The GSP 670 by Sennheiser Review
The GSP 670 has a Legacy to Live Up to
When you think of Sennheiser, what comes to mind? Quality is probably one of the first that you think of. And with over 70 years of experience in the audio industry, they have built a reputation that can be rivaled by few others. The foundation of this legacy is Sennheiser’s high fidelity headsets. On the other end of the spectrum, gaming headsets are known for putting the quality of their headsets on the back burner for other features. I am looking at you 7.1 surround sound. So what would happen if the two met? Well, what if the two met and had a child. The GSP 670 is that child, and that is what we are here to review today.
What do You Get Out of the Box?
Surprisingly there is very little that comes out of the box. To start, there is the headset, a 6-foot micro-USB cable for charging, and a dongle to allow a connection to your PC. There are some small instruction booklets. Everything except the headset is tucked nicely into a 70-year anniversary box on the bottom of the packaging. Honestly, it is kept simple and the presentation is top-notch. Now that is something I can appreciate.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look under the hood:
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 18–20 hours of battery life
- Microphone: 10–7,300 Hz Frequency Response
- Headphone: 10–23,000 Hz Frequency Response
- Sound pressure level: 112 dB
- Weight: 398 grams
- Range: 10 meters
- Supporting OS: Windows 10
Clean and Simple Layout on the GSP 670
In terms of button layout, it is fairly straightforward. On the right side, the large dial acts as both an on and off switch and a volume dial, and a smaller dial hidden underneath for gain control. When it comes to the quality of the dials, the volume knob is perfect, allowing smooth operation while making sure the headset wont move around or slip from your head during activity. On the other hand, the instructions said it is supposed to be a gain control for the mic, but mine never seemed to work when I tested it. I am not sure if I am wrong in its use, or if it was broken. Either way, it was not an enjoyable experience.
As for the other side, there is a micro-USB slot for charging (why not type-C), a LED to inform you when it is charging and on, and a little switch to inform you of the GSP 670’s battery life. Oddly enough, you have to flick the switch fast to have it inform you of that battery life. I assume this is to ensure if you snag it on clothing it won’t go off. But it was more awkward to perform than just pulling it forward to tell you and release it when you are done. Then again, my comment is more personal preference, so I can not knock Sennheiser for that design choice.
The Definition of a Tank
Weighing in at 398 grams and having one of, if not, the largest footprints I have ever seen come out of a gaming headset, there is no other word to describe this other than “tank”. And it lives up to that standard, having mostly hard plastics that flex without creaking in a flexibility test and metal joints where the earcups connect to the headband. The stealth grey and black design also lend to this feel, making the GPS 670 appear more militaristic than gamer in its aesthetic. On top of that, it guzzles energy like a tank downs gas. Reportedly, the GSP 670 has a Battery life of up to 20 hours, but I could never get more than 12 out of it. It is workable, but it is far from the best.
When it comes to comfort. The weight makes quite a difference. I know that the near 400 grams is required for a wireless headset with all the bells and whistles it has. But the headband design with its dual, thin band does not lend well to long sessions. If you look at its design, there is a void between the two contact points. Instead of leaving that empty space, the band should be one continuous section. With that increase in surface area, the weight distribution would work greater for comfort during those long sessions.
Outside the band, everything is just about perfect. The ear cups are made out of a soft microfiber fabric where it contacts your head, allowing for breathability. Inside of the cups, the padding is sturdy enough not to let your ears rest on the drivers, but have enough give to make a proper seal. And the clamp force is about as good as it can get. Leading to no discomfort around my ears and no issues with the GSP 670 sliding off my head when I look up or down.
I Was Not Expecting This
This was honestly the most shocking part of the entire design to me, and not in a good way.
To put it bluntly, The microphone was straight trash. I am not sure who signed off on this, but when I can get better mic quality out of a cheap Chinese headset, there is a problem. To give you an idea, I was almost kicked from a discord call I joined for its poor quality and was forced to switch back to my daily driver. On the other hand, Bossman Anthony actually received a number of compliments for joining the same call with a higher quality mic while he was using another cheap Chinese headset (REVIEW COMING SOON). not to mention, the software that was designed for the GSP 670, while minimal and easy to use, did not help in any way.
With only 3 presets, normal, warm, and clear, there are only 2 that can be used. As you would expect, normal is the default state and what I would recommend if you wanted to sound the clearest and most true to life. Warm is also usable in comparison, but it adds some base to your voice to, well, make it warm. You should only use clear if you want to sound like you are a mid-2000’s raid leader in wow. And when I say usable, it will communicate your words across to others, but you will not be receiving any compliments for doing so.
Personally, I could live with a bad mic, as long as I could talk to who I am playing with. But with a solid 2 SECOND DELAY between what I say and when my computer gets the audio, it makes it impossible to use. When you throw in this x-factor of a delay, it makes any competitive team game a nightmare to play. In my case, that 2 seconds was the difference between life or death with my callouts in Rainbow6: Siege or CS:GO more often led to death than any success. Quite the deal-breaker for a gaming headset. If you want to see an example of what I mean, make sure to visit Tech for Though, our affiliated tech YouTube channel. There I will have a video review done, with a demonstration of the mic’s issues.
Like I have stated in the beginning, Sennheiser is known for quality. But this was nothing short of a letdown. I hope this can be improved in the next generation.
And Now What You All Have Been Waiting For
Come on, with the Sennheiser name behind this headset, what were you expecting with audio quality? It is nothing short of amazing.
Sporting the branding of a “gaming headset”, which is infamously known for having an overpowered, uncontrolled base. On the contrary, the GSP 670 does an amazing job of handling just that. Yes, it does have more presence than the mids and treble, but the base is reigned in to still have balance across the board. And while I prefer a more natural balance, the digital drivers offer you the ability to adjust the audio balance as you see fit. Even with a maxed out base balance, it never loses its detail.
Speaking of not losing detail, those vocals are crisp. One of my biggest fears with a Bluetooth connection was the loss of detail in this department. But I can happily report no issues here. Finally, the highs are also right in tune with everything else. Allowing all the guitar riffs and high hats the room they need to shine. I expected nothing less from Sennheiser, and they delivered.
In all honesty, the GSP is the best wireless gaming headset when it comes to audio quality. Just don’t use the virtual 7.1 surround sound, it makes everything worse for no real reason.
Some Final Thoughts on the GSP 670
Honestly, I am conflicted about recommending the GSP 670. On one hand, you have the best wireless gaming headset for audio. On the other, a trash mic. And when asking up to $350 or $300 on certain deals, it is asking quite a lot. If you absolutely need the wireless functionality with amazing audio quality, go for it. Warning though, the mic will be a hindrance. Personally, I know it will be hard switching back to a wired headset after having the freedom to move. But if that is not a factor in your purchase, go for something akin to a Sennheiser 6XX with a mod mic. Not only will you have better mic quality, but better audio fidelity for $50-$100 less.