Product: EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 600, 601, and 602
Type: Gaming Headset (Wired)
Price: $319.00 AUD
Availability: Out Now
Link: eposaudio.com/en/au/gaming/products/gsp-601-gaming-headset-1000413

Okay, so this one needs a little as they say in the movie biz – setting of the scene. A couple of months back the gaming audio division of Sennheiser made the decision to go it alone as premium audio company EPOS. A rogue’s gallery of audio wizards dedicated to creating solutions for gaming and enterprise. That is premium headsets with a focus on audio quality and clarity.

But until new products hit the shelves all current gaming headsets under the Sennheiser label have been re-branded as EPOS | Sennheiser. Future products will simply carry the EPOS label. This means the EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 600 was originally designed and created, and sold, when the division was still under the Sennheiser banner. But, the new and stylish EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 601 and EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 602 models have more than warranted a review and deep dive into this wired gaming headset option.

The result? A new name but the same impressive hardware. And in a refreshed and funky look for those wanting that option.

Tech Talk

---

From a pure audio perspective, the EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 600 series presents the same audio excellence that has made the GSP line something to savour over the past few years. Where precise and crisp definition leads to an overall out of the box stereo balance perfectly suited for a dedicated audio interface like the EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 300, and/or software for EQ and surround sound tinkering when it comes to certain games.

---

From a pure audio perspective, the EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 600 series presents the same audio excellence that has made the GSP line something to savour over the past few years.

---

It’s not a requirement and is a plus in the sense that the versatile and detailed stereo sound means that the GSP 600 series can be tweaked or simply used “as is” for gaming, music, or media consumption. Unfortunately, the GSP 600 range doesn’t offer a simple out of the box solution for surround sound – so an audio interface or software is required on that front.

Headphone:

• Type: Closed
  
• Frequency response: 10 to 30,000 Hz
  
• Impedance: 28 Ohm
  
• Weight: 395g
  
• >Cable length: 2.5m

Microphone:

• Microphone Pickup pattern: Unidirectional
  
• Frequency response: 10 to 18,000 Hz

With the GSP 600s closed design, the frequency response is akin to what you might see referred to as HD-audio. And on that note, as we do with most gaming headsets, we initially tested the overall balance and response through lossless music playback across a range of genres (in this case, via the GSX 300). Obviously this is the sort of kit designed for playing Rainbow Six Siege or DOOM Eternal or World of Warcraft, but music playback offers the clearest baseline for how nuanced audio can be. The answer here being... very. Again, the GSP 600 series features a wide, crisp, and detailed range that carries over to games -- where all that extra detail can be heard in everything from sound effects to background music in cut-scenes.

Design and Comfort

---

In terms of look and feel, like the current EPOS | Sennheiser range, the GSP 600 series has a rugged and bold style that is ‘gamer’. You could say that it goes a little too far, and that it’s a tad on the chunky and heavy side. It’s a bold mix of angles and material changes that sits alongside an overall fit that is comfortable and can be worn for an extended period. So yeah, the GSP 600 series is a lot more comfortable than it looks. But again, it’s still chunky.

---

You could say [the look] goes a little too far, and that it’s a tad on the chunky and heavy side.

---

Plus, the new GSP 601 and GSP 602 revisions add a dash of style and colour not present in the baseline black-with-red model.

The build quality is exceptional across the board too, and that carries over to the great cushiony feel of the cups and the headrest and even microphone. Which accounts for a lot of the chunky-ness. Even though the GSP design hasn’t changed all that much in recent years, we’re still of the opinion that microphones on gaming headsets should be detachable – especially when they’re versatile enough to work with something like a Nintendo Switch and can be taken on-the-go.

Sounds Like

---

So yeah, the EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 600 series is versatile in that it can be connected to a Nintendo Switch (as mentioned above), as well as an Xbox One, PlayStation 5 or audio port on a laptop. That said, the rich and impressive stereo sound works best in ideal conditions, with the right hardware and/or software. The audio excellence that we’ve seen across the entire GSP range is present here – in a closed design that doesn’t feel muffled or restrained in any way. Bass response is warm, mid-range too, with highs crisp enough to offer a great gaming experience but leave enough room for tweaking to suit the right application.

---

The audio excellence that we’ve seen across the entire GSP range is present here – in a closed design that doesn’t feel muffled or restrained in any way.

---

Testing across a wide range of games – including more single-player offerings like Wasteland 3, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and Horizon Zero Dawn on PC – using the GSP 600 series has been great. And in terms of the GSP 601 and GSP 602 setting up EPOS for the future, we’re keen to see, and hear, what else the audio company has in store. For the moment though, the GSP 600 is a winner – though the drawbacks feel a lot more pronounced now than when it originally debuted.