Sennheiser may not be the first brand you think of when it comes to gaming products, despite this, they continue to make some of the best gaming headsets on the market.
On this page, I’ll be reviewing and comparing the Sennheiser Game One vs the Game Zero. These two headsets are very similar at first glance, but they do have some unique differences. They are both designed gaming in mind and are popular amongst both casual and competitive players. If you’re looking to buy a gaming headset from Sennheiser you may end up choosing between these two products. Hopefully this page helps outline the differences.
Comfort and design
Game One
At first glance the exterior design of these headsets look quite similar. They both share the same ear cup shape, meshed microphone design, and identical black and red color palette. However, on closer inspection there are some marked differences.
The Game One earcup is padded with a firm foam wrapped in a fabric mesh, this same material is also used on the headband padding. This form of padding may be beneficial as the fabric mesh will stop the headset from sticking to your ears, this could be helpful to people who intend to use the Game Zero for extended periods. The trade-off is that the firmness of the foam may cause some people discomfort over long sessions.
The microphone on the Game One is on the larger side but can be fully retracted when not in use. The Headband is connected to the ear cups with a plastic slider that can be adjusted by a fair margin. You can tilt the ear cups up or down for easy comfort adjustments, but they cannot be fully flattened or rotated for compact storage. The overall design is sleek, simplistic and shares good continuity with the rest of Senhiessers headset range.
Game Zero
Although similarly packaged, the Sennheiser Game Zero is installed with some unique design features. Unlike the Game One, this headset is padded with double-layered memory foam, wrapped in a soft leatherette. This is an extremely comfortable option that puts no strain on the user’s ears at all. As with all leather wrappings, there is a chance of them sticking to your ears over extended periods.
A Major difference in the Game Zero’s design is the rotating mechanism that connects the ear cups to the headband. This allows the ear cups to rotate 180 degrees for easy and compact storage in the included carry case. The Microphone on this headset is completely identical to Game One’s, once again it cannot be removed but can be retracted. It is encased in a flexible rubber shell for increased durability and is tipped with a metallic red aluminum mesh.
I would like to finally mention that both headsets include a volume wheel on the right earcup as well as detachable wires. Overall I would say these are both comparable in design. Although, the Game Zero’s memory foam ear cups and extra storage features are by no means unwelcome additions.
Audio quality
Game One
With both these headsets being made by Sennheiser, premium audio quality should be expected. When paired with an amplifier and soundcard, the Game One should sound great. It’s fairly neutral in sound signature and is not overly bright nor overly bassy. The headset provides a very clean and palatable listening experience that is not strenuous on the ear.
The Game one hosts an ‘open design’ with rubber venting that surrounds the Sennheiser logo on both ear cups. This design has two functions; the first is for increased airflow and ventilation for your ears, the second is to allow for ambient sound to come through. I would say having ambient sound is a preference, some users want a noise-canceling experience, others like to be aware of their surroundings. Luckily, the Game Zero has a closed design which I will talk about below.
The natural balance between the lows, mids, and highs of this headset makes it fantastic to simply plug in and use. However, for the user who wants more customization, this headset works amazingly with a range of sound cards, giving you the option to adjust the audio in correspondence with the game/media you will be consuming. Overall the Game One’s audio is well balanced and lives up to the standards expected from a Sennheiser product.
Game Zero
The Game Zero’s audio quality is also fantastic. It is not as balanced as the Game One’s, with bass the bass frequencies taking a backseat for the headsets bright mids. But once again, pairing this headset with a good sound card will allow you to EQ these levels to your liking.
As I mentioned earlier, the main audio differential between these headsets is the open/closed design. The Game Zero hosts a closed design allowing for complete noise cancellation. This is a valuable feature that provides complete immersion when listening to music, watching films and playing single-player games. However, if you are someone who online games and uses voice comms, this could be problematic. Noise-canceling headphones make it incredibly hard to hear your own voice when speaking, this may cause discomfort to some people.
Due to its closed design and noise-canceling properties, the Game Zero’s audio would be ideal if you’re someone who will primarily be listening to music or watching films/video. However, if online gaming is your priority then the Game One’s audio takes it. The sound quality is comparable to the Zero’s but the open design allows for easier communication when talking to others.
Microphone quality
Game One / Zero
Because the microphone on both these headsets are identical, I will do a singular review for both. The microphone is encased in a flexible rubber stem with two metallic strips down the shaft. The microphone piece itself is encased safely in a red metallic mesh, and when retracted fully upwards it will automatically mute.
The audio quality of the microphone is crisp and clear, as you would expect from a Sennheiser product. The background noise-canceling properties also work incredibly well, eliminating all noise when not speaking. If you’re using this microphone to speak to friends while gaming you’ll be one of the clearest people in the chat. I would also recommend this mic if you are doing basic content creation, the quality is that good.
Build quality & price
Game One
I feel the build quality of the Game One slightly lacks compared to the Game Zero. The sliders used to adjust the headset height are made of PVC plastic and can be rough to open and close. The foam used is also of a lower quality, with them being slightly too firm for my personal taste.
However, these build quality differences are reflected in the price, currently sitting at around $123 the Game One is in the region of $12 cheaper than its counterpart. But regardless of these differences, the build quality overall is still fantastic. The high fidelity materials used promise long-lasting durability, the matte black plastic feels soft to the touch, and the buttons feel tactile and durable.
Game Zero
There are definitely some build quality features in the Game Zero that stand out. Unlike the Game one which is entirely made of plastic, the Game Zero is built with a rubberized aluminum frame which makes headset adjustment a smooth and tactile affair. The ear cups are connected to a steel pivot, which is what allows the ear cups to rotate.
Once again, one of the most noteworthy build differences is the memory foam leatherette ear cups. Although the ear cup type that people prefer is subjective, the premium comfort the Game Zero provides is one of the biggest differences. The Game Zero is currently sitting at $135 – around $12 cheaper than the Game One.
Other than these differences, both headsets share an overall high level of build quality and attention to detail.
Game One vs Game Zero
These headsets are very similar making them quite tricky to compare. Which you should choose comes down to what you personally value more in a headset.
The Game One’s balanced audio palette combined with the open design makes it a safe all-round choice. The microphone functionality is identical so you can’t go wrong there. Unlike the Game Zero, the Game One cannot fully collapse, making it harder to travel with.
If you are someone who would like something with premium comfort and noise-canceling properties, then paying slightly extra for the Game Zero may benefit you in this case. The Game Zero also has folding capabilities and comes with a carry case. So if you are someone who travels to events with computer equipment, this is definitely something to consider.