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Today we are going to take a look at another gaming headset from Sennheiser, the G4ME Zero. Like the G4ME One we reviewed recently, this model is targeted at the premium segment of the gaming market and commands a premium price.
Sennheiser are well known for producing a large range of products which span all areas of the audio market. Although they may not be best known for their range of gaming headsets, they have a sizable following of gamers who appreciate the impressive sound quality of their products.
The G4ME Zero features a closed-cup design which is much more popular among gaming headset manufacturers than the open acoustic design that features of the G4ME One. We will discuss the performance implications of this design decision later on in the review.
Features
- Closed design – No disturbing outside noises gets in or out
- All new sporty design – Designed for players
- XXL Ear Pads – Perfect for long gaming sessions and for gaming at tournaments
- “E.A.R.” – Sennheiser’s “Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement” technology delivers ultimate sonic accuracy and clarity by channeling signals directly into your ears
- Sennheiser transducer technology – Possibly the best speakers available in any gaming headset. Customized and tested for gaming
- Professional soundscape – specific sound trim for optimized positioning
- Professional gaming microphone. – Ensuring crystal-clear conversations
- Convenient microphone mute – automatically mute the microphone by raising the boom arm
- Intuitive design – the volume control is integrated on the right ear cup
- Braided fabric cable – for long-lasting durability
- Collapsible– Easy to collapse and store
- Carry case – Safe and convenient to transport
- 2-year warranty
Sennheiser have been very clever with their packaging of the G4ME Zero. The headset is actually packaged within the included carrying case. This is then wrapped with a cardboard sleeve which features a similar white livery to the G4ME One packaging. This livery features a large image of the headset on the top.
Moving to the bottom of the sleeve, we find details of the features and specification of the headset, alongside an image of the headset which is used to illustrate the key features.
The only item included with the headset is the carrying case, in which the headset is packaged. This is a very good quality case which consists of two hard shells which zip together in the center. These are covered in cloth, with a Sennheiser logo located in the center.
It’s clear from a glance that the G4ME Zero is closely related to the G4ME One. In fact, there are only a few slight aesthetic differences between the two. The G4ME Zero is finished predominantly in gloss white plastic which gives the headset a unique appearance.
Sennheiser have managed to create a sophisticated looking headset which is still quite flashy.
We are very impressed with the quality of the materials that Sennheiser have chosen to use. There are very few gloss-finish headsets that pass through our labs which manage to look and feel exclusive, but I’m happy to say that the G4ME Zero is an exception.
Sennheiser have chosen to completely contrast the finish of the headband with the rest of the headset, finishing it in matte-black. They have decorated it with a small Sennheiser logo which is offset to one side of the headband. The headband itself feels sturdy, despite the lack of a metal backbone.
As we mentioned earlier in this review, the G4ME Zero features a closed cup design. Consequently, there aren’t any open slots in the back of the earcups. These were somewhat of a design feature of the G4ME One, so Sennheiser have retained the pattern and simply transformed them into raised bumps.
One of the main design differences between the G4ME Zero and One is that the former features a different hinge design which lets the earcups rotate 90 degrees so that the headset can be stowed in the included carrying case.
Sennheiser have chosen to integrate the inline control into the headset itself, rather than having a separate unit half way down the cable. This takes the form of a volume dial on the right hand earcup, which is actually much easier to locate in game than an inline control. Unfortunately there isn’t a dedicated microphone mute switch, although the microphone does automatically mute when raised to the up position.
Unlike the G4ME One, the Zero features a braided cable. This feels very good quality, whilst being almost as lightweight as a cable with plastic shielding. The cable terminates in two 3.5mm connectors which separate the headphone and microphone functions of the headset.
When we reviewed the G4ME One, we remarked that it was one of the most comfortable headsets of its type that we had ever tested. We were even more pleasantly surprised by the comfort level offered by the G4ME Zero, as we preferred the feel of its leatherette earpads to the velvet earpads of the G4ME One.
Like the G4ME One, the Zero uses an over the head design, where the earpads press directly against the sides of your head and completely surround your ears.
The headband features a leatherette pad on the inside which helps spread the weight of the headset across your head. To ensure the best possible fit, the headband is adjustable on both sides.
Despite the similarities in the appearance between the G4ME Zero and One, the acoustic experience differs greatly between the two. Sennheiser kindly supplied us with a copy of Hitman Absolution to test with the headset as it was developed using their own sound recording equipment. As expected the game sounded very good with the headset, however we spent most of our time testing the headset on other games so that we can accurately judge it against other headsets.
We commenced our testing procedure with Battlefield 4, in which we found that the sound produced by the headset sounded a little hollow, especially when compared directly with the G4ME One. While game sounds were rendered accurately, gunshots and explosions lacked presence.
As we would expect from a stereo headset, the sound-panning was limited when compared to a virtual surround sound headset. This was also noticeable in our movie playback tests.
In our movie playback tests we also found the sound to be a little hollow. Speech was rendered accurately and sounded prominent, but general background noises and sound effects lacked presence.
Again, the sound produced by the headset in our music playback tests was hollow. We couldn’t find any genre of music which the headset was particularly well suited to. Our classical piano track (Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2) sounded particularly bad as the high notes were very harsh and the mid-tones lacking. Switching back to the G4ME One directly afterwards was much more rewarding throughout all our test tracks.
The one advantage that the G4ME Zero has over the One is the improved noise isolation thanks to the closed-cup design.
Overall we have mixed feelings about the Sennheiser G4ME Zero. While it’s sister headset, the G4ME One offered excellent sound quality, the Zero failed to meet our expectations. Frankly, we would rather use the SteelSeries Siberia V2, which is about a third of the price.
Sadly, the sound quality lets down what is otherwise an excellent headset. We found it even more comfortable than the G4ME One, which is also a very comfortable headset to wear. This was mainly down to our preference for leatherette earpads … over velvet.
From an aesthetic point of view, the G4ME Zero is very similar to the One. It is very attractive to look at and the design is both eye-catching and sophisticated. The build quality of the headset is also excellent, with quality materials used throughout.
At a price of £199.99 from Sennheiser’s online store, the G4ME Zero isn’t cheap at all. We would highly recommend opting for the G4ME One instead as it offers a much better level of sound quality, alongside all of the positives of this headset.
Pros:
- Impressive build quality.
- Attractive design.
- Very comfortable.
- Quality carrying case included.
Cons:
- Hollow sound.
- No virtual surround sound.
- Expensive.
KitGuru says: We would avoid this particular headset and go for the G4ME One instead.
