You Want an Audiophile Gaming Headset, but Just Not This One

Boy, gaming headsets are getting expensive these days. there is Sony’s Inzone H9 IIwhich costs $350, a sum that is more than half of a 1TB PlayStation with a disc drive. Then there are more expensive options, like SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Elitewhose cost more $600 more than the aforementioned console, though it comes with a separate hub. I’m not saying these gaming headsets don’t sound good—I tried the Inzone H9 II for myself and was impressed—but if you’re spending several hundred dollars on a gaming headset (Only A headset For Pete’s sake), it’s better to play-change.

It’s a high bar for a peripheral, to be sure, but I think most gamers are willing to step up to the ultra-premium category. It is said that it is a bar can That will be fulfilled, as evidenced by Sony’s Inzone H9 II. Still, rising to the game-changing level is no easy task, so I went for the test VZR’s Model One MKII audiophile gaming headset With a $360 price tag with a raised eyebrow, can the Model One MKII really deliver on a level that justifies the premium? The answer is… complicated.

An “Audiophile Gaming Headset”

Out of the gate, VZR positioned its Model One MKII as a Gaming headset Geared towards audiophiles. To back up that claim, it’s using something called CrossWave, the same technology in its previous headset, the MK One. CrossWave is a proprietary technology that more closely mimics the way sound naturally enters your ears. The idea here is that with precise acoustic tuning, it delivers more “natural” spatial audio that makes the headset ideal for first-person shooters, where hearing and other environmental noise can make or break it.

To further enhance that acoustic experience, VZR has included a “Talisman” in the Model One MKII, a patent-pending bass diffuser that, in VZR’s words, “brings a tight, hard-hitting low that feels massive in every scenario.” That bass diffuser should also give you an indication of where the VZR wants to improve the sound in this iteration, which is to say, in the midrange frequencies. With less overwhelming bass, you should Be able to hear the midrange and treble more easily.

Check out the VZR Model One MKII on Amazon

So, that’s what the VZR is means To do with the Model One MKII. The question is, does it actually achieve those goals? The answer? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. In my experience, the level of satisfaction with the Model One MKII largely depended on how I was using the headset. It uses the lazy way, which in my case is plugged directly into one Xbox Controller (sometimes wired and sometimes not) and calling it a day, the gaming headset feels… lazy. I get a touch more spatiality when playing such games fortnite, I wouldn’t describe the sound experience as groundbreaking. Footsteps and gunshots are understandable, but the sound level isn’t “wow, I’m right in the action”.

Similarly, plug in a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller and playback Gears of War A fine experience, but it didn’t make me feel like spending $360 would be a good idea.

But this method is not the hi-fi way. If you’re buying this headset (and spending nearly 400 crazy dollars to do so), you should think like an audiophile, and audiophiles don’t use Bluetooth like some regular-ass noob. Audiophiles take advantage of cables and the lossless audio they provide, in addition to low latency. So, to test the headset like an audiophile, I plugged the Model One MKII into the Steel Series Arctis Nova Elite Gaming Hub, which is essentially a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to maximize sound quality and accuracy. The result is a significant improvement in sound quality and overall satisfaction with the VZR’s hardware. Gears of War: Reloaded Sounded much more immersive, with more spatiality and much more fidelity—cracking rocks felt closer and enemies felt like they were at home.

Is it cheating to use a DAC? I don’t know; you tell me Maybe, but I also imagine most people will spend around $400 on a headset with a proper setup at home to use a hi-fi headset, so in some ways, this seems like a better way to really assess the Model One MKII’s audio chops. Ultimately, whether you’re satisfied with the Model One MKII’s sound quality will largely depend on your home setup. Be careful if you take the lazy approach and plug this thing into a Bluetooth controller and call it a day. If you have the right interface to make the hardware sing, it may be worth the investment.

Quality, but not always convenience

VZR’s Model One MKII brings quality in many ways, and one area you’ll notice immediately is the build. The Model One MKII feels solid, with a metal headband and a comfortable pleather band below that connects the heavy plastic earcups. The headset has a weight, but it doesn’t feel heavy on your head, which means it’s well balanced. The earcups, which contain memory foam, are well-padded and comfortable during long gaming sessions, although they don’t necessarily allow for optimal heat dissipation.

Overall, the Model One MKII looks and feels like it’s worth several hundred dollars, which is good because it costs (note check)… several hundred dollars.

The mic quality also holds its own, according to those I’ve gamed with, and it’s detachable, which is great if you’re storing the Model One MKII between gaming sessions or if you want to toss the headset in its included carrying case without crunching the mic. The mic also picked up my voice well, even when it wasn’t positioned ideally, which is good if you bump your mic mid-game and don’t have time to fix it. Mic positioning also holds up better than cheaper gaming headsets with less rigidity.

There is one area that I have to take exception to, which is that the headset is wired only. For some people, that will be fine and there’s no denying that The cables provide unmatched low latency and lossless audioBut I can’t help but think the option to use a headset with Bluetooth would be nice. I still think, despite the cable’s superiority, I prefer a dongle solution like Sony’s Inzone H9 II, which uses a 2.4GHz signal to transmit more audio information and reduce latency compared to a regular Bluetooth connection. Of course, plugging in a dongle and keeping track of it isn’t ideal, but frankly, neither are cables, and the former solution looks a lot cleaner than dealing with all that black spaghetti on your desk.

Speaking of cables, the Model One MKII comes with revamped cables for more stability and better audio quality. I haven’t used the Model One that came before the MKII, so I don’t have much of a comparison, but I can tell you that the signal was stable for the most part, although I did have some hiccups when plugged into my aging Xbox controller at home via Bluetooth. I’m going to give the VZR the benefit of the doubt and say that the signal instability was the controller’s fault, given the fact that the gaming headset works well when plugged into other controllers with less wear and tear.

Is this thing really worth $400?

So, back to the original question: Do you really need to spend $360 on a gaming headset? It’s hard for me to answer as I don’t have access to your last bank statement, but I assume you do is Going to spend that much, there are gaming headsets I’d rather settle for than the Model One MKII. For example, Sony’s Inzone H9 II has quality sound in a dongle solution that feels much more convenient, and while it may not have the same premium build, it gives you more features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which the Model One MKII lacks.

Also, if Sony’s Inzone H9 II can be used via a 3.5mm cable if you really want to, is there any real advantage to buying VZR’s Model One MKII? I’ll let you decide there, but if I’m going to spend nearly $400 on a gaming peripheral, I like to have options. As high-quality as the Model One MKII can sound with the right setup, I find it a bit too limited and not as full-featured as competitors that offer custom sound profiles, ANC and wired/Bluetooth options, while still bringing the A-game in the sound department. My suggestion? If you really think you need a premium headset, do yourself a favor and get one that does it all.

Check out the VZR Model One MKII on Amazon