Sennheiser GSP 300 Review ― Plain and Simple (But Not Bad)

Our Verdict

The Sennheiser GSP 300 delivers high-quality audio with a uncomplicated setup, a comfortable design and a pretty good microphone.

For

Comfy
Simple setup
Competent across multiple genres

Confronting

Expensive for what it does
So-so microphone
Music performance could be improve

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Sennheiser GSP 300 delivers high-quality audio with a simple setup, a comfortable design and a pretty good microphone.

Pros

+
Comfortable
+
Simple setup
+
Competent across multiple genres

Cons

-
Expensive for what it does
-
So-then microphone
-
Music operation could be better

I've ofttimes wondered why Sennheiser, easily my favorite headphone manufacturer, never made a bigger push into gaming headsets. On paper, it sounds like a perfect combination: the crisp sound and subdued design of a Sennheiser peripheral, combined with the handy mic and volume controls of a gaming device. Fortunately for fans of the loftier-finish headphone maker, Sennheiser just released a whole line of gaming headsets, with the $100 GSP 300 serving as the entry-level model.

The device delivers high-quality sound, as expected, with a simple setup and a pretty expert microphone. However, it'southward a flake bulkier than I would have expected, and costs a lot of money for what it does. It'southward a worthy pick on its ain, though both Sennheiser and its competitors sell better products than this.

Design

Full disclosure: My everyday pair of headphones is a Sennheiser HD 25-ane Two, which I bought a few years agone with some altogether coin. It was my starting time gear up of headphones that toll more than $100, and I've dragged them with me across a dozen states, six countries, 2 continents and 3 ugly breakups. I'1000 even using them as I write this review. Amid other things, I admire Sennheiser's minimalist, distinctive design, which wastes no space and makes a statement about substance over mode.

"Apparently" is not an describing word I ever thought I'd associate with Sennheiser, and still here we are.

That's why I was and then shocked to open up the GSP 300 and discover that information technology was so bland. While not unattractive past any standards, if you looked up "gaming headset" in some futuristic lexicon, you lot'd probably detect a flick of the GSP 300. It's a large black peripheral with over-the-ear cups, plush blue padding on the headband, a rigid mic on a movable arm, and not one distinguishing feature.

MORE: Best Gaming Headsets

"Obviously" is non an adjective I ever thought I'd associate with Sennheiser, and nevertheless here we are.

Withal, "obviously" hardly equates to "bad." The GSP 300 would look out-of-place on an airplane or a passenger vehicle, only its laid-back, sensible pattern is just fine for your gaming setup. At that place's a volume control knob behind the right ear cup and two 3.5 mm jacks: one for audio, one for the mic.

You can likewise attach them both into an adapter for a single connexion, in instance you want to utilize the headset with a game console or mobile device.

Comfort

If naught else, the GSP 300 is easy to wear. The ear cups are a costly, fake leather that nonetheless feel cool and breathable.

Between those ear cups and the padding on the headband, the ten.2-ounce peripheral sits lightly on the head, only makes a snug seal around the ears without pressing down besides hard. I wore the GSP 300 for hours on terminate while working, gaming and watching videos, and I didn't encounter any discomfort.

I handed the headset off to a co-worker who shared my thoughts on the GSP 300. He said they were comfortable and easy to wear over a long period, and had no complaints well-nigh the fashion they felt.

Gaming Functioning

I expect top-tier sound from Sennheiser headphones, and when information technology comes to gaming, I was not disappointed. The GSP 300 produced rich, clear sound across a variety of genres, whether I was playing Overwatch, StarCraft 2: Nova Covert Ops, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Marvel Heroes.

The in-game sound on the GSP 300 suffers a bit from non being tunable. For example, there's no style to make a highly cinematic game like The Witcher three prioritize different sounds than a competitive shooter similar Overwatch.

That aside, though, the audio was potent beyond all genres. In Overwatch, I heard my teammates plead for healing every bit I swooped around the Battlefield as Mercy. The sweeping orchestral score and plentiful voicework came through loud and articulate in The Witcher 3. StarCraft 2 and Curiosity Heroes also struck an admirable rest amidst voices, music and sound effects.

The GSP 300 may not give hard-core competitive players the amount of fine-tuning they need, but otherwise, it suits simply about any gaming genre. Existence able to wear it for long periods of fourth dimension without discomfort is a plus, too.

Music Functioning

Sennheiser's regular headphones produce some of the best sound on the market place, and I was hoping that quality would carry over to its gaming line. It has — somewhat. While the audio on the GSP 300 lacks the immediacy and crystal clarity on a standard Sennheiser, there's still some depth to the sound.

I used the GSP 300 for a few days at work, listening to everything from Flogging Molly and Old Crow Medicine Testify to the Rolling Stones and Bach'southward "Brandenburg Concertos." At the risk of damning the headset with faint praise, the GSP 300 sounded better than I would look from a gaming headset. There was a clear stardom between treble and bass frequencies, and every musical instrument and voice came through, even on complex songs.

On the other hand, music tended to sound a footling staid. I had the sense that I was listening to music on a decent pair of headphones, rather than living through a live concert, every bit traditional Sennheisers tend to make listeners feel. Perhaps I've been spoiled, simply I wait the absolute best from this company; to hear music that's but "skilful" felt underwhelming.

Cables and Microphone

The GSP 300 has no USB connection and no software to bargain with. Equally such, it doesn't have much in the manner of special features. Past default, the headset connects via two iii.5 mm wires: one for audio, and 1 for the mic. Using an included adapter, you lot can plug both into a single 3.five mm jack for mobile or game-panel compatibility. The adapter is a good ane, and both sound and mic quality deport over perfectly.

The mic itself is also decent. Using Microsoft Voice Recorder, I tested my voice with a variety of mic positions. The peripheral didn't comport much groundwork dissonance, and my voice was clear enough for chat purposes, picking upwardly only a little baloney along the mode. Even so, the mic is extremely placidity unless information technology's right next to your mouth, and so players will have to project a scrap.

Bottom Line

I can recommend the GSP 300, though with more reservations than I'd normally accept for a Sennheiser peripheral. The device is comfortable and sounds good, merely not equally practiced as the company's full-blooded would suggest. For a $100 headset, the GSP 300's lack of tunability is similarly disappointing.

Still, taken for what it is, the GSP 300 is a perfectly viable option for simply about whatsoever game genre, with enough versatility to office as everyday music headphones, too. I wouldn't advise information technology wholeheartedly over the SteelSeries Arctis ($100), which offers a more precise fit and software for more versatile tuning, but the ii are at least worth comparing.

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom'southward Guide, overseeing the site'southward coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a scientific discipline writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of scientific discipline and engineering. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.