Sennheiser PC 350 headphones

Big and chunky, but damn fine on the ears.

High quality sound reproduction is something that is all too easy for the PC enthusiast to overlook on the long and arduous journey toward computing perfection. But what’s the point in spending hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars on graphics cards when your gaming experience is going to be let down by cheap headphones?

Sennheiser is renowned for producing solid cans of all stripes, and its G4ME range is no exception. The nomenclature may seem a tired attempt to leverage modern computing cred, sure, but the weighty PC350 headphones demand respect the moment you get them out of the packaging. These are hefty headphones, and slims necks out there may quail at the thought of supporting a noggin sporting a pair. It’s worth it though.

Before we even listened to a tune or racked the slide on a Colt M4 in Counterstrike, we were impressed by just how much sound the ear pads cut out in our noisy testing environment. The padded ear cushions are also nice and deep, meaning that you get a good seal as well as a comfortable listening environment. They swivel through ninety degrees of lateral movement, too, so will fit practically any head. The weight is alleviated somewhat be thick padding on the over-head strap, too, so while the PC350s may take some getting used to (especially if you’re used to lighter ‘phones), they quickly become nice and comfy.

And when that sound first starts to flow, you’ll be glad you made the effort. We certainly were.

In listening to a range of music, from quite acoustic works to more strident electronic efforts, we were surprised to a rich layering of sound, clearly reproduced across nearly the entire playback range. If we had to pick a low point, it’s that the over-cranked bass can dominate some tracks. Of course, turn off the music and get down to some gaming and they come into their own. Things really rumble in the PC350s, and the real bonus is that even the noisiest of modern gaming systems is as nothing to these epic cans. The boom mic is a great piece of design, too. Though not as flexible as some, it features noise cancelling tech and outward facing pickup to make sure that your friends only hear your gloating voice, and nothing else. Win.