Sound Quality

The Fnatic React is equipped with a pair of 53-millimeter speaker drivers. Fnatic describes them as having been "calibrated for esports" and goes on to explain that they have been tailored in a way that makes the low-end tight but not overpowering whilst enhancing the mids and highs. Their official website also speaks of "designated frequency chambers for tight bass," implying that the headset is based on a dual-chamber design, which I was not able to verify.

One way or the other, Fnatic isn't making stuff up when they say they aimed to create a gaming-oriented sound. In terms of spatial awareness and the ability to pinpoint in-game targets, this is one of the most revealing and informative gaming headsets I have used to date. When playing Apex Legends, PUBG, or Battlefield V, it constantly felt as though I could hear my enemies before they heard me. Their footsteps were louder than I ever heard them before, which gave me a great sense of control—I felt like it would literally be impossible for someone to sneak up on me. That's a great feeling to have when fighting your way through ranked modes of popular multiplayer shooters. I even found the boosted mids and highs beneficial in games where I wouldn't expect it to be important, such as Rocket League. The Fnatic React made the engine noise of my opponent's cars louder, which kept me fully aware of their current position on the field. Good stuff!

The bass is indeed tight, punchy, and rich enough to make in-game events such as explosions and gunfire sound fun. It's also well controlled, so it does nothing to interfere with the mid-range—there's no noticeable bloat or overhang. The built-in speaker drivers can handle quite a bit of volume without audible distortion, which comes as good news to anyone who owns a higher-quality sound card. Of course, with an impedance of only 23 Ω, the Fnatic React can be successfully driven by just about any sound source, including mediocre integrated sound cards.


For music listening, the way this headset is tuned makes vocals and instruments pronounced, but with good support from the meaty low-end, which is why your songs won't sound dry and sterile. The boosted high-range can make certain higher-pitched vocals and instruments sound piercing, although I wouldn't say I had issues with ear fatigue. Everything's held together nicely; perhaps, the sound signature of the Fnatic React isn't the most natural simply because various efforts were made to tailor it in a certain way, but it performs wonderfully in games and deals well with music. If you're a die-hard bass head, you might find the bass response of the Fnatic React a bit on the lean side. Everyone who's not absolutely obsessed with bass will find it perfectly sufficient.

The passive noise isolation is excellent. There's no sound leakage to speak of, and you won't be bothered by anyone or anything in your surroundings.