Sennheiser GSP 600

[Inle]

The Sennheiser GSP 600 is the company's new top-of-the-line gaming headset. It's essentially a simple analog headset with no RGB LEDs or similar gimmicks. Does it offer enough in terms of sound and microphone quality, as well as wearing comfort, to justify the $250/€249 price tag?

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[bug]

Anyone else thinks that red ruins an otherwise ok(ish) design?

 

[Nuckles56]

I agree there, I'd rather they toned down the colour scheme to just black, or black and grey

 

[Assimilator]

Make a wireless version and then we can talk.

 

[raptori]

Great review Inle , thanks for all the details , they need to tone down the futuristic look and drop down the price to around ~200 until then I'll keep using my Philips.

 

[BadFrog]

Who cares what it looks like as long as it performs exceptionally well but you could always paint it since there isn't alot of red to begin with.

 

[webdigo]

So this is the one to finally replace pc360 and game one?

 

[silapakorn]

I wish they make a mic-less version and price it a little cheaper. I never like wearing headphones when gaming. I only use them for movies and musics and it's hard to find a comfortable, affordable and durable cans for PC these days.

 

[huzidada]

Hey thanks for the review. Im looking at gettimg an upgrade this week(from Cloud 2s) to either GSP500 or 600 and Arctis Pro.

I know you havent done the review on the 500 yet but how does is fair to the 600 and whuch would you choose. Ive never used a set of open backs before and where Im based you can only purchase and theres no demos.

 

[Inle]

Hey thanks for the review. Im looking at gettimg an upgrade this week(from Cloud 2s) to either GSP500 or 600 and Arctis Pro.

I know you havent done the review on the 500 yet but how does is fair to the 600 and whuch would you choose. Ive never used a set of open backs before and where Im based you can only purchase and theres no demos.

Let's put it this way, how good is your sound card?

If it's good (no noise on the microphone input, good sound performance on the output), you should pick between the GSP 500 and GSP 600.

If it's not good, get the Arctis Pro, as it comes with its own external sound card.

I can help you with the GSP 500 vs GSP 600 dilemma as well, as I currently have both at my disposal. The GSP 500 sounds more open and airy, because of its open-back design. However it leaks sound both from the inside out and from the outside in. In other words, if you use your headset in noisy environments or in a room where you could bother someone from the noises coming from your direction, go with the GSP 600. The GSP 600 is completely sealed (closed-back) and as such doesn't leak sound in either direction.

My game room is separated from the rest of my apartment so I'd pick an open-back headset/headphones over closed-back. On the other hand, in my previous apartment my PC was located in the living room, so using a closed-back headset was the only viable option.

I hope that helps! And thanks to you and others for your kind words about the review, I'm very happy you like it!

 

[huzidada]

Let's put it this way, how good is your sound card?

If it's good (no noise on the microphone input, good sound performance on the output), you should pick between the GSP 500 and GSP 600.

If it's not good, get the Arctis Pro, as it comes with its own external sound card.

I can help you with the GSP 500 vs GSP 600 dilemma as well, as I currently have both at my disposal. The GSP 500 sounds more open and airy, because of its open-back design. However it leaks sound both from the inside out and from the outside in. In other words, if you use your headset in noisy environments or in a room where you could bother someone from the noises coming from your direction, go with the GSP 600. The GSP 600 is completely sealed (closed-back) and as such doesn't leak sound in either direction.

My game room is separated from the rest of my apartment so I'd pick an open-back headset/headphones over closed-back. On the other hand, in my previous apartment my PC was located in the living room, so using a closed-back headset was the only viable option.

I hope that helps! And thanks to you and others for your kind words about the review, I'm very happy you like it!

I got my GSP 500 today. For the big head I have they fit amazing.
However as awesome as clarity is I feel these dont get loud enough in game like PUBG. Like everything is faint in comparison to my Asus Strix DSP and my Alphas. Im using a Strix Soar to power them and they set to high impedance...Is it just me? Music and movies are very decent though. Im not sure if something is wrong on my end or should I return for the GSP 600 or Arctis Pro.

Since you have both at your disposal any chance of pairing the GSP 600 ear cups on the 500 ?

 

[Inle]

I got my GSP 500 today. For the big head I have they fit amazing.
However as awesome as clarity is I feel these dont get loud enough in game like PUBG. Like everything is faint in comparison to my Asus Strix DSP and my Alphas. Im using a Strix Soar to power them and they set to high impedance...Is it just me? Music and movies are very decent though. Im not sure if something is wrong on my end or should I return for the GSP 600 or Arctis Pro.

Strix Soar should be more than powerful enough to drive the GSP 500. Their impedance is only 28 Ω. Here's a silly question - did you turn the volume up on the headphones themselves, not only in Windows? The volume knob could be easy to miss, as it looks like an integral part of the headset's frame:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sennheiser/GSP_600/images/volume-dial.jpg

The Arctis Pro doesn't go very loud with its own sound card, that's actually something I addressed in my review and mentioned in the "cons" list:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/SteelSeries/Arctis_Pro_GameDAC/8.html

You mentioned that you also own the HyperX Cloud 2, if I'm not mistaken? Here's another thing you can try - plug the GSP 500 into the Cloud 2's sound card and see if you get better results.

 

[huzidada]

Strix Soar should be more than powerful enough to drive the GSP 500. Their impedance is only 28 Ω. Here's a silly question - did you turn the volume up on the headphones themselves, not only in Windows? The volume knob could be easy to miss, as it looks like an integral part of the headset's frame:

The Arctis Pro doesn't go very loud with its own sound card, that's actually something I addressed in my review and mentioned in the "cons" list:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/SteelSeries/Arctis_Pro_GameDAC/8.html

You mentioned that you also own the HyperX Cloud 2, if I'm not mistaken? Here's another thing you can try - plug the GSP 500 into the Cloud 2's sound card and see if you get better results.

I checked everything there is including individual app volume and its all maxed out.
I have since tested Witcher 3 and Project Cars 2 and the sound quality is AMAZING!!! It seems like PUBG does not like me at all as most sounds seem to be average with only gun shots sounding like they will knock my ears off.

Made a mistake, dont have Cloud 2s...Have Cloud Alphas. Maybe Im just used to a closed back headset that makes me feel these slight differences. Volume wise are the GSP 500 and 600 equal? Like raw loudness?

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sennheiser/GSP_600/images/volume-dial.jpg

 

[Inle]

I checked everything there is including individual app volume and its all maxed out.
I have since tested Witcher 3 and Project Cars 2 and the sound quality is AMAZING!!! It seems like PUBG does not like me at all as most sounds seem to be average with only gun shots sounding like they will knock my ears off.
Made a mistake, dont have Cloud 2s...Have Cloud Alphas. Maybe Im just used to a closed back headset that makes me feel these slight differences. Volume wise are the GSP 500 and 600 equal? Like raw loudness?

The GSP 600 would seem a bit louder, because of its closed-back nature. But it has a slightly different sound signature for that very reason as well. It sounds more "dramatic", while the GSP 500 is more natural of the two. If I was in your place, I'd give the GSP 500 a bit more time - once you get used to the openness and airiness of the sound, it's going to be hard to go back to any closed-back headphones

 

[Steve3p0]

What is the THD rating on this?

 

[EsaT]

Strix Soar should be more than powerful enough to drive the GSP 500. Their impedance is only 28 Ω. Here's a silly question - did you turn the volume up on the headphones themselves, not only in Windows? The volume knob could be easy to miss, as it looks like an integral part of the headset's frame

Actually that very low impedance isn't automatically good thing.
Strix Soar and Strix Raid Pro (which should be identical except for latter's volume controller module) appears to be continuation to one Xonar sound card line up with totally lame 100 ohm output impedance:
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/amp/asus-strix-raid-pro-low.php#rw3
Besides obviously limiting output current into short circuit that also takes dump on damping factor...
As in ideal damping factor being output impedance being at most ~1/8th of headphone impedance. (not the other way around)
Also if headphone's impedance varies with frequency output impedance causes frequency response change.
So that output impedance would be more fit for 250+ ohm Beyerdynamics and Sennheiser high end headphones.

Usual resistor based inline volume controls and also that volume control knob in GSP 500 behave similarly to increase in output impedance.
Hence those shouldn't be used for bigger decrease of volume.
While there's no sharp on/off limit after some point it becomes very noticeable.
Once tested it with Sennheiser HD595 and after initial bass bloat after some point whole sound quality jumped from cliff becoming completely "muddy" and bass disappearing.

 

[huzidada]

Actually that very low impedance isn't automatically good thing.
Strix Soar and Strix Raid Pro (which should be identical except for latter's volume controller module) appears to be continuation to one Xonar sound card line up with totally lame 100 ohm output impedance:
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/amp/asus-strix-raid-pro-low.php#rw3
Besides obviously limiting output current into short circuit that also takes dump on damping factor...
As in ideal damping factor being output impedance being at most ~1/8th of headphone impedance. (not the other way around)
Also if headphone's impedance varies with frequency output impedance causes frequency response change.
So that output impedance would be more fit for 250+ ohm Beyerdynamics and Sennheiser high end headphones.

Usual resistor based inline volume controls and also that volume control knob in GSP 500 behave similarly to increase in output impedance.
Hence those shouldn't be used for bigger decrease of volume.
While there's no sharp on/off limit after some point it becomes very noticeable.
Once tested it with Sennheiser HD595 and after initial bass bloat after some point whole sound quality jumped from cliff becoming completely "muddy" and bass disappearing.

I returned my GSP 500s. I wasnt so impressed. Got me some DT990 Premiums and its a chalk and cheese difference. Plus so much fun

 

[EsaT]

I returned my GSP 500s. I wasnt so impressed. Got me some DT990 Premiums and its a chalk and cheese difference. Plus so much fun

DT990 is very well balanced between very good "fun factor" and good details/binaural sound stage.
Sound stage is actually comparable to best for gaming HD59x Sennheisers, but bass punches nicely instead of being "shy".

Though for competitive gaming bass neutral AKG K701/K702 are "god mode" for binaural sound with step bigger sound stage and same level distance separation.

 

[huzidada]

DT990 is very well balanced between very good "fun factor" and good details/binaural sound stage.
Sound stage is actually comparable to best for gaming HD59x Sennheisers, but bass punches nicely instead of being "shy".

Though for competitive gaming bass neutral AKG K701/K702 are "god mode" for binaural sound with step bigger sound stage and same level distance separation.

I definitely agree with you. My buddy jas the K7xx and while not fun in the bass department..the clarity of footsteps in Pubg(the updated sound pack they used is ridiculous though).
About the Strix Soar. Where can Infind out more on what it means? Or maybe explain it to me in lay mans terms? As I sold it and have a Creative AE5 (that sounds way better I must say) but need to look into getting a Mayflower Arc(I need the speaker input as well).

Also any thoughts on bass on the Fostex T50RP MK3. I was looking at getting a set of those(maybe even the V1 modded from Mayweather) but also had a pretty good deal on some HD600s(open box for like 250$) and didnt know which to add to my collection