Audio is often overlooked in gaming setups, but a good gaming headset can offer not only more immersion, but a better idea of where your opponents are in multiplayer games. Sennheiser is no stranger to gaming headphones, and with its newest headset, the company is pulling no punches.
Announced on Wednesday, the PC 373D headset is Sennheiser’s newest flagship and the successor to its previous top-of-the-line, the PC 363D. The headset features an open-back design, and despite packing only two speakers, it promises 7.1-channel surround sound.
“The PC 373D incorporates a host of impressive sound and design upgrades for the ultimate PC gaming experience,” Sennheiser director of sales and marketing Tim Völker said in a statement. “As the successor to our popular PC 363D, it is the definitive choice for gamers seeking to be fully immersed in their gaming sessions and that demand a very high-quality surround sound level.”
In order to offer 7.1-channel surround sound, the PC 373D headset features a dongle that plugs into your PC, as well as custom software. Different modes for immersive and competitive gaming are offered including a dedicated eSports mode, though a music mode and more neutral “off” setting are also available, making these usable as general purpose headphones in addition to gaming.
Other features aside, gaming is still the main focus here, and a large part of that is communication. To that end, the PC 373D headset includes a noise-canceling microphone to ensure that your teammates hear you and not your PC fans or the air conditioner running five feet away. Raising the mic boom arm automatically mutes the mic, making it easy to cover up a sneeze or spontaneous bout of profanity after a teammate steals your kill.
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The PC 373D is designed with long sessions in mind, with super-soft velvet ear pads and vented aluminum ear cups to promote airflow and keep you cool. The headband is padded as well, allowing the headset to fade away into the background leaving only you and the game.
The Sennheiser PC 373D gaming headset is available beginning this month, and retails for $260. For more information, see the Sennheiser website.
