Sound Quality

The MSI Immerse GH30 is equipped with a pair of 40-millimeter dynamic speaker drivers with a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response. After spending a bit of time examining the plasticky exterior of this headset and its in-your-face design, I have to admit I was skeptical about its performance. I expected it to sound like many other cheap gaming headsets: monstrously bloated in the bass region and without much to offer in any other part of the spectrum. Luckily, my skepticism was unjustified. The sound quality is actually the best aspect of this headset, as it truly sets it apart from most other gaming headsets in the sub-$50 price category.

The speaker drivers are tuned to sound surprisingly natural and balanced across the frequency spectrum. The bass is satisfyingly full, detailed, and quite punchy. At the same time, it doesn't in the slightest interfere with the mid-range. The middle frequencies are seamlessly tied together with both the bass and the treble. Much like the bass, they sound detailed and pronounced, pushed forward. At times, they sound a bit rough around the edges—some vocals can get a bit shouty, and action-packed games could overwhelm your ears, which may have you considering lowering the volume. Still, it's mindboggling that this is the only downside when describing the sound performance of a $50 gaming headset. The high range isn't overly bright or piercing; it's not particularly open either, although, again, this is a $50 gaming headset we're talking about—with that in mind, the high range sounds perfectly fine.


Whether you're using it for gaming, watching movies, or listening to music, the sound quality of the MSI Immerse GH30 is downright shockingly good. I can't think of a single gaming headset with a $50 price tag that sounds as balanced, musical, and nice. A bit more openness would go a long way in making it even easier to hear some subtle cues in games, such as approaching enemy footsteps or distant gunfire. This again isn't a complaint, however, as the Immerse GH30 generally does perfectly fine with spatial positioning.

The MSI Immerse GH30 is quite easy to drive, so you can connect it to pretty much anything and still get plenty of volume. That includes smartphones. I tried connecting it to the Essential Phone and OnePlus 7 Pro through a USB-C to 3.5-mm adapter in order to play a couple of games and listen to music. Everything worked without any complaints.

One complaint worth mentioning is the lackluster passive noise isolation. The ear cups don't fully press up against the head, so the ears remain slightly "open" just below the lobules. While sound doesn't leak out, you'll definitely be able to hear what's happening around you more readily than you'd expect when wearing closed-back headphones. If you're gaming in a quiet room, this could actually prove beneficial as you won't feel nearly as much pressure as with closed-back headphones with a tighter seal.