Sound Quality and Measurements

The Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 is equipped with a pair of 50-millimeter dynamic speaker drivers. Their impedance is 55 Ω, and the specified frequency range spans from 10 Hz to 40 kHz, so the headset carries the Hi-Res Audio badge. As I've mentioned in the introduction, sensitivity of the headset is exceptionally high at 112 dB, with the idea to make it as easy to drive as possible regardless of the quality of your sound card. This can be a slippery slope as high headphone sensitivity can lead to an audible background hiss on low-quality sound cards. I should point out that I didn't run into such issues with the Skiller SGH50 even when connecting it to the front headphone output on my PC case, but your mileage may vary. In any case, Sharkoon achieved its goal of making the Skiller SGH50 easy to drive, and you really do have to be careful when connecting it to a higher power source as you could damage your hearing if you push it too far.


Recently, I've been thoroughly testing and experimenting with the miniDSP EARS headphone test fixture, probably the least expensive such device on the market. I finally got to a point where I feel comfortable using it for frequency response measurements to publicly present the results. The miniDSP EARS consists of two miniDSP UMIK-1 microphones placed inside a pair of silicone ears and is affixed to a steel headphone stand. It's a USB-powered device, perfectly integrated with the fantastic Room EQ Wizard (REW) software, which is used for headphone and microphone calibration, as well as doing the measurements themselves. Every single miniDSP EARS unit comes with its own microphone calibration files, which are loaded into REW before doing the measurements. The miniDSP EARS certainly has its quirks. The artificial ear canals aren't particularly deep, so I wouldn't necessarily consider it a viable option for IEM testing. The integrated microphones are exceptionally sensitive to headphone positioning, partially because of the screws affixing the silicone ears to the stand, which aren't perfectly flush with the silicone surface. Some users also claim that the fixture is too narrow for very large hi-fi headphones, so they have to use rubber bands to tighten the clamping force. The latter isn't something I had an issue with, though; all my headsets and headphones fitted perfectly.

Because of all that, the miniDSP EARS is prone to user error. Whoever is using it has to know how to interpret the results and, even more importantly, how to spot those that are clearly flawed. After getting rid of the bad data, assuming the initial configuration and calibration were done properly, the resulting frequency response measurements are usable and in line with what one would hear from the headphones (or headset) in question. Once I got to where the frequency response plots corresponded to what I heard from the headphones and headsets I've measured, I knew it was time to bring the results into my reviews. My testing methodology mostly follows the best practices of using the miniDSP EARS as covered in great detail in this article on Headphonesty. The most significant difference is that I'm using the updated HEQ compensation, where a subjectively neutral headphone would measure approximately flat. The audio source for my analog headphone and headset tests is the fantastic EVGA NU Audio Pro PCI Express sound card. To compensate for minor seal variances, I'm measuring each ear until I get 10 usable results and reseat the headphones, or headset, between runs. After I have my results for one ear, I apply a 1/12 octave smoothing and average the measured responses. I then repeat the process for the other ear for an idea of whether any channel imbalance exists. In the end, after averaging the left and right ear frequency responses, I have my final frequency response measurement of the headphones or headset I'm testing. My results are plotted on a 50 dB scale (50–100 dB) at roughly a 16:9 aspect ratio, which needs to be considered when examining the frequency response graph(s). It's also important to keep in mind that my results cannot be directly compared to anyone else's, as only an identical methodology conducted on my exact sample of the miniDSP EARS would yield directly comparable results. Still, we now have a relevant visual representation of the sound characteristics of the headphones or headset under review, so I hope you find it useful.

Let's take a look at the frequency response measurement of the Sharkoon Skiller SGH50.



The Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 has an interesting tuning, one which is arguably better-suited for multiplayer gaming than anything else. I'm referring to the peak in the upper midrange (4–5 kHz) and audibly (and visibly) boosted treble, which makes the headset sound detailed and surprisingly airy, especially given its closed-back nature. I had no issues picking up the more subtle details and keeping track of my targets in games like PUBG and Apex Legends. That should come as good news to anyone who's mostly playing multiplayer shooters. The Skiller SGH50 will keep you on your toes and well informed about your surroundings. I didn't find the treble too harsh or fatiguing, although your preferred listening volume is going to play a significant role in that regard. If you like your games and music LOUD, which is certainly an option with a headset as sensitive as this regardless of your sound card, its boosted treble could potentially make you want to occasionally take a break.

The tuning of the bass also works as an extension of the multiplayer shooter prowess of the Skiller SGH50. I'd call the bass tasteful. It has a slight bump around the 100 Hz region, which gives the low end just enough meatiness and warmth to make the overall sound signature of the Skiller SGH50 more pleasing to the ear, but any boominess is subdued by the dip in the lower midrange, between 200 and 300 Hz. The bass has no audible overhang and doesn't mess with the midrange. That gives you room for some additional equalization. You can safely add up to +5 dB to the frequencies below 100 Hz to increase the perceived fullness of the sound without any risk of distorting the built-in speaker drivers even at high listening volumes. I wouldn't recommend messing with the 100–200 Hz range, though, as any interventions here result in a boomy and muddy midrange. While playing in the equalizer, you can also consider boosting the center midrange to some extent. That will bring the instruments and vocals a bit more forward if that's the tonality you're after.

Here's how the Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 fares in terms of channel balance.



For an inexpensive gaming headset, channel balance looks solid. There's a 2 dB offset in the sub-bass and mid-bass regions, and a ~3.5 dB discrepancy around 4.5 and 5.7 kHz, but these don't get in the way of the overall listening experience.

Passive noise isolation is very good. The thick, massive pleather earcups don't bleed sound in either direction, so feel free to rock out even if you have people sitting in the same room. Unless they're right next up to you, they won't hear any sounds coming from your direction.

Overall, the Sharkoon Skiller SGH50 sounds tight, agile, and well-tuned for its intended usage. While its treble is boosted, the headset never sounds offensive or too bright. Considering the asking price of €60, you get more than you pay for in the sound quality department.