AKG GHS1 Gaming Headphones - The Fortunate Soldier

AKG is known to have some top notch products, and I can vouch for that as I’ve been using them for a while now. So why should things be any different with their gaming headphones? Well, for one, this particular set, the GHS1 has already won the award for “outstanding product design.” Keep reading and you will find out if AKG has managed to keep up their standard in the realm of gaming headsets.

Three’s company?

Design and Features
Dressed in snow camouflage, these circum-aural headphones look really nice. Although they’re quite light, they feel solid, sturdy and look like they’ll last quite a while. The headphone wire is not too thick, and is 2 meters long. Attached to the wire is a volume control remote, with which you can also mute and un-mute the microphone. The headband of the headphones has an elastic band and can be stretched so that just about anyone can wear it. One more good thing about this headset is the attached cardioid microphone which is directional so that a clear signal is delivered without too much ambient noise included.

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Here are some specs:

Frequency range: 18 Hz - 24 kHz
Input impedance: (ohms) 32
Sensitivity: (dB SPL/V) 115
Colours: White with lime accents, black with orange accents, camouflage
Max. input power:  35 mW
Net Weight (without cable): 170g
Cable Length: 2m
Plug Type: 3.5mm

Black with an orange wire gives it a sporty look

Performance
These headphones are definitely top of the line, as the sound quality is really very good. Before playing games with it, I decided to check out how it fares with music, and it performed exquisitely. Next I tested it with Crysis Warhead, and it sounded brilliant again. Every sound was detailed while listening to music, as well as playing the game, but my only problem was that I thought it could be a whole lot louder. I couldn’t really feel the impact of the missiles and grenades while playing Crysis. Maybe AKG is only trying to protect our ears, but I think we should be given the choice of whether or not we want to go deaf.

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One more complaint I have about the GHS1 is the comfort. The problem with these headphones is that they’re circum aural, but not large enough to cover your entire ear (unless you have really tiny ears). So when you put them on, they rest on your pinnae (outline of the ear). When I initially put them on, they felt just right, as they’re cushioned with some really plush padding. But I used them for almost an entire day, and at the end of it, my pinnae were quite sore.

Great Design

The microphone works pretty well, and I even tried recording my voice through it, and I can safely say that the voice that it played back sounded exactly like mine.

Verdict
This is a really good set of gaming headphones, but the price, which is Rs. 7,490, is definitely a deal breaker. I also think that they could’ve made the headset a little louder and perhaps more comfortable as well. The Corsair HS1 Gaming Headphones will definitely give the GHS1 a run for its money. Although the former is a lot more bulkier than the latter, it is way cheaper at Rs. 4,999, and has a lot more features such as Dolby Digital Surround sound.

Getting ready for some covert ops

I give this headset 3 ½ stars, as it sounds breathtakingly good, and looks really nice as well. I’ve cut a star for price, and another half for comfort, as this is something that’s very subjective. While I might find these uncomfortable after prolonged use (there is a possibility that I may have weird ears), others may not.

On a slightly separate note, stay tuned for the review of another really nice set of headphones, the AKG Q460, endorsed by none other than the legendary music producer, Quincy Jones who was instrumental in the careers of successful musicians like Michael Jackson.