PC Gamer - UK (2021-12)

Model One

VZR £349

A genuine audiophile gaming headset

Coming out of nowhere

is the VZR Model One, a

high-end gaming

headsetthat claims to cater to

the audiophile. It’s still rocking

dynamic drivers, so none of that

planar stuff here, but with an

innovative CrossWave driver and

an impressively broad frequency

range, the Model One lives up to

its promise.

They’re chunky, but the audio

quality is the real selling point.

The patented CrossWave driver

design aims to create the detail of

a reference studio speaker along

with the richness and warmth of a

pair of open back audiophile

headphones.Andit makesa good

job of it too. The sound is rich and

accurate, with a tonal separation

that speaks to the power of its

design. That separation is what

makes the Model One such a

good gaming headset too,

providing the necessary

sprawling soundscapes which

make open world games so

immersive. Yes, they’re as

expensive as a set of audiophile

headphones, but the audio

quality is excellent and hey, you

do get an attachedmicgratistoo.

SPECS WIRELESS: NO / DRIVERS: 40MM / CONNECTIVITY:3.5MM/FREQUENCYRESPONSE: 10HZ-30,000HZ /

FEATURES: DETACHABLE MIC / WEIGHT: 430G

4

LCD-1

AUDEZE £399

For the unashamed audiophile

With the increased
availability, affordability
and quality of
standalone microphones there’s
no excuse for putting up with
weak headset mics anymore.
That route also opens up a whole
world of audiophile headphones
which don’t offer built-in options,
and that means the outstanding
Audeze LCD-1 is ripe for PC
gaming. I love planar magnetic
drivers, far more so than the
standard dynamic drivers most
headsets use. And the Audeze
LCD-1 pairs them with an open
back design, which perfectly
complements the ultra-detailed
audioofa planarmagneticdriver.

Though they can be almost

painfully detailed out of the box.

These drivers take a while to

warm up – maybe 16-20 hours of

use – and until then the sound

can be a little ‘pointy’. But they

age like fine wine, and once you’ve

bedded them in the audio

becomes beautifully warm and

rich, though still just as detailed

and accurate.

The combination of open back

design and great-sounding

drivers is nearly unbeatable.

SPECS WIRELESS: NO / DRIVERS: 90MM / CONNECTIVITY:3.5MM/FREQUENCYRESPONSE:10HZ-50,000HZ /
FEATURES: PLANAR MAGNETIC DRIVERS, OPEN BACK / WEIGHT: 250G

3

Stunningaudio

Openbackdesign

Takes a while to warm up

VERDICT

Genuineaudiophileaudio

Comfortable design

Robust

VERDICT

GROUP TES

3

ONCE YOU’VE BEDDED

THEM IN THE AUDIO

BECOMES BEAUTIFULLY

WARM AND RICH