Sennheiser GSX 1000 audio amplifier review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing3. Sennheiser GSX 10004. Testing5. Final Thoughts6. View All Pages

Audio can often feel like the power-supply of PC peripherals: it is the thing people spend the least money on. However if you take your gaming or media viewing seriously, you are missing out if you do not have a decent sound card and amplifier like the Sennheiser GSX 1000.

When combined with a decent set of speakers, or what I would personally consider a mid-range gaming headset, the effect is dramatic. Audio quality takes a big leap, as does your ability to crank the volume for those moments of added head banging.

On top of that, this is hands down the best virtual surround sound I have ever heard. It adds surround capability to a headset not designed with that sort of functionality and performs better than any software implementation I have ever come across. I would even say it sounds better than many ‘real' surround sound headsets, as those tend to have lower quality drivers to prevent the cost from being too high.

The GSX 1000 is not perfect of course. It is pretty expensive and the sound quality may be a little warm and ‘smooth' for some, but with the included EQ settings and ability to enable an HD 2.0 version for speaker listening, it is hard to imagine this being a major problem.

The physical hardware itself is great too, with a supremely smooth volume control wheel, responsive touch screen and secondary volume control for microphone input.

I love being able to easily switch between speaker and headphone outputs and additional extras like reverb and sidetone control makes the auditory experience completely customisable to the user.

Overall I cannot praise the GSX 1000 enough. While you will get more mileage from it if you have a decent set of speakers/headphones and a high-quality audio source, the Sennheiser GSX 1000 is a great way to upgrade the listening and functional experience of using your PC for gaming and media viewing.

You can buy the Sennheiser GSX 1000 on Amazon for £200.

Pros

• Sounds excellent throughout volume range.
• Great for music, movies and games.
• Best virtual surround sound unit I have ever tested.
• Looks stylish. Touch screen is functional and easy to use.
• Ability to control media and chat volume separately.

Cons

• Not the most powerful of amplifiers.
• Warm sound may not be to everyone's taste.
• Pricey.

KitGuru Says: The Sennheiser GSX 1000 might be expensive, but it has the best virtual surround sound of any solution out there and even trumps some real-world surround sound headsets. It sounds great, looks and performs well. This is a real treat for audio-obsessed gamers and media viewers, though may lack a little in top-end volume for extreme users.

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