Another Sennheiser gaming headset, another week. I was able to check out the GSP 370 model, which is a little cheaper and boasts of a reportedly fantastic battery life, a little after the Very Excellent but Very Expensive GSP 670s graced us with their presence. They keep the famous Sennheiser appearance and offer a medium-high luxury quality headset for PS4 and PC users, with prices starting at roughly $200 / £170. Are they, however, any good?
Design
The GSP 370 has a distinctly 'Sennheiser design' to it, with smooth, matte black finishes covering the solid cups, twin overhead bands, and the flip down mic. As a result, they are easily recognised. They feel substantial in the hand, and the closed-cup over-the-ear design is neither too hefty nor too light, weighing in at 285g. This contributes to their great comfort, which is further improved by the close but not squashing cups that are finished in fake suede. This gives you ample comfort to wear them for hours at a time, allowing you to get the most out of the GSP 370s' battery life (more on that later).
In terms of design and build quality, however, it is a premium headset - the headset's resilience is obvious. It could definitely take a few bumps, but some headsets seem as though they're kept together by hopes and wishes. The GSP 370's design also encourages noise cancellation by its composition: the way the ear cups tightly cradle your head means that extraneous noise is blocked from entering by their own nature. This is definitely something I'd expect from a Sennheiser headset, especially one with such a high price tag, but it's comforting to see it done so well.
Features
A few on-board controls are attached to that high-quality design, making operating the headset a breeze. On the left cup, beneath the microphone, there's a triad of little features: an LED battery and status indicator, micro-USB charging, and an on/off switch. It's all quite simple, and it's very easy to get used to and navigate by feel. The massive volume dial on the right cup performs all the job - it's big, but it's part of the design.
Aside from that, the USB dongle that the 370s communicate with on either a PC or a PS4 is a suitable size - think of it as a compact USB pen drive. It's nowhere near as compact as the one found in the more costly GSP 670s, but I prefer it because the 670 USB is clever but clunky, especially when interfacing with the PS4. However, there are no such concerns here, since it is a user-friendly USB for the 370s.
If you need to move away, hide behind the sofa, or do anything else away from your PC or PS4 for a time, the Bluetooth connection offered by such dongle is always strong and has a great range. Sennheiser's Gaming Suite software is used throughout the GSP 370, including on PC (which is only compatible with Windows 10 currently). With a few presets to pick from and various modifications available, this is quite useful and allows you to tweak and alter the settings as you see appropriate. However, the audio is so fantastic and beautiful right out of the box that I doubt many people would need to make any adjustments in reality.
Performance
Starting with the typical suspects in terms of game audio tests, Doom and Wolfenstein's weapon-laden gameplay and Mick Gordon-composed soundtracks were a great joy to listen to, apparently allowing me to experience the whole 20-20,000Hz frequency range of the headset. The soundtrack was incredible, with everything from small machine noises to pure hellspawn screams, chainsaw craziness to clip-emptying machine gun sprays. Meanwhile, titles like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which include extensive and delicate audio profiles, might highlight some headsets' inability to deliver anything lighter or more subtle.
There was no such issue with the GSP 370s, which provided me with an amazing audio experience when travelling around ancient Greece. Every wave smashing or lapping against ship or coast was as vivid as life; the clashing of swords on bone and sinew was gory and realistic, and voices were rich and distinct. I'm now playing Dying Light co-op with a friend, and the GSP 370s have shown to be an excellent partner in this regard, excelling in every area of multiplayer gaming. Or, more accurately, practically every element, since the lack of a game audio vs. chat audio balancer feels like a missed opportunity when playing with buddies.
However, the general sound of the game's battle was masterfully conveyed, and it was always evident how near zombies were to sneaking up on you or which direction the Nocturnals were approaching from in the night. The GSP 370s made a huge difference in that game, allowing me to converse with absolute clarity - the mic is one of the finest I've used in recent months - and, in general, the game audio mix is beautifully balanced and can be enjoyed with chat on top of it (despite there being no dedicated balance function). Turning on Netflix or watching a movie was equally enjoyable, thanks to the 370's voice and audio quality.
On a higher level, the GSP 370s' performance is distinguished by its audio quality and large battery. The battery life is a true phenomena in certain ways. I have a letter someplace at home stating that I had worn the headset for seventy-one hours. And it's still going. It's wonderful, and it's not simply a gimmick or a hyperbolic marketing pitch. When you combine it with the headset's superb audio and experience, you have a winning mix for a gaming headset.
Should you buy it in the end?
Yes, absolutely. If you have the means to save and stretch your budget to a higher-end model, this is the one to choose. This is perfect if you alternate between Sony's system and your PC. In reality, the GSP 370 headset is the closest I've come to a flawless headset, with the exception of one feature: the balancer between in-game audio and chat, which both official PS4 headsets have and perform exceptionally well. Given the 370's price, you'd think that such a function would be available in some form or another.
Apart from that, the GSP 370 is a really simple headset to recommend. And I'd go so far as to say that it gives the considerably more costly GSP 670s a run for their money; I'd hesitate to suggest the 670s now that the 370s provide similarly good audio, all-round performance, and that incredible battery life. And for a lot less money.
If you're willing to spend a little more for Sennheiser, which is a totally reasonable decision, you should go for them if you can. The long battery life is clearly worth a few additional dollars, and the Sennheiser quality will make the pricetag more bearable in general. Basically, this is one of the greatest PS4 headsets and one of the best PC gaming headsets.
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