The sensation of having your skull squeezed like a grape by a piece of audio hardware has never been more gratifying than with the Sennheiser GSP 600. It’s by far the stiffest headset we’ve strapped to our collective skulls in a long time. We didn’t find it uncomfortable, just firm. The earcups, which are foam-clad and large enough to suffocate huge ears, are soft even when compressed, with a suede-like inner that caresses the head without getting hot.
Instead of the focused little pads found on some other headsets, the band, a malleable semi-split plastic number, has its own padding, which is widely disseminated and generous. Each cup floats on its own metal arm, with a tiny amount of X and Y rotation to accommodate any face, and two moveable bars on the band allow you to adjust the point of contact pressure. So, the design is on point, but it’s not all ideas: The build quality is also quite decent.
This is essentially a plastic headset with a few metal components thrown in for good measure, but it’s robust and weighty. It’ll take a thud. There are flaws don’t tell Sennheiser, but during a thorough inspection, we managed to slightly remove the glued-on headband padding but if properly cared for, this is a headset that will last a long time. The braided wire, with a four-pole 3.5mm connection or twin three-pole jacks, is removable, as are the earpads and, strangely, the cover plates over each ear.
Design and Comfort
The GSP 600 series features a closed-back design that most gamers would recognize: angular, with huge earcups and a thick, adjustable, but non-removable boom arm. Our evaluation equipment was blue and orange in color and was named the GSP 602 model. The earcups are blue, with a white EPOS logo stamped on the base of the robust black headband’s hinge. The padding contrasts with the darker colours of the color scheme. It’s a brilliant orange, and it made me want for more muted, complimentary colors.
Some players may enjoy this retro-futuristic color palette, but I am not among them. Fortunately, the cans are also available in black with red accents(opens in new tab) or white with black accents and a hint of gold (opens in new tab). The earcup coverings are changeable if you desire more variation. They are available in black (opens in new tab) and brown from EPOS (opens in new tab).
Depending on your preferences and colors, aesthetics may or may not be a strong suit for this headset. But comfort is unquestionably important. The headband is padded at the top with soft foam, and the earcup cushions are made of a thick, imitation leather material that fits snugly around the ears. The fit is snug but not squeezing, and adjustments are simple to make by pushing or pulling on the earcup hinges. During long workouts, the GSP 600 never wobbled and never seemed like it was squeezing down too tightly on my head.
Sennheiser GSP 600 review: Audio
Playing Battlefield 1 with this headset did indeed sound far better than with a lesser headset, and I’ve evaluated several of them. Grenade explosions had an impact, and I could hear minute elements in the audio design, such as the clicking of internal components in a tank’s drive track. Although there is no virtual surround sound, directional audio is present, and I could clearly detect approaching footsteps when hiding out in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Even on the console, playing God of War with the GSP 600 provided a more immersive experience, as I could hear the trickle of water in a cave while slicing my way through a throng of opponents.
Listening to music on the GSP 600 is also an enjoyable experience. And when listening to rock or hip hop, that low end frequency really shines out. I put on the latest Sleep album, which is obviously at the near-extreme end of low-end rock, and the sound was fantastic and clear, with no distortion despite playing music at maximum levels.
Sennheiser GSP 600 review: Connectivity
At first appearance, the EPOS Sennheiser GSP 602 appears to be a formidable gaming headset. It has a massive clunky plastic frame, an oddly angled hinge system, and a boom microphone that appears more at home on the sidelines of a football game than on a gaming PC. However, after only a few minutes, it’s not so bad in fact, there’s not much to using it.
This wired gaming headset connects to your PC or console of choice via 3.5mm. It’s mostly composed of plastic, but it feels quite sturdy—a there’s heaviness here that you don’t typically get in headsets without a lot of metal. The headband has tension sliders that may be adjusted and a thick mesh-covered cushion. The headphones have thick leatherette-covered cushions with a mesh layer on the inside of the ear cup to help with heat accumulation.
Sennheiser GSP 600 review: Performance
Sennheiser has always excelled at stereo imaging, and while the open-backed GAME ONEs will always have an advantage in this area, these closed-backed GSP 600 drivers manage to create a nice broad space with none of the artificial ring that comes with virtual surround. The bottom end is strong enough to be heard without overpowering the music, whether it’s Thelonius Monk going absolutely crazy on the piano or Bloodhound blasting away your shields and gliding in for the kill in Apex Legends. It’s well-rounded enough that you’ll happily watch movies with it, though the emphasis on all-around enjoyment may take away from its appeal to competitive gamers.
It’s not that you can’t detect sound cues in PUBG with it – far from it – it’s just that the consonants are a little rough and ready, lacking both clarity and noise suppression of some of its contemporaries, such as Steelseries’ Arctis range. Which is strange because Sennheiser microphones always look great, and their now decade-old swingarm mute design has yet to be surpassed.
Sennheiser GSP 600 review: Price
The GSP 600 are professional grade headphones that are priced at the high end of most gaming headsets identical to it, and while some gamers may not see why paying $250 for a headset is necessary, audiophiles will appreciate how amazing this headset is. Yes, it’s a little pricy, but you’re getting quality and durability that I don’t find in many headsets that compete with the GSP 600. I’ve handled some other brands in my hands and wore them on my head, terrified that the slightest change to the headband would destroy it, like the Turtle Beach professional headset I had a while back that reviewed good but broke a month later. I can twist and turn these in any direction without fear of breaking them.
The GSP 600 boasts fantastic audio that is a joy to listen to. One of the major issues with gaming headsets nowadays, particularly low-cost choices, is that they focus on the appearance and feel to assure comfort while forgetting to accomplish what headsets are supposed to do: be amazing at audio. It’s unfortunate that it has to be said, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put on a headset from Best Buy or Micro Center for less than $150 and liked the feel of it on my head, only to get nothing but a confused mid-range sound with little bass and terrible highs.
Conclusion
The GSP 600 has a pleasant sound and performs admirably. But, given that this headset costs $250, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is that it?” Sennheiser’s latest headset is large, unsightly, under-featured, and pricey, and you can get so much more from rival headsets for the same price. With its Hi-Res audio compatibility, comfy design, and modest amp, the $250 SteelSeries Arctis Pro is essentially what the GSP 600 should have been, while the Astro A50 delivers superior sound and wireless capability for $50 more. Overall, the GSP 600 accomplishes its job well, although it lacks any distinguishing features. I’m still waiting for my favorite audio firm to release a gaming headset worthy of the brand’s heritage.
