The Sennheiser GSP 670 isn’t a normal pair of gaming headphones
A cracking – and expensive – pair of gaming headphones that have plenty of appeal beyond gaming group chats
SCORE
PRICE £249 (£299 inc VAT) from uk.sennheiser.com
We wouldn’t normally include a pair of gaming headphones in PC Pro, but as the Sennheiser branding and the price betray, the GSP 670 isn’t a normal pair of gaming headphones. If you can get past its chunky styling, this set arguably performs exactly the same tasks as the “professional” Logitech Zone Wireless ( see issue 299, p69), and in many ways does it better.
Just like the Zone Wireless, it can simultaneously connect via Bluetooth to a phone and to your PC via a USB dongle. This promises low latancy, too, which in practice means no lag between the onscreen action and what’s going through your ears. You also benefit from side tone control, which means you can set how much of your voice you hear when talking, and you can also control how much background noise
the microphone picks up (“mid” or “max”) if you’re in a busy environment. Just don’t expect active noise cancellation in the headphones themselves, with Sennheiser relying rather optimistically on the earcups to block out noise.
You can still hear audio clearly when travelling, thanks in part to a maximum volume of 110dB. I also love the simple dial control for volume, which is built into the right-hand cup – it’s much more convenient than swiping up and down or digging into software.
Audio quality is up to Sennheiser’s usual standard, with plenty of detail in tracks that demand it and the ability to pump out bass when required. In truth, though, it’s the quality of the microphone that lifts the GSP 670 away from the opposition. Sennheiser describes it as broadcast quality, and for once that isn’t a brag: this is the best microphone I’ve tested on a set of headphones, wired or wireless, and it even matches the quality of standalone mics. If you listen to PC Pro podcast 465 ( pcpro. link/300pod), you can hear it in action – albeit over Skype rather than “raw”. Compare it to the sound from the Logitech Zone Wireless, which I used to record podcast 464, and it definitely has the advantage. I particularly like that you can choose between the default setting for voice recordings or opt for “warm” or “clear”; I’m a big fan of the warm version, which gives your voice a homely Radio 2 timbre. When you don’t need the mic, simply flip out of the way. All this control is via Sennheiser’s professionallooking software centre, but note this is only compatible with Windows 10. It’s easy to understand and well worth exploring, with three simple tabs: one for playback, one for the microphone and one for settings. The latter lets you check for headset firmware, dongle firmware and software updates, but you’re most likely to head here to set what the
“You can wear the GSP 670 for hours without suffering from hot ears, and it makes no difference whether or not you wear glasses’”
physical “smart button” on the right earphone does. For example, switch on 7.1 surround sound effects or swap to a favoured preset.
What you don’t get is professional styling. Wear these on your commute and you’ll get some odd looks. In return, though, you get an exceptionally comfortable pair of headphones thanks to two features: one, ear cushions that surround your pinnae rather than place any pressure on them; two, a sliding mechanism that adjusts the balance of the pressure of these 406g headphones on your head.
I’m cynical about how much difference the balance mechanism makes in practice, but it does adjust the feel of the headset. More importantly, you can wear the GSP 670 for hours without suffering from hot, uncomfortable ears, and it makes no difference whether or not you wear glasses.
The other thing to note is that these headphones are primarily focused for use at a desktop PC or laptop, so while the desktop software is comprehensive you get comparatively few options through the Sennheiser Smart Control app.
Xbox owners should also look away, but if you own a PlayStation 4 then you’re in luck. You can even pick up calls that come through via the console (and the PC), as the audio will pause and you’ll hear the ring tone. There’s no clever pick-up button, though, so you’ll need to head onscreen to actually answer the call.
My final word is on battery life, with the GSP 670 lasting for 16 hours if you use the low-latency USB dongle and 20 hours on Bluetooth. Curiously, Sennheiser says it chose micro-USB to recharge the headphones rather than USB-C because it fits more securely. Perhaps, but it feels old-fashioned.
It should come as no surprise to hear that I’ve been impressed by this GSP 670 headset. Yes, they’re chunky; yes, they’re expensive; yes, they’re aimed at gamers. And the latter will undoubtedly get the most out of the low-latency performance and 7.1 audio features. But if you love to listen to music at your computer, and will take advantage of the brilliant microphone, then they make an excellent investment. SPECIFICATIONS Bluetooth headphones with bidirectional ECM mic 20hrs battery life up to 10m range USB RF dongle 205 x 165 x 90mm (WDH) 406g 2yr international warranty