With 7.1 virtual surround
sound audio capabilities, these gaming headsets aim to give you the edge when
gaming, which one is a cut above the rest?
Features and Performance
Sennheiser PC 363D
Sennheiser may have made their name on the back of their
excellent headphone and microphone products, but they also have a selection of
gaming headsets worth considering.
The PC 3630 looks like any other Sennheiser product; a drab
black finish means that gamers will not be picking this headset based on its
looks. On the sides of the ear-cups, laser-cut slats acting as vents indicate
that the PC 3630 is an open back headphone. This is somewhat of an odd choice,
as sound bleed from the PC 363D is significant, with the headset only really
usable in solitary settings. In a LAN café or group setting, everyone around
you will pretty much hear what you're hearing.
Sennheiser PC 363D
On the positive side, an open back design does allow for
some circulation of air which helps combat overheating issues when the PC 3630
is used for long durations. Sennheiser fits their gaming headset with what they
call "XXL" ear pads. Large and properly scalloped, the ear-cups of
the PC 3630 are roomy. Complimented with a fit that leans towards being tight,
this gaming headset comes close to finding the sweet spot between comfort and
function. The velvet covering on the ear pads feels natural but is prone to
getting dirty quite quickly. Our only complaint with the headset was the
slightly stiff cushions used.
Gamers will find a small, rotating disc on the right hand
side ear-cup that controls volume. It is a handy way to adjust decibel levels
without having to delve into menus and options. A boom microphone on the left
hand side is also included. When the microphone is dragged down, an audible
click denotes that it has been un-muted. The microphone arm can then be
adjusted into a position most comfortable for the wearer.
Sliding the top face of the USB sound
card forward engages Dolby mode
The PC 3630 can be plugged in via 3.5mm jack, but we highly
recommend using the USB connector available with Sennheiser's 3D G4ME 1 card
which comes as part of the package. Using Dolby Headphone control and Dolby Pro
Logic IIx, the USB sound card bypasses any motherboard electronics and delivers
virtual 7.1 surround sound.
Even without any of the special features activated, the PC
363D is an exceptionally good headset. The audio is balanced and neutral. In
fact we would go as far as saying that this Sennheiser headset is able to go
toe-to-toe with similarly priced headphones, and especially in music playback.
Flicking the 3D G4ME 1 forward engages Dolby mode, thus
stripping the mid frequencies from the sound of the PC 363D. The soundstage
morphs from a good stereo to excellent 7.1 virtual surround sound audio. While
playing Battlefield 3 we could accurately pinpoint the direction of sound down
to the most minute of details. The tone of the PC 3630 is such that
sound-effects like footfalls and explosions are instantly registered by the
gamer. Right off the bat, the Sennheiser headset sets the bar for performance
extremely high.
Razer Kraken 7.1
Pitch-black in color, the Kraken undoubtedly both looks and
feels like a member of the Razer family. Once plugged in, the Razer logo lights
up on both ear-cups in their characteristic neon green. If the lights bother
you, they can be switched off via the Razer Synapse 2.0 menu options. Closer
inspection of the headset reveals a donut-shaped serving of wire mesh on the outside
of each ear-cup. The feature has been included entirely for aesthetic purposes
as the Kraken, unlike the Sennheiser PC 363D, is a closed back headphone.
Razer Kraken 7.1
The ear-cups for the Kraken are perfectly round and hence
not ergonomic. We also found the size of the ear-cups to be a bit small, with
the cushioning insufficiently deep for our ears. This resulted in the overall
fit being a cross between a supra-aural and circumaural headphone. While the
cushioning is plush and soft, the synthetic leather covering has low
breathability and results in the listener's ears over-heating quite quickly.
The only feature that prevents the comfort quotient of the Kraken from being
abysmal is the swiveling ear-cups. These allow for a snug fit with almost
optimal contact pressure.
