Sennheiser EPOS I GSP 500 Gaming Headset, Noise-Cancelling Mic, Flip-to-Mute, Ergonomic Headband, Memory Foam Ear Pads, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch

Product Information

My immediate experience was how tight the clamping force was — painfully so. I had to leave the headset stretched out overnight to loosen them out which helped though still noticeable. It also doesn’t help that the ear cushions aren’t cushy pleather memory foam type. So their massive girth tended to press against my temples and jaw line. Similar to others in the GSP line, the headband leaves a massive space between it and your temples. I complained about this wide footprint in my review of the EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 370. So if you are moving around while wearing the GSP 500’s, it’s easy to bash them on door frames or wall corners.

AHG Replacement ear pads compatible with Sennheiser GSP 500, GSP 550, GSP 600 and GSP 670 headphones. Premium protein leather | soft high-density foam | Alcantara | easy installation

The Microphone

MusicMuch like the GSP 600, the GSP 500 seamlessly transforms from a great gaming headset into an excellent pair of headphones for your music-listening sessions. If you don't already own a pair of good hi-fi headphones, you'll essentially kill two birds with one stone by buying the GSP 500 as you won't feel the need to go looking for higher sound quality (nor would you be able to obtain it for a reasonable amount of money). Since the clamping force isn’t too tight, you can wear this for a long period. While this sits in your ear, it doesn’t feel heavy. Having this headset feels like it’s just floating on your ears. The RRS system is fantastic. I mostly shoot bullseye, and I never loose the target or the dot during recoil. In fact, for most shots, the dot is still well inside the target frame.

We’re finally down to summarise our EPOS|SENNHEISER GSP 500 review. Let’s break down our opinions on why we think this headset is excellent. The EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 500 headset is also a rather hefty old lump, running a near mechanical-like aesthetic – much like all of the EPOS | SENNHEISER ranges in fact. Again, I love this look, and I think it looks great on the head, but the sheer bulk that it comes with, when mixed with the 358 grams of stated weight and stunning hinges on the earcups, may again mean it won’t suit all. It’s not heavy as such, but it’s also far from the lightest of units that I’ve had the pleasure of using over the years. But hey, you will know exactly what you’re getting yourself into from a single look at the box. I’ve been shooting a GSP Expert for a couple years now. Hands down the most reliable 22 I’ve ever owned. If that reliability is carried to the new GSP 500 it’s got to be worth consideration. Now that we’re done with the design section of the headset let’s move on to the key features. Key Features of the EPOS|SENNHEISER GSP 500 A simple handheld control means you can customise your massage experience with reverse rotation and soothing heat to maximise your relaxation and minimise hassle.

Most notably, when tested both in-game and in more everyday tasks, the microphone performs excellently in general. It accurately delivers voice quality that no other headphones have. Advanced Weight Engineering: The design of the GSP500 meets exceeds standards in terms of overall weight, center of gravity, weight distribution, and balance. Individually adjustable The GSP 500 follows the same styling cues as its big brother the GSP 600 series. The thing is massive with huge comfy ear cups that swallow your ears whole. The air traffic controller vibe is strong here with a chunky headband with its unique slide-to-fit mechanism. The ear cups connect to the headband with an intimidating metallic hinge better suited to a Caterpillar earth mover. This 2-axis hinge allows the cups to easily contort to different head sizes and shapes. Some history: I've been using Sennheiser's GAME ONE headsets since mid-2015. The audio quality is pretty much exactly what I want out of a headset, with a really good microphone (quality-wise) to boot. However, the GAME ONE has several downsides: creaky plastic / cheap build quality, cheap volume pot (knob) that eventually wears out (static, imbalanced audio, or both), 50 ohm impedance (onboard audio chipsets can only sometimes drive this), a mic that often requires a +10dB boost, and a high price tag. I've gone through four (4) GAME ONE headsets in 5 years due to the above reasons. Put another way: I definitely make use of the 2-year warranty.

Now, let’s move on to the next section of our EPOS|SENNHEISER GSP 500 review, the specifications. Specifications As with every Sennheiser gaming headset, the GSP 500 has been designed from the ground up to enhance every aspect of the gaming experience and let you perform at your very best,” said Andreas Jessen, Head of Product Management Gaming, Sennheiser Communications A/S. “As well as delivering superior audio and comfort, a fully immersive gaming experience also depends on effortless ease of use and communication – even in the midst of fast-paced action.” The locational sound seems particularly good compared to all my old headsets, perhaps because (according to what I've heard elsewhere at least) it's optimized for 5.1 and most games max out at 5.1 as well. Lastly, the EPOS|SENNHEISER GSP 500 has an excellent microphone quality that ensures clean communication to you and your teammates. There’s no static and audio distortion present. AHG DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY –These AHG ear pads are compatible with GSP 500 GSP 550 GSP 600 GSP 670 headphones. These AHG ear pads are made with a HYBRID combination of PROTEIN LEATHER on the sides (increasing sound isolation) ALCANTARA on the top (for a smooth feel) and soft high-density foam (for great comfort).Again, using the GSX 300 in conjunction with the GSP 500 headset offers you some great microphone controls. You get three voice effects of which warm is the best, adding a warmth of bass to your voice without distorting it. There’s also more controls for Gain, side tone and the amount of noise-cancelling. Verdict I agree with you on the MP90 - it's still one of my favorites in a .22 match pistol, if not the favorite. While the frame of EPOS|SENNHEISER GSP 500 is largely due to its robust & sturdy build design, they’ve provided adjustable sliders on top to adjust the clamping force. The GSP 500 features a new, improved open speaker system designed and manufactured by Sennheiser that delivers a natural sound performance, balancing excellent clarity with an enhanced low frequency response that adds excitement to the gaming audio. Specially positioned speakers within the ear cups channel the sound directly into the ears to ensure the best possible spatial representation and awareness of the gaming environment. A perfect fit for every gamer

Ignore that disadvantage and you get some truly excellent sound. Once I started playing some music, I immediately noticed how clean and natural everything sounded. I could also hear far more detail in my music like Cymbals and harp strings that are usually lost. This is especially so with orchestral music. Hans Zimmer never sounded better. And with the sound free to flow out of the headsets, you get a sort of lighter or airy sound that feels like you are in the audience rather than listening to a recording.

Will you be claiming the VAT back?

This is my review after owning for 3 years. Bought for my PS4 and then 5, and for my PC. Gaming on average 10 hours a week. The PC connector has 2 x 3.5 mm 3-pole connectors for audio & mic, and 1 x 3.5mm 4-pole connector for the consoles.