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Buying Guide

The Best Sennheiser Headphones for Gaming

Four Sennheiser picks for gaming: one headset with a mic, two headphones and an in-ear monitor.

By , PC Hardware Editor

11 min read4 products evaluated

A desk setup with a keyboard, mouse and headset beside a monitor
Illustrative image
Jump to
  1. Quick Picks
  2. Our Picks
  3. How We Chose
  4. What to Look For
  5. Comparison
  6. FAQ

Sennheiser moved its gaming headsets to EPOS, so today's choice is the GAME ZERO or a Sennheiser headphone with a separate mic. These four cover both.

We compared design, isolation and mic from each listing.

Quick Picks

Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.

  1. Best Open-Back

    Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones

    An open-back design with a detachable cable.

    Best for: Quiet rooms.

    Check price for Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

  2. Best With a Mic

    EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO

    A flip-to-mute boom on a closed design.

    Best for: Voice chat.

    Check price for EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

  3. Best Isolation

    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones

    Up to 32 dB of passive attenuation.

    Best for: Noisy homes.

    Check price for Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

  4. Best In-Ear

    Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors

    A 10mm in-ear with a detachable cable.

    Best for: Travel and handhelds.

    Check price for Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

Best Open-Back1 of 4

Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones

Sennheiser's HD 599 is an open-back around-ear headphone with aluminum voice coils and a detachable cable.

Best for

Quiet rooms.

Skip if

Look at the others if this bothers you: open-back leaks sound both ways.
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones (opens in a new tab)
Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones

Why we like it

It has no mic, so pair it with a separate one. No other pick in this guide offers a wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm connection; compare the HD 280 Pro, which has a wired 3.5mm connection. It is the only pick here with an open-back design; the HD 280 Pro has a closed-back design instead.

A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the GAME ZERO.

Key specs

Connection
Wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm
Design
Open-back
Microphone
None

Pros

  • No charging or pairing needed
  • Open-back for a wider soundstage
  • Around-ear open-back design
  • Aluminum voice coils

Cons

  • Open-back leaks sound both ways
  • No built-in microphone
  • Costs more than the HD 280 Pro at the time of writing
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser HD 599 Open-Back Headphones (opens in a new tab)

Best With a Mic2 of 4

EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO

The GAME ZERO, from Sennheiser's gaming line now sold under EPOS, is a closed-back folding headset with a flip-to-mute boom.

Best for

Voice chat.

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the HD 280 Pro, which cost less when we checked.
Check price on Amazon for EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO (opens in a new tab)
EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO

Why we like it

Memory foam pads are listed. It folds flat into the included hard case, and the flexible boom mic reduces background noise. Like the HD 280 Pro and IE 100 PRO, it has a wired 3.5mm connection, while the HD 599 uses a wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm connection.

Like the HD 280 Pro, it has a closed-back design, while the HD 599 uses an open-back design. A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Its price falls between the IE 100 PRO and the HD 599, based on our last check.

Key specs

Connection
Wired 3.5mm
Design
Closed-back
Microphone
Flip-to-mute noise-cancelling boom

Pros

  • No charging or pairing needed
  • Foldable closed-back design
  • Memory foam ear pads
  • Flexible boom mic

Cons

  • Costs more than the HD 280 Pro at the time of writing
Check price on Amazon for EPOS Sennheiser GAME ZERO (opens in a new tab)

Best Isolation3 of 4

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones

Sennheiser's HD 280 Pro is a closed studio headphone with up to 32 dB of listed passive attenuation.

Best for

Noisy homes.

Skip if

Look at the others if this bothers you: no built-in microphone.
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones (opens in a new tab)
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones

Why we like it

It blocks a noisy room well but has no mic. It shares a wired 3.5mm connection with the GAME ZERO and IE 100 PRO; the HD 599 goes with a wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm connection. It shares a closed-back design with the GAME ZERO; the IE 100 PRO goes with an in-ear design.

It also comes with a closed design for shared rooms and a foldable frame. A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. It cost the least of the 4 picks at the time of writing, with the IE 100 PRO the next step up.

Key specs

Connection
Wired 3.5mm
Design
Closed-back
Microphone
None

Pros

  • No charging or pairing needed
  • Up to 32 dB of listed passive attenuation
  • Closed design for shared rooms
  • Foldable frame

Cons

  • No built-in microphone
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones (opens in a new tab)

Best In-Ear4 of 4

Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors

Sennheiser's IE 100 PRO is an in-ear monitor with a 10mm dynamic transducer and detachable cable.

Best for

Travel and handhelds.

Skip if

Pass on it if no built-in microphone rules it out for your setup.
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors (opens in a new tab)
Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors

Why we like it

It is the most compact Sennheiser option here. Silicone and foam tips shield outside noise when they fit well, and the dynamic driver aims for distortion-free reproduction. Fit matters: the wrong tip size costs bass and isolation.

Like the GAME ZERO and HD 280 Pro, it has a wired 3.5mm connection, while the HD 599 uses a wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm connection. It is the only pick here with an in-ear design; the HD 280 Pro has a closed-back design instead. It also comes with a slim single-driver shell.

A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Its price falls between the HD 280 Pro and the GAME ZERO, based on our last check.

Key specs

Driver size
10mm
Connection
Wired 3.5mm
Design
In-ear
Microphone
None

Pros

  • No charging or pairing needed
  • 10mm dynamic broadband transducer
  • Slim single-driver shell
  • Detachable cable

Cons

  • No built-in microphone
  • Costs more than the HD 280 Pro at the time of writing
Check price on Amazon for Sennheiser IE 100 PRO In-Ear Monitors (opens in a new tab)

How We Chose These Sennheiser Gaming Headsets

Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.

Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier
Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier
What we compared
We lined up four headsets on connection, design and microphone, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and all 3 compared fields are stated for every pick.
What every pick has in common
All 4, from the HD 599 to the IE 100 PRO, state connection, design and microphone.
Who each pick suits
The HD 599 for an open-back design with a detachable cable; the GAME ZERO for a flip-to-mute boom on a closed design; the HD 280 Pro for up to 32 dB of passive attenuation.
Price range
At our last check the picks ran from the HD 280 Pro ($50 to $100) to the HD 599 ($150 to $250).

What to Look for in a Sennheiser Gaming Headset

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. Design

    The HD 599 lists open-back; the GAME ZERO and the HD 280 Pro list Closed-back; the IE 100 PRO lists in-ear. Sort out design before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 2, 1 and 1.

  2. Extras that separate them

    The GAME ZERO: memory foam ear pads. The HD 280 Pro: a closed design for shared rooms. The IE 100 PRO: a slim single-driver shell.

    A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor
    A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor

  3. How much to spend

    $50 to $100 buys the HD 280 Pro and the IE 100 PRO; $100 to $150 buys the GAME ZERO; $150 to $250 buys the HD 599 at our last check.

  4. Start from what matters most

    Quiet rooms: the HD 599. Voice chat: the GAME ZERO. Noisy homes: the HD 280 Pro.

    A gaming headset beside a desk with backlit speakers
    A gaming headset beside a desk with backlit speakers

  5. Open-back or closed-back

    Open-back headphones sound more spacious and feel cooler, but they leak sound and block little outside noise. Closed-back models isolate better in shared rooms.

    Choose open-back only if you play in a quiet room on your own.

How to Choose a Sennheiser Gaming Headset

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Quiet roomsHD 599An open-back design with a detachable cable
Voice chatGAME ZEROA flip-to-mute boom on a closed design
Noisy homesHD 280 ProUp to 32 dB of passive attenuation
Travel and handheldsIE 100 PROA 10mm in-ear with a detachable cable

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Headphones on a red stand next to an amplifier and bookshelf speakers
Headphones on a red stand next to an amplifier and bookshelf speakers

Key specs side by side

The HD 599, the GAME ZERO and the rest, as their makers list them.

HeadsetConnectionDesignMicrophone
HD 599Wired 3.5mm and 6.3mmOpen-backNone
GAME ZEROWired 3.5mmClosed-backFlip-to-mute noise-cancelling boom
HD 280 ProWired 3.5mmClosed-backNone
IE 100 PROWired 3.5mmIn-earNone

Scroll sideways to see every column.

By price at the time of writing

The HD 280 Pro was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the HD 599 the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.

Price tierHeadsets
About $50 to $100HD 280 Pro, IE 100 PRO
About $100 to $150GAME ZERO
About $150 to $250HD 599

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the GAME ZERO our Best With a Mic pick?

The label rests on a flip-to-mute boom on a closed design. The HD 280 Pro, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at voice chat.

Do the HD 599 and the GAME ZERO differ on connection?

The HD 599 uses Wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm; the GAME ZERO, the HD 280 Pro and the IE 100 PRO use Wired 3.5mm.

What extras do the HD 599 and the GAME ZERO include?

The HD 599: an around-ear open-back design. The GAME ZERO: a foldable closed-back design. The HD 280 Pro: up to 32 dB of listed passive attenuation.

Who should choose the HD 599?

The HD 599 carries our Best Open-Back label for an open-back design with a detachable cable. It ranks first of 4 here and sat in the $150 to $250 tier at our last price check; it suits quiet rooms.

Should I pick the HD 599 or the IE 100 PRO?

The HD 599 suits quiet rooms; the IE 100 PRO suits travel and handhelds.

Bottom Line

The HD 599 is the open-back pick for a quiet room. The GAME ZERO is the one with a mic, and the HD 280 Pro isolates best.

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About the author

PC Hardware Editor

Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.

Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility

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