Sennheiser pc 373d review: Sennheiser PC 373D Gaming Headset Review — Mitspielen — Vampire Live in München

Sennheiser PC 373D Gaming Headset Review

Be sure to visit IGN Tech for all the latest comprehensive hands-on reviews and best-of roundups. Note that if you click on one of these links to buy the product, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.Sennheiser is a name that needs no introduction in the world of audio, but PC gamers might not be aware of its premium gaming headsets for those who have high audio standards and deep pockets. According to Sennheiser, the PC 373D headphones (See it on Amazon) / (See it on Amazon UK) are «Hands down Sennheiser’s best headset for PC gaming,» and at a $250 MSRP they better be, as that’s about $100 more than similar high-end headsets from Razer, Logitech, et al. The PC 373D aims to deliver the entire package with superb audio quality, a noise-cancelling microphone, and a solid and comfortable build. This headset features the exact same design as the equally priced Game One headset, but outdoes it by featuring offering Dolby 7. 1 surround sound and handy software control.

Design and Features

Sennheiser’s approach to the PC 373D’s design is pretty straightforward, as they’re comprised primarily of matte black plastic along with black velvet cushions and a few red accents on the microphone, making them somewhat understated in a market that is populated with products featuring angular designs, flashing lights, and bright colors. The headset’s subtle design allows it to look like it’s in its natural habitat whether it’s next to a gaming PC, in a music studio, or at a workstation.

Aside from the horizontal slats on the earcups, the only added characteristics are a small volume knob that’s flush with the right cup and the non-removable boom mic on the left. The headset connects to a PC via USB, and in the path from the headset to the computer is a small dongle used to toggle the Dolby 7.1 surround sound mode. With the single-button dongle and earcup’s volume knob, most audio adjustments were easily made on the fly and muting the mic is as simple as swiveling the boom to an upright position. The 373D does offer additional audio controls though as Sennheiser provides a software program that gives quick access to EQ presets and a few extra features via a small pop-up window accessible through the Windows taskbar. The swiveling microphone features noise cancellation and a bendable tip.

Software

Sennheiser’s simplistic approach to hardware design is also apparent with the 373D’s companion software. Instead of offering a dizzying array of different EQ presets, there are only four non-adjustable equalizer choices: Music, eSport, Games, and Off. The Music preset enhances bass and treble; eSport sets a treble-heavy EQ so that sound effects like gunshots don’t drown out incoming footsteps; the Game option most noticeably increases bass, or you can also choose to not use any of the presets. Also available through the same quick-access program are options to activate the microphone’s noise reduction feature, select the volume of mic monitoring, and toggle the surround sound through a minimalist menu design that allows speedy adjustments during gaming or viewing sessions.

Gaming

For gaming I naturally sampled the Game preset, and found it offered a nice balance of added bass while keeping treble at a bearable level. The sound of soldiers running around from all directions as airplanes flew overhead in Battlefield 1 came through loud and clear. With the 7.1 Dolby option activated the orchestra of warfare filled my earcups without any sign of distortion, even at higher volumes. Quieter moments that involved creeping behind enemy lines also highlighted the surround sound feature, as I was able to easily identify the direction in which chatty soldiers were standing watch so that I could avoid detection. Since the headphones use an open-back earcup design, airflow is improved for binge gaming comfort but sound is not confined to just the listener. At high volumes, music and games were heard from down the hallway in my house. While I enjoy the added depth of sound from open-back earcups, a natural flaw is that sound leaks at a much higher level than enclosed, closed-back alternatives. The design that makes music and video game effects sound more full was also a nuisance for anyone in my general vicinity. These definitely aren’t headphones to take to a coffee shop or office with coworkers nearby.The Music option paired with surround sound turned off worked great with a number of music genres. The dynamic drivers produced bass that was heavy but not overpowering, vocals came through clearly, and instrumentation sounded well-balanced when listening to everything from old school hip hop and rock to EDM and musical soundtracks. The lows were more prominent on the 373D than the Turtle Beach Elite Pro (review coming soon) and sound was delivered with more clarity than Turtle Beach’s Ear Force XP510. Sennheiser has a reputation for making quality headphones for music, and it’s pretty clear why after using the PC 373D. Although I do not take part in competitive-level eSports, I found that particular preset and its focus on treble while completely ditching bass rather annoying. The default audio profile shouldn’t be overlooked, either, as it still pushes out a versatile EQ that can be used in a variety of circumstances. Sadly there’s no way to make any any adjustments to the default EQ, which certainly keeps things simple but is a rather disappointing «feature» on a set of $250 headphones.

The swiveling microphone was better than those found on other gaming headphones I’ve used, although isn’t at the level that I would want to use for something like recording a podcast. The mic was able to pick up more bass than Turtle Beach’s Elite Pro headset and my voice came in clearer than when using the Razer Tiamat 7.1 or Kraken Pro. Those on the other side of phone calls and gaming sessions had no problem hearing me loud and clear, helped in part by the microphone’s noise reduction capabilities.

The 373D’s XXL earcup cushions provided more than enough room around my ears and felt comfortable and cool even after hours of use, as did the velvet padding along the underside of the headband. A low-profile design and lack of heavier materials such as metal keep the unit lightweight, also reducing fatigue from use. The use of plastic may be a concern years down the line when it can begin to loosen up a bit, but out of the box the earcups and headband were sturdy enough to sit securely around my head and stayed in place without needing to readjust at any time. If it weren’t for the attached microphone and 373D’s USB-only connectivity, I would be just as inclined to wear the headphones out in public while listening to music on my smartphone as I am in the privacy of my home office, especially with its discreet design and comfortable, breathable build. It’s a shame Sennheiser doesn’t include a USB-to-3.5mm jack adapter, but it does offer adapters as accessories for use with consoles, though you won’t get the 7.1 surround sound with anything other than a PC.

Purchasing Guide

The Sennheiser PC 373D Gaming Headset has an MSRP of $249.99, but it can oftenbe found for a small $10-$30 discount online. On very rare occasions the price has dropped to as low as $200, or sometimes even slightly less than that:

See the Sennheiser PC 373D Gaming Headset on Amazon
See the Sennheiser PC 373D Gaming Headset on Amazon (UK)

Sennheiser’s PC 373D has plenty to offer: quality audio, a comfortable build, and a clean, understated design. Even with its relatively high price tag, it doesn’t take much time with them to understand why as they are top-notch through and through. While I would appreciate some manual control over the headset’s equalizer, Sennheiser’s fine-tuned sound profiles provide balanced audio that mostly makes extra customization options unnecessary. Still, at this price it’s surprising that such a basic feature wasn’t included. I also wish the microphone could be removed and that the headphones could connect with a 3.5mm jack out of the box so I could use them with devices other than my computer—something that is possible with the company’s similarly-priced Game series headsets. Still they sound superb and are bathrobe-level comfortable.

The PC 373D sits in the premium category of gaming headphones but not only because of its price. The execution of the entire product, from design to performance, is well worth every penny. It may not have absolutely everything I’d want from headphones at this price, but it’s close.

Sennheiser PC 373D Review — Major HiFi

Sennheiser has been contently rated in the top tier of gaming headsets with their GAME series and their more refined PC series. While the GAME headsets are more inclined towards console gamers and some PC gamers with the input jack being a standard 3.5mm. The PC series stands at the top of the line for hardcore players who need precision and top quality sound mapping. The PC series stands above the GAME series because it has the ability to toggle between stereo and 7.1 surround sound. This is possible through the Surround Sound Dongle which takes a digital audio signal from the USB input and converts it into virtual 7. 1 surround sound. As always the PC 373D’s microphone is top of the line delivering clear and full vocal quality. This headset also stands alone as a great listening pair of headphones while not gaming, which is something that cannot be said about most other headsets.

Design

The PC 373D is an Over-Ear Velvet finished Open Back Headset. The Connector is USB which connects to the Surround Sound Dongle, which processes the input signal into 7.1 Surround Sound. You can easily switch between 7.1 and Stereo by pressing the Dolby Surround button on the dongle which tells you your current format by LED indicators, red meaning stereo and white meaning 7.1. While the PC 373D is not nearly as flashy or LED inlayed as many other gaming headsets I found this to be refreshing. Sennheiser focuses on the core elements of a great headset: audio, microphone quality, and comfort. The Velvet earpads offer long term wear comfort, since it is a cloth finish they will keep your ears cooler during long sessions.

Microphone

The microphone is the most flashy part of the microphone with a red grill mesh surrounding the unit. The open design of the microphone capsule helps improve the sound quality helping kill the boxy sound of a lot of gaming headsets. The microphone pickup pattern is never specified in Sennheiser’s tech specs, referred to as noise cancelling, most likely a cardiod pattern to help improve noise rejection. The Sennheiser Audio software has a noise rejection setting to help reduce ambient background noise from being picked up by the microphone. Vocal quality is impressive and full bodied.

Software

The PC 373D comes coupled with the Sennheiser Audio program. This software offers EQ, Noise Reduction, and Side Tone options.
EQ
The EQ settings offered are Music, Esport, and Game. I found Esport to be an especially useful EQ preset as it offers a bandpass filter around the vocal range to prioritize speech and communication which can be impaired during communication intensive moments. The Music setting takes out some mid range and low end out of the headset. Game Boosts some low end and mid range, while taking out some high end.
Noise Reduction
Used to reduce background noise from being picked up in the mic, found it more useful to have on than off.
Side Tone
Side Tone is your own voice added into the headphone output. Off, Low, Mid, and High. I only use it at first when I want to hear how my own voice sounds through the microphone.

Compatibility

As the name states the PC 373D is designed for Windows use only. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for other game systems or Macs. The Sennheiser Audio software is designed for Windows, and the 7.1 Surround only works when they can communicate. They function in Stereo while being used on a mac. If you are running a version of Parallels or Bootcamp then the headphone 7.1 function and software will function. For Consoles I was only able to test on a PS4, while they were recognized from the USB port the volume was incredibly low and after adjusting all volume settings in and out of game it was still at an unusable level, the mic on the other hand functioned well. When the Audio Settings are adjusted for Chat Only the headphones output at a usable level. I was not able to test with the Xbox 1 so unsure about the system’s compatibility.

Sound Quality (With Sennheiser Music EQ)

The headphone frequency response without any EQ is based on a very articulated and boosted mid range, where the human voice lives, thus it gives a very boxy sound quality to music being listened to. So for the sake of fairness to the people at Sennheiser I will judge music sound quality with their designed music EQ settings.

Lows

The low end on the PC 373D is well managed in detail and power. For a gaming headphone it is not grossly boosted to the point of distortion and muddiness. There is more power than detail in the low end but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering the audience buying the headphone.

Mid Range

The focal point in this headset is vocal clarity and comprehension, thus the mid range is tame and detailed. Vocal cues in games and party chat cut through the mix offering unparalleled quality. Even when the sound field is cluttered with information in the mid range there is still good separation and comprehension.

High End

While not anything special the high end isn’t disappointing either. There is a lack of higher end extension but the quality of the high end present is at a good level and isn’t too airy or bright.

Soundstage

The PC 373D offers a large soundstage when played in stereo, and there is obviously a very large soundstage when in 7.1 that extends out a fair amount when in game. There is a good amount of space for instruments to exists without being overpowered by their counterparts. Reverb tails are given a long time to decay within the soundstage.

Overall Impressions

You can’t go wrong when a company that makes world renown headphones and microphones combine the two into one product. The Sennheiser PC 373D offers everything a PC gamer needs with great audio, fantastic microphone quality, and extreme comfort. While it is more of a niche market by only having a USB input and software that is only compatible with Windows, it is a top of the line product that shouldn’t be ignored by serious gamers. The articulate soundstage and the ability to toggle in and out of stereo and 7.1 can mean the difference between life and death in game.

Recommendations

If gaming exclusively on PC and have the need to invest into a new headset you cannot go wrong with the PC 373D. This headset series will continue to stand at the top tier of headsets. The headset also doubles as great music headphones when casually playing or just listening to music. It’s an investment with great returns that serious gamers will be able to reap the rewards from.

Sennheiser PC 373D headphone is available at the lowest price on Audio 46 when you use discount code “majorhifi” during checkout. This gaming headset is also sold at a competitive price on Amazon.

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Sennheiser PC 373D — Gaming Headset with 7.1 Sound

Sennheiser, renowned for its quality headphones, has introduced the Sennheiser PC 373D gaming headset. The main feature of the headphones is 7.1 multi-channel sound that can provide a comfortable game and give an advantage over rivals.

Characteristics:

Driver: Dynamic, 40 mm;
Frequency response: 15 Hz — 28000 Hz;
Impedance: 50 Ω;
Sensitivity: 116 dB;
Cable length: 1.7 m + 1.2 m;
Plug: USB;

Design and comfort:

Sennheiser has succeeded in creating the lightest and most comfortable model of gaming headphones. Sennheiser PC 373D are made of high quality plastic, but at the same time, the headset looks is stylish and will withstand many accidental drops . What’s more, Sennheiser provides a two-year warranty in case they do break.

The soft ear cushions are upholstered in a pleasant velvet fabric, which will allow you to comfortably plunge into your favorite games for many hours. At the same time, the headphones have an open design, which favorably affects the convenience.

Overall, the headphones look simple but tasteful. You won’t find LEDs or bright, aggressive colors on Sennheiser’s new gaming headphones.

Like almost any Sennheiser PC 373D gaming headset, the Sennheiser PC 373D is equipped with a microphone for conversations with teammates. The microphone is conveniently located on the left ear cup and can be retracted and automatically muted when needed.

Gallery Sennheiser PC 373D:

Sound and technology:

Of course, the most important thing in a gaming headset is its sound. The Sennheiser PC 373D headphones deliver the purest and most detailed sound of the . In the headphones, the bass is slightly emphasized, which greatly complements the gaming atmosphere.

In addition to sound quality, the Sennheiser PC 373D features multi-channel 7.1 audio, which is customizable using Sennheiser’s simple software. Once set up, at the touch of a button, you’ll get a high-quality, versatile sound that will surely give you an edge over your rivals.

Verdict:

Overall, the Sennheiser PC 373D gaming headphones offer a stylish gaming design, as well as excellent and multi-channel sound. But, model 373D is is one of the most expensive gaming headphones. You can buy them in retail stores for $400

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