Verdict:

[+] Headset

Precise sounds going in and out; extremely comfortable

[-] Headcase

Lacks oomph

Sennheiser is pretty clear about who the PC 350 is aimed at: ‘Whether battling evil aliens or fighting guerrilla warfare, a fraction of a frame separates winners from the rest. Hearing and being heard can make or break a game.’ So can this £90 headset really give you a tactical advantage over opponents using cheaper audio kit?

BUILD QUALITY

The PC 350 is certainly much more substantial than the more affordable Sennheiser headsets, with a metal construction under its plastic bodywork. The cable is thicker than with the cheaper sets too, and is much more robust.

The soft cushioned ear pads fit around the ear rather than sitting on top, and this makes the PC 350 extremely comfortable to wear during long gaming sessions. The padded earpieces also help reduce ambient noise, but the downside is that your ears can get a bit toasty in hot weather.

Unlike Sennheiser’s more affordable PC 166 USB set, the PC 350 doesn’t come with a USB adapter. It would be nothing short of sacrilege to plug it into an onboard sound chip but it’s safe to assume that potential buyers will already be equipped with a dedicated sound card.

MICROPHONE QUALITY

The biggest difference in quality compared to the PC 166 USB was in the microphone, with extra high-frequency detail and overall clarity that put it in a different league. It’s reassuring that as you bark orders at your team mates and hurl insults at your enemies, they’ll hear every word with crystal clarity.

SOUND QUALITY

Headphone quality showed less dramatic improvements over the admittedly excellent PC 166 USB set. High frequencies were a little more refined and detailed but mid-to-low frequencies were less full bodied.

Bass extension was just as deep but the PC 166 USB’s warmer, fruitier tone made in-game effects and (more so) music seem more exciting. The upside was that the PC 350’s more clinical tone improved intelligibility and spatial awareness, making it easier to pick out individual sounds in a frantic melee.

CONCLUSION

The PC 350’s benefits are clear, but for us it’s a tough call between its warfare-by-precise-German-efficiency and the PC 166 USB’s more thrilling, rousing sounds. Deciding between the two is tricky, though we suspect many won’t be able to identify the slight extra quality of the PC 350 over the PC 166 USB and will appreciate the lower £65.79 price.

You can buy the Sennheiser PC 350 from Amazon.co.uk for £89.21 inc VAT (price correct at time of review)

For more information on the PC 350, visit Sennheiser’s website

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

• Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB - Hard disks / storage
• Asus EAH4870 TOP - Graphics cards
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Sound cards
• Multiwinia - Games
• Zotac GeForce GTX 260² - Graphics cards
• Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 - Graphics cards
• Scan 3XS X58 Core i7 - Desktop PCs