Sennheiser GSP 300 Review

Back in August we put out some literature on the release of the GSP 300, Sennheiser’s newest gaming headset.  Rocking a closed back design and boom mic, this gaming headset advertises superior comfort and impressive bass.  But at the sweet low price of just $99, is the hype justified?

Sennheiser GSP 300 Review

The GSP 300 is modestly packaged, with the box containing only the headphones and a small safety guide.

Build quality mostly relies on the all-plastic construction.  While lightweight, it’s still feels solid in my hands.  The split, foam-padded headband and thick pleather earcups are transcendental in their comfort.  I think I could wear this headphone for the rest of my life if I had to.

Of good quality, the boom mic does minimize feedback and unwanted interference.  Though not much of a gamer myself, I still have to give Sennheiser props for this.  The cable is thick, with separate input for the mic and sound.  With the use of an adapter, this headphone is compatible with Playstation, XBox, and Apple computers.  Right out of the box, it’s designed for use with a PC.

Specs

Frequency Range:  15-26,000 Hz
Impedance:  19 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):  NA
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):  NA

In terms of specs, the GSP 300 offers a frequency range of 15-26,000 Hz – a decent range, to say the least.  The impedance is a low 19 ohms – efficient enough for any gaming console or computer.  SPL is probably close to 110 dB, while distortion probably hits close to <0.25% or even <0.2%.  The sound is very, very clean.

Low End

Most gaming headsets opt for a robust low end, and the GSP 300 is no exception to this trend.  With a strong, lively bass response, you’d think these cans would suffer some bleed in the low end.  However, with an excellent sense of control, details still manage to stay clear and and separated in the low end.

Mids

A slight twinge of compression in the low mids can affect some male vocals.  Female vocals remain largely unaffected, and this isn’t a total deal-breaker.  Overall, the fidelity is there, just a bit hampered in the low mids.

High End

The GSP 300’s  high end is bright but still relaxed, missing some high-end detail but not to an alarming degree.  Considering that most gaming applications aren’t going to be relying heavily on stringed instruments, I’d even say this slight clipping is a welcome development – if anything, the smooth highs compliment that heavy low end in a very interesting way.

Soundstage

Impressed by the ample depth and good sense of placement in the GSP 300, the sound is fast approaching a place of realism – something I never really expected to see in a gaming headset retailing for just $99.  While not the most impressive soundstage ever, for the price it cannot be beaten.

Other Impressions

Comfort is top notch – I cannot emphasize this enough.  Some gaming headphones limit the time you can spend shooting zombies or storming the beaches at Normandy.  This one takes away the pain and discomfort of extended veg-sessions.  Thanks, Sennheiser!

A couple of times during my listening sessions, I accidentally caught the cable of stuff.  Not an issue, apparently, as volume and sound quality continues to hold up despite my best efforts to ruin the cabling.

I’m loving this bass.  Paired with the overall-pristine sound of the low end, this feature allows me to bump bass-heavy tunes that would bleed like crazy with junkier headphones.

Recommendations

For gaming headsets at $99, nothing beats the Sennheiser GSP 300.  Forget what came before and treat everything in the future with skepticism – these headphones are the ones to own.  Of course, if you’ve got the budget for more expensive options, have at it – options from Sennheiser and Audio Technica will offer amazing results, while the good folks at Klipsch have the interesting wireless KG-300 for $229.  For gaming, though, the GSP 300 is the best deal you’re going to find for under $200.

The really potent selling point of this headphone, however, is its ability to perform double duty with gaming and listening.  While other headphones inevitably shine at one and fail at the other, the GSP 300 toes the line with distinction.

Final Analysis

I could go on for days about how great the Sennheiser GSP 300 sounds, or how comfortable it feels, but my boss would have my head.  So let’s boil it down to an easy-to-digest takeaway:  Like games and music?  Get this.

You can find these headphones for the best price here:

Audio 46 (Use our promo code, “majorhifi” to get 10% off)