Hardware Review: Sennheiser GSP 670 Gaming Headphones – PS4/PC

I used to have a really good pair of headphones that were gifted to me by a friend. Due to the wandering, sticky hands of a toddler, those headphones have long passed away. It was brilliant, then, when I got some new ones shipped to me for review. Since the passing of my old ones, I’ve had to make do with the regular earphones that come with my phone. I just never really got around to buying a proper headset. Man, I have been missing out.
Sound in games isn’t something I generally think that much about. Sure, I notice it and appreciate it, but even when I’m sat doing my game reviews, the sound is never really brought up unless it’s exceptionally brilliant or the soundtrack is catchy enough to have me humming along for weeks, Tropico 6 being a recent example of an infectious earworm.
I reckon the reason I and many others don’t appreciate the audio work that goes into our games is because we’re never getting the full effect. Why? Because modern televisions have shite in-built speakers. That’s a fact. There’s a market for soundbars and headsets, because, in the effort to get TVs even thinner, decent speakers have been sacrificed.
I’ve spent the last two weeks with a pair of Sennheiser GSP 670 headphones, and I’m now converted. I don’t think I can go back to having my TV pump out that awful audio.

The Sennheiser GSP 670 headphones are premium in price and production. They’re robust, comfortable, and most importantly, very high quality. Honestly, it’s like a night-and-day difference when I stick these over my ears. Sounds are richer with every little nuance being delivered to my ear holes. I heard things in games that I never heard before. I played some of the upcoming GRID with these bad boys on and I was in awe. The surround sound capabilities mean that you’ll hear things where they happen. So when I rammed by a knobhead in GRID on the left, I hear it through the left side of the headset. You get the idea. This isn’t a new feature with headphones or earphones, but the sound quality made it feel like a brand new experience to me. And given that I normally play with just my TVs speakers, I was losing a lot of the immersion that comes with excellent sound design. I won’t say too much more about GRID here, mind, as that’s a review for tomorrow and I’ll have PR slapping my wrists.
I played a few shooters and found that I had to turn the headset volume down. Not because it’s uncomfortable – although I don’t like things too loud – but because I was constantly being jump scared by the sound of gunfire. I put a bit of time in Call of Duty Infinite Warfare’s campaign, as well as DICE’s excellent Battlefield V, and while Battlefield has the edge in sound design, they were both much more enjoyable to play with the headset on. Did you know you can hear other players’ footsteps in these games? WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING MY WHOLE LIFE???
It’s not just gaming that the Sennheiser GSP 670 can be used for. I’ve probably spent more time using the headset at work than I have at home. Every morning before heading out the door, I’d make sure to put the headphones in my bag, wrapped in a t-shirt for safety. Hey, these things are expensive, I’m not just gonna throw them in like a pair of cheap earbuds. Maybe I should invest in a carry case…

During my normal workday, I’ll spend a few hours doing office work. This is tedious, and so I typically have my phone playing my Spotify playlist through the headphones that came with the phone. It’s not perfect and the cables tend to annoy me. I saw this review job as an opportunity to put in some time with the product and keep my mind sane during the bores of administrative tasks.
Billy Joel sounds amazing anyway, but that guy sounds even better inside the GSP 670. And yes, every song sounds better. The classics like Uptown Girl, River of Dreams and We Didn’t Start the Fire all sounded exceptional. The bass was deep where it mattered, and those big sexy hooks that Billy Joel is known for gave me goosebumps. Don’t judge me. BJ is a classic. Of course, I played some of The Killers and it all sounded sweet. If it wasn’t the big microphone on the side of the headset, I’d probably use these during those rare days where I have to travel on the bus or train.
The mic did come in handy, mind you. Having my phone paired to the headset via Bluetooth (very, very simple) means that I’m not just listening to music and movies, but also taking calls the whole day long. I felt like a call centre worker when a call came through. I’d pull down the mic and be like “Hello, you’re through to Chris, how can I help you today,” even if it was just an employee telling me they’d be late or whatever. The point is, the microphone is good and I was able to even do a few conference calls using it, leaving my hands free to play Call of Duty Mobile. Conference calls are boring and an occasional “uh-huh” is enough to make people think I care.
When I first opened the box that the headphones come in, I was a little worried that they’d be uncomfortable. I’m a larger-than-average person with larger than average ears. They’re not comically huge and I’m all in proportion, but I did worry they’d be a little too snug around my bacon bits. Thankfully that was not the case. The headset itself is extremely comfortable to wear, even for longer-than-usual sessions. I spent one day in the office from 8 AM through to 5 PM with the headset on for most of that time. I took them off for toilet breaks, obviously, but I never felt the need to give my head, neck or ears a rest. They’re well-made and once I found my comfort spot with them, I’d barely notice they were there. What I did notice is that I completely blocked off the rest of the world when I sat with the headphones on. I couldn’t hear a peep from the outside world. It was just me and Billy. Him singing, me tapping my feet with the occasional whistling solo. World tour dates still to be announced.

Battery life is a big stinger in modern appliances these days. My phone barely lasts the day, my Nintendo Switch won’t do a journey to Amsterdam, and laptop I’m writing this review on will soon need to be plugged in. The GSP 670? No problems! I went a couple of days without charging it before the very American lady voice declared “less than 20% battery remaining”, which prompted me to quickly plug it in and get it charged. I don’t have exact charging times, but I think I left it plugged into the socket for around an hour before using it again. It seemed to have done the trick, though, as the American lady voice told me “more than 80% battery remaining”, which isn’t too shabby. I wasn’t using a fast-charger or anything, just a regular cable that I had lying around; I was too lazy to fish out the official cable, but I imagine it works just as well.
Setting up on PS4 and PC is as easy as sticking the dongle into a spare USB port. These are in short supply on PS4, admittedly, but life isn’t perfect so get used to it. On PC you’ve got a whole suite to play around with as Sennheiser provides its own software that lets you tinker with the audio settings to your liking. It’s here that you’ll update the device’s firmware, too, so it’s best practice to use the headset on your desktop before going straight to your PS4. It’s all very simple, mind you, and if an idiot like me can get it running with minimal confusion, you’ll be fine.
The only downer I have with regards to the GSP 670 is in the price. The unit retails for around $349/£299/€349, though I did see a few cheaper prices via Amazon and local online outlets here in Germany.
I’m not an audiophile. I appreciate the complexity of sound design and music, and I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to go back to using my crummy Samsung phone earbuds when I want to keep the noise down in the house, but it really is an expensive headset. If you’re somebody who likes to have the absolute best, premium experience, then sure, the GSP 670 is for you. If like me, you’re poor on time and playing games is only a small slice of your entertainment schedule, it’ll be hard to justify the purchase. So steal one instead*.

Review Disclaimer: This review was carried out using a unit provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please read our Review Policy. 
*Do not actually steal. That’s naughty. Just put it on your Christmas list for Santa.