated with hard-core gamers or maybe new gamers are worried about hearing loss.

It’s fairly common knowledge in the audiophile community that Sennheiser has been pumping out the industry standard in sound for the last two decades. If you want affordable high-quality noise-canceling headphones, Sennheiser is the first brand that should come to mind.

Sennheiser’s Game Zero was their first foray into manufacturing official gaming headsets. By the time that Sennheiser came out with the Game One headset, you could say that they had finally perfected the design and function.

They may be older than the GSP series but because of their current price drop, now is the perfect time to buy them. In this review, we’ll try to convince you as to why you should own the Sennheiser Game One headset today.

Sennheiser Game One Performance

For headsets released in 2014, the Game One headset has aged remarkably well. Off the bat, it is important to note that the Sennheiser Game One headset doesn’t come with 7.1 Surround Sound but it does have stereo, which may be perfectly fine, especially for Xbone players.

It delivers high fidelity in-game sound. The crunch of leaves and footfalls feels fully realized. Which is important for playing stealth games such as the latest Hitman or Metal Gear Solid. You can hear enemies breathing and from which direction.

I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure that I was indeed alone in my room. Nevertheless, the open-back design makes these headsets unsuitable for a tournament or public gaming. Ambient noise tends to bleed in.

If looked at from a positive perspective, this can be seen as a win, especially if you need to hear what’s going on in the outside world while gaming. Which might make them an awesome alternative to work headsets.

Audiophiles x Game One

However, I wouldn’t recommend them for music listening. The clarity and crispness of the audio that the double transducers produce is almost unmatched but too much sound leaks in and out. This can be blamed on the way the outer cups are designed.

If you are listening to music, I recommend you listen to it in a quiet room. This is where you can fully immerse yourself in the music and get the best audio listening experience the headset has to offer. I could hear every subtle electric pop, quiet layered background vocal melody, and soft synth sound while listening to Thom Yorke’s Anima.

The same German-engineered speakers you find in any other high-fidelity Sennheiser headphones (from the mid-2010s), you will find in this headset too.

In terms of tweaking and customizing the sound, you can use your device’s equalizer software or purchase Sennheiser’s GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier.

Microphone Quality

Now let’s talk about the microphone. It’s an omnidirectional microphone with noise cancellation. While the headphones/speakers may not be suited for crowded rooms and tournaments, the microphone works well enough to isolate your voice with minimum background noise.

Which makes it great not just for gaming but for chatting through your phone or office VoIP. With this headset, you definitely won’t need a second or separate gaming microphone.

Sennheiser Game One Design

The Sennheiser Game One headset comes with two interchangeable auxiliary cables. This is a nice touch. If you don’t like the cables that come packaged with the headset or if they suffer any damage, you can simply purchase a custom headset or replacement.

The volume control dial is embedded on the right ear cup of the headset. While it may sound convenient in concept, trying to turn the dial on your right ear can be a bit uncomfortable and awkward, particularly if you have biggish biceps like mine.

The microphone is a boom style mic with 90-degrees of movement. You can lift it up to quickly mute it which is always a pro.

However, the build quality of the microphone could be better, especially if you consider that it’s from a brand like Sennheiser. It looks sturdy at first glance but after a year flipping and un-flipping, it feels like it will become loose and gradually fall off.

Comfort

The rest of the headset feels bulky. It’s deceptively lightweight though. The inner ear pads are made with soft velour fabric. The interior of the ear cup is large and spacious. The material feels breathable and the space provides good airflow.

They’re large enough to fit Adam Driver’s ears. However, if you find that you have smaller ears, then you might find them a bit uncomfortable, especially after long bouts of use while gaming. The open-back design adds even greater ventilation to the ear cups.

Thanks to the breathability, you won’t find your ears sweating after five minutes of play – unless you’re just generally a sweaty person. Nonetheless, your sweat will soak into the fabric of the ear pads. It’s quite permeable.

You can also remove or replace the ear pads. If you find that they’re not giving you enough cushion or comfort, you can simply purchase smaller or tighter ones. You can even buy or create a custom pair of your own.

You also get standard cushioning underneath the headband. The headset is extendable, but trying to fit it just right can be a bit finicky, especially if you’ve been blessed with an awkwardly shaped head like mine.

Overall, they are still one of Sennheiser’s best-looking gaming headsets. They look stunning particularly charming on my gaming headset stand. Nevertheless, I doubt anyone will ever see me wearing them in public.

Sennheiser Game One Pricing and Alternatives

Almost half a decade ago, the Sennheiser Game One headsets were priced like elite-level gaming headsets. Today, you can get them for the price of a budget gaming headset. At the time of writing this article, you could get the Sennheiser Game One headset for $129.99.

However, after reading the above review, you may feel that Game One isn’t the right headset for you. If that is the case, here are some alternatives:

Sennheiser PC 373D

Price: $127.95

If you have your heart set on owning a Sennheiser headset and 7.1 Surround Sound gaming is a must-have feature, the Sennheiser PC 373D ticks both boxes. It has a similar design to the Sennheiser Game One.

HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset

Price: $75.85

The HyperX Cloud II Gaming headset delivers audio that is on par with the Sennheiser Game One headset, but the difference is that it’s substantially cheaper and a bit more comfortable (depending on the size and shape of your ears).

NUBWO Gaming Headset

Price: $24.99

For gamer’s with thin wallets, looking for gaming headsets that cost under $50, the NUBWO gaming headset comes with a noise-canceling mic and stereo sound for a fifth of the price for the Sennheiser Game One’s price.

Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset

Price: $69.99

For gamers who hate cabling, the Logitech G533 headset is available for a fraction of the price of a Sennheiser Game One. Not only are they wireless, but they also come with 7.1 surround sound.

Sennheiser Game One FAQs

Does Sennheiser Game One Have Surround Sound?

The Sennheiser Game One does not have surround sound. In fact, both the Game One and Game Zero are all-stereo headsets. If you are looking for a headset with virtual surround sound, check out our list of the best 7.1 Surround Sound headset.

Are Sennheiser Headphones Good for Gaming?

Sennheiser headphones are good for gaming. For a long time, experts advised gamers to get separate headphones and microphones, instead of one homogenous headset. If you plan on playing single-player games that have large soundscapes and/or binaural audio, then you may benefit from purchasing headphones instead of a headset.

Most good headphones these days come with built-in invisible microphones. Unfortunately, most of these built-in mics don’t have good noise-canceling or great recording quality.

Is Sennheiser Better Than Bose?

The general consensus implies that Sennheiser is better than Bose. Sennheiser tends to deliver clearer sound while Bose tends to have higher lows and deeper base. Another reason as to why people feel that Sennheiser is better is because they have a more expansive range than Bose. Personally, I’ve been using the same pair of Sennheiser earbuds for the last three years. They are the most durable earbuds I have ever had.

Can You Use Sennheiser with Xbox One?

Yes, you can use the Sennheiser Game One with an Xbox One. For older versions of the Xbox One, you’ll need an adaptor. With newer models, you can connect the headset directly to the controller.

Does Sennheiser Have a Wireless Gaming Headset?

Sennheiser does have a wireless gaming headset. In fact, it currently has two on its line of GSP headsets; the GSP 370 and the GSP 670. Both are low latency Bluetooth wireless headsets. However, as stated before, if you want an all-purpose headphone, you

Is Noise Cancelling Safe?

Noise cancellation in headphones and microphones is safe. However, this depends on how you use them, particular noise-canceling headphones. If you listen to them at a volume that is too loud, then this could be detrimental to your hearing. Just make sure you listen to them at a reasonable volume and take hourly breaks between listening.

Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Block All Sound?

Unfortunately, noise cancellation does not block out all sound. Whether it’s passive or active noise cancellation, it doesn’t block out 100% of all external or outside noise. Instead, it dims or reduces it. Active noise-canceling earphones listen to ambient noise and attempt to produce the opposite sound. This reduces external noise but it does not cancel it out completely.

Sennheiser Game One Headset: Final Verdict

Sennheiser’s Game One headset is a beast. Never mind how old it is. It delivers magnificent stereo audio quality at a somewhat reasonable price. Its well-ventilated and spacy ear cups make it one of the most comfortable headsets I have ever worn. The mic recording and chat quality are exceptional.

It is almost as good as a studio microphone. I wouldn’t recommend using it to record your next rap album but it’s ideal for game casting and streaming.

Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great for gaming, decent for music listening and phenomenal for recording and chatting. All its missing is 7.1 surround sound.

Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sennheiser’s gaming range is quite homely. To be honest, most gaming headsets are fashion disasters but Game One is probably one of Sennheiser’s best-looking headsets. What makes their design truly special is how functional they are. I particularly like the Game One’s lift-up-to-mute mic and its airy ear cups. The volume dial on the right headphone could have been better. And the microphone could have been built with a lot more sturdiness.

Price: ⭐⭐⭐

If you consider inflation, the headset’s price has been drastically reduced since its initial release. However, you can still find headsets with more functionality at a lower price than the Sennheiser Game One.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As stated before, the Sennheiser Game One headset has aged surprisingly well. It has escaped obsoletion because of its design, sound and microphone quality. The double German-engineered transducers are why these headsets are still worth having today.