Over the last few months, I’ve been playing video games on my PS4 and Nintendo Switch using Audeze’s Mobius Headphones. They’ve also been part of my music listening regiment when I want to have a more intimate experience. While the last few years I’ve been mostly on budget headphones for gaming and and using Air Pods with my iPhone and iPad, it was extremely cool to dive into a more immersive listening experience with a high-end set of headphones.
“All these gamers who are serious about becoming competitive [and] having a competitive advantage are going to invest in better tech,” Jake Fyfe said, “because it’s an arms race when you’re trying to be the best. And headphones can give you an edge. From my conversations the standout headphone currently is Audeze’s Mobius headset. “They are the best headphones that I’ve used for gaming – ever,” OG Arabian Prince told me. It is also among the most expensive of headsets. At the same time, Audeze being a very high end headphone company where headphones can retail in the multi-thousands, the Mobius is one of their least expensive and best-priced items."
"If you want a truly quality headset for gaming that has all the bells and whistles, the Audeze Mobius headset may be your best choice. Not only does it offer a lot of “stuff”, but it also sounds pretty amazing too!"
"The folks at Audeze have a reputation not only for high-end headphones but for high-end headphones with a relatively unique set of features. See, these headphones offer Spatial Audio, or the ability to accurately simulate sounds as though they are coming from different sources instead of blasted directly at your ears from either side of your head. Their LCD-1 headphones released in January focused on professionals with incredibly high-end needs and a focus on precision and accuracy, allowing the user to hear music as though they were coming from speakers in front of you."
The Audeze Mobius is the kind of headset you buy when you have deep pockets and an even deeper wish list. Compatible with PC, Mac, and consoles, the Mobius is a wallet-crushing $400 7.1 surround sound headset of nearly unparalleled quality. From how it feels on your head to how you perceive game audio across multiple genres, the Mobius earns its top-dollar price with equally premium performance.
"The reason the Mobius is such a pricey headset is that it uses high-end planar magnetic drivers instead of dynamic drivers; the sort you'll find in most gaming headsets. Even at $400, the Mobius is actually on the affordable end of the planar headset price spectrum, with some costing upwards of $1,800. And if you're spending that much on a headset, you're probably working in music production or just a hardcore audiophile. So if you were wondering why you don't see more gaming headsets with planar magnetic drivers, the cost is likely it. "
The Audeze Mobius is an incredibly interesting (and incredibly expensive) gaming headset that seemingly offers it all. A premium high-quality design, fantastic audio, brilliant comfort and more. All in one package. It also one of the most interesting gaming headsets on our list thanks to Waves Nx head tracking technology that delivers "immersive 3D audio" by changing the sound to account for the tilt or turn of your head as you play. Combine this with 7.1 virtual surround sound and hi-res audio options and you have some seriously impressive positional audio.
Good audio is one of the best things you can do to make your gaming experience better, and what better than this pair of cans from HyperX. Created in partnership with Audeze and Waves NX, the $280 Cloud Orbit S features Audeze’s superb planar magnetic drivers for bass that will move you, Waves NX head tracking that keeps sounds fixed in 3D space while you move your head, and a detachable noise-canceling mic with a pop filter to remove those ‘plosives. It’s not cheap, but then nothing good ever is.
For those who like simplicity and top-tier sound, look no further than the Audeze LCD-1. While they aren’t wireless and don’t have ANC, the LCD-1 headphones pack planar magnetic technology in a portable package. Sound from this pair of cans is highly detailed and accurate for critical reference listening and audio engineers. Check out the video below for more. At $399, the LCD-1 is the entry point into Audeze’s reference line. With a frequency response from 10-50,000hz and an emphasis on clarity, the headphones are a dream come true for critical listeners. Listening to the Alabama Shakes’ “Sounds & Color” renders all of the beautiful little details like the pedals squeaking and gives a soft touch to the hi-hat without any harshness.
Audeze has a new gaming headset called the Penrose, which will cost $299.99 when it is released in September, but the company is knocking $50 off if you preorder it before then.
"The Audeze LCD-GX is quite simply the best-sounding gaming headset we’ve ever tested. It outclasses other high-end headsets like the Sennheiser GSP 670, the Astro Gaming A50, and even the Audeze Mobius in audio depth and clarity, which should be expected for $900. It’s wildly expensive and doesn’t have any unique processing tricks like other high-end gaming models, but for the pure listening experience, you won’t find a better headset. The LCD-GX isn’t for everyone, but if you have a very discerning ear and very deep pockets, this is the headset to get, and an Editors' Choice."
"The LCD-GX($899) is probably one of the more interesting headphones I have come across recently. They are Audeze’s high-end “gaming” headset; complete with a red color scheme, and a boom-mic. I definitely did not know what to expect from it going into that first listen, but all I can say for now is that what I got was much, much more than just a gaming headset."
However, after spending time with the Audeze LCD-GX and the Burson Conductor 3X amp, I might start to turn my nose up at lesser headsets. With a combined RRP of just north of $5,000 AUD, it’s clear that in some cases, money does buy happiness.
We won’t lie, £400 for a gaming headset is pretty extortionate. But, if you can afford it, the Audeze Mobius more than justifies its upfront cost. The Mobiusfeatures a wealth of custom hardware you won’t find on any other gaming headset.
The Mobius makes fantastic use of the detailed planar magnetic drivers to produce game audio that is up there with anything on the market today. Forget the dubious 3D audio and head tracking gimmicks, the actual aural experience is what makes these cans great.
The best audiophile headphones are operate on the open-back principle. That makes for a less fatiguing experience and delivers the best sound as it’s not bouncing around inside a closed ear-cup creating strange reverberations. It also means you get broad, expansive soundscapes perfect for open-world gaming.
If what you care about most of all is audio quality and you don't mind paying for it, the Audeze Mobius headphones are the top of the pile. Their price tag is extreme and there are more comfortable headsets out there. Build quality could be a little better too, but for the absolute best in audio quality, whether it's in-game action or your own personal music collection, this is the headset to get.
Buying headphones is similar to buying a pair of shoes. You wonder how? It's because both of them come in all shapes and sizes but eventually, you end up buying the ones that fit you comfortably.
