***I know this is a huge wall of text but you should make sure you know what to expect when buying something that costs over $200.***
First and foremost, I am a gamer. I have been gaming competitively for well over 10 years and over that period have gone through numerous headsets these being the Turtle Beach X1 & X11, the Tritton AX Pro, the Astro A40 2010 & 2011 Models, and now the Sennheiser PC360. The Sennheiser PC 360s, however, take the cake for being the best headset that I've ever owned and used. Also, I am an Xbox 360 gamer so before reading this review keep in mind that I am using this with Astro Gaming's Mixamp for 5.1 SRS from the Xbox 360, and not as a standalone 2.1 Stereo headset as it is intended. This is because without a Mixamp you can not use this headset with an Xbox 360.
***Pros
[+] Amazing sound quality
[+] Some of the best audio positioning available on a dedicated gaming headset due to the Open Acoustic build and the large sound stage.
[+] Open Acoustic design allows air to flow through the speakers to your ears, keeping your ears cool and getting rid of any gross feeling of warmth that can be caused by a closed design. (Astro A40, Tritton AX Pro)
[+] Superb noise cancelling microphone. Very sturdy but also pliable to adjust easily to user preference. Xbox Live chat is very clear and the mic picks up your voice without you having to yell. It does very well to also block out any unwanted noise.
[+] Extremely comfortable. The earpads and headband cushion are covered in a velour material that feels great around the ears (keep in mind these headphones will completely surround your ears and will not push down on any part of your ear). The headband is adjustable to fit any size head and the headphone itself does not push too tightly on your head. For those with glasses; this headset will fit fine while you are wearing glasses.
[+] On ear controls works surprisingly well. The volume knob can be found on the right side of the headset and will stay at the volume you put it at. The boom mic acts as the mute switch on this headset. When you flip the microphone into the upward position it will mute the microphone (indicated by a noticeable click. You do the opposite to unmute the microphone.)
[+] Very sturdy design. The headset itself is made of a very forgiving plastic that is pretty bendable, feels very strong and can definitely take a beating.
[+] Very professional looking headset. The headset is a matte black with velour cushioning. It looks very sleek and is all business.
***Cons
[-] Price tag. This is one of the most expensive dedicated gaming headsets on the market, especially considering the fact that Sennheiser literally gives you nothing with the headset.
[-] For use with any Game Console you will need an adapter, most common being the Astro Mixamp which in itself is about $120 USD. For a PC gamer, you'll need a good sound card to get the full experience with these headphones. A standard, bottom of the line sound card will not do these headphones justice. This means that you'll most likely have to spend even more money to get these headphones running optimally.
[-] The microphone is huge and cannot be detached. I feel like the microphone on this headset is way too big for what it's being used for. Other headsets such as the Turtle Beach models have a small adjustable wire which is perfectly fine as a boom. The microphone is also not removable and is confined to your left ear.
***Other Things to Consider
[~] Open Acoustic design allows sound to enter and exit through the headset. Let me go a bit more into depth about this.
eg1.) You are listening to your task's audio at an average volume and someone is talking next to you. You will be able to hear them fairly clearly.
- This is a preference thing. For some this won't be a problem; people who tend to use the headset in a secluded area or who would prefer if they could hear their surroundings and others would definitely benefit from this. For others this may be a deal breaker; people who go to LANs will hear people yelling and this may take away from the game audio, and people who would prefer not to be able to hear their surrounding while gaming should consider opting for a closed design headset.
Sennheiser PC 350 Collapsible Gaming Headset with Vol Control & Microphone Mute
is a great alternative to the PC360 for someone looking for a closed design.
eg2.) You have the volume on your headphones fairly loud. People near you will be able to hear audio coming from your headset.
- Again, this is a preference thing. Some people would rather have their game audio kept confined to their headset. Others may not care if audio leaks from the headset because they may play in a dedicated area where they will be using the headphones alone.
You may be wondering, "Why should I buy this headset if I can just get a Closed design set?" Well, the reasoning behind the Open Acoustic design is that it allows sound to enter and leave the ear naturally as opposed to allowing it to rebound as it does in a Closed setup. This is a huge factor in the headset's amazing audio positioning when playing games with Surround Sound.
[~] Is this headphone right for you? Before buying this headset decide whether or not spending a minimum of $200 is worth it for what you will be using these for. This is a dedicated gaming headset and should be used as such. the headset is designed with the competitive player looking for that edge in gaming so if your just a casual gamer or just need a headset to VoIP or record a commentary you may want to opt for a better priced headset. Not saying you should buy a cheap headset but if that's what will work for you then by all means buy a cheaper headset.
With that being said, this is an absolutely amazing gaming headset that will not disappoint. If you're a dedicated gamer or just feel you'd like a top-notch headset then this headset is a great choice. Comparing these with my Astro A40s, which are regarded as one of the top of the line console gaming headsets, I can safely say there is no comparison, these headphones win hands down.
Thanks for reading my review. I hope I helped,
- Justin
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