Choosing the best gaming headphones for cs go. Is it possible to play with plugs: a review of the Creative Sound BlasterX P5 in-ear gaming headset Headphones for counter

For a long time, we were asked about whether it is possible to play shooters like CS: GO, Call of Duty and so on with plug-in headphones, whether it is possible to professionally play Dota 2 or LoL not in full-size headphone monitors, but in plugs. It is worth mentioning here that most professional MMO toy players spend their gaming sessions in earplugs rather than full-size headphones. One has only to watch streams or professional games at LAN finals, where players sit with earplugs and noise-canceling headphones over them. Why is that? It's all about comfort - when you play for five or more hours in a row, your ears get tired in any case, no matter what your full-size headphones are soft and light. And if you play ten hours in a row? Headache sets in, ears sweat, ache and bring a lot of annoyance to your gameplay. So yes, playing with plugs is sometimes even useful, even though the sound quality is noticeably lower than full-size ones, there is not always a microphone, but there is a sense in this. In shooters, of course, in gags you completely abandon positioning (only stereo), but if it's not so bad, you can safely replace your headset with such headphones. We have selected five options that will appeal to someone with a price, and someone with a logo. Let's go!

Canyon CNS-TEP1

You say that these are absolutely not gaming headphones and they are too cheap, but I fundamentally disagree with you. The first advantage of the device is really the price tag - the average price is 700 rubles, if you wish, you can find it for 500 rubles. If your main headphones are broken or you just want something inexpensive for everyday gaming with friends, then this would be a great option. The headphones fit perfectly into the ears, there are three options for replaceable ear cushions so that you can choose the right size for yourself, the cable is of a special flat shape so that the wires do not get tangled during transportation and the product is not so badly damaged. It is worth noting that there is a microphone in the headphones, so you can talk on the phone and chat with your friends in games. True, in order to be able to communicate on a computer, you will have to buy an adapter from one jack to two. It costs a penny, there is nothing to worry about. The device supports frequencies from 20 to 20,000 Hz, the diameter of the membrane is 10 mm, the sound is quite decent for the money. Again, this is an option of the most budgetary level, but it also has every chance of life.

AKG Y 20

Another inexpensive headphone that is perfect for home gaming. Yes, they do not have a microphone, so if you want to talk to your teammates and tell how you are doing on Skype, you will need to buy a separate microphone, but we are not talking about that now. It is these headphones that I recommend to gamers because of their excellent ergonomics - we easily select ear cushions from three options included and the headphones fit snugly in the auricle, the sounds are heard clearly, there is no discomfort during the game. In addition, frequencies from 13 to 22500 Hz are supported here. In games, we do not need the upper frequencies so much, but the lower and middle frequencies allow us to hear footsteps, shots, grenade throws, and so on. These headphones perfectly listen to the frequencies necessary for games, there is a decent bass, so it's quite comfortable to play in shooters. Plus, it's AKG - they've never made a bad headphone. In addition, the resistance here is only 16 Ohms, so that even the weakest sound card will be able to squeeze the normal volume out of these ears, and in a smartphone, the quality is also decent. The cost of the headphones is 1400 rubles.

Tonino Lamborghini Quantum HL-01

It should be noted right away that the Tonino Lamborghini Quantum HL-01 headphones from Lamborghini itself have only a logo, and that one is licensed. That is, the car manufacturer has nothing to do with the ears, but it looks attractive and even cool for someone. Personally, the logo looks clumsy to me, but this is a subjective opinion. The headphones transmit sound very well - a wide sound stage, uniform sounding at all frequencies, there is a pronounced bass. It is worth noting that the sound is very similar to the studio one and thanks to the two radiators the bass is really powerful here and after inexpensive plugs many will be at a loss where so much power comes from. The cable has a volume switch and a microphone that can be used in games - the sound is good. If you buy an adapter for two jacks and you have a good built-in sound card, or maybe a separate DAC, then you can feel every ruble of the cost of this product. The truth sounds very bright and rich, it is such a pleasure to listen and play is a pleasure. Headphones cost 3200 rubles and it seems to me that you should give your hard-earned money for such a sound.

Creative Sound BlasterX P5

If the previous headphone options were more of a compromise for those who want to play games in comfort, but there is no money for something more professional, then the Creative Sound BlasterX P5 headphones are an example of a professional tool for the gamer. The diameter of the membrane here is only 7 mm, but this does not prevent the plugs from giving cool sound at high volume, frequencies are supported from 10 to 23000 Hz, which gives you an excellent understanding of the situation in games - steps, jumps, reloads around the corner, aiming the enemy, all this will be it is well audible and clear in which direction this is happening. On the headphone wire there is a volume control and track switching, and an omnidirectional condenser microphone is also located here. It is he who makes the gadget attractive to the gamer - the sound is transmitted well, we are heard, understood and obeyed. Despite the fact that the headphones at the end have one 3.5 mm jack, an adapter for two jacks is included so that you can connect the headphones to the computer and have a working microphone. The cost of this gadget is already 6,300 rubles and you shouldn't be surprised - the product is used in the e-sports arena.

Razer Hammerhead Pro V2

Looking for the perfect plug-shaped gaming headphone? Such that right on the street people would look around, so that in a computer club people would come up and ask "What is this?" What would be right with a cool microphone, with a design, good sound, and even from a well-known brand? Here you go - the Razer Hammerhead Pro V2. At the moment, these are the top-end earplugs that are on the gaming market at the moment. Compared with them, remotely, may be options from Roccat, but there is too much difference in the quality and level of the product. The design of the headphones is made in the corporate style of Razer, namely the black connector, the black volume control, the black housing of the earbuds themselves, and the green cable, which is poisonous. There is now a cool company logo on the case of the earbuds, it looks expensive and stylish, the sound is simply gorgeous, it was customized specifically for shooters and MMO games, there is a very high-quality microphone for communicating over the network, as well as a proprietary adapter from one 3.5-mm jack to two, so that you connect headphones to your computer and enjoy excellent sound. Headphones cost 80 euros, that is, from 7 to 8 thousand rubles, approximately.

Looking for chic headphones for gaming? Want to hear your opponent's every move? Or just want to know what "ears" should be to really help in the game? In this case, we will explain and offer models!

Why good headphones are needed

Every sound in CS: GO is very important. Hearing what the enemy is doing, you can predict his actions and win. At the same time, it is necessary not only to hear what the enemy is doing. It is important to know exactly where he does it. He stomps to the right or to the left, whether he throws a grenade somewhere or shoots at a wall, and so on. As you know, whoever saw and fired first won.

If you have good hearing and great headphones, you won't need any WallHack in most cases. Your ears will allow you to practically "see" through walls, detecting enemy movements with an accuracy of a few millimeters on your computer monitor.

The main qualities of headphones

To begin with, let's determine by what criteria we will consider the "ideal" gamer headphones for CS GO. What capabilities should they have in order to provide the owner with the maximum? And what should you focus on when choosing?

To hear everything, you need to buy headphones with the appropriate specifications. New "ears":

lightweight and comfortable enough so that during long skating rinks nothing will interfere with concentration;
have a surround sound that will allow you to hear exactly where the enemy is swarming or running;
they suppress noise well so that external stimuli do not distract from the rink, but at the same time they do not release sounds outside, without disturbing others;
allow you to hear steps clearly and loudly, that is, to have high sound quality;
gamer models must have a good microphone to give information to teammates.

Of course, such a pleasure will cost a lot. But this is a necessity that will allow you to really win. Literally see through walls without using cheats or other scams.

How to choose headphones

The first selection criterion is price. After determining the budget, you can safely cut off the cheapest or too expensive options. It is to be expected that the price of really high-quality headphones will be high. But that's the cost of professionalism.

Then you will have to choose a company that you like the most and has quality models. For example, buy special gaming headphones from Steel Series or stop at SVEN, Sennheiser or other manufacturers.

Finally, choose a specific design and model. Design is also very important, because the thing should not only work, but also please the owner. But first of all, for a professional player (even if only dreaming of a big stage for now), functionality is important, and only then - appearance.

What budget to count on

Generally, good headphones are quite expensive. You cannot buy a high-quality model that can meet all the requirements for the conditional 350 rubles.

First you have to determine the approximate amount that you are willing to spend on the device. For example, 1500-2000 rubles. And start from it already. As a rule, over time, such "ears" will no longer be enough. But later you can buy a model a little more expensive, but much better and more convenient, due to natural progress.

The best gaming headphones for CS GO

Let's take a look at several options for models that can easily cope with all the tasks set for gaming headphones. Headphones come from different price points to make the selection process as easy as possible for every gamer.

A4Tech HS-60... Cheap and not the best quality, with the main goal - to determine the sound - they do it. Suitable for beginner players who just want to take their first steps. Of the minuses: they are not suitable for music, the sound quality is far from ideal. Cost - no more than 800 rubles.

Plantronics GameCom 388... The model is slightly more expensive and better. Excellent surround sound capable of localizing the enemy accurately enough. Truly entry-level gaming headphones. A significant minus - outside the headphones you can hear about the same as inside. The cost is approximately 2100 rubles.

Kingston hyperx cloud core... High quality sound with good volume, nice and comfortable design. At the same time, the headphones are lightweight and comfortable. From the unpleasant moments - they will not work for the built-in sound card, because they will be too quiet. The cost is an average of 5500 rubles.

Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930... Perfect headphones. Dear, serious. Especially for professionals. They are distinguished by excellent quality and a large number of settings. Meet any request. But there are also negative sides - the fragility of plastic and wireless. But the latter is compensated by a smart communication module. The cost is within 11,000 rubles.

If you play computer games with enthusiasm and immersion, most likely you know that there are people in the world who play for money - cybersportsmen.

They, like real athletes, have an organization, trade unions, coaches, training facilities and special equipment (gadgets) that help them play better.

Cyber competitions are gaining popularity, hundreds of thousands of people watch the finals live and cheer for their favorites. Where there are spectators, there are sponsors. All more or less large manufacturers of gaming gadgets conclude contracts with cybersportsmen individually or with a whole team so that they wear T-shirts with the manufacturer's logo and use their products during competitions. This is a great advertisement, and if the team plays well and reaches the final, then an explosion in gadget sales is inevitable.

Headphones are no exception.

Pay attention to how many headphones athletes are wearing, their number can be up to three pairs. But why is this happening? After all, the performing team should be 100% focused on the game, and here they are hung with 3 pairs of headphones at once, how will you play well in such a situation?

The answer is simple - the team needs money for its own existence, and sponsors need advertising.

So, what kind of headphones do e-sportsmen wear and what function do they perform?

Headphones # 1

Usually, in 90% of cases, athletes hear sound from in-ear headphones that are inserted into the ear. These headphones are good because they are able to reproduce sound very accurately, with minimal distortion, very precise positioning, which is extremely important during competition.

Headphones # 2

Noise-absorbing headphones are worn over the in-ear headphones. They look cumbersome and ridiculous there. They usually have passive noise isolation and are not connected to anything. However, some of these headphones may have a microphone mount so that members of the same team can communicate with each other during a fight. But even if these headphones have a microphone, they still do not emit a sound, they serve as noise isolation from external noise.

It is very noisy at competitions, especially if the teams are on stage, can you imagine what kind of noise is in the hall? There is music playing, a crowd of fans chanting chants supporting their own and morally putting pressure on opponents. The presenters are saying something, the equipment is making noise. In such conditions, it is simply impossible to play effectively without noise-canceling headphones, because any sharp or loud noise can bring the player out of the state of concentration and that's it, the player will be killed, and the round and, possibly, the competition will be lost.

Headphones # 3

Usually the third pair of headphones weighs around the neck, or is attached to the player's monitor from the back. These are sponsored headphones that must be worn by contracted athletes. These headphones do not always meet the requirements of athletes, and some of them, due to anatomical features, are not suitable at all. But the contract has been signed, money has been received from the sponsor, and it must be worn. This is how athletes get out of a difficult situation, they wear headphones as accessories around their necks. Of course, they get in the way, but they get used to it and during the game everything goes well.

Another reason why sponsored headphones are worn around the neck is the lack of in-ear headphones in the sponsor's product line. In competitions, they are strictly necessary so that noise-absorbing headphones can be worn on top. If the sponsor has only full-size headphones in the lineup, they are not suitable for competitions and therefore they are worn around the neck.

In rare cases, the built-in microphone is used for a third pair of headphones. This is inconvenient, so this method is not often encountered, but sometimes it is used, although it is a side effect. Just for the sake of a microphone, no one will put on a third pair of headphones, this is inconvenient.

The gaming set necessarily includes a keyboard, mouse and headphones. We will dwell on the latter, because it is very difficult to choose one among thousands of species. To do this, you need to take into account many factors and characteristics.

Headphones

Today, not a single person can imagine his life without "ears", and even more so for gamers. Their headset should be designed not just for "listening", but also for communication, the presence of a microphone is simply necessary.

Criteria for choosing "gaming headphones"

Quality. You must hear absolutely everything, any rustle, so that no enemy can catch you by surprise. It is better if the surround sound function is supported.
Usability. You need to use your "ears" for hours, take care of your comfort.
Noise isolation. You should not be distracted by the noises around you, because what is the use of buying a gadget.
Additional functions. Do you need buttons and controls, maybe you have enough of them on the mouse and keyboard, decide for yourself.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about wireless devices, you can buy them, but remember that the battery will not last for a long time, and constant delays will only strain. If your nerves are dear to you, then it is better to take a proven gaming headset that uses the classic wired method of connecting to a computer.

Popular brands

Famous for their gaming headsets and accessories. They often sponsor various tournaments. It is with their logo that you most often see pro-players on stage.

The best sound in its price range;
Sensitive microphone;
Comfortable to wear;

Sennheiser

German manufacturer, engaged in the implementation of audio equipment. Their products are very popular with musicians, popular DJs, and the players, too, could not ignore this brand.

Pure sound;
High noise reduction;
High-quality assembly;
Good price;
Some models have a fragile cable;
Not all models are comfortable to wear;

Logitech

The Swiss manufacturer has a very wide range of products. They gained particular fame thanks to their mice, known all over the world. Their drivers are suitable for both PC and Mac.

Each model is distinguished by a unique “playful” design;
Top quality ear cushions (instead of leather, which often sweats, we chose a woven material);
Excellent detail;

A popular brand that is widely used by e-sportsmen. In general, the company positions itself as a gaming brand and they have a lot of products for gamers, but due to the rather high cost of goods, they are not suitable for everyone.

High quality surround audio;
Best quality;
Comfortable to wear;
High price;

Pay attention:

Razer Kraken (series), SteelSeries Siberia 200, HyperX Cloud II, Logitech G230 Stereo

Setting up the headphones

Choosing gaming headphones is one thing, but you still need to be able to set them up.

To configure the sound in cs go, you need to go to the sound settings through the menu and set some properties.

Loudness is best at 0.5 or 1.
Speaker type - "HRTF".
The volume of the music is "0".

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In-ear gaming headphones are quite rare, and only a few companies make them. In addition to the Creative Sound BlasterX P5, you can recall the Razer Hammerhead, Steelseries Flux, Thermaltake Isurus, Roccat Aluma and, probably, everything. Other plugs are positioned as universal, and therefore they cannot be called exclusively gaming.

The peculiarity of all eSports headsets is that they are designed primarily to create maximum comfort during hours of gaming sessions and the best orientation in the in-game space. This requires sophisticated design, high precision assembly and quality materials. The consequence of this approach to production is the ability to perform well not only in games, but also when playing music.

Simply put, any normal gaming headset is music lover by default, and the cost of 4,990 rubles is no exception.

Convenience and reliability

The in-ear form factor is the lightest type of headphone available. The total weight of the Sound BlasterX P5 is only 12 grams, with most of it being made up of wires, plug and remote control.

A typical full-size headset weighs around 300 grams. No matter how well thought out its design, this mass will still press on the head and neck. No matter how high-quality the material of the ear pads is, the skin from them still sweats. Especially during intense games. Especially in hot weather and in stuffy rooms.

Talking some time ago with a professional League of Legends cyber athlete Vyacheslav Egorov, I learned that athletes of this level devote 10 to 14 hours a day to training. They play even more during tournaments. Now imagine that all this time you have a heavy full-size headset on your head, from which your ears are sweating ...

The light weight and compactness of the plugs often become the determining factors when choosing a headset for a gaming laptop, because carrying around headphones that take up more space than the computer itself is nonsense.

The Sound BlasterX P5 has a sleek, tapered design with slightly angled speaker outputs. This allows the earbuds to be lightly pressed with one side against the external auditory canal, providing additional support.

The headset uses unusual ear cushions with coiled ribs.

These flexible spacers increase the elasticity of the earplugs and, when properly sized, completely isolate from ambient sounds without unpleasant pressure on the inner ear.

Anyone who has ever been to an e-sports stadium can imagine how noisy it is. At decisive moments, viewers literally go crazy. At these same moments, it is especially important for players to hear what is happening in the game in order to take the only correct action in a split second and drag the match. Perfect sound insulation is indispensable here. That is why athletes use earplugs, and sometimes even wear another full-size headset over it. Just to block out the roar of the crowd and hear something.

In everyday life, good noise isolation helps you focus on the gameplay regardless of the environment. Mobile gamers appreciate the plugs for the ability to get rid of the sounds of the subway and other transport. Family people sometimes want to protect themselves from the hustle and bustle of the house for a short while. In-ear headphones are ideal for these situations.

When used for its intended purpose, the Sound BlasterX P5 is reliable. Firstly, the load on a kink during the game is extremely rare, and secondly, when you try to break the wire, the headphone plug will simply pop out of the adapter, with which the headset is connected to a computer or laptop.

Some concerns arise when connecting to a smartphone. Although the weak points at the wire joints are reinforced with long rubber tubes, the straight design of the plug itself is not very reliable. Constant bending of the leg, if you carry a smartphone with a connected headset in a jeans or trouser pocket, will lead to a break in even the most tenacious cable. No braiding will help here. It would be wiser to use the L-shaped plug.

Sound

Obviously, even the most sophisticated in-ear headphones cannot compete with full-size ones in low frequencies. If in the previously considered 50-mm speakers are installed, then these plugs have a diameter of the emitters of only 7 millimeters.

Physical limitations affect bass power, but not quality. The headset covers the range from 10 Hz to 23 kHz, that is, it faithfully reproduces even very low sounds, it just does it in a more balanced way.

On the plus side, the Sound BlasterX P5 has excellent detailing in the midrange and the absence of oversaturation at the top. High frequencies stand out against the general background are characteristic of many compact headphones, but in this case the headset gives an even sound without preliminary tuning and using the BlasterX Acoustic Engine.

BlasterX Acoustic Engine is Creative's proprietary software, which is a collection of pre-configured sound profiles for popular genres and selected games. For example, in shooters, the program increases the emphasis on shooting and explosions, in single-player adventure games like The Witcher 3 - on the environment.

A distinctive feature of the Sound BlasterX P5 is its amazingly accurate sound direction. The headset is still a gaming headset and is used primarily to understand the in-game environment, and therefore the ability to correctly indicate to the player where steps and shots are coming from is very important for it.

In practice, in Battlefield 1 and 4, I was able to predict the position of an impersonating opponent with an accuracy of about two hours. For such a compact headset without USB emulation of multichannel sound, this is a very good indicator.

Another person, rather far from gaming, also drew attention to the accuracy of the transmission of the direction of sound. In particular, when listening to a high-quality concert recording, he not only heard sounds from the audience, but also understood from which side and approximately from what distance they were coming.

The Sound BlasterX P5 uses an omnidirectional electret microphone located on the cable to the left earpiece.

A familiar audio engineer or Wikipedia will tell you what electret microphones are and how they differ from ordinary ones. In short, this type of design allows for clearer sound, comparable to the dedicated microphones of full-size headsets.

In practice, the partners heard me loud and clear. There were no complaints about the voice quality.

Control

The Sound BlasterX P5 remote control does not feature an abundance of functions.

It houses the only music and call control button, as well as a microphone switch.

The lack of volume control buttons can be explained by the fact that during the game, the user usually controls the sound directly on the computer or mobile device, and therefore he does not need another remote control. This fact will surely upset those who like to listen to music, but the headset is still a gaming headset and is tailored for something else.

Conclusion

As you can see, in-ear gaming headsets have a right to exist, and in certain situations they bypass their full-size brothers in terms of practicality. They allow you to completely isolate yourself from the surrounding noise, are convenient for transportation, do not put pressure on your head and are not inferior in the accuracy of transmitting the direction of sound.

Lifehacker thanks Yomo.pro - the official Creative store - for a nice and useful gift.